All-purpose hockey thread...

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Worse than "No Goal."

Dear Reebok,
Keep your fucking hands off Montreal's uniforms. Thank you.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

The Sabres' new jersey isn't as bad as the Islanders', Stars' and Nashville's third jerseys.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Talk about pissing on Eddie Shore. Piss on Old Time Hockey. They've now pissed on the Buffalo Sabres.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Didn't they just build the Rico Centre? why the hell do they have to have a practice facility for their farm team? shit the Oilers do all of their practicing and playing out of Rexall. That's a load of shit. If I was a Torontonian I'd be pissed.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Beef

It's MLSE. What Peddie wants, Peddie gets.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Stars' third jerseys have been retired to the hell from whence they came.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

TSN.ca's did a nice job putting together its NHL preview package.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

If I were a Toronto ratepayer (hi, JR!) I'd be on the phone to my local councillor. I mean, it's not just that the deal itself is completely unnecessary, since the team owns the ACC and the Ricoh. It's also that the deal makes absolutely no sense from a financial standpoint. Meanwhile, there are roads, sewers and transit lines, to name only a few items, in dire need of attention. The megacity needs to get its priorities straight.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Double J, my councillor is one of the driving forces behind the new facility. (It's going to be built in our neighbourhoold)

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Sorry about your luck. No offence, but I'd rather live in Brampton (hi, Huggy!) than pretty much anywhere else in the GTA. There's still a sense of community there, like there is in Mimico, but Brampton residents won't be stuck paying for the follies of MLSE.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Sorry, I've been a Torontonian for most of my adult life. No way I'd move to 905 country (Hi Huggy).

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

I know it's early, but I figured I would jump on this gernade first. Here are my regular season NHL picks for standings. I did this objectively as possible, except for my placing of Colorado, I did take a lot of fun in dropping them in the standings, deservedly so.

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
New Jersey – Always find a way to the top. Still loaded despite cap troubles
Philly – One of the best young clubs in the league. Could push for first.
New York Rangers – Fall from last year’s grace. Moved too many Czechs to keep Jagr motivated.
Pittsburgh – on the cusp of breaking out, but need defence to give MA Fleury some reprieve.
Long Island – will be a long troubled year.

Northeast Division
Ottawa – lost Chara, but still East’s most complete team. Goalie could be downfall.
Boston – made a lot of the right moves in the off-season, could surprise.
Buffalo – will take a couple of steps back after losing some pieces like Dumont, but still very competitive with up coming talent.
Montreal – too much hinges on return of captain Saku Koivu, Defence also a problem, Huet will be hard pressed to duplicate his season.
Toronto – rebuilding, but still not enough good young players. Too much was spent on McCabe, need more youth to surround Steen, Stajan and Wellwood. Raycroft was a good pickup in net.

Southeast Division
Atlanta – Their turn to break through. One of the most dynamic duos in the league and if Lehtinen can stay healthy they could finish first in their division. My hockey pool is counting on it.
Carolina – too many good pieces back to ignore. Ward will not be the Ward of Conn Smythe proportions, but will still be solid.
Florida – lot of solid young talent coming up. Martin is a good regular season coach and he will get the best out of this squad.
Tampa Bay – The Tortalini act wears thin by Christmas time and the big three fail to live up to their pay checks, Lacavalier is moved at the deadline, St. Louis deemed untradeable.
Washington – All Ovechikin, all the time.

Western Conference
Central Division
Nashville – By far the class of the division. Made a few shrewd signings like Arnott, and Vokoun should be healthy. Plus they play in a cupcake division, will win the President’s Trophy.
Detroit – Long drop down the standings, struggle to make the playoffs, now a one-line team with questionable goaltending. In need of kicking the rebuilding process up a notch or two.
Columbus – an up and comer, IF Nash stays healthy, watch out.
Chicago/St. Louis – take your pick for worst in the conference. Chicago can’t help but be better, but St. Louis will still struggle despite now having a legit scoring line.

Northwest Division
Calgary – It pains me to put them here. But they now have some scoring punch to help out their D and Kipper
Minnesota – Finally come of age, finally spent some coin and now finally will be able to score a few goals.
Edmonton – Will surprise everyone (unbiased, no loserfanboy emphasis). Arguably the best offence in the Conference, defence young but loaded with potential, not as good as last year, but better than pre-Pronger defence. Rolli will must prove he is a capable Number 1.
Vancouver – Luongo keeps them in the playoffs. Too many holes on the back end after Ohlund, Salo, and Mitchell. Offence also lacking punch.
Colorado – finds out how the other half lives. Time to rebuild.

Pacific Division
Anaheim – Top defensive pairing in the league, with enough young guns coming up (Getzlaf, Perry, Beauchimine sp?) to be dangerous.
San Jose – Thornton and Cheechoo, Marleau and Brenier enough to keep opponents on their toes.
LA – Will surprise, young guns develop.
Phoenix – Gretzky makes some strides with Desert Dogs, still not enough to make the playoffs.
Dallas – finally regresses and shows their age. How desperate are you when your big off-season signing is Eric Lindros. You want to take that one JR?