Official 2007-08 NHL Thread

[TLH]

Red Wings and especially the Stars have some company now with the surging Sharks. The Score was talking about how they're missing one player who could bring some more toughness. Whoever gets out of the West is going to be banged up.

I'll be taking a small vacation to the Twin Cities during the first week of the playoffs. I doubt I will be able to find any playoff tickets, but my friend knows someone there who will try. Even still the city should be a great place to be in if the Wild are playing in the playoffs.

They said that last year...it didn't need to matter or come true.

 

[Immortalfire]

Nicklas Backstrom of Washington scored into his own net today, lol

 

[MissHush]

Nicklas Backstrom of Washington scored into his own net today, lol

Marc Bergivin did that for the St. Louis Blues a few years back. Most depressing game of the year.

 

[Shifty]

Report: NHL eyes Yankee Stadium game
TSN.ca Staff
3/10/2008 12:17:23 PM

The NHL, New York Rangers and New York Yankees are closing in on a deal that would see an outdoor hockey game played at Yankee Stadium in 2009, reports the New York Daily News.

With the success of the Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres this past January, the NHL has been looking into the possibility of holding more outdoor games. Since the Yankees will be moving into a new stadium in 2009, the proposed hockey game would be the final sporting event held at old Yankee Stadium.

"It's something we've spoken both to the Yankees and to the city about but it's not a done deal," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Daily News. "There are still other possibilities and a lot of moving pieces."

The newspaper went on to report that the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils would not be the first choice as the Rangers opponents for the game. It is believed the league and their broadcast partner, NBC, would be looking for a team from another U.S. television market.

Sounds like New York will be the host next year, even after the Edmonton game there were rumours about a Yankees Stadium game.

So what other team do you think will visit?
Colorado? Detroit? Chicago?
Philadelphia? Boston?
Is this going to piss off some old Yankees fans?

 

[Jerry!]

Why would it make anyone mad? Gary Betteman was in Chicago a few days ago for a Hawks game and when asked if the NHL plans to hold an outdoor game in Chicago in Wrigley or Soldier Field, he said he didn't want to "oversaturated" the league with these outdoor games. What an ass. Chicago is a big part of the NHL and now that it is finally being resurrected it would be the perfect time for it. And oversaturated? How many outdoor games have been played? One? Come on.

 

[QueerMike]

I like the idea of an original six round robin tournament with four of the teams for a weekend in either Montreal, Toronto, or Detroit or all three.

DAY 1 - Thursday
Montreal vs. Chicago
Detroit vs. Toronto

DAY 2 - Friday
(NO GAMES)


DAY 3 - Saturday
Toronto vs. Montreal
Detroit vs. Chicago

DAY 4 - Sunday
Montreal vs. Detroit
Toronto vs. Chicago

 

[Shifty]

Why would it make anyone mad?

The last sporting event in Yankees Stadium is a outdoor hockey game with the Rangers. I think some fans would be upset or annoyed that the last Yankees game wouldn't be the last sporting event in the stadium.

 

[Shifty]

Why would it make anyone mad? Gary Betteman was in Chicago a few days ago for a Hawks game and when asked if the NHL plans to hold an outdoor game in Chicago in Wrigley or Soldier Field, he said he didn't want to "oversaturated" the league with these outdoor games. What an ass. Chicago is a big part of the NHL and now that it is finally being resurrected it would be the perfect time for it. And oversaturated? How many outdoor games have been played? One? Come on.

Some of the fools in Toronto were saying the league shouldn't over do it or it won't be so special but you can't have the gap between games be so long. There have been two outdoor games in five years. I think once a year would be fine.

 

[kang604]

Sounds like New York will be the host next year, even after the Edmonton game there were rumours about a Yankees Stadium game.

So what other team do you think will visit?
Colorado? Detroit? Chicago?
Philadelphia? Boston?
Is this going to piss off some old Yankees fans?

NHL would be stupid for doing this

being a yankee fan and a part-time new yorker... i would be pretty pissed if the NHL did this, and im a huge hockey fan. there are tons of other places to hold the winter classic, the bronx is not one of them.

they should have the game maybe in montreal or ottawa... but if it MUST be the rangers then rangers/bruins would be nice (original 6) or maybe rangers/caps to showcase ovechkin

 

[Jerry!]

Some of the fools in Toronto were saying the league shouldn't over do it or it won't be so special but you can't have the gap between games be so long. There have been two outdoor games in five years. I think once a year would be fine.

I'd go farther than that. I say any winter city team that could be able to hold one should have one a outdoor game a year if they want. Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Any of the Canadien teams. They would all do well.

As far as the Yankee stadium thing. Come on, are people that freaking petty? Get over it already.

 

[Immortalfire]

Yahoo power rankings...

1. San Jose Sharks (40-21-8, Previous: 2) – They’re a perfect 7-0 since the deadline when they added coveted defenseman Brian Campbell and veteran backup goalie Brian Boucher while subtracting young forward Steve Bernier. Campbell has scored in five of the seven games and averaged 24:29 of ice time, which is still 30 seconds less than he averaged in Buffalo. Boucher pitched a shutout in his only game.
2. Detroit Red Wings (45-18-6, Previous: 4) – The Wings are 3-1-1 since making the minor move to pick up Brad Stuart for depth on defense. The biggest boost Detroit has received since the deadline is the return to healthof several blue liners – namely Nicklas Lidstrom – with more expected back soon.
3. New Jersey Devils (40-23-6, Previous: 6) – The Devils are 3-2-1 since adding veteran defenseman Bryce Salvador to their back end. Salvador has skated an average of 20:55 in five games, an increase by more than a minute while with St. Louis. He should be a good fit especially in the playoffs when physical play and intensity ratchets up another notch or two.
4. New York Rangers (37-24-9, Previous: 11) – The Rangers are 5-0-1 since the deadline, a continuation of a 13-game unbeaten streak (10-0-3) that began Feb. 9. New York focused on role players, plugging winger Fredrik Sjostrom (averaging nine minutes in six games) and defenseman Christian Backman (17 minutes in six games) into a lineup that was already set in terms of top-line regulars.
5. Anaheim Ducks (39-25-7, Previous: 1) – The Ducks are 4-2 since the deadline, although their more telling numbers are 24-10-3 since the return of Scott Niedermayer on Dec. 16 and 12-4-0 since the return of Teemu Selanne on Feb. 2.
6. Montreal Canadiens (38-23-9, Previous: 5) – The Canadiens are 5-2 since dealing Cristobal Huet to Washington and handing over the reigns of the No. 1 goaltending duties to 20-year-old Carey Price. It’s less about the age as it is about Price’s experience in big games and big events. Price, a technically-sound netminder, seems to save his best for when everything is on the line. His teammates are impressed with his calm demeanor and maturity, too.
7. Dallas Stars (42-25-5, Previous: 3) – The Stars are 3-3 since the blockbuster trade to acquire Brad Richards from Tampa Bay in exchange for regulars Jussi Jokinen, Jeff Halpern and backup goalie Mike Smith, who is No. 1 with Tampa Bay. Richards provided an immediate spark with a career-high five points in his debut. He’s scored a goal and added three assists in the five games since while averaging 19:19 of ice time overall, five minutes less than while with the Lightning.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (39-24-7, Previous: 7) – The Pens are 4-3 since pulling one of the two major deals at the trade deadline. Marian Hossa lasted only 10 minutes of his first game after spraining his knee. The 29-year-old scoring winger is expected back this week. Large defenseman Hal Gill has averaged 17:22 in six appearances and forward Pascal Dupuis has scored a goal and added an assist while averaging 18:22 in six games. The biggest lift, though, was getting captain Sidney Crosby back in the lineup.
9. Calgary Flames (36-23-10, Previous: 10) – The Flames are 3-1-2 since the deadline, which came and went pretty quietly for Calgary. Instead, the Flames picked up physical defenseman Jim Vandermeer a week before the deadline as the team’s only move. Playing for his third team this season, Vandermeer has appeared in eight games for the Flames, and he’s averaged nearly 22 minutes per contest.
10. Ottawa Senators (38-25-7, Previous: 9) – The Senators are 2-4-1 since adding only Martin Lapointe at the deadline. They did subtract coach John Paddock. General manager Bryan Murray is trying to reprogram this team on the fly with very little time left in the regular season. Lapointe hasn’t had a lot of influence, scoring one goal and averaging only 11:31 of ice time in six games, which is three minutes more than he was getting in Chicago. He could shine in the postseason.
11. Vancouver Canucks (35-24-10, Previous: 14) – The Canucks are 3-2-2 since the deadline when all they did was add Matt Pettinger from Washington for Matt Cooke in an exchange of role-playing forwards. Pettinger has a goal and 11 penalty minutes during 13:26 of skating in his first seven games.
12. Colorado Avalanche (37-27-6, Previous: 13) – The Avalanche are 6-1 since the deadline when they aggressively added some familiar pieces in forward Peter Forsberg and defenseman Adam Foote along with Ruslan Salei. Foote, with the Quebec/Colorado franchise the first 13 years of his career, averaged 21:42 in five games while Salei skated an average of 19:38 on the backline in six. Forsberg has been another story. Or rather, the same old tired story. He’s nursing a sore groin now after battling ankle and foot ailments and has appeared in just three games.
13. Minnesota Wild (37-26-7, Previous: 8) – The Wild are 3-3-2 since adding tough guy Chris Simon, who has only appeared for an average of 7:40 in four games. It’s no surprise he isn’t playing more as Minnesota looks for answers to turn around a 0-2-2 streak.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (35-26-8, Previous: 15) – The Flyers are 4-1-1 since the deadline, a time in which they snapped a franchise-record 10-game losing streak just the night before. Philly picked up veteran forward Vaclav Prospal, who has added a goal and two points during 17:39 of ice time.
15. Boston Bruins (36-25-8, Previous: 12) – The Bruins are 4-2-2 since the deadline, a time in which they were the only Eastern Conference team that didn’t make a single deal. GM Peter Chiarelli said he liked his team just the way it was, of course what else was he going to say after making no trades? We’re wondering how much he liked his team when they lost 10-2 and 8-2 in the span of three games last week?
16. Carolina Hurricanes (37-29-5, Previous: 18) – The Hurricanes are 5-1 since the deadline. Despite the loss of Rod Brind’Amour to a torn knee ligament, Carolina is pulling away in the balanced Southeast Division. Tuomo Ruutu, acquired from Chicago at the deadline, had a goal and three points while averaging 17:44 per game in his first six, but it was pre-deadline pickup Sergei Samsonov who has made the biggest contribution with 12 goals and 24 points in his first 27 games with the Hurricanes.
17. Nashville Predators (35-27-8, Previous: 17) – The Predators are 3-3 since a basically quiet deadline, making only a minor deal to acquire forward Brandon Bochenski, who appeared in only one of the six games. Nashville is sitting on all kinds of cap space, and it’s assumed the Preds will be more aggressive in the offseason than they were at the deadline.
18. Chicago Blackhawks (33-29-7, Previous: 21) – The Blackhawks are 4-2-1 since the deadline when, thanks to the emergence of their youth, they were able to dish some veterans (Tuomo Ruutu and Martin Lapointe). The only player Chicago acquired at the deadline was forward Andrew Ladd, who had two goals and four points while averaging 15:33 of ice time in his first seven games.
19. Buffalo Sabres (32-27-11, Previous: 19) – The Sabres are 2-3-2 and still in the playoff hunt since trading top defenseman Brian Campbell. They received Steve Bernier from San Jose in addition to a first-round draft pick, and the physical forward scored goals on his first two shots with Buffalo. But he has been pretty quiet since with two assists in four games before scoring a goal Monday night. Rookie Czech defenseman Andrej Sekera has picked up playing time in Campbell’s absence, skating more than 24:45 in three of his first four appearances since the deal.
20. Washington Capitals (32-30-8, Previous: 16) – The Capitals are 4-3 as their season-long battle from a 6-14-1 start to reach the postseason continues. Washington added all kinds of pieces. Veteran forward Sergei Fedorov didn’t have a goal but added two assists and averaged 16:50 in his first six games. Matt Cooke had a goal and three points during an average of 9:27 of skating and goalie Cristobal Huet is 2-2 while sharing the net with Olaf Kolzig.
21. Phoenix Coyotes (34-30-5, Previous: 20) – The Coyotes are 2-4 since the deadline, a time they used to deal players who were no longer in their plans (Fredrik Sjostrom, Josh Gratton, David Leneveu) for depth at forward in the person of Marcel Hossa and goaltending prospect Al Montoya from the Rangers. Hossa was scoreless, a minus-3 and averaged 13:24 of ice time in his first six games. Montoya remains in the minors.
22. Columbus Blue Jackets (31-28-11, Previous: 22) – The Blue Jackets are 2-2-2 since the deadline, when they were sellers instead of buyers. Columbus waived good-bye to captain Adam Foote and high-priced aging center Sergei Fedorov. The disappointment was their inability to get Brad Richards from Tampa Bay. The Jackets will be in a recruiting mode in the summer.
Edmonton Oilers (33-31-5, Previous: 26) – The Oilers are 5-1 since the deadline when they did absolutely nothing. Edmonton continues to get solid goaltending from Mathieu Garon, who unseated Dwayne Roloson for the No. 1 spot. The Oilers only faced one team in a playoff spot in their first six after the deadline.
Florida Panthers (32-31-8, Previous: 28) – The Panthers are 4-1-1 since the deadline, a time in which they picked up three veteran role players but have only received value out of one. Defenseman Karlis Skrastins averaged 21:37 of ice time in six games. Wade Belak has played sparingly, appearing for only 4:19 in his first six games. Chad Kilger has been suspended for the club. He’s tending to an undisclosed personal issue away from the team, and it’s questionable whether he’ll even play one game for the Panthers this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs (30-30-10, Previous: 23) – The Maple Leafs are 3-2-1 since the deadline, a period in which they are probably breathing easier and playing more relaxed. Toronto didn’t add anything but draft picks in exchange for letting go of Hal Gill, Wade Belak and Chad Kilger. Mats Sundin has five goals and 12 points in the six games since deciding against waiving his no-trade clause. He’s enjoyed three-point games in half of those games.
26. Atlanta Thrashers (30-32-8, Previous: 27) – The Thrashers are 1-2-4 since the deadline when, feeling forced to unload Marian Hossa, did pretty well in getting two players – Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen – along with prospect Angelo Esposito from Pittsburgh in exchange for Hossa and Pascal Dupuis. Armstrong had a goal and three points during an average of 19:01 of ice time while Christensen had a goal and two points in 17:53, both in the first six games.
27. New York Islanders (32-31-7, Previous: 24) – The Islanders are 2-5 since the deadline when they failed to add any offensive help to a goal-starved team. New York has scored one or fewer goals in five of the seven games since the deadline. The only player the Isles acquired, physical veteran defenseman Rob Davison from San Jose, averaged 17:28 of ice time in his first seven games.
28. St. Louis Blues (29-30-10, Previous: 25) – The Blues are 1-6 since the deadline when veteran defensemen Bryce Salvador and Christian Backman went out the door shortly after the team made a long-term financial commitment to Barret Jackman. The only player acquired – tough guy Cam Janssen – has yet to appear.
29. Los Angeles Kings (27-38-6, Previous: 30) – The Kings are 1-4-2 since the deadline. Los Angeles managed to only unload veteran defenseman Brad Stuart. Veterans Scott Thornton, Ladislav Nagy, Brian Willsie and Jon Klemm, all unrestricted free agents, are presumably playing their final games with the organization.
30. Tampa Bay Lightning (26-35-8, Previous: 29) – The Lightning are 1-5-1 since the deadline. They unloaded the best player available – Brad Richards – and while getting decent value in return, certainly have not done well since. The hope is for Mike Smith, the 25-year-old former backup to Marty Turco in Dallas, to emerge as a No. 1 goalie. He is 1-5 with 18 goals allowed in his first six appearances. Veteran checking center Jeff Halpern has been good offensively (three goals, six points) but a minus-2 while averaging 19:36 of ice time in seven games. Jussi Jokinen had one goal and three points but was a minus-8 in seven games.

 

[Steve Rogers]

I like the idea of an original six round robin tournament with four of the teams for a weekend in either Montreal, Toronto, or Detroit or all three.

DAY 1 - Thursday
Montreal vs. Chicago
Detroit vs. Toronto

DAY 2 - Friday
(NO GAMES)


DAY 3 - Saturday
Toronto vs. Montreal
Detroit vs. Chicago

DAY 4 - Sunday
Montreal vs. Detroit
Toronto vs. Chicago

Original six? Where's Boston and New York?

 

[Jerry!]

Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita tribute video.

 

[TLH]

Iggy #1 in Flames scoring (all time) with 365 goals.

 

[Shifty]

San Jose has now won 10 in a row, bumps off Dallas to find themselves 2nd in the West. Doesn't look good for the Pacific Division teams because it looks like Dallas, San Jose and Anaheim will finish in the 2nd, 4th and 5th spots. A big contender will be knocked off in the first round with the 4th/5th matchup because of the weaker Northwest Division. Its going to suck for fans when all three have had great seasons and one of them will be guaranteed to be eliminated.

 

[QueerMike]

Original six? Where's Boston and New York?

If you included all six you couldn't make it a round robin tournament unless it lasted over a week.

You could just call it original six weekend:

FRIDAY
New York vs. Boston
Chicago vs. Toronto

SATURDAY(HNIC)
Boston vs. Detroit
Montreal vs. Toronto

SUNDAY
Montreal vs. Detroit
New York vs. Chicago

 

[TLH]

San Jose has now won 10 in a row, bumps off Dallas to find themselves 2nd in the West. Doesn't look good for the Pacific Division teams because it looks like Dallas, San Jose and Anaheim will finish in the 2nd, 4th and 5th spots. A big contender will be knocked off in the first round with the 4th/5th matchup because of the weaker Northwest Division. Its going to suck for fans when all three have had great seasons and one of them will be guaranteed to be eliminated.

The NW division is not weaker per se, we have five competitive team (yes...even Edmonton) and 4 holding playoff spots. We are the TOUGHEST division in the league. The pacific is no doubt the BEST divison however.

But it's good for my Flames, I suppose...if we can make it in and win a round, that one of Dallas, SJ, or Anaheim will be out.

 

[QueerMike]

San Jose has now won 10 in a row, bumps off Dallas to find themselves 2nd in the West. Doesn't look good for the Pacific Division teams because it looks like Dallas, San Jose and Anaheim will finish in the 2nd, 4th and 5th spots. A big contender will be knocked off in the first round with the 4th/5th matchup because of the weaker Northwest Division. Its going to suck for fans when all three have had great seasons and one of them will be guaranteed to be eliminated.

That's what I'm saying. Of those three teams, one is likely going to have to go through the other two and THEN get the Detroit Red Wings in the Conference Finals.

So, the odds of a Pacific team reaching the Stanley Cup Finals is slim. The only way I can see a Pacific team
reaching the SCF is if the #2 seed or the Detroit Red Wings get upset.

It may be easier if the 4v5 winner doesn't have to play the #2 seed. For that to happen, all top seeds would have to win and we all know how rare that is. Even IF all top seeds win then the 4v5 winner would get DETROIT!?!
Detroit may open with Nashville or Colorado, they'll be ready for whoever survives that series.

Whichever teams are in the 4v5 series won't make the SCF. They'd have to survive that series AND THEN go through the #2 AND Detroit!

After seeing the teams that will be in the #2,#4, #5 situation I have to really like Detroit's chances. The only team that could possibly stop Detroit IMO is Vancouver with Robert Luongo.

It's looking like another Red Wings Stanley Cup Final, ho-hum.

 

[Victor Creed]

Wow.

I guess the more your team gets banged up, the more likely someone is going to be suspended. ******** suspension against Ott. The thing that bothers me most about it, is that on most forums people are acting like it should have been a 5 game suspension or something. Apparently nobody has actually seen Ott play or they'd realize his name isn't Tootoo or Avery, and that he doesn't run around trying to injure players.

I fail to understand how this hit was that bad, especially when you consider the hits from Hartnell and Jones that were a hell of a lot worse. I think the NHL is just feeling sorry for the Avs at this point.

 

[TLH]

NHL is a pretty inconsistent league in that regard. WAY too subjective; they ought to determine mandatory sentences for certain offenses, regardless of context, much like other sports have.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Flyers losing to the Maple Leafs by one. I really don't want to end up playing one of the top three teams in the first round. I'd rather get up to the 6th seed and play Carolina.

 

[TLH]

Philly fan?

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Yes.

 

[Shifty]

The NW division is not weaker per se, we have five competitive team (yes...even Edmonton) and 4 holding playoff spots. We are the TOUGHEST division in the league. The pacific is no doubt the BEST divison however.

But it's good for my Flames, I suppose...if we can make it in and win a round, that one of Dallas, SJ, or Anaheim will be out.

Its still a good division but they're not teams that have played like locks for the Conference Finals such as San Jose, Anaheim or Dallas. Though none of those teams could get there, they're doing well in all aspects while the NW teams may have question marks like the Canucks/Wild scoring or Avs with goaltending, etc. Still regular season doesn't mean anything, the top 4 seeds could get knocked off in the first round.

Thankfully the Panthers and Capitals won tonight so the Leafs didn't jump into 10th, they've still got company.

 

[Poeman]

Flyers losing to the Maple Leafs by one. I really don't want to end up playing one of the top three teams in the first round. I'd rather get up to the 6th seed and play Carolina.

getting to 6? you need to start worrying about not even making the playoffs now.

caps, panthers, leafs...all won!