NHL 2012 - 2013

[Ceryse]

I can't believe the Flames front office is that inept, even as an Oiler fan, so perhaps the entire offer sheet was done in the knowledge that Colorado would match, or worst case scenario, O'reilly would be a Columbus Blue Jacket, thus still fucking Colorado over.

And you could put Sidney Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Stamkos and the Sisters on Columbus and they would still find a way to suck, so what harm is them getting O'reilly?

[WayAbvPar]

I don't think shipping a first and third pick to CO and getting nothing in return really qualifies as fucking anyone but Calgary over. I have heard they would have been on the hook for the $2.5M signing bonus too, no matter where he ended up.

[Ceryse]

I don't think shipping a first and third pick to CO and getting nothing in return really qualifies as fucking anyone but Calgary over. I have heard they would have been on the hook for the $2.5M signing bonus too, no matter where he ended up.

Obviously, yeah. The whole situation is so.. hilariously inept that I forgot they still would have had to gift the Avs with the picks.

I wish the Avs had walked away from it. The hilarity would of been immense.

Curious to see if this is the straw the breaks the back of the Flames upper management; either in terms of finally committing to a rebuilt of some kind or getting fired.

[WayAbvPar]

If it doesn't, the ownership has nowhere to look but in the mirror for the main reason the team has wasted the vast majority of Iginla's career (and Kiprusoff for that matter).

[Shannow]

Saw this in the NHL.com comment section:

What do you call it when Hamilton passes to Seguin for a goal?

"A Kessel"

 

[Fordel]

It was seriously one of the worst trades in recent memory, the all our draft picks for the worlds softest and most predictable forward.


If I had a dollar for every time kessel went the outside to take a bad angle shot at nothing but the goalies chest. He never, ever, makes a move anywhere but down that wing for the easy shot.

[Azaroth]

It's like if Alex Ovechkin's minions made him a clone one eighth his size.

[Shannow]

Good to see Montreal is conforming to stereotypes.

[Azaroth]

I guess Malkin returns tonight. Did anyone actually see what happened to him? It was pretty alarming.

If that happened to a French Canadian player, they'd be out for months.

If it happened to Crosby, I think he'd be dead.

Malkin? Just shook one of his cybernetic implants loose for a moment.

[Fordel]

How has Boston played so few games still? Is there schedule just entirely back loaded?


Toronto is dooomed once our goal-tending stops over achieving.

[Shannow]

Well they missed a game because of a blizzard. That would've brough them up to 20 GP which is only 3 behind the highest number teams have played.

In Feb they played 10 games (should've been 11), in March they play 17! games. This could hurt.

4 back to backs. Actually for the rest of the season they only have 2 days in a row off once. Mind you most teams are probably close to this as well.

[Ceryse]

Toronto is dooomed once our goal-tending stops over achieving.

Goal-tending isn't the only reason Toronto is having success; their even strength shooting percentage is  fairly good, and above what they should be getting. Both will regress, but they might not do so this year (its not uncommon for streaks in sports to last a full season). Personally I'm hoping both come crashing back to reality sooner rather than later because, y'know, fuck Toronto and them being the center of the hockey universe.

But then again, I'd also like to see the Flames and Canucks die in a horrible mid-air collision so I might just be an asshole (okay, so there's no "might" about it).

[Paelos]

So Chicago is still pretty good.

Yikes.

I want to modify my previous statement to say that Chicago is terrifyingly good.

[Fordel]

Toronto is dooomed once our goal-tending stops over achieving.

Goal-tending isn't the only reason Toronto is having success; their even strength shooting percentage is  fairly good, and above what they should be getting. Both will regress, but they might not do so this year (its not uncommon for streaks in sports to last a full season). Personally I'm hoping both come crashing back to reality sooner rather than later because, y'know, fuck Toronto and them being the center of the hockey universe.

But then again, I'd also like to see the Flames and Canucks die in a horrible mid-air collision so I might just be an asshole (okay, so there's no "might" about it).

I love the Toronto is the center of the universe thing, because no one from Toronto thinks that, or is even aware the rest of the country thinks that about them. Which just makes the rest of Canada even more bitter or whatever 

It's totally true in regards to Hockey though. The Leafs ARE the center of the hockey universe, for good or for ill. The number of times the Leafs don't get the prime time HNIC spot are few and far between. The number of Leaf fans outside of Toronto is enormous and the Leafs consistently makes the most money and have the most pull in terms of ownership.

Still doesn't help them win though 

[WayAbvPar]

How has Boston played so few games still? Is there schedule just entirely back loaded?


Toronto is dooomed once our goal-tending stops over achieving.

This is what they have been up to recently 

[Ceryse]

I love the Toronto is the center of the universe thing, because no one from Toronto thinks that, or is even aware the rest of the country thinks that about them. Which just makes the rest of Canada even more bitter or whatever 

It's totally true in regards to Hockey though. The Leafs ARE the center of the hockey universe, for good or for ill. The number of times the Leafs don't get the prime time HNIC spot are few and far between. The number of Leaf fans outside of Toronto is enormous and the Leafs consistently makes the most money and have the most pull in terms of ownership.

Still doesn't help them win though 

Oh, in terms of fan base and so forth, sure. Out here in Western Canada we don't mind that aspect of it, as it is (unfortunately) true. The "center of the universe" thing we bitch about is more about the media end of it and it especially comes to the forefront when you get guys who mainly watch the Eastern Conference (because, of course, that's where Toronto [and Montreal] play) talk about the West. Its often quite hilarious how utterly, completely wrong or mistaken they are about how things work out here.. or even the actual roster of the teams. CBC's and Sportsnet's panels are the worst of the bunch (aside from Friedman). Although TSN has a couple similar twits.

[Shannow]

How has Boston played so few games still? Is there schedule just entirely back loaded?


Toronto is dooomed once our goal-tending stops over achieving.

This is what they have been up to recently 

Made by a Vancouver fan.   We have one guy Marchand who has seriously toned down his act this season and then we have the entire roster of the Montreal Canadiens. 

[Bunk]

Eh, Vancouver fans have a right to be pissy about officiating. The Bruins never win that Stanley Cup without biased officiating (and I'm referring more to the last game against Tampa, not the cup final - calling zero penalties in a game 7 where one team's best asset is their powerplay is not "letting them play", it's biased).

[Ceryse]

Eh, Vancouver fans have a right to be pissy about officiating. The Bruins never win that Stanley Cup without biased officiating (and I'm referring more to the last game against Tampa, not the cup final - calling zero penalties in a game 7 where one team's best asset is their powerplay is not "letting them play", it's biased).

On the flip side, Vancouver wouldn't have gotten to the playoffs with letter-of-the-law type officiating as they'd never have seen even strength play due to diving and offensive zone interference  The Canucks are the reason that penalty is even being called at all nowadays!

No, I'm not being serious (well... not completely).

[Azaroth]

... and then it was time for mandatory visors.

[murdoc]

... and then it was WAY PAST time for mandatory visors.

I wonder how many more guys would be wearing visors if there wasn't the Don Cherry wimp stigma attached to them. That was scary to watch Staal on the ice like that after getting hit.

[Azaroth]

The sport is based around a vulcanized rubber projectile zipping around at 100mph, but covering your eyes with some plastic makes you a big pussy. 

I mean, I get it. If you play tough, you have to be ready to fight. If you're ready to fight, having a visor on isn't ideal. Taking your helmet off to fight is a reasonably poor idea.

So figure out proper detachable visors already or something.

[WayAbvPar]

OTOH, starting a fight when you have a visor and the other guy doesn't is a huge cunt move and should come with a hefty penalty (aside from the undying loathing of everyone else in the league).

[Bunk]

Starting a fight while wearing a visor is an automatic additional minor.

[Hoax]

Eh, Vancouver fans have a right to be pissy about officiating. The Bruins never win that Stanley Cup without biased officiating (and I'm referring more to the last game against Tampa, not the cup final - calling zero penalties in a game 7 where one team's best asset is their powerplay is not "letting them play", it's biased).

On the flip side, Vancouver wouldn't have gotten to the playoffs with letter-of-the-law type officiating as they'd never have seen even strength play due to diving and offensive zone interference   The Canucks are the reason that penalty is even being called at all nowadays!

No, I'm not being serious (well... not completely).

Yeah Vancouver bitching about calls makes me stabby. Fuck right off with that.

100% agree that the Lightning got fucked but that's a big stretch for Canucks should have had a cup.

[naum]

New Realignment Plan Approved

[WayAbvPar]

Some good new rivalries for the Canucks...they have faced most of the former Pacific division clubs in recent playoff series. Not many teams I hate more than the Ducks, so it will be exciting to play them more often. And hurray for less Wild games. Their whole style is just unbelievably dull. And Clutterbuck's terrible mustache makes it even worse.

[Paelos]

Lol at Florida being just the tip. Just to see how it feels. 

[Bunk]

Boy did the Canucks ever need a game like last night's. Yea, it was a defensive mess, but they scored more last night than they had in their last four combined.

[WayAbvPar]

Boy did the Canucks ever need a game like last night's. Yea, it was a defensive mess, but they scored more last night than they had in their last four combined.

7 different goal scorers too...spread it out and hope some folks get hot. May Ray/Beaker line was awesome. Even more awesome? this.

[Bunk]

Yes, TSN does some pretty cool stuff some times.

[Shannow]

I hope they give the divisions interesting names

[WayAbvPar]

I hope they give the divisions interesting names

If they don't go with Smythe, Norris, Adams, and Patrick someone needs to stab Bettman in the eye with a skate. Actually someone should do that right now.

[Bunk]

No, that's just wrong. Tradition or not, naming divisions after owners is just too self felating for me.


Would you want to have a Bettman Division 50 years from now? (I know he's not an owner, but you get the idea)

[HaemishM]

I hope they give the divisions interesting names

If they don't go with Smythe, Norris, Adams, and Patrick someone needs to stab Bettman in the eye with a skate. Actually someone should do that right now.

I firmly endorse both the naming options and the stabbing part.