Ice Hockey Fans in the Playground!!

[Chunklets]

Hooray - it is that time again, and none too soon!

You may consider this your thread to discuss all elements of sport of ice hockey! And I'll start things out here with a bold Stanley Cup prediction; you may now write down and take to the bank that Pittsburgh will win the Cup, defeating Vancouver in the final. So now you know!

Anyway, I don't mean for this to be merely an NHL thread - feel free to discuss minor pros, European leagues, college and junior hockey, and so on!

As you may gather from the avatar, or remember from previous years' IHFitP threads, I'm an Oilers fan. My hopes for this season are that it will be better than last season. This should not be hard. Seriously, though, I think it's going to be a long season for the Oil and their fans, although we will have the undisputed pleasure of watching Mssrs Hall, Paajarvi, and Eberle learn the game. This year it's all about looking to future, and having some small hope that good things will be there!

I'd also like to take this opportunity to say "yo" to any Playgrounding hockey fans in Oklahoma. I'm actually quite excited to see how the Barons get along this season! Just remember that you have to give Linus Omark back at some point...

Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing from fellow hockey fans!

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

So, they closed down major streets in Toronto for the Leafs game! Leafs are totally going to win the cup today!

Yeah.

No.

God, I don't understand Leafs games, and I LIVE in Toronto! (Everyone knows the Habs are the way to go)

[Chunklets]

God, I don't understand Leafs games, and I LIVE in Toronto! (Everyone knows the Habs are the way to go)

The Habbies have always been my second team, but I'm not foreseeing great things for them this season. I worry about Carey Price's mental state... Hopefully they can prove me wrong!

[Walrus]

I think the Leafs are going to surprise some people this season. With solidified goaltending and a bit more scoring punch in the forwards, I wouldn't be surprised if they pushed for a playoff spot. Unless they get an injury, then they're in trouble.

I don't have a lot of confidence in the Habs this season. The treatment that Carey Price is getting from the fans is probably going to crush his confidence and ensure that Pierre Gauthier looks like an idiot by the end of the season (especially since he moved the Habs' best goalie prospect in the AHL, Cedric Desjardins, to Tampa).

I have a mostly unfounded optimism that the Oilers might be able to pull something like the Avalanche did last year and sneak into the playoffs, but realistically I think they'll probably be in the chase for the 8th place spot until the last couple of weeks. I also don't expect Hall to be the best of the rookies. Long-term? Maybe. But this season? I think Paajarvi and Eberle's experience is going to result in them being able to adapt to the NHL more easily.

[CynicalAvocado]

i was a block away from the riots when the avalanches won the stanley cup a few years back

[Ravens_cry]

Still a Canucks hoper. We may not win, we may have never won, but someday, it's bound to happen, right? Right?!
Go play Hockey like it's 1994, again! Only better!

[CynicalAvocado]

i'm divided between the CO avalanche and the NJ devils

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Canucks, Leafs, Oilers, Habs, I don't care, as long as whoever wins is Canadian! (Unless they're the Sen's. I have a completely irrational hate-on for the Sen's)

[CynicalAvocado]

speaking of canadia, who else won money off the Canada/America game in the olympics?

[snoopy13a]

Still a Canucks hoper. We may not win, we may have never won, but someday, it's bound to happen, right? Right?!
Go play Hockey like it's 1994, again! Only better!

I'm a Rangers fan. We did play better

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

speaking of canadia, who else won money off the Canada/America game in the olympics?

Yup. The one American girl wouldn't talk to us for weeks, because she was expecting us to be gloating, and we were merely condescending.
That was one helluva game.

[CynicalAvocado]

Yup. The one American girl wouldn't talk to us for weeks, because she was expecting us to be gloating, and we were merely condescending.
That was one helluva game.

hell, my classmates hated me because i put money on a country that wasn't mine... actually..... the hate may have been justified.... oh well ben franklin and his 3 twins dont mind.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

hell, my classmates hated me because i put money on a country that wasn't mine... actually..... the hate may have been justified.... oh well ben franklin and his 3 twins dont mind.

... which bill has Franklin on it?

Oh, and I was overexaggerating a touch. She was just a touch bitter for a day or two. It was a real nice touch that it was Crosby who finished though.

Also: My best friend and I got that NHL video game, and played a Canada Olympics team vs the Habs Centenial team, a team which had every best player the Habs ever got on it. We just spent the entire game trying to get Crosby to fight le Rochet. We never did manage it.

[CynicalAvocado]

... which bill has Franklin on it?

Oh, and I was overexaggerating a touch. She was just a touch bitter for a day or two. It was a real nice touch that it was Crosby who finished though.

Also: My best friend and I got that NHL video game, and played a Canada Olympics team vs the Habs Centenial team, a team which had every best player the Habs ever got on it. We just spent the entire game trying to get Crosby to fight le Rochet. We never did manage it.

the 100 dollar one

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

the 100 dollar one

You won $400 dollars? Man, I only won 10, but that's cause only the one girl would bet against Canada.

[CynicalAvocado]

You won $400 dollars? Man, I only won 10, but that's cause only the one girl would bet against Canada.

you underestimate the stupidity of my classmates. hell, there was one guy who said america would win because we were americans...(i'll let you figure that one out)

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

you underestimate the stupidity of my classmates. hell, there was one guy who said america would win because we were americans...(i'll let you figure that one out)

That is very special. That is quite special. Do they think that America will win the Stanley as well? That'll show the Russian team, eh?

[CynicalAvocado]

That is very special. That is quite special. Do they think that America will win the Stanley as well? That'll show the Russian team, eh?

gotta love rednecks. honestly though, i think the devils might do it this year

[KerfuffleMach2]

I'm not a big fan of hockey, but I'll watch the odd game. And, I support my home team, the Red Wings. And, I'm going to make the prediction that they'll make it to the playoffs again. As they have for the past 19 years.

speaking of canadia, who else won money off the Canada/America game in the olympics?

I find it funny that two of the coaching staff for Canada in that game were connected to the Red Wings. As were a couple players.

[kyoryu]

i'm divided between the CO avalanche and the NJ devils

Goalie fan, by any chance?

Still a Canucks hoper. We may not win, we may have never won, but someday, it's bound to happen, right? Right?!
Go play Hockey like it's 1994, again! Only better!

You got rid of Crawford and Bertuzzi, so sure, fine :)

[Ravens_cry]

I'm a Rangers fan. We did play better

Still was an awesome series for us Canuckleheads, and was in fact the one that got me interested in Hockey to begin with.
Ooh, the tension when your a kid and watching the series on a fuzzy rabbit ears set tuned to the CBC.

you underestimate the stupidity of my classmates. hell, there was one guy who said america would win because we were americans...(i'll let you figure that one out)

Oh, wow. Takes all kinds, eh?

[Don Julio Anejo]

Still a Canucks hoper. We may not win, we may have never won, but someday, it's bound to happen, right? Right?!
Go play Hockey like it's 1994, again! Only better!

Dude, word choice! "Still" ?? This is pretty much the year to be a Canucks hoper, very much NOT a season to barely hold on to hope

Anyway... I'm half more excited about the players than the team itself this year. Not much else to say for now since I'm running off to school, although Hamhuis looked damn good in the preseason, it sucks we didn't sayng B-Mo (that's Brendan Morrison for you), even if it's true we didn't have a place to fit him, other than as a temp winger on the 2nd/3rd lines until Burrows comes back.

Oh, and the LA team looks like a beast. I was jumping with joy when they *didn't* sign Kovalchuk!

[Joran]

Dude, word choice! "Still" ?? This is pretty much the year to be a Canucks hoper, very much NOT a season to barely hold on to hope

Anyway... I'm half more excited about the players than the team itself this year. Not much else to say for now since I'm running off to school, although Hamhuis looked damn good in the preseason, it sucks we didn't sayng B-Mo (that's Brendan Morrison for you), even if it's true we didn't have a place to fit him, other than as a temp winger on the 2nd/3rd lines until Burrows comes back.

Oh, and the LA team looks like a beast. I was jumping with joy when they *didn't* sign Kovalchuk!

As a Capitals fan, we weren't impressed with B-Mo. He started out very strong, then faded a ton after the Olympic break. Our 2nd and 3rd centers are currently a converted winger (who was a converted center) who's Charmin soft and terrible at faceoffs and a rookie.

For Capitals fans, there really isn't much point to the regular season now. We're waiting until the trading deadline, to see who we pick up, and the start of the postseason to see if we can FINALLY get to the Finals.

[Chunklets]

For Capitals fans, there really isn't much point to the regular season now. We're waiting until the trading deadline, to see who we pick up, and the start of the postseason to see if we can FINALLY get to the Finals.

Simply put, the Capitals are a goalie away from contending. Come the deadline, I'd expect them to be sniffing around veteran guys on non-playoff teams (does Dwayne Roloson have another good playoff run in him, or maybe Giguere if Toronto is out of contention?). I think that everything else is in place, though!

And may I just say that Thursday night was very tasty indeed! I could quite easily get used to this!

[Don Julio Anejo]

I was actually very surprised when Caps didn't sign Antti Niemi (although he did go to San Jose who would have been in severe goalie trouble if they didn't sign him, now at least one of the Anti's is likely to carry them).

J.S. Giguere, I'm not sure they could pull off with the cap space and without trading away their future. Roloson (or maybe Khabibulin if they get lucky and Edmonton gets stupid) they can do. But honestly, Varlamov seems better and better so I'd stick with him for now. Although I don't watch very many caps games so I haven't seen him play much.

Anyway, 30 minutes till the puck drops

PS: forgot to say. Daym, Oilers are looking good

[Walrus]

I think any playoff team looking for a goalie at the deadline should take a long hard look at Dwayne Roloson. Can he replicate his '06 performance with the Oilers? Maybe, maybe not. But a team like the Capitals has so much talent that they really just need their goalie not to lose them games. Maybe steal one or two.

Also, any guesses on how long it'll take for Roloson to be the undisputed #1 in Long Island because Rick DiPietro gets hurt again? I figure mid-November. Maybe December if there's some sort of rotation system.

I could see the Oilers dealing Khabibulin to a contender at the deadline if we're out of the playoff picture by then. Khabibulin's getting old and his contract isn't ideal, and they can call Gerber up from Oklahoma City to finish out the season (or whichever youngster gets sent back down, if they don't get plucked on waivers).

[Chunklets]

J.S. Giguere, I'm not sure they could pull off with the cap space and without trading away their future. Roloson (or maybe Khabibulin if they get lucky and Edmonton gets stupid) they can do. But honestly, Varlamov seems better and better so I'd stick with him for now. Although I don't watch very many caps games so I haven't seen him play much.

You've got a point there about Giguere - he's on a cap hit of $6,000,000 this year. That said, Washington has about 3.3 million in cap space right now, so if they waited until the trade deadline they could afford him, and his contract ends after this year, so the Caps wouldn't have to worry about the $6 million next year.

On the other hand, the way Leafs have started, it's all moot anyway - they could quite easily still be in the playoff picture come the deadline! I've seen both their games so far, and am really surprised at how fast they are.

And may I just say that CapGeek is an awesome site!

I could see the Oilers dealing Khabibulin to a contender at the deadline if we're out of the playoff picture by then. Khabibulin's getting old and his contract isn't ideal, and they can call Gerber up from Oklahoma City to finish out the season (or whichever youngster gets sent back down, if they don't get plucked on waivers).

I think that Khabi's contract will make it difficult to trade him without taking taking a bad contrac back. The cap hit's not bad (3.75 million), especially for a late-season deal, but he's two more seasons to go on that thing after this one. That may make some teams back off. That, and the way he's started this season, I'm not sure I want the Oil to trade him! I mean, as fun as Thursday was, last night was a humbling return to reality. The Oilers had no business winning that game.

I think you're dead right on Gerber - I won't be surprised at all to see him in Edmonton at some point this season.

PS: forgot to say. Daym, Oilers are looking good

Well, we're 2-0, and let's just leave it at that without going into too much detail about recent games against the Panthers...

I enjoyed the Canucks' "Captaincy Ceremony" on Saturday night - very classy, I thought!

[Walrus]

That game against the Panthers will hopefully turn into a good teaching moment, since the systems play fell apart in the face of what was, to be fair, a superb Florida forecheck.

Also a good lesson that garbage goals are how you win tough games. Apparently the Oilers are finally doing that "bodies in front of the net" thing that they kept saying they needed to do last year.

Has there been any information released on what exactly happened to Ondrej Pavelec in that Thrashers/Caps game? I saw a clip of it and it was pretty bizarre. And must have been terrifying for everybody involved.

[Don Julio Anejo]

And may I just say that CapGeek is an awesome site!

Yes. Yes it is

I think that Khabi's contract will make it difficult to trade him without taking taking a bad contrac back. The cap hit's not bad (3.75 million), especially for a late-season deal, but he's two more seasons to go on that thing after this one. That may make some teams back off.

Eh, most teams will be quite happy if they can pull off a Chicago and then be stuck with too much salary cap the next season.

I enjoyed the Canucks' "Captaincy Ceremony" on Saturday night - very classy, I thought!

Me personally? When I saw that, I wanted Kurtenbach to invite both Henrik and Kesler, then go eeny-meeny-miny-moe and finally hand it to Henrik The way they did it was kinda... bland. Although agreed that it's quite classy, especially with the 40th anniversary ceremony and our first ever captain handing him the jersey.

PS: Panthers is one team I don't understand. They constantly trade away their best players for money, yet each year they come back better than ever. Unfortunately this "better than never" isn't good enough to make the playoffs, but given what they have to work with.. Heck, they peppered Luongo with 42 shots tonight and that forecheck could have made it 3-1 easy at a few points in the game.

But I am very, very happy to see Luongo back to his old 06-07 form

[Indurain]

I'm a lifelong Leafer, and have to say that things are looking better this year...but what else is new. I think I'll save my optimism until we're out of October at least.

Here's my thoughts on some of the other teams we've been discussing:

Oilers: Yeah, the kids are looking good, but probably won't be in playoff contention. But I doubt they'll be in the basement this year.

Canucks: I think I've been saying they'll win (or at least play for) the cup, for the last 4-5 years. This year, I'm not going to, just because I'm sick of being wrong. They have the talent, but there's something about the Playoffs that make the Canucks crumble.

Habs: Carey Price just isn't that good. And until they learn that, they just won't win the cup.

Capitals: Will pick up Carey Price at the trade deadline, and still get eliminated in the second round.

Devils: I hate to say it, but Brodeur is on the downhill, and until they get over him, they just won't be cup contenders again. That said, he's still my favourite goalie in the NHL.

Just a few thoughts, but I'm excited for this season. I think we'll see a few suprises this year. Cup prediction: Pittsburgh defeats Chicago.