NHL 2013: Blackhawks Stanley Cup Champs ; Kovalchuk bails on NHL and $77 million

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Deal on Day #113 in 1-13. So, on to the tentative 2013 Season thread!
What will happen this year?

- What's the deal with Phoenix, Columbus, Anaheim, New Jersey?
- Will Bettman award the Stanley Cup to the winning captain, or will somebody else do it?
- Can the Islanders bolt their crap lease early for Brooklyn?
- First major star to go down in 2013 with an injury: Nash, Brodeur, other?
- Who will win the truncated Cup?
- Are they still thinking 16 team playoffs + 4 wild-card teams playing 1-game play-in games?
- When happens "Make it 10!"?

MaxShrek wrote:

- Are they still thinking 16 team playoffs + 4 wild-card teams playing 1-game play-in games?

Wait what??!?

Might be 50?....

NHL sent out memo to teams tonight saying Jan 19 puck drop is most probable, however if ratification process goes fast, Jan 15 still in play

Pierre LeBrun

jowner wrote:
MaxShrek wrote:

- Are they still thinking 16 team playoffs + 4 wild-card teams playing 1-game play-in games?

Wait what??!?

Yeah...the way I remember the changes being a little different but last I checked the NHLPA didn't approve the changes and the conferences and playoff format will remain the same.

Just some food for thought

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/01/04/168627825/episode-427-lebron-james-is-underpaid

Not really trying to re-ignite the debate especially since the lockout is over. Just a different way to look at how the whole crazy system of north american sports works.
Edit:

"@TSNBobMcKenzie: NHL player now back from RUS says KHL teams putting major pressure and huge money on table to keep NHLers from returning to North America."

I don't know about huge pressure or lots of money but Lubimir Visnovsky does not want to come back to the NHL. Probably specifically the Islanders.

goman wrote:

I don't know about huge pressure or lots of money but Lubimir Visnovsky does not want to come back to the NHL. Probably specifically the Islanders.

He tried to get out of his contract with the Islanders before the lockout. If they could acquire a promise to play I wouldn't be surprised if they traded him. Also wouldn't be surprised if they let him walk.

I really dislike the KHL. I understand why they do things but I hate the way they do them.

So the Maple Leafs fired Burke. 9 days before the season started. Rumours swirling that it was Luongo related.

“The NHL’s opinion of itself is so high. … Okay, let them get drunk on their greatness,” Medvedev was quoted saying in SportsDaily.ru (in translations by Sport-Express reporter Slava Malamud) on Tuesday. “We’ll see how many Euros look our way.

“A number of players have either decided to stay or are looking into it. …Our league will act according to our own and international rules. If players decide to stay, we will help them.”

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/sports/...

goman wrote:

I don't know about huge pressure or lots of money but Lubimir Visnovsky does not want to come back to the NHL. Probably specifically the Islanders.

Rumors about Kovalchuk staying in Russia and not returning to the Devils this season because he may make less money. Hey, there's the Zamboni door, don't let it smack you in the ass.

The Blues are working hard to get fans back. I'm totally pumped for this season.

Just got these two tweets.

@StLouisBlues wrote:

All @StLouisBlues players will be taking part in Q&A sessions with fans after tomorrow's practice @ScottradeCenter.

@StLouisBlues wrote:

Sunday's event is free and open to the public. Practice begins at 11:00, followed by the Q&As at 1:30.

And they have a new series of commercials based on their history.

Vector wrote:

So the Maple Leafs fired Burke. 9 days before the season started. Rumours swirling that it was Luongo related.

grr... I posted about this in the other thread not realizing that this new thread existed. To top that off you are in japan and still managed to post before me by 15 minutes...

Vector!!! * Fist shake***

When the East Coasters are just waking up, I have already been awake for a day....because I don't sleep at times a normal human being does.

CANES WIN THE CUP!

That's what happens, just helping.

MaxShrek wrote:

- What's the deal with Phoenix, Columbus, Anaheim, New Jersey?
- Will Bettman award the Stanley Cup to the winning captain, or will somebody else do it?
- Can the Islanders bolt their crap lease early for Brooklyn?
- First major star to go down in 2013 with an injury: Nash, Brodeur, other?
- Will opponents be able to win more than 4 games against the Kings in the playoffs this time?
- Are they still thinking 16 team playoffs + 4 wild-card teams playing 1-game play-in games?
- When happens "Make it 10!"?

Fixed.

ColdForged wrote:

CANES WIN THE CUP!

That's what happens, just helping.

Whoever wins, I'm hoping Scott Gomez scores the Stanley Cup winning goal. San Jose's a team that could really use him to shore up their bottom-6.

ColdForged wrote:

CANES WIN THE CUP!

That's what happens, just helping.

The only good thing that the lockout did was bring you out of hiding. I missed yah, baby!

Vector wrote:
ColdForged wrote:

CANES WIN THE CUP!

That's what happens, just helping.

The only good thing that the lockout did was bring you out of hiding. I missed yah, baby!

I MISSED YOU TOO, VECTOR!

S'truth. I was butthurt. Now we'll win The Cup. I oscillate wildly.

GO, JETS, GO!

ColdForged wrote:

CANES WIN THE CUP!

That's what happens, just helping.

Actually scratch that. We might never win, ever again.

The Jets had a rough game today. Yikes! I hope losing the home opener doesn't become a tradition!

Win against the Habs on opening night! Was a pretty sloppy game though.

nihilo wrote:

Win against the Habs on opening night! Was a pretty sloppy game though.

That game did nothing to change my anti-Therrien and anti-Bergevin stance. Playing without your Best defenseman because you're apparently completely low-balling him is ridiculous. Also, Francis Bouillon was 2nd on the team in time on ice. Kessel was torching Bouillon all night and Therrien kept on sending him out there in the matchup. La Vache Sacrée kept together even though all three of Pacioretty, Cole, and Desharnais (especially Desharnais) didn't look great was disappointing as well.

Score effects and the late 3rd-period goal made it seem closer than it was.

Disappointed to see the Jets lose. They were a good team last year let down by goaltending and I'm fairly bullish on their chances. Had they had league-average goaltending last year they would have made the playoffs.

I think I found the new intro song for Detroit. They can retire "Don't Stop Believin'" now.

Not sure the Blues could have had a better opening night. Two goals from Tarasenko, two from Stewart, and even a shorthanded goal from Oshie has the Blues special teams destroyed the Red Wings.

ColdForged wrote:
ColdForged wrote:

CANES WIN THE CUP!

That's what happens, just helping.

Actually scratch that. We might never win, ever again.

Yikes. That was some seriously ugly hockey on the part of the Canes. 4 goals on 12 shots in the first period. It makes you wonder if Cam Ward spent the lockout on his couch watching Three Stooges movies and eating Ben & Jerry's.

On the bright side, it can only get better from here. Right?

B Dog wrote:
ColdForged wrote:
ColdForged wrote:

CANES WIN THE CUP!

That's what happens, just helping.

Actually scratch that. We might never win, ever again.

Yikes. That was some seriously ugly hockey on the part of the Canes. 4 goals on 12 shots in the first period. It makes you wonder if Cam Ward spent the lockout on his couch watching Three Stooges movies and eating Ben & Jerry's.

On the bright side, it can only get better from here. Right? :-?

Yeah. There were actually positives. Semin seemed dangerous most of the evening. The AHL kids looked really sharp. The Staals and Skinner tried to overcomplicate things (a usual) but they quite often do early on. Once they simplify and drop the one extra pass things should improve. Didn't help that Theodore played really well.

Jayhawker wrote:

I think I found the new intro song for Detroit. They can retire "Don't Stop Believin'" now.

Not sure the Blues could have had a better opening night. Two goals from Tarasenko, two from Stewart, and even a shorthanded goal from Oshie has the Blues special teams destroyed the Red Wings.

Yeah, that game was brutal to watch. As a Detroit sports fan, I'm used to seeing thrashes like that on the football field, not on the ice though.

ColdForged wrote:
B Dog wrote:
ColdForged wrote:
ColdForged wrote:

CANES WIN THE CUP!

That's what happens, just helping.

Actually scratch that. We might never win, ever again.

Yikes. That was some seriously ugly hockey on the part of the Canes. 4 goals on 12 shots in the first period. It makes you wonder if Cam Ward spent the lockout on his couch watching Three Stooges movies and eating Ben & Jerry's.

On the bright side, it can only get better from here. Right? :-?

Yeah. There were actually positives. Semin seemed dangerous most of the evening. The AHL kids looked really sharp. The Staals and Skinner tried to overcomplicate things (a usual) but they quite often do early on. Once they simplify and drop the one extra pass things should improve. Didn't help that Theodore played really well.

Semin brought some attitude as well, which was great to see. I love having Dalpe and Boychuk on the top two lines. They are both in mid-season form and dynamic players. I think both will thrive there, which means we aren't at a serious disadvantage when the third line hits the ice.

Lucky Wilbury wrote:

Yeah, that game was brutal to watch. As a Detroit sports fan, I'm used to seeing thrashes like that on the football field, not on the ice though.

Yeah, that had to be a rough one. If it was video game, I would have been adjusting sliders. The Blues poke checked too often and effective. The Redwings only had 14 shots, seven of which came in the 3rd period when the Blues were just sitting on their lead. Worse, like a cheeser online, the Blues played their PK on the attack all night.

Bernie Miklasz had a great column on the game.

What better way to thank the fans than embarrassing the Red Wings, the Blues’ longtime tormentor? The only way this would have been more enjoyable is seeing Bettman play goal for Detroit.
The Blues had no rust, the fans had no bitterness, and the Red Wings had no chance.

As a bonus, the home team even put up the Big 6 for Musial.

Perfect.

But Hitchcock provided perspective for the Blues and hope for Detroit.

“I just think you throw out the first 10 games,” Hitchcock said, mentioning the travel, scheduling and fatigue issues that will challenge and frustrate every team. “We looked good tonight, but who knows what happens.”

Hey, the Blues won again. Weird.

H to the ickle wrote:

Hey, the Blues won again. Weird.

And on a shootout! Double weird! They got killed in shootouts last year.

It's starting to look like I was right to be excited abut this Tarasenko kid. He picks up another goal and two assists.

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