NHL 2011-2012: Save-All
Atlantic Division (ingoalmag.com)
Innovation and Re-creation
Innovation:
So our sport is being shown more innovation this season, just in time for the Mayan Apocalypse. R&D camp trying wireless communication, shallow nets for more action, and Brendan Shannahan as head disciplinarian who hopes to: "announce a suspension/ release a video simultaneously explaining what they saw, everything they deliberated and why they settled on that certain sanction." Could be preventative in some cases.
Re-creation:
Need we say it? The return of the Home of the White-Out, Winnipeg, and the return of those pesky Winnipeg Jets, sort of. Atlanta is gone again, having lost another team to Canada, which has to be some kind of record. Here's to the fans, and don't take it lightly, there's a good chance small markets like, say, Quebec City, are watching how you handle your new toy. Anyhow, enjoy! And kudos to the first power play that the Jets start to lull around in the offensive zone and somebody in the crowd yells "SHOOT THAT FOKKER!"
What's going to happen this year?
* Will Phoenix finally get that kick in the ass that Greg Jamison brought to the San Jose Sharks, or will they finally relent and give up on Arizona?
* The Islanders: should they give up on Long Island altogether? Wang's privately financed plan fell through, and the public financed plan fell through as well. When is it time to call it a day?
* New Jersey: Marty's last season, or will he be back for more?
* Florida Panthers: time to jump ship for Seattle?
* Dallas: Strong footing, or still on the slippery melting slope to oblivion?
* Sydney Crosby's head issues, is he following the Lindros path now that he's had concussion problems?
* Vancouver: it burned when they lost, will it be completely destroyed if they win?
* Washington, Philly, Detroit, San Jose, St. Louis: does anybody believe anymore?
* Nashville, Tampa, Boston: keep believing?
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Really looking forward to this year. Hope the Avs don't implode again.
PAR
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For all who live in such times, it is not for them to decide. All we get to decide is what to do with the time given to us
Wings reloaded on the D-line pretty well. Need one more 30+ goal scorer though.
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If Montreal's D can stay healthy this season, I'm predicting big things. 4-6 in the east, and a contender to advance late in the playoffs.
That's a big if, though, given Markov's history.
Also really looking forward to the first year of the Jets. The first Jets home game against MTL will be a must-watch.
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To keep the CF streak alive: CANES FOR THE CUP THIS YEAR!
"THE HELL ASS BALLS." - Prederick, expressing frustration in the time-honored way.
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I am impressed by the LA Kings off season transactions except something that I will mention later.
Getting Mike Richards makes the Kings have one the most potent 1-2 center tandems in the league. Up there with any tandems in the NHL.
Simon Gagne if healthy will make up for losing Ryan Smyth.
One last thing though - Sign Drew Doughty.
Okay, this year the Blues really are going to be awesome.
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"I suggest we imbibe copious amounts of alcohol and just wait for the inevitable blast wave." - Castiel
Steve Nash did that? Dude must love hockey more than I thought.
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Getting my sports nerd hat on... you can tell that I've been sticking to analytical or statistical hockey blogs this summer:
I'm with Dysplastic, hoping for a nice season from the Habs. I'm disappointed they decided to go with Gill as their #4 defenseman (the roster's major weak-point) and didn't pick up a 2-way 3rd-line winger (There were about 10 guys I wanted going into free agency). A little luck with health, some luck with the team shooting percentage (which is not a team-level skill)hopefully regressing, and Cole's addition means things are looking up.
The NorthEast should be really tight at the top. Boston getting Corvo was a very good move and they still have cap-space but their shooting percentage is likely to regress some and Thomas is almost certain not to have another historic season (putting up his career average sv% last season would have cost the Bruins 20 goals or so). I'm not a fan of Buffalo's signings with Leino being the most overrated/overvalued free agent and Erhoff being somewhat overrated but they have a good team and Regier/Ruff are one of the best GM/coach tandems in the NHL. At this point I would say the division is a toss-up.
One final thought. Call me crazy but I think Philadelphia might miss the playoffs, though it comes down to the health of Pronger and Timmonen. Goaltenders are volatile and Bryzgalov is about league-average so you hope he doesn't have a bad year, Giroux is a nice player but I question Briere's ability to handle top-6 opposition, and Simmonds and Voracek aren't going to come close to replacing Richards/Carter (Though Voracek is quite good). If Pronger gets hurt or loses a step and Brygalov has a down year it could be trouble.
Random P.S. Thought: Claude Lemieux, not clutch.
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You guys really didn't deserve what happened last year. After the positive year before, to start the season and just get injury upon injury. That was rough to watch. Good luck, but not too much. I still hope the Wings win every one of our meetings.
Speaking of my home team, there are a lot of question marks on the roster. If at least half of them ending up with positive answers then the Wings could take the Central, again, maybe even the West. If at least half of them falter, we'll be coming in 6,7, or 8 in the West.
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Yeah, it was pretty brutal. Perron is still a no-go. Hopefully he will make it back by midseason.
I think the injuries might have crapped on their season last year, but it also gave a ton of their youth a lot of good experience. And the coaches hav to have a great feel for their roster right now. I just have to believe that they can't get slammed again. Despite missing the playoffs, last season was still a nice step in the right direction.
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"I suggest we imbibe copious amounts of alcohol and just wait for the inevitable blast wave." - Castiel
Speaking of coaches, how is Davis Payne? I've never been impressed with him and he's had no success but I can not get a proper feel if it's circumstance.
Fletcher wrote:
I can't really quantify that myself. The general impression of him locally is solid. But there just doesn't seem to be enough data to really judge him by yet.
I would have preferred they keep Andy Murray on, myself.
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"I suggest we imbibe copious amounts of alcohol and just wait for the inevitable blast wave." - Castiel
It was time for Murray to leave. He's an old school coach that has a habit of quickly losing the dressing room. His teams also fade late in the season and the early rounds of the playoffs. He work the players, especially the rookies, so hard that by the end of the season they are either worn out or sick of him.
Fletcher wrote:
We'll be fine. Really.
*resumes fetal position*
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LobsterMobster wrote:
But the previous season, it was the fantastic run of the Blues in the last two months tat got them into the playoffs. Although you could say they were out of gas by then, as Vancouver just ran them out of the playoffs in four straight.
I am anxious to see what Payne does with this team this year.
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"I suggest we imbibe copious amounts of alcohol and just wait for the inevitable blast wave." - Castiel
I think the Blues got tired then tuned him out. His act wore thin. I'm interested in what Payne can do. I don't think there's been a coach that I'm so familiar with but still no nothing about.
Fletcher wrote:
For Irongut!
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The Kings are looking more and more dangerous every season.
Wade Belak found dead. That's 3 this year, I wonder what's going on with the fighters and how much they may be abusing painkillers?
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Completely speculative but I wouldn't surprised if many of these fighters suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Fletcher wrote:
WTF? This is disturbing.
"THE HELL ASS BALLS." - Prederick, expressing frustration in the time-honored way.
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I'm stunned by this with Belak. Every single interview I've seen of him, he just seemed like such a happy guy. He had a wife and kids too.. sad.
The Blues new marketing slogan fo the season is "Don't Stop Believing". Let's just say that a slogan based on the Red Wings intro song is not going over well.
So fans have taken to coming up with new ones.
My favorite so far:
"Hockey so good, you'll Shattenkirk yourself"
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"I suggest we imbibe copious amounts of alcohol and just wait for the inevitable blast wave." - Castiel
I HATE Don't Stop Believing. I cringe, vomit, and punch a baby every time I hear it. Terrible song.
"Beer and Hockey. Just show up." is about as good a slogan as you can get.
Fletcher wrote:
This is absolutely terrible.
http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/9/7/2410240/brad-mccrimmon-pavol-demitra-dead-russia-plane-crash-khl
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/NHLers+downed+plane+reports/5364518/story.html
McCrimmon, Demitra, Salei, Vasicek, Rachunek, Skrastins, and many more. 44 of 45 dead. No idea who the lone survivor is.
Edit: Alexander Galimov appears to be the lone survivor. He's in critical condition.
Edit 2: A crew member also survived. Is also in critical condition.
Fletcher wrote:
Very sad news indeed.
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Terrible News. Pavol Demitra was one of my favorite players ever. I loved the Slovak Pack on the Blues. Demitra-Handzus-Bartecko. Since my wife is from Slovakia, I have followed every Slovak hockey player ever played in the NHL. Demitra was one of the best. RIP.
I got to watch Demitra since he played two seasons with the Canucks. Fun player when he was on his game and always seemed to love what he was doing.
Karlis Skrastins was one of my all-time favourite players.
Fletcher wrote:
Extremely tragic.
"THE HELL ASS BALLS." - Prederick, expressing frustration in the time-honored way.
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Yeah, this just sucks.
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"I suggest we imbibe copious amounts of alcohol and just wait for the inevitable blast wave." - Castiel