Official 2013 NHL Regular Season Thread

[batdad]

His seniority in Buffalo was only 1 year shorter than my oldest child's life. And he graduates from high school next year. Insane. Average life of active NHL head coaches just dropped dramatically.

[Loosie]

Rick DiPietro has been placed on waivers: http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu ... more-51239

Best line of the article? :

The intention is to call up Kevin Poulin and send DiPietro to AHL Bridgeport in order to get him some work, unless of course he’s claimed on HAHAHAHA oh we can’t even finish that one.

So for those keeping count, The Isles will now be paying two goalies a combined 8+ million to NOT play for thier team. If they weren't they would not be reaching the cap floor.

[bruins72]

Actually, they don't have to pay Tim Thomas. He's sitting out because he wants to sit out. He's not getting paid. If he were injured or sent to the minors, he'd be getting paid. He was acquired purely to keep them at the cap floor.

[philou21]

I honestly never thought the Isles would do that someday but at the same time it isn't a surprise at all.

Taylor Hall will have a meeting with the NHL for is knee to knee on Clutterbuck. I don't think Hall did this on purpose though.

[batdad]

RDP makes more money per NHL game played over the last 5 years than Sidney Crosby. Wow. And it only keeps going up as he does not play. 8 more years baby. Well...no..amnesty buyout on its way.

[philou21]

I don't know what's happening with the Rags but they are really a bad team right now. I saw yesterday why they are last for the PP in the NHL, that was just awful.

Marleau scored but San Jose lost again. They are 1-9 at their last 10 games.

[Círyatan]

Marleau scored but San Jose lost again. They are 1-9 at their last 10 games.

Jumbo and Benn had a pretty good fight in that game.



I watched the NYI – BUF game yesterday, and boy are the Sabres weak. Kind of wish Ruff got a job putting the young Islanders team straight though.

[philou21]

Yeah I heard about it but didn't had the chance to watched it. Thanks for the link!

[batdad]

That is two fights for Jumbo in the last 4 games....not a thing that is going to help San Jose win. He needs to stay away from that. Must be really frustrated though. Rangers---Overpaid bums. Just like always.

[philou21]

Yeah that's what I'm thinking about the Rags. Mario Tremblay who coached Gaborik back in Minnesota said that he is the type of guy that when it's not going the way he wants he stops working and try to let his talent talk instead. The seasons gonna be long for Tortorella, I laughed so bad seeing his face behind the bench in the third period yesterday. I think some players will be deaf soon.

[batdad]

Mario Tremblay? Nothing that comes out of his mouth is believable. He is such a poor judge of talent. gabby is not a grunt guy...never will be, and Tremblay tried to make him play that way...so of course he sucked for Tremblay. For Lemaire he was fine, and for Torts he has just been okay. Injuries are really doing him in...he is not as fast as he once was.

And the Rags keep getting blueline injuries. And Nash has been playing hurt and now sitting. Richards is in one of his off years. Those are regular for him

[philou21]

Ben Bishop was amazing yesterday against MTL. I don't know if he will keep the pace though.

[philou21]

Cole has just been traded to Dallas for Micheal Ryder. I know Cole didn't had a nice season so far but Bergevin was quick on the trigger on this one.

[Danny]

Good trade for Le Habs, too bad, I really like Ryder

[philou21]

The NHL showed up the new conference/divisions for next year too. Detroit and Columbus in the east and Winnipeg goes to the west. I'm going the hate the Wings so much more from now on. I can't stand to see them play more often.

[YZG]

Well, they're discussing it, but it's not confirmed.

It makes a little more sense, as far as time zones go, but... I'm not sure. Four divisions is a good idea. Detroit and Columbus in the east makes sense geographically. Columbus is near Pittsburgh, so the league might want to develop a rivalry between the two; the Jackets badly need to stop sucking before any rivalry with anyone can develop, though.

The two fewer teams in the West are a wide open door for an (unneeded) expansion... Seattle and KC, perhaps?

[batdad]

Cole---WHINER COMPLAINER in Montreal re everything. Needed out and a new place. Ray Whitney and Cole are buddies. Montreal wants to save cap $ for future, and Ryder is UFA end of year. Cole has 2 more. MOntreal gets another pick ...6 in first 3 rounds this year.

Dallas hoping Cole in new scene and Whitney chemistry is same as was in Carolina.

[Primis]

Well, they're discussing it, but it's not confirmed.

It makes a little more sense, as far as time zones go, but... I'm not sure. Four divisions is a good idea. Detroit and Columbus in the east makes sense geographically. Columbus is near Pittsburgh, so the league might want to develop a rivalry between the two; the Jackets badly need to stop sucking before any rivalry with anyone can develop, though.

Chicago fans are crying Foul at this because of losing DET as a rival, but DET fans could care less. DET doesn't really have "rivals" at this time, and quite frankly the only one they had before the Wings-Avs one back in the day was the Leafs.... and they are in the East now.

Truth is it's ridiculous that DET has been in the West this long. I get whining and griping about travel for DAL and such, but... can you imagine traveling 3 timezones in the playoffs to play within your conference? No, noone else can, because Columbus doesn't ever make the playoffs, and no other Western teams are in the Eastern timezone. Stay up until 10:30pm on a weeknight to watch the START of Game 1 or 3? Wings fans have been doing this, and doing it for over two decades straight now. And that's just for the playoffs... it's a very unique situation. The league had to do something to fix all the late local start times for Wings fans.

At this point, the CBS move is desperation: relocation talk is ramping up, unless they can latch on with a PIT as a rival possibly to go along with DET, they're probably toast.


Truth is I wish they'd abolish the geographical-centrism altogether. I want those New England and Beltway teams to find out what travel actually is (hint, it's not a 1 hour drive). I'd like to see the Canadian teams all in a pod, maybe a Northern pod, a Central pod, and a Southern pod, with all timezones represented in each pod. Then not only will the Canadians shut up about a Canadian division finally, but some of the lovely owners like Jacobs and Dolan get to find out what real travel is and what it's like.

[Danny]

Stay up until 10:30pm on a weeknight to watch the START of Game 1 or 3? .

It's not like this will be an issue for the Wings in the foreseeable future.
It's not the Eastern teams problem there's not enough support for NHL franchises out West, deal with timezone issues and quit whining, the players aren't travelling in buses from the 70s but in first class planes. If you're a fan you will stay up till 10 to watch a playoff game, I don't see the problem. I need to stay up till 1 over here in Europe.

[batdad]

Meh. SOME Hawks fans...Many are just excited that they are going to get what Vancouver has had for the last 10 years (at least in minds of Hawk fans) .....AN EASY CONFERENCE. With only St Loser as they call it to worry about.

Detoilet basically has not been a rival really...since the early days. Sure a little when the young Hawks were start ups a few years ago. But not really. VANCOUVER is the franchise that Hawk fans now hate en masse. And the reverse is true as well. hawks-Nucks is the rivalry that is the most intense in the NHL right now (Save for Pit - Philly of course).

Detoilet since original 6 and Chicago have never really been rivals. When Chicago sucked, Detoilet was good. When Detoilet sucked Chicago was good.They never really go at it in the playoffs.


Now...as for this proposal, which is all it is. This is the best and smartest thing the NHL could do to balance travel in some way shape or form. I see your post Danny....and yeah...they need to quit making excuses. IF LA can win the cup so can any Western team.

But....that being said...the FINANCIAL issues around the difference in travel are huge...not the competitive advantages. In business together? Or not?...going to even out the bills a bit as well as the revenues?

That is where the impetus should be to make things more equal....Eastern teams with slightly increased travel? And who is whining there? Guess what? The Eastern teams...shut up as well and deal with it. This is the fair way to go about things.

Travel will never completely equal out.....just geography tells you that. But fair and equitable playing fields should be established in both the business and competitive environment, and this realignment makes things a little bit better.

And if you miss your rival? Make the playoffs and get them in the semi final or final. Quit whining and deal.


Edited to add what I forgot. This is the smartest thing the NHL has come up with in the Buttman era. Which means exactly what you and I think it means...it will get kicked to the curb and never see the light of day.

[Danny]

That is where the impetus should be to make things more equal....Eastern teams with slightly increased travel? And who is whining there? Guess what? The Eastern teams...shut up as well and deal with it. This is the fair way to go about things.

Don't see how this makes a difference one way or the other. Travel is merely an excuse, and even then, mostly used by fans, not players. It's stupid. It's not like we're talking about flights around half the world economy class. Couldn't care less if my team has to travel more, if that makes whiners happy then meh, whatever, you're not gonna win or lose a Cup based on this. Evening out the bills ? Disagree, again, not NY's problem there wasn't enough interest and support for NHL teams in the West back in the day, but whatever, fair enough. I guess I just hate this enforced parity BS (high draft picks for losers and tankers is another issue) and this stupid socialist ideology behind the NHL. And I consider myself a treehugging lefty. I don't give a darn about growing the game either, stupid bandwaggoners can stick to stupid sports like Am Football, baseball or Basketball, wouldn't mind if half the franchises folded.
Not a fan of divisional playoffs, which I've heard is the way they want to go, and I hate the wildcard playoff proposal. Some divisions are tougher than others, and a couple of years down the road it's the other way round. Deal with it.

Now I noticed I went full batdad on that post. I'm getting old and grumpy.

[batdad]

Yes competitively it is an excuse. I stated that. If LA, Edm, Cal, Col, Dal, Ana....can win the cup with nearly as much (or more) travel than any other team in the west....(actually Detoilet is 3 or 4 I believe)..than it is just that. I said that above.

It is not about the mileage for me. It is about the $. Imagine how much more $ in the pockets of the NHL if they decrease Western travel for teams like Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary who make $ hand over fist. And for those who have good attendance/fans south of the border in the west as well like San Jose.

Increasing by minor amounts the travel for Eastern teams somewhat offsets the extra $, but not totally. Fuel, maintenance, expenses re flying in the west is more expensive (and still will be in many ways for Vancovuer re longer California flights) but for others it totally makes sense and increases the $ available in the show.

And like I said...it won't go through because the Eastern owners think like you Danny, only about their own teams....not about the good of the league.

Stop whining about change Danny. CHange is good. I mean do you not want to BOO VANCOUVER every year when they come to Boston?

[philou21]

I don't care about travelling either. It sucks for the players at some point when they have to take the plane 4 times in one week. Sleeping in planes isn't the best way to rest between games but I've never heard players whining about it, its part of their job.

One thing I disagree with Danny though is that it really sucks to have games at 10 pm or 10,30 but hey, what can we do about it? We can't change a timezone because of a hockey game. If some people like Danny have no life and can stay awake till 1AM in Europe to watch their game good for them but if someone who have a life and works at 7AM and is favorite team is playing at 10,30, well, go to sleep and watch it tomorrow.

[batdad]

Philou---What the heck are you worried about? Your Habs play all there games back east. It is funny...the eastern fan complains about having to stay up late to watch West games. The west complains about how the Eastern games are too early (430 here) and we cannot get home to watch them in time from work.

But yea...who really cares? I like the new idea for conferences....save for

1. Wild card thing--I don't get it.
2. Danny not liking it...I really want him to. Nah..who gives a rat.

[Danny]

I don't care about travelling either. It sucks for the players at some point when they have to take the plane 4 times in one week. Sleeping in planes isn't the best way to rest between games but I've never heard players whining about it, its part of their job.

One thing I disagree with Danny though is that it really sucks to have games at 10 pm or 10,30 but hey, what can we do about it? We can't change a timezone because of a hockey game. If some people like Danny have no life and can stay awake till 1AM in Europe to watch their game good for them but if someone who have a life and works at 7AM and is favorite team is playing at 10,30, well, go to sleep and watch it tomorrow.

Well I do work full time and somehow I manage it Surely I must be some sort of genius. Although I did lose the battle for watching games every night against my better half so now I'm only allowed to watch Bruins games live
Don't see the problem of going to bed at 1 and getting up at 6 or 7. I'm not a fan of getting up early either but it's not like those are inhumane conditions. If you're a fan you try to somehow work the games into your schedule, we're talking about a combined 10 hours on average a week here, not 40 or 60.

And like I said...it won't go through because the Eastern owners think like you Danny, only about their own teams....not about the good of the league.

Stop whining about change Danny. CHange is good. I mean do you not want to BOO VANCOUVER every year when they come to Boston?

I don't necessarily dislike the new divisions (except for divisional playoffs and this wild card thingy if they come), I don't think I ever said anything negative about the realigned groups per se, I just dislike the motive behind it. I'm not against changes either. Changes are neither good nor bad, it always depends on what's changing. I do hate the idea of enforcing parity though. We could spin it even further if you want to create an even playing field in terms of $. Should there be a different cap for Montreal than for Florida since the taxes are higher in Quebec ? Should there be a higher cap for the Oilers because nobody wants to play there and they need to offer more money ? Following the logic of balancing yes.

Philou---What the heck are you worried about? Your Habs play all there games back east

He's NOT a LEHABS FAN