NHL 2011/2012 Season

[Danny99]

I am not looking forward to the giant pissing contest that is going to come up with the next CBA.

The league has two totally unsympathetic characters in the top in Bettman and Daly. You can't take either one seriously to be looking out for the good of the game. Bettman has made some bad decisions, some of which can be excused (expanding the game into non-traditional markets because if you don't try, you never know), but he has no PR skills to speak of. The owners, being multi-billionaires in their own right, can't play the "losing money card" to the average fan.

The players also have no play with me as they are people getting paid millions to do what kids love to do for free and not being happy about it.

The debate about who should make more money, owners or players, in any sport is just a pathetic argument.

 

[Skywalker]

I thought one of the major reasons for the realignment was to make travel times easier on teams. And it also seemed pretty clear to me that the intent with the uneven conferences was to eventually add two more teams to make four eight-team conferences.

I would hope the league would subtract two teams.

As would I. But the NHL is probably thinking the opposite.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

I thought one of the major reasons for the realignment was to make travel times easier on teams. And it also seemed pretty clear to me that the intent with the uneven conferences was to eventually add two more teams to make four eight-team conferences.

I would hope the league would subtract two teams.

As would I. But the NHL is probably thinking the opposite.

Subtract which two?

and where would you expand to?

 

[Gil T.Azell]

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Sami Salo reportedly has a concussion after he took a low-bridge hit from Brad Marchand during Saturday's game in Boston.

Story Link

 

[Garak]

That was a great game between the Nucks and Bruins, mostly because it showed just how cheap and dirty the Bruins are, and how classless their fan base and columnists are.

Nah, the win was what counted there. That's what the Canucks do, make you pay on the power play. It's a good strategy, except for when the refs put away their whistles, like in the finals last year. Not that our PP was doing much in the finals.

And Marchand, just a dirty player. Salo is probably one of the more class guys in the league, never takes a run at people, never delivers the cheap hit. He's intergral to our defense too, that's a tough loss.

 

[BigFoot]

^ Yeah hopefully Sami will be back soon.

And Mike Gillis said it best when referring to Marchand: "A dirty play by a dirty player".

The game was fun (for the most part) though.

 

[BigFoot]

Marchand has been suspended for five games.

 

[Winterwind]

I would hope the league would subtract two teams.

As would I. But the NHL is probably thinking the opposite.

Subtract which two?

and where would you expand to?

Well, subtracting two means subtracting two. Not relocating or expanding.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I would hope the league would subtract two teams.

As would I. But the NHL is probably thinking the opposite.

Subtract which two?

Phoenix and Carolina, probably. Alternatively, Miami or Tampa Bay could also go. Really, any of three southeast teams are good targets.

Josan, I think he's also asking about the other hypo. If they did add two more teams, where would they be located?

 

[TheSeeker]

The players also have no play with me as they are people getting paid millions to do what kids love to do for free and not being happy about it.

Free? I don't know about you but I pay around $1000 a year to play hockey.

 

[Danny99]

The players also have no play with me as they are people getting paid millions to do what kids love to do for free and not being happy about it.

Free? I don't know about you but I pay around $1000 a year to play hockey.

Well, I was a big road hockey star!

The point is, if you are getting paid millions of dollars or in the owner's case, making millions of dollars per game, do you really have a right to complain?

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I don't know, no matter how good my job is, I wouldn't think I'd be barred from trying to make it better.

 

[Danny99]

If the union wants to go to CBA war over having a more active role in how hockey is played, I'd be with them 100%.

But this is a war over money and neither side is going to win that fight with me.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Well, it's also travel time and nobody likes plane rides.

 

[Winterwind]

I never went back to baseball after the strike in the mid-90s. I was obviously more forgiving of the NHL's lockout a few years back but I won't be if there's another. I have no sympathy at all for millionaire owners or players.

On another note... Gustavsson... Wow! I'd written him off earlier this season but his turn around has been amazing. Considering all he went through on a personal level (losing both parents, heart troubles, the microscope the Toronto fans and media put players under) it's really nice to see him doing so well.

 

[Garak]

Seems like Toronto's best hope is an 7th or 8th place finish and then getting their asses handed to them by the Bruins in round 1.

Baby steps I guess.

 

[Winterwind]

I feel sorry for anyone playing the Bruins. That team is damned near unstoppable the past couple of seasons.

 

[Garak]

I can't stand them but they are the perfect mix of skill, toughness and stellar goaltending. Definite Cup favorites.

 

[Canadave]

Seems like Toronto's best hope is an 7th or 8th place finish and then getting their asses handed to them by the Bruins in round 1.

Baby steps I guess.

If they play Boston in the first round, I'm going to say that the Bruins win the series in three.

 

[BigFoot]

^ Teams need four wins to advance to the next round.