The good ol' hockey game

Discussion in 'Whatever' started by ultrakaiju, Sep 20, 2011.

  1. gatchabert

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    The good ol' hockey game
    OMG. The Habs are in the finals!

    But honestly, I don't think they can beat Tampa. Then again, what so I know. I thought Vegas would beat the Habs. The teams seem pretty even but Tampa does have a size advantage. I'm hoping for a Habs victory in 7.
    One of the funniest things this season are those Doritos that say Nacho Decade, and Extra Salty. Freaking hilarious.
     
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  2. gatchabert

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    The good ol' hockey game
    I can just see Chris saying "f*** Gallagher." Hahaha.

    I'm pretty excited about the draft. I'm interested in seeing who teams will protect and who will be on the block for Seattle. I hope the Sharks put Karlsson on the block. I really saw no reason they traded for him.
     
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  3. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    The good ol' hockey game
    Really excited to see this Final series kick off. Yeah, I think I agree that Tampa from outside has the edge, but Montreal has been the underdogs this whole time, really. A full seven game series would be great to see (if it might cause me to pull out all my remaining hair all the same). I am really hoping the Habs at least start off with a strong push. It's been a long time. I mean, okay not as long as for the Leafs, lol, but all the same. I am sure I'll get more than a few puzzled glances walking around London in my jersey today.

    Seattle draft is going to be really interesting to watch, too, agreed.

    Let's drop this puck guys, can't wait!
     
  4. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    So I am guessing since no one posted at the final, there aren't many Tampa fans here? :?:

    Really disappointed Montreal exposed Price. Seattle would be pretty silly to ignore him, and especially after taking the Habs to the Cup final - a bold and fairly insulting move. Not surprised in the least of course that he was willing to waive his no-trade clause; why wouldn't he if your management moans your contract is too much, and they need to protect the 'lesser goalie.' Really a shitty move all around. I know everyone is talking about the cap hit, but c'mon, with his natural ties to the NW, the obvious [though I might want to wish it weren't so] benefit of getting out of a high pressure market like Montreal, and the chance as well to have a real kick at earning a Cup in the next couple years, why would Price do any different? So I will be really sad if/when he leaves for Seattle, but it's a no brainer really, and Bergeron et al. once again shot themselves in the foot.... for really no gain. :| Dang.

    Well, will be interesting to see this new Seattle team in any event.

    P.S. - I am not seeing Suzuki's name on the list (either available or protected) the CBC put out, but would be an extra huge mistake to not foster the young talent which shone through the '21 playoff series'.
     
  5. gatchabert

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    Sadly the Sharks have Erik Karlsson protected. Kevin Labanc is also on the protected list. I think Labanc could score a lot more if paired with a great passer but the thing I don't care for is his lack of discipline (he gets some stupid penalties) and lack of defense. Martin Jones is on the list
    It would be kind of funny if Seattle picks up Price and then wins the cup, like Roy when he went to Colorado. I'm not surprised to see Paul Byron since he was on waivers but the way he played during the post season, along with a few others on the list, might not be a good idea to let them go for basically nothing (as I typed that, I remembered that Seattle can only pick one player).
     
  6. gatchabert

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    That was interesting. Bergevin had Price and Weber unprotected because their medical reports were not ready until after the draft. Kraken picked a lot of names I didn't really recognize but the more notable picks they got were Giordano from the Flames and Eberle from the Isles. A lot of Sharks fans were thinking the Kraken was going to pick Donato or Gambrell (I thought they'd pick Donato) but they went with True who only played a few NHL games. I don't think they will have the success that Vegas had but I also don't think they'll be the worst team in next season. I guess I'm buying one more copy of EA's NHL title (I've been buying it since 1992). This might be the last copy I'll buy until a new expansion, which probably won't be for a good number of years.
     
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  7. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Yeah that was a bit interesting. There were a few reports/hints at Weber's condition (and I think between his injury history and this season you could surmise it) so that one did not come as any surprise to me. I can imagine a likely retirement honestly, after a career anyone would be proud of. Price would be a hard loss for a whole season, not to say the Habs couldn't still make it; they definitely had strong periods through other goalies when Price was down (e.g. Halak) but have certainly had slumps without him backstopping as well (e.g. Condon). I hope it is not major surgery in any case.

    I was thinking much the same thing, Seattle grabbed quite a few names I was unfamiliar with, and so some surprises, but that is not at all to say they weren't the right ones. I could really see them coming out and building a young powerhouse team with strong skilled up-and-comers. Think what just a couple rookies did for franchises like Edmonton. True, I don't think they will have Vegas' success necessarily right out of the gate, but I think that was probably more the exception. It is interesting when you can essentially build an [almost] dream team from scratch and get all the right pieces on the board together, without having to be handcuffed by a couple really long and/or expensive contracts for star players. Bring on the Kraken, I am looking forward to it!
     
  8. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    The good ol' hockey game
    PS - While we are here, I really so enjoyed the new divisions [Coronavirus aside]. I doubt it will be the case, but I would really love to see a return to this, or an adapted version thereof, for the coming seasons. Personally I never bought in to the 'forced' rivalries Bettman et al. were trying to initiate by playing the same "local" team over and over across a season. And by local, I mean Tampa and Montreal, lol. Made a heck of a lot more sense in a final than throughout the season.
     
  9. gatchabert

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    I also liked that they played less games. 80+ games is tough as a viewer but tougher on the players.
     
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  10. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    The good ol' hockey game
    Totally agreed. The NHL schedule is intense, and way too demanding on players these days. There is no question the increased contact and physicality in the modern NHL is a direct lead-in to the high number of injuries (and surgeries) players are seeing. I would be very welcoming of a shorter season, more flexibility for the players, and possibly even extending their already short and exhausting careers. I get salaries can be high, but that is no reason to physically punish them and expect people to take it. And there is really no benefit either, except to duke the stats. Other sports probably roll their eyes when they look towards professional hockey. No one I think would defend this as a better idea, or ask for even more games; and I think there is no argument to be made (as with a lot of the league's decisions) that this is increasing viewership or fanbase. IF anything, I would say the very high number of games played drives down interest in single competitions, and waning across a long season. People can easily be fairweather fans, or drop in and out as they wish throughout a year, and there are always more games to follow. I'd love to see it cut back to a reasonable number, have a slightly shorter or just more spread out season, and drive home the importance of wins (okay, but not to the NFL level maybe... there is definitely a very easy happy medium).
     
  11. gatchabert

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    The good ol' hockey game
    Well, there goes Phil. At least Armia signed. I like the Savard pick up. It should fill the Weber hole. Hoffman might turn out pretty good for Habs and I think Kotkaniemi and Lehkonen have offers so hopefully they will sign. Caufield got an entry level contract which I thought he already had, I guess he didn't. I was never a fan of Perry but watching him play as a veteran almost changes that. Also, I'd never seen anyone skate that slow in the NHL. It's kind of funny.

    Shark signed Reimer since Jones was put on waivers (then signed with the Flyers). Signed Cogliano and Bonino which I like. I wish they'd sign Sorensen and Donato. Really need to get rid of Karlsson, somehow.
     
  12. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    The good ol' hockey game
    Mourning the loss of one of the greats of the game today, Tony Esposito passes away at the age of 78 after battling pancreatic cancer. A Canadien legend-that-wasn't, Esposito's incredible style defending that patch of ice in front of the net will be fondly remembered by many. Beyond Chicago, he of course played such an integral part in the '72 Summit Series. The team of legends on the next plane has drafted another excellent goalie.





    RIP Tony O.

     
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  13. MisterYuck

    MisterYuck Comment King

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    seriously contemplating building a small rink in my side yard this fall. It's extremely tempting.
     
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  14. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    The good ol' hockey game
    Are you sure you don't mean a pool, Andy? This global warming is no joke.

    Looks like Price might actually be back for training camp, or shortly thereafter, which is actually some decent news for a change. Hopefully the surgery sorted out whatever the issues were, but I think it's also really important everyone (athletes included) doesn't rush these things; give it the proper time to heal, and get to 100%... or it can exacerbate and you'll never get there.
     
  15. gatchabert

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    Habs might lose Kotkaniemi to the Canes (for a couple draft picks). KK signed the contract but Habs can try to match it although I don't think they will.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2021
  16. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    And it's officially happened, too. :( Bummed to lose Kotkaniemi, was a fan of his play and think he could have really offered Montreal a lot as he developed in the organisation. Not surprised MB didn't try to keep him, yes the contract offer was huge (and higher than any should be, really) but beyond that Bergeron has shown through all his years there is never any master plan or future team building play here, it is all about the contemporary booksheet.
     
  17. gatchabert

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    On the flip side, Habs get Christian Dvorak. Honestly, not sure how he is. You'd think with the Sharks playing the Coyotes a lot I'd know Dvorak. Well, I only recognize the name but can't even think of how he plays. At this point I might as well root for the Sabres where the only question you have is "Will the team be in last place (again) next season?" My brother is a bit of a Sabres fan since he went to college in Rochester (he introduced me to hockey through a video game and I loved it ever since) so I make fun of the
     
  18. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    I can't after all this time Montreal has finally shown Bergevin the the door. While at the same time I am a bit surprised it took this long. Whatever the inside reasons, I welcome it. They may have gotten to the final last season (and yes, I am still happy that they did) I don't think it was necessarily anything that had his fingerprints on it. Looks like Roy might be a lead candidate, which could prove interesting. Managing and playing are definitely far from the same thing, just like coaching - time and time again that has proven out; but at least a different head up in the office and maybe one not so business focused might be a welcome change. If nothing else new blood and ideas will hopefully bring some life to the organisation.
     
  19. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Mourning the loss of another hockey legend. Guy Lafleur has passed away at the age of 70. While I am not a celebrity chaser by any standards, one of the highlights I can always recall is when a younger me was fortunate enough to sit behind him on a plane. And it all came about due to odd circumstances (being bumped to that flight and another seat). Seeing him walk in and just set himself down, there, so close to me, was a real 'idol' moment. Course I just sat there in silence and let the many get on with his life (as I think you should always do), but it is still a good memory for me. I was sorry to hear about his health problems more recently in life, and now he has left us too soon.



    Quebec hero led a Montreal dynasty in the 1970s with four straight Stanley Cup titles

    We salute you back, Guy. May you rest in peace. :(

     
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  20. gatchabert

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    I'm going to wear my Habs jersey to pick up hockey this coming Friday. I would have worn it three past Friday but found out to late.
     
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  21. burgeranddestroy

    burgeranddestroy Fresh Meat

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    Gotta love a 3OT game, and a backup goalie coming in in 2ot! Playoff hockey is the best.
     
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