Official NHL Hockey Discussion Thread (2012-2013)

[Doctor XFizzle 8,670]

With the NHL Owners and NHLPA ratifying the new CBA and signing a MOU (memorandum of understanding), the lockout is officially over! Training camp starts tomorrow.

 

I'm not planning on going to any Red Wings games nor will I purchase any merchandise. The league and players must know how pissed the fans are that this lockout happened. My suggestion is to watch the games on TV, but don't go. Watch them at the many restaurants and bars near NHL arenas that have been hit hard by this lockout.

 

Anyways, about the season itself. It's 48 games. Any slow starts or losing streaks could be deadly. Also with little rest, I expect injuries to pile up. By April it may come down to which team has the deepest bench and AHL affiliate.

 

Too early to pick a Stanley Cup matchup.

Edited January 13, 2013 by Doctor XFizzle

[~Chaos~ 3,967]

It really is hard to say who will do well in this short 48 game season, sure will be interesting that's for sure.

 

But the lockout has really hurt the fans, I expect less to attend games.

[The Awesome One 1,315]

Meh, I'm more of a field hockey fan. My country's national sport and stuff. One of my cousins is going to some of these games though.

[I used to be a stranger 7,994]

I was at lunch the other day with a few friends in school.

We were talking about recycling and how it's good for the environment, but somehow some recycled products aren't quite as good as things that are made from new material.

Josh said "Just like the Jets."

 

Then we got on about cheap cruddy stuff made from new material versus stuff that's actually made from decent quality.

Josh said "Just like the Leafs."

 

Josh is a Flames fan.

[Lando 80]

So pumped that we will have a season and I can see my Avs this year!  What do you think the first trade will be? I know everyone is talking about Luongo, but I don't know if that'll happen as soon as everyone is predicting. Oh and finally if any of you are on HFboards.com I would love to hear from ya.

[Flow 1,629]

Yay, first game's on January 19! And I really look forward to seeing the King's new Stanley Cup Champions banner. Also I was watching College hockey for sometime and I saw that it was both teams from Michigan playing, awesome thing is that they were playing in the Joe Louis arena in a Red Wings configuration.

[I used to be a stranger 7,994]

So pumped that we will have a season and I can see my Avs this year!  What do you think the first trade will be? I know everyone is talking about Luongo, but I don't know if that'll happen as soon as everyone is predicting. Oh and finally if any of you are on HFboards.com I would love to hear from ya.

I heard a joke about Luongo once, but it's a bit risque for some audiences.

 

Luongo finally did it and ruined the worst save ever and lost the game. Lu got depressed, and decided after the game that he'd kill himself, so he went out on the street and threw himself in front of a bus. But he didn't die, because he missed and the bus went between his legs.

[Undyne 1,483]

HYYYYYYPPPEEEEE!

 

I'm a major hockey fan. I'm mainly excited to see how Jordan Staal and Alex Semin play out for the Carolina Hurricanes! Gonna be a good, but short, year!

[FaZe Vinyl 521]

Yay.

 

Will be an interesting year, since it will be a short one.

 

 

I'll be ordering my first NHL merchandise (I'm new to hockey) sometime soon (Jeff Skinner Jersey/T-Shirt).

[Lando 80]

I heard a joke about Luongo once, but it's a bit risque for some audiences.

 

Luongo finally did it and ruined the worst save ever and lost the game. Lu got depressed, and decided after the game that he'd kill himself, so he went out on the street and threw himself in front of a bus. But he didn't die, because he missed and the bus went between his legs.

 

This is from a tweet I made from back in April and, as you said, may be a tad bit risque for some audiences.

 

I wonder if Luongo has any more tread on his five hole or is it just like tossing a puck down a hallway?

[~Chaos~ 3,967]

As a Canucks fan, the Luongo rumours/talk never end! Niether do the jokes, I'm curious as to what will happen with him, apparently Philly is interested as well. 

[Lando 80]

So how has everyones fav team looked in training camp? For the Avs, I'm happy with our guys, but I do notice that we need to get O'Reilly signed as we have a bit of a gap on our third line. John Mitchell really shouldn't be a 3rd line center... Oh also we really need a top 2 defense man to play along side EJ.

Edited January 18, 2013 by Lando

[~Chaos~ 3,967]

The Canucks streamed a scrimmage online tonight, they actually looked pretty good, (they each slipt up into two team, blue and grey) Schneider got a shutout, which is a good sign seeing he is our future in goaltending, so he was solid, Mason Raymond surprisingly put in all three of the goals in the game, so that's a positive sign. Garrison will fit right in with Edler, he has quite the shot, looking forward to what he will bring to the team.

 

 Luongo looked a little shaky, he is known for slow starts. Then came the shootout, Luongo seemed to easily fall for dekes, letting in 4 of 5 goals, he never really was that good in the shootout, so I didn't expect too much. It will be interesting to see when and who is involved in his trading.

 

Overall, if they stay healthy enough, I am confident they can make the playoffs and have another good run for the cup, but it will be tough, especially in this shortened season.

[Dark Qiviut 22,454]

Baseball is my most favorite sport, but hockey is second. I don't follow all the players, but nothing excites more in hockey than Opening Day. This short season will be exhilarating, exciting, full of action, and (if I daresay) unpredictable.

 

With the regular season starting tomorrow, I'll be giving my playoff predictions:

 

For the Eastern Conference:

1. New York Rangers

2. Pittsburgh Penguins

3. Tampa Bay Lightning

4. Boston Bruins

5. Washington Capitals

6. Philadelphia Flyers

7. Ottawa Senators

8. Winnipeg Jets

 

For the Western Conference:

1. Phoenix Coyotes

2. St. Louis Blues

3. Minnesota Wild

4. San Jose Sharks

5. Vancouver Canucks

6. Los Angeles Kings

7. Nashville Predators

8. Chicago Blackhawks

 

Bold Prediction: The Detroit Red Wings will NOT make the playoffs. This team is very old, and they lost so many key players from last year's roster. This will have an effect on them, and they will fall just shy of the eighth spot.

 

My Stanley Cup Finals prediction is the Phoenix Coyotes defeating the Washington Capitals in six games.

[Nas 2,873]

Even though I love all major sports equally, I occasionally prefer hockey because it's the one out of the major four (NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL) that has been closest to me since my childhood. One of my first video games ever was NHL 2000 for the PC (that led me to get dozens of other NHL games to this day, I have more games of that sport than any other), and that will stick with me forever. I also watched that Mighty Ducks cartoon that Disney made that was from the mid 90's (I miss Anaheim's old team...).

 

I went to more hockey games in my life, especially in my childhood, than any other sporting event. I went to a good few Capitals games (closest team), but I think what made it for me was going to all those games at the good ol' Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, former home of the Penguins. That place was just unspeakably amazing. A little part of me died when I saw it get demolished, though not in person. I'll never forget the treasured memories I had there, seeing my first game ever, and it was against the Red Wings, one of my two favorite teams.

 

Since then, I picked up said teams, Detroit (2001ish) and Winnipeg (last year, when the franchise was rebooted), and have never regretted being a fan of this wonderful sport. Oh, and also fell in love with the sport's logos, uniforms, etc. I'm sort of a nerd when it comes to that stuff.

 

 

Anyway, ever since originally-intended 2012-13 preseason, I've had a dying urge to see a game in person. I don't know why, but just some feeling came up that just made me feel like experiencing a game in person. I hadn't gone to a game in a good while, I thought that will change this year. Can't see Winnipeg (on the other side of the country) or Detroit (unless it's a holiday or early summer break), so we usually just go see the Caps (or the Pens when we go up to see family up in Pittsburgh).

 

Also, this was originally intended for another forum of mine, but I have made signatures of all the teams, plus some past ones. They're small, so if you ask, I can re-size it for you if you want. I also take requests if you want me to change anything (logos, colors etc.), or add another team.

 

http://s1112.photobucket.com/albums/k482/NASCARFAN160/NHL%20Signatures/

 

 

As for new logos/uniforms, not much will change this year, Reebok got the memo a little bit late. However, there will be big changes come the 2013/14 season. Changes include the Stars, Sabres, Canes, Sharks, and most surprisingly the Habs.

 

http://www.icethetics.info/blog/2013/1/16/nhl-jerseywatch-2013.html/

[Dreadmallon 353]

Baseball is my most favorite sport, but hockey is second. I don't follow all the players, but nothing excites more in hockey than Opening Day. This short season will be exhilarating, exciting, full of action, and (if I daresay) unpredictable.

 

With the regular season starting tomorrow, I'll be giving my playoff predictions:

 

For the Eastern Conference:

1. New York Rangers

2. Pittsburgh Penguins

3. Tampa Bay Lightning

4. Boston Bruins

5. Washington Capitals

6. Philadelphia Flyers

7. Ottawa Senators

8. Winnipeg Jets

 

For the Western Conference:

1. Phoenix Coyotes

2. St. Louis Blues

3. Minnesota Wild

4. San Jose Sharks

5. Vancouver Canucks

6. Los Angeles Kings

7. Nashville Predators

8. Chicago Blackhawks

 

Bold Prediction: The Detroit Red Wings will NOT make the playoffs. This team is very old, and they lost so many key players from last year's roster. This will have an effect on them, and they will fall just shy of the eighth spot.

 

My Stanley Cup Finals prediction is the Phoenix Coyotes defeating the Washington Capitals in six games.

 

I'm a big Capitals fan and although I like that prediction, I think it's really bold from our perspective. I think we'll be cup contenders in a few years, when our young guys have more experience and we (hopefully) have more veterans on the team.

[~Chaos~ 3,967]

I'd like to take a shot at some early playoff predictions.

 

Western Conference:

1. San Jose Sharks

2. St. Louis Blues

3. Vancouver Canucks

4. Nashville Predators

5. Los Angeles Kings

6. Minnesota Wild

7. Chicago Blackhawks

8. Detroit Red Wings

 

Eastern Conference:

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

2. New York Rangers

3. Philadelphia Flyers 

4. Ottawa Senators

5. Boston Bruins

6. Washington Capitals

7. Montreal Canadiens

8. Carolina Hurricanes

 

Stanley cup predictions:  Canucks vs New York Rangers or Kings vs Penguins.

 

Those are my predictions for this year, lets see what happens!

[FaZe Vinyl 521]

And so it begins.

 

Here's too a happy 2013 NHL Season!

 

 

Hurricanes are facing the Panthers today, so this should be interesting.

[Nas 2,873]

Terrible start for both my Jets and Red Wings. The Jets faired pretty bad by losing 4-1 against the Senators, but the Wings took it harder from St. Louis, getting shut out by 6 goals... I know it's no reason to worry initially, but I'm starting to feel concern for Detroit this year, they really may be losing that playoff appearance streak after losing Lidstrom.

 

In any case, I'm still going to be with them all the way, no matter what happens. Today should be interesting, my two 0-1 teams are going to be facing 1-0 teams, Winnipeg vs. Boston and Detroit vs. Columbus. I'm a little confident for the Wings this time around, Columbus doesn't have Rick Nash on their side anymore. Should make it easier for Detroit.

[~Chaos~ 3,967]

@, I know that feeling, Canucks first game was a horrid game to say the least, losing 7-3 to the Ducks, it just wasn't a pretty sight, both goalies let in some soft ones and the offence just couldn't get going. Last night they played better but still fell short in a shootout to Edmonton, it's much too early in the season to be worrying, the only time I'll worry is if we are not in a playoff spot near the end of the season.

 

 Hard to say what will happen, but as I've come to know from the Canucks, just because you win the president's trophy, doesn't mean you'll go far into the playoffs. So just getting in is key, like the Kings have done last year, they were 8th in the west, just got in the playoffs, and they won the cup, it may be better being the underdogs.

 

Canucks need to get in a win next game, I feel they are just rusty and will be back in it soon. Kassian looked great for us, which is a really positive sign. 

[FaZe Vinyl 521]

Well, that was embarrassing. I wouldn't expect any less from a Carolina team .

 

Maybe we can come back and do something decent this season.