NHL 2012 - 2013

[Abagadro]

That was a crazy last 90 seconds.  You could just see it after the equalizer that they had a good shot at it.

[Ginaz]

Suck it Boston!  Suck it hard!

[murdoc]

[Shannow]

 

[Bunk]

DOESN'T FEEL SO GOOD, DOES IT BOSTON? 

:)

[RhyssaFireheart]

WHOOO!!!

[Ceryse]

I would have preferred Boston to win it (mainly because of Jagr, honestly), but I bet on the Hawks in that last game. Bergeron is probably the player I came out of the playoffs respecting the most, even before his game six efforts with a broken rib, torn cartilage and muscles in his ribs and a separated shoulder. He lost, but that shows a lot. Of course, its looking like more than half of each team was playing hurt.

[Bunk]

If the last few years have shown us anything, it's that the NHL Playoffs are fucking brutal on a player's body.

I actually don't hate all of the Bruins. I'll give Bergeren plenty of credit and watching Jagr again was kind of fun. But as a team, they can lick scrotum. My dislike for that team was enough to make me cheer for the damn Blackhawks. Except for Duncan Keith, fuck that asshole.

[WayAbvPar]

If the last few years have shown us anything, it's that the NHL Playoffs are fucking brutal on a player's body.

I actually don't hate all of the Bruins. I'll give Bergeren plenty of credit and watching Jagr again was kind of fun. But as a team, they can lick scrotum. My dislike for that team was enough to make me cheer for the damn Blackhawks. Except for Duncan Keith, fuck that asshole.

Yeah I felt no joy in Chicago winning, but  some grim satisfaction that Boston lost. Here's hoping Torterella can propel this team to a Cup before they all die or quit listening to his bullshit.

[Paelos]

Blackhawks win it all. Calling it now. 

 

Good job Chicaaahhhhhgo. Good job!

[Speedy Cerviche]

Although he played a minor part, I feel happy for Ray Emery. He was run out of town in Ottawa and then had serious back problems, he was told he'd never play hockey again. Now there is Ray-Ray hoisting the cup.

[Special J]

I'm glad for Emery.  When he was starting Ottawa, his rockstar swagger rubbed some people the wrong way but I liked it.  He did eventually let it get to his head though. By the time they bought him out, there were problems in that room that involved him, but hardly just him.

But he did give me this, and I'll always be grateful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49sqgSv5SE0


EDIT:  Flyers buyout Bryzgalov for $23 million (that means $40mil for two seasons work) and give away the eventual Vezina winner.  What a disaster. 

[Shannow]

I would have preferred Boston to win it (mainly because of Jagr, honestly), but I bet on the Hawks in that last game. Bergeron is probably the player I came out of the playoffs respecting the most, even before his game six efforts with a broken rib, torn cartilage and muscles in his ribs and a separated shoulder. He lost, but that shows a lot. Of course, its looking like more than half of each team was playing hurt.

Turns out he had a punctured lung as well 

My son wore his 'keep calm and Bergeron' shirt to school yesterday...

[Ceryse]

Lung was probably post-game, I believe.

But, still. The guy gets a nod of respect. I've had broken ribs and I'm shaking my head at him playing as well as he did with one. I mean, I can see playing with a broken rib, but playing and being effective -- even with freezing? Guy earned his paycheck.

[Strazos]

EDIT:  Flyers buyout Bryzgalov for $23 million (that means $40mil for two seasons work) and give away the eventual Vezina winner.  What a disaster. 

I agree, but for different reasons. This past season cannot be blamed on Bryzgalov, IMO - the team in front of him played like utter garbage more than half the time. Same for the Devils series last year if you want to go back further. I'm not so sure blowing that kind of money was the right move. I think they're going to take the entirely wrong lessons from this, and now we have to hope Mason works out.

In addition, Bob had his shot in PHL - I loved the guy, but he wasn't going to get a Vezina with the Flyers. Perhaps I didn't see him play enough, but I didn't see him doing anything quite Vezina worthy, though he gets loads of credit for helping the Blue Jackets get to the playoffs.

On the bright side, I'm done here in October and will be in the US until at least June 2014, so I can actually watch games consistently this year.

Also:

Chicago, because fuck a Boston. 

 

[Ceryse]

Ugh. From the sounds of things.. Gillis is going to fleece MacT. Really hope this very reported Schneider deal doesn't happen.

[Ginaz]

So, draft day today.  Three things I'm interested in seeing: 1) Who Colorado picks first.  I'm thinking MacKinnon but wouldn't be shocked if it was Jones, 2) What is Calgary going to do with their 3 first round picks?  Keep them or make some sort of bundle trade with them to move up?, 3) Other trades for picks.  Who REALLY wants to move up and what are they willing to give up.  Should be interesting.

[Ceryse]

I'm always mainly interested in seeing which players slide the most and which teams go off the board. The sliders in particular tend to be the most fascinating, especially if they were ranked top 10 and slide like a number of them have the pest few years.

[Ginaz]

MacKinnon goes #1.  Lets see if Jones goes 2nd or if Florida goes another direction, maybe Drouin or Barkov.

Edit: Barkov #2.

[Ceryse]

Jones sliding is no surprise given the teams in the top three all needed forwards (and the top two were desperate for centers). Sad for Nashville since they're also desperate for centers. They might trade the pick or take Jones.. but they can't be completely pleased; they were extremely looking forward to getting Barkov.

[Ceryse]

Whelp. As an Oiler fan.. not overly pleased.

[Ginaz]

WTF!!!  Cory Schneider for the Devils #9 pick???  Fuck me.

[Ceryse]

Lou robs Gillis blind and leaves him with his pants down in an alley bent over the trash pile.

Thank god the Oilers didn't bite on that deal.

Now hopefully Vancouver fucks up their pick!

[Ceryse]

So.. Schneider for Bo Horvat.

Hahahahaha.

Oh, god. Thank you Gillis.

[MournelitheCalix]

Lou robs Gillis blind and leaves him with his pants down in an alley bent over the trash pile.

Thank god the Oilers didn't bite on that deal.

Now hopefully Vancouver fucks up their pick!

Honestly I don't know why any team talks to Lou either.  He routinely rapes other teams every time he makes any trades.  Probably the very best GM in the NHL

[Bunk]

On paper, it looks pretty bad, but there were only two alternatives:

 - Buy-out Luongo for like $27 million, and get nothing
 - Trade Luongo for a bag of pucks, and probably have to still eat half his contract.

Gillis painted himself in to a corner, he had 25% of the team salary tied up in two players that can't even be on the ice at the same time. At least here we ended up with an asset out of the deal.

[Ceryse]

The Canucks did okay with the draft itself (although Horvat was picked a bit early for what he is). Gillis screwed himself real good with how it all came together, however. He doesn't actually seem to understand how trades work, at times. Just think, had he not gotten his nose stuck in the air so high, the Canucks could have had Kadri and the first Toronto pick in this draft for Luongo. But Gillis wanted another player in addition to that.

Nevermind keeping the goalie who wanted out, and had been treated pretty poorly by the management/coach the last two years, and trading the goalie you promised your starting job to.

Its a pity Luongo will act like a professional and do his job. I'd love for him to fuck Gillis by demanding he follow through on his promise to trade him.

[Ginaz]

I'm not upset with who the Canucks used the 9th pick.  Horvat is a good player who many have compared to Patrice Bergeron.  If he ends up being close to that, I'll be happy.  I also understand why they traded Schneider and not Luongo.  The owners weren't willing to eat the buyout, esp. for a player that was still, mostly, playing well for the team.  What bothers me was how little Vancouver got and that there were better offers from other teams right up until draft day.  Part of it was they didn't want to trade Schneider to a divisional opponent, I guess.  IMO Gillis should lose his job over this whole situation.  Its his fault the team got saddled with that albatross of a contract that he gave Luongo and then he completely mishandles the how the trade unfolded.

[Shannow]

Marty Broduer drafting his son was pretty cool.

[Shannow]

Seguin traded to Dallas. 

[Ceryse]

Dallas will be interesting this year. Their possible first line (Benn--Seguin--Nichushkin) is a very high risk line. Seguin hasn't proven himself a capable NHL center, much less a first line center, and Nichushkin is the embodiment of high risk-high reward player-type.

The acquisition of Perverly and Horcoff makes them pretty deep down the middle, and as an Oiler fan I was slightly amazed to see the Oilers manage to move Horcoff's contract without eating any cap hit.

[Speedy Cerviche]

Toronto LOL

Nice signing with Clarkson, 7 years, 36$ million. These guys never learn

Feel bad for Ottawa fans, letting Alfredsson walk, real dumb move.

[Ceryse]

Nonis looks like a big idiot.

Buys out his best center (going by advanced stats), pays Bozak about what he's worth, ignoring the fact he's not a #1 center (meaning Toronto doesn't have a #1 center) and gives Clarkson too much money and WAY too much term.

My team has done... okay. Not thrilled with the dollars and term on Ference, but oh well.

Alfie leaving Ottawa is.. a shock. Someone needs a slap there.

[Ginaz]

Well, it looks like now maybe the reason Ottawa didn't re-sign Alfredson was because they were making a move to acquire Bobby Ryan from Anaheim.  Maybe use the money they would have paid Alfie to re-sign Ryan?  Having Ryan probably blunts a lot of the distress Sens fans had about losing Alfie.

Edit: Looks like Jakob Silfverberg, a prospect and a 1st rounder next year going back to the Ducks.

[Ceryse]

Ryan will help Ottawa.. but that's a dear, dear price. If you look at the history of the players involved and the potential with Silfverberg.. I don't think Ottawa comes out as a better team. Ryan will have to step up his game.