Running 2007 NHL regular season thread

Which leaves me to question why one of the NHL's most exciting and creative scorers wasn't even in the competition. I'd think Rick Nash could have done some damage. Overall though, the actual shots were nowhere near the build up.

 

NHL should expect heavy criticism for the shootout challenge as it seems players didn't get the memo on the reasoning behind the change. It is sad when a video tape replay of a 9-year old's sick move is the highlight of the event.

 

How many highlight reel goals did Nash score in the first half of the season? Why wouldn't the league have him participate in the skills competition?

 

Mike Arace of the Columbus Dispatch is as surprised as you beat.

http://blog.dispatch.com/marace_nhl/

 

you know what would make me happy, if they cancelled this farce.

 

You and me both. A hard check would be welcomed, though.

Larry Brooks rips the NHL for its forced parity:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01272008/sports/watered_down_ice_127127.htm?page=1

 

Bettman announced yesterday that the 2008-09 NHL season will open up with four games in Europe.

The Senators and Penguins will play two games in Sweden while the Rangers and Lightning play two games in Prague.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01272008/sports/rangers/blueshirts_will_open_in_prague_231123.htm

 

Small little problem. The NHLPA haven't signed off on it and Kelly has more or less told Bettman to stuff it.

Bettman claims it's a "communication" error.

 

The voices in Gary's head told him to go ahead and jump the gun, huh?

 

They were talking about it on Sportsnet before the skills competition.

Kypreos was all over it.

 

Skills competition. What a farce. Especially the trick shot competition or whatever the hell that was with the judges. Dominique Wilkins is going to judge NHL players' moves in a breakaway? Pavel Datsyuk makes a world class move on one of his attempts and receives a score of four from one of the judges. Maybe it was Wilkins. Are you kidding me? What was Datsyuk supposed to do? Fire the puck off the glass, spin 180 degrees and backhand it in? It's another example of the NBA-ization of the sport.

After last night's festivities, Ovechkin said that he wouldn't use any of the moves in a real game. That's a pretty damning criticism of what Bettman wants the Skills competition to be.

 

Not even watching ... sticking to 80s chick movies.