NHL '12/'13 Thread

[Jagger69]

should have kept bishop instead of trading him to ottawa!

I don't agree with that at all. It's not like Halak and Elliott should both suddenly just lose their level of talent. Under the right conditions, the Blues are rock-solid in goal (hell, they led the league in goals-against last year....what more could you want?). Truth is, and after watching them totally melt down last night by coughing up the game to LA 6-4 after leading 4-2 after 2 periods, it's clear that the entire team has lost its confidence. You want strong goaltending? Start with a strong and confident bunch of d-men and forwards in front of them. Right now, we ain't got none of that. This entire season is starting to make me physically ill I think. I think I should just go back to the AHL and my beloved Aeros and wait for baseball season to start.

 

[Straight Shooter]

My Hawks keep the streak alive with a win tonight. I'm running out of words to describe this team. Unbelievable!

 

[Marlo Manson]

My Hawks keep the streak alive with a win tonight. I'm running out of words to describe this team. Unbelievable!

The only thing I like about the win tonight is my favorite Black Hawk got the winning goal, otherwise enough already gotdamnit!! lose already!! :hairpull:

 

[lurkingdirk]

The only thing I like about the win tonight is my favorite Black Hawk got the winning goal, otherwise enough already gotdamnit!! lose already!! :hairpull:

Haha. I understand your frustration, but I do have to say that this streak is nothing but good for ratings in the middle of the country. What fun to watch!

 

[BAYAMONXXX]

Let's Go Redskins!

 

[Moonchild22]

Let's Go Redskins!

No, no. This is the Redskins logo. Don't you know anything?!

 

[Moonchild22]

By the way, anything that forces ESPN to talk about hockey is worthy of respect. I just turned on Sportscenter (nothing else is on right now) and damned if I didn't see "Blackhawks Winning Streak" in the left column. When does that network ever whisper a word about hockey?
Hockey needs big things to happen to get over that slump and get more exposure, gettting casual sports fans talking and the Hawks are carrying the flag right now.
So if you hate the Blackhawks and want the streak to end, just know that this is about something bigger than just this one team, even though they are the ones under the spotlight, it's about getting more people excited about the game.

 

[Marlo Manson]

Haha. I understand your frustration, but I do have to say that this streak is nothing but good for ratings in the middle of the country. What fun to watch!

I know, I know.. but part of my die-hard Red Wings fan mentality / hate the Black Hawks spite is getting in the way and telling me to curse them and hope they lose 10 straight, and the other half if is saying wow this is great to watch cuz you always want too see who and how their gonna win night in and night out; and I'm sure theirs a good chance a lot of would be casual NHL :bandwagon: fans might be getting hooked on hockey so its good for the NHL to have the Black Hawks keep winning. :uohs: :eek:

By the way, anything that forces ESPN to talk about hockey is worthy of respect. I just turned on Sportscenter (nothing else is on right now) and damned if I didn't see "Blackhawks Winning Streak" in the left column. When does that network ever whisper a word about hockey?
Hockey needs big things to happen to get over that slump and get more exposure, getting casual sports fans talking and the Hawks are carrying the flag right now.
So if you hate the Blackhawks and want the streak to end, just know that this is about something bigger than just this one team, even though they are the ones under the spotlight, it's about getting more people excited about the game.

Yeah I know allot of people are now rooting for, or rooting against, but taking notice and watching the Black Hawks during this streak. I hope we are getting a lot of casual fans to become addicted too hockey / the NHL... I don't know if the NHL will ever really challenge the NFL, MLB but if the NHL can keep pace with or become more popular then the NBA I'm all for it. Not that I don't like the NBA which comes in 3rd or 4th in my list of the major 4 sports, I am not really a die-hard NFL fan cuz I am without a team to root for. and the NBA is a couple of great / superior teams surrounded by a bunch of lousy teams. :2 cents:

 

[STDiva]

I want the streak to continue until they play Detroit again. If Colorado beat them, I was going to jump off a bridge.

 

[Marlo Manson]

I want the streak to continue until they play Detroit again. If Colorado beat them, I was going to jump off a bridge.

lol... @ this point I don't give a fuck who beats them 1st as long as they FINALLY lose. hell if its the next time they play Detroit the BlackHawks might be like 31 - 0 - 3 by then or some unbreakable record never to be touched again. :eek: cuz they don't play each other again until 3/31 and its only 3/7, so we really need them to start losing if the are gonna have any chance of getting a top 4 seed or they might not even make the playoffs @ all this year. :uohs:

 

[whalers90]

FUCK ESPN!!!!!!! who gives a fuck if they don't cover the nhl for a 45 second segment in an hour long show!!!! espn is just about catch phrases and clueless anchors!!! how can a top 10 highlight of the week be a basketball dunk? how can 7 of the top 10 plays...PLAYS be a simple uncontested-undefended basketball dunk?
since epsn is in bed with the NBA- they have to dedicate 85% of their shows to basketball
i stopped going to ESPN for sports news years ago ...i have the NHL,MLB,NFL,NBA networks ...i'll get my info from the source not some show that thinks a dunk is a highlite!

 

[Moonchild22]

FUCK ESPN!!!!!!! who gives a fuck if they don't cover the nhl for a 45 second segment in an hour long show!!!! espn is just about catch phrases and clueless anchors!!! how can a top 10 highlight of the week be a basketball dunk? how can 7 of the top 10 plays...PLAYS be a simple uncontested-undefended basketball dunk?
since epsn is in bed with the NBA- they have to dedicate 85% of their shows to basketball
i stopped going to ESPN for sports news years ago ...i have the NHL,MLB,NFL,NBA networks ...i'll get my info from the source not some show that thinks a dunk is a highlite!

Of course ESPN is a crap network run by monkeys but if you were responding to my mentioning of that channel, then that's not the point. The point is that more "mainstream" exposure helps the league. The specialty networks (NHL, NBA, etc.) are best for getting the in-depth info as well as some select games, but it only attracts those who are already fans, so it does little to help the sport grow. We may hate ESPN until the day we die, but the exposure is good for hockey.
I just turned on ESPNews and they were talking about hockey (mostly Blackhawks of course) for a good 10 minutes. That still isn't a lot but it's a nice change.

 

[HS47]

By the way, anything that forces ESPN to talk about hockey is worthy of respect. I just turned on Sportscenter (nothing else is on right now) and damned if I didn't see "Blackhawks Winning Streak" in the left column. When does that network ever whisper a word about hockey?

Usually only when something negative happens like a goon injuring somebody on purpose or when there are 300 penalty minutes in a game then they have a reason to bash it (sigh)

Anyway, today there is a big game between the Rangers and Islanders, both teams right now fighting for playoff spots. Islanders need to be more consistent, they actually have some good offense this season but they can't get points consistently. If they can win tonight hopefully that gives them some serious momentum

 

[Marlo Manson]

Ahh I don't really count on ESPN for my NHL but if I recall back in the day ESPN used to broadcast NHL games and then the TV contract expired and they couldn't come to term on a new deal. anyway I don't mind ESPN sportscenter I don't watch it much but I kind of like it, I am a fan of Stuart Scott he's a staple of ESPN.. I don't care about what they have on SC I love the dunks, MLB, NFL, College FootBall, College Basketball coverage, maybe it was the NHL who alienated ESPN so, ESPN only reports bare minimum that there required too on covering the NHL unless there is somekind of MAJOR NHL story that they have to cover. I :dunno: just adding my :2 cents: there are plenty of shows designated for each sport nowadays I don't rely on SC like did back in the day.

On another note I was watching the local news here in Detroit and their reporting that the NHL re-alignment has been approved and only needs to be signed off on by the Board of Governors which would make this the last year Detroit will be playing in the Western Conference and the earlier named teams that they'd be grouped with are the same teams they'd share a division with. Which means that its a lot more of PHILLY, CROSBY, OVECHKIN, MONTREAL, TORONTO and BOSTON!! Detroit will be forced to get bigger / tougher!!! if they don't they'll get dominated... FINALLY their will be a bigger / Tougher DETROIT team again in the near future!!! :nanner:

 

[Jagger69]

ESPN's broadcasts with Gary Thorne and Bill Clement were terrific. The loss of that TV deal has hurt the NHL badly.

 

[Moonchild22]

As expected, there are good points and bad points to the approved realignment.
Good for Detroit and Columbus for moving to the eastern conference, since they are in the eastern timezone.
Bad for Chicago as far as being the only Original 6 team stuck in the west, which realistically won't change for a long time, if ever.
Good for Winnipeg to get out of the southeast conference to reduce the ridiculous travel distances.
Bad for Tampa and Florida because now they have the same far-travel issue that Winnipeg currently has. They shouldn't have to be in the northeast division when they're so far south, but the eastern cities are so close together that I guess it made sense to keep them together, forcing the Lightning and Panthers to go around. I don't foresee any other southeastern states getting an NHL team so their out of luck.

 

[STDiva]

Buffalo and Columbus should switch divisions with each other. Buffalo and the NY teams together is just too much sense. Detroit and Columbus should be good as it could build on the Michigan/Ohio hate. And I doubt Tampa and Florida are complaining about their travel when they get 4 original 6 teams coming to town 8 times (or whatever it will be) a year each. $$$

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

The Wild's new division situation works for me. It's about as logical as it could be. Now...just BRING BACK THE NORTH STARS NAME FOR FUCK'S SAKE and we can get those old Norris Division rivals back legitimately.

ESPN's broadcasts with Gary Thorne and Bill Clement were terrific. The loss of that TV deal has hurt the NHL badly.

The good old days - NHL2Nite was best with John Buccigross, Melrose and Chicken Parm.

 

[Jagger69]

The Wild's new division situation works for me. It's about as logical as it could be. Now...just BRING BACK THE NORTH STARS NAME FOR FUCK'S SAKE and we can get those old Norris Division rivals back legitimately.

Amen to that, amigo! I have mentioned the fact that the name "Stars" is actually a perversion of their original name to Dallas fans and most of them look at me with a blank stare. I would LOVE to see the North Stars come back. Awesome logo and unis (although the Wild colors are great too....a bit Christmas-like but nice colors anyway). The Blues-North Stars rivalry was as serious as they come!

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Amen to that, amigo! I have mentioned the fact that the name "Stars" is actually a perversion of their original name to Dallas fans and most of them look at me with a blank stare. I would LOVE to see the North Stars come back. Awesome logo and unis (although the Wild colors are great too....a bit Christmas-like but nice colors anyway). The Blues-North Stars rivalry was as serious as they come!

The Dallas Stars should have been named the "South Stars" or "Lone Stars," but I think Norm just was a bitch like that. He probably had the right to the name which might be why we are stuck with the now worst name in pro sports. And for sure the North Stars unis are among the greatest the league has known. :crying: