Let's talk about nhl season 2010

[ben79]

ok i'm a Habs fan, i think this year they gonna win the stanley cup, hopefully the final will be vs Vancouver
the 2010 season is already almost 1/5 completed, so ,

who do you think is gonna win the cup ?
will someone scores 50/50 ?
what's the bigest surprise team this year ?
who's gonna win the vezina trophy ?
what's the biggest disapointement this year ( apart from the leafs ) ?
etc, etc, etc ....

[GreecePwns]

I thought the Islanders had a chance to, you know, not suck this year. Then they lost 8 in a row.

[Timminz]

I thought the Islanders had a chance to, you know, not suck this year. Then they lost 8 in a row.

I know your pain. I'm a Leafs fan, myself. As such, I'm not even surprised that they started the season at 4-0-0, and have preceded to only win 1 in the last 11 games.

[ben79]

I thought the Islanders had a chance to, you know, not suck this year. Then they lost 8 in a row.

I know your pain. I'm a Leafs fan, myself. As such, I'm not even surprised that they started the season at 4-0-0, and have preceded to only win 1 in the last 11 games.

i really think that leafs would be strong this year with all the exchange and everything, well, they had a good start but like you said ... Boston are good this year and we're playing them tonight

[ViperOverLord]

There's an interesting story about why the Canadiens are called the Habs. I can't remember it off the top of my head lol.

[Army of GOD]

I thought the Islanders had a chance to, you know, not suck this year. Then they lost 8 in a row.

Jesus man. You're like my uncle. Idk how you can stay with the Islanders...


My Penguins aren't doing great but it's really early in the season.

[GreecePwns]

I thought the Islanders had a chance to, you know, not suck this year. Then they lost 8 in a row.

Jesus man. You're like my uncle. Idk how you can stay with the Islanders...


My Penguins aren't doing great but it's really early in the season.

It's the only Long Island team we have. Unless you count independent baseball or semi-pro soccer. And rumors of the team leaving have actually helped increase support and more hatred against the local politicians who won't allow the stadium to be built simply for environmental/traffic concerns.

[Lionz]

What have the Thrashers done?

[nietzsche]

No. I don't like football.

[ben79]

There's an interesting story about why the Canadiens are called the Habs. I can't remember it off the top of my head lol.

habs is for = habitants, some people think the ''H'' in the signs means habs but the real reason is the name = 2 C and 1 H for = le Club de Hockey Canadiens

[ben79]

ok montreal 3rd in the east, 4th overall in the league .... i wasn't expecting that of a good start
playing detroit tonight, and toronto tomorow, that should be 4 points for us ... héhé

[Serbia]

Detroit Red Wings.
Best team in hockey. Premier franchise in the sport for the last 20 years. League's best defenseman (Lidstrom), league's best all-around player (Datsyuk), league's best coach (Babcock), deepest forward unit in the league, solid goaltending, and they're healthy and rested this year.

[Serbia]

And the Isles lost 14 in a row. And 18 of 19.

[ben79]

Detroit Red Wings.
Best team in hockey. Premier franchise in the sport for the last 20 years. League's best defenseman (Lidstrom), league's best all-around player (Datsyuk), league's best coach (Babcock), deepest forward unit in the league, solid goaltending, and they're healthy and rested this year.

you're right but ...

i'm still waiting to see detroit not making the playoffs ... not this year obviously

[ben79]

And the Isles lost 14 in a row. And 18 of 19.

this saturday the isles are playing the trashers. boring game but some fans of the quebec team ( nordiques ) a couple thousands, are gonna go see this game with their quebec jerseys .. weird .. kind of a message to bettman in a way

[denominator]

Detroit Red Wings.
Best team in hockey. Premier franchise in the sport for the last 20 years. League's best defenseman (Lidstrom), league's best all-around player (Datsyuk), league's best coach (Babcock), deepest forward unit in the league, solid goaltending, and they're healthy and rested this year.

you're right but ...

i'm still waiting to see detroit not making the playoffs ... not this year obviously

Not going to happen any time soon. The big thing that Serbia is missing from his analysis is the scouting and drafting program that Detroit has set up - they never have any bad picks. Look at Datsyuk and Zetterberg, both deep picks. Their development program is structured so that every player that makes the team plays in Detroit's system and that means no weak points.

That being said, I haven't followed NHL hockey much lately - I live in Calgary and last March I said I was done being a Flames fan until the Sutters are all fired. It's hard to follow hockey around here without getting Flames news, and it's hard to get Flames news without getting frustrated.

[ben79]

Detroit Red Wings.
Best team in hockey. Premier franchise in the sport for the last 20 years. League's best defenseman (Lidstrom), league's best all-around player (Datsyuk), league's best coach (Babcock), deepest forward unit in the league, solid goaltending, and they're healthy and rested this year.

you're right but ...

i'm still waiting to see detroit not making the playoffs ... not this year obviously

Not going to happen any time soon. The big thing that Serbia is missing from his analysis is the scouting and drafting program that Detroit has set up - they never have any bad picks. Look at Datsyuk and Zetterberg, both deep picks. Their development program is structured so that every player that makes the team plays in Detroit's system and that means no weak points.

That being said, I haven't followed NHL hockey much lately - I live in Calgary and last March I said I was done being a Flames fan until the Sutters are all fired. It's hard to follow hockey around here without getting Flames news, and it's hard to get Flames news without getting frustrated.

i hear you, sucks that the flames are in the bottom, i would prefer see a canadian team instead of a u.s.a. team in the lead, and btw you're totally right with the detroit recruiting

[Timminz]

I would love to see the Nordiques back in action. And while we're at it, let's put a team in Hamilton too. It's the only way the Leaf's management are ever going to get the urge to care about ever winning again. Right now, they have every fucking game sold out, almost, just by corporate tickets. I mean shit! They've got the entire southern Ontario market to themselves, fer fucks sake. What's that, like half of the country's population?

An NHL team in Hamilton would be the best thing that could happen, for Leafs fans.

[denominator]

I too would love to see another Canadian team, either a return to Quebec or in the Southern Ontario region would work as well. Winnipeg has a chance but they don't have a big enough arena and are unlikely to build one without a team - so they're stuck in a catch-22.

There are 2 major issues with putting a team in Hamilton:

1) In order to set up a franchise, any other current teams within a certain distance of the city (I think it's 30km but not 100% sure) have to allow it. This means if a team goes to Hamilton, not only Toronto has to allow it, but also Buffalo, and I think Detroit. While Toronto sells out consistently, Buffalo isn't doing as hot and is far more unlikely to waive this.

2) Gary Bettman has to allow it, and he hates dealing with the Canadian dollar and the exchange. He would rather move the 6 current teams to the USA than move one back to Canada, so as long as he is commissioner it's simply not going to happen.

[Serbia]

I'm an American, and I'd love to see Canada get at LEAST one more team. I was hoping the Coyotes would move back to Winnipeg and become the Jets again, Quebec really ought to have another team. There are several American teams (Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida, Carolina, Nashville) that really don't belong in those markets. There just is little point in attempting to force teams into markets that don't care. Would make more sense to put in a team in Kansas City instead of Phoenix, if you're really all that bothered about another American city, but Canada just makes so much more sense, especially considering the current relative strength of the Canadian dollar.

[notyou2]

I'm an American, and I'd love to see Canada get at LEAST one more team. I was hoping the Coyotes would move back to Winnipeg and become the Jets again, Quebec really ought to have another team. There are several American teams (Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida, Carolina, Nashville) that really don't belong in those markets. There just is little point in attempting to force teams into markets that don't care. Would make more sense to put in a team in Kansas City instead of Phoenix, if you're really all that bothered about another American city, but Canada just makes so much more sense, especially considering the current relative strength of the Canadian dollar.

Well stated for a drunk Serbian.

I agree, KC over any of those 4 US cities you mentioned, but perhaps the other 3 all in Canada, say Winnipeg, Quebec, and Hamilton.


GO BOSTON!!!!

[ben79]

I'm an American, and I'd love to see Canada get at LEAST one more team. I was hoping the Coyotes would move back to Winnipeg and become the Jets again, Quebec really ought to have another team. There are several American teams (Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida, Carolina, Nashville) that really don't belong in those markets. There just is little point in attempting to force teams into markets that don't care. Would make more sense to put in a team in Kansas City instead of Phoenix, if you're really all that bothered about another American city, but Canada just makes so much more sense, especially considering the current relative strength of the Canadian dollar.

Well stated for a drunk Serbian.

I agree, KC over any of those 4 US cities you mentioned, but perhaps the other 3 all in Canada, say Winnipeg, Quebec, and Hamilton.


GO MONTREAL!!!!

i agree with that but that is the problem with canadian dollar you never know what's gonna happen

[Serbia]

i agree with that but that is the problem with canadian dollar you never know what's gonna happen

This is true, but the best counter is strong ownership. The biggest reason the Wings have been at the top for 20 years, is owner Mike Ilitch. That's one of the reasons I was so supportive of Jim Basillie's attempt to buy the Coyotes. He had the financial backing, and wanted to move the team to Hamilton or Winnipeg, either of which HAD to be a more viable location than Phoenix. But that's what it's going to take to have competitive teams in Canada long-term. Ownership.

That, and getting rid of Gary Bettman.

[ben79]

i agree with that but that is the problem with canadian dollar you never know what's gonna happen

This is true, but the best counter is strong ownership. The biggest reason the Wings have been at the top for 20 years, is owner Mike Ilitch. That's one of the reasons I was so supportive of Jim Basillie's attempt to buy the Coyotes. He had the financial backing, and wanted to move the team to Hamilton or Winnipeg, either of which HAD to be a more viable location than Phoenix. But that's what it's going to take to have competitive teams in Canada long-term. Ownership.

That, and getting rid of Gary Bettman.

yeah Bettman should go back to basketball, btw nice win over us last night, the NHL '' to be in good shape '' needs to do like the NFL, if a player is not giving his 100% you can kick him out of the team, the NFL is the best league for that and is in really good shape

[notyou2]

Ben I like your avy.