NHL 2011-12 Season Discussion Thread (1 Viewer)

[Ockeghem]

Thankfully, the entire Bruins - Canadiens game was on television in our area tonight (NHL Network). The game was a fairly good one, but the real story was that Mike Cammalleri was traded -- apparently during the game. The timing was a bit odd, at least to me.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/7457110/calgary-flames-acquire-f-mike-cammalleri-montreal-canadiens
There's also a link on what the Bruins and a few other teams may / could do to beef up their teams.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/13788/rumblings-montreal-moves-cammalleri-bs-devils-wild-have-tough-decisions

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Thankfully, the entire Bruins - Canadiens game was on television in our area tonight (NHL Network). The game was a fairly good one, but the real story was that Mike Cammalleri was traded -- apparently during the game. The timing was a bit odd, at least to me.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/7457110/calgary-flames-acquire-f-mike-cammalleri-montreal-canadiens
There's also a link on what the Bruins and a few other teams may / could do to beef up their teams.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/13788/rumblings-montreal-moves-cammalleri-bs-devils-wild-have-tough-decisions

The entire Canadiens season has been odd. When they fired the coach, they should also have fired GM Pierre Gauthier. He's taken a team that Bob Gainey had on the rise and ruined it since Gainey retired. Cammalleri was one of the few bright spots amongst the forwards, so I do not see where this makes the team any better. Meanwhile, the team is still stuck with useless, overpaid Scott Gomez, the human pylon Hal Gill, and the overrated Erik Cole. There will be no playoffs in Montreal this season.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

It looks like next season's New Year's Day Winter Classic game is going to be Toronto vs. Detroit at The Big House in Ann Arbor. That matchup is guaranteed to fill the stadium to almost 120,000 people! Estimated attendance for the Michigan - Michigan State "Big Chill" hockey game last year was around 117,000. Leafs fans will pour across the border for the game.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

To the Bruins fans (Scott and Jeff) -- I met Tyler Seguin's girlfriend last night. She was our waitress. My wife and I usually go out to dinner before the Saturday night Whalers games, so we each were wearing a Whalers sweatshirt, which started the conversation. Her name is Kathryn, and she's been dating Tyler for a couple of years (they met in high school in Plymouth). She was excited about going to Ottawa to watch him in the All-Star game, and usually visits him every couple of weeks in Boston.
She said she was probably one of the few people hoping he didn't get selected first in the draft, because she didn't want to travel to Edmonton. She's planning on going to school in Boston next year (didn't find out which school).

 

[Ockeghem]

Scott,
Wow, that's a neat story! Thanks for sharing. I know you probably follow the Canadiens more than you do the Bruins [ ], but did you happen to tell her that Seguin has been having a tremendous year thus far, and that he only looks to be getting better?

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Scott,
Wow, that's a neat story! Thanks for sharing. I know you probably follow the Canadiens more than you do the Bruins [ ], but did you happen to tell her that Seguin has been having a tremendous year thus far, and that he only looks to be getting better?

Scott,
I actually do pay attention to how Seguin's doing for a few reasons: (1) I try to keep track of former Whalers in the NHL, (2) I really liked Seguin when he played here (he was a nice kid as well as a tremendous talent), and (3) he's on my fantasy hockey team.
Anyway, I did tell her that Tyler is the only Bruin I like.

 

[Jeff Gatie]

Seems like a good girl. Not many gold-digging puck bunnies would be working as a waitress when her boyfriend is an NHL millionaire. Can't pick a better college town than Boston either.

 

[Ockeghem]

It looks like next season's New Year's Day Winter Classic game is going to be Toronto vs. Detroit at The Big House in Ann Arbor. That matchup is guaranteed to fill the stadium to almost 120,000 people! Estimated attendance for the Michigan - Michigan State "Big Chill" hockey game last year was around 117,000. Leafs fans will pour across the border for the game.

Scott,
I heard this morning on one of my favorire sports programs that there are still a few hitches to get through before this can become finalized. For one thing, The Big House shuts down in November, with all employees going home. So they would have to re-open it, and there are some logistics involved with that. But the real issue seems to have something to do with Michigan's liquor license laws. I also heard (on the same sports program) that Comerica Park is being considered as a fall-back plan should The Big House not work out. Personally, I think it will occur in Ann Arbor, as I don't think the U. of M. will let this opportunity slip through their hands.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I think that U of M and the NHL will work out their issues and have the game in the Big House, too. The normal November stadium shutdown did not stop them from having a UM - MSU hockey game there last year, and I'm sure they can work around the liquor issue, since it is not a university event. It's a huge win-win for both sides. Michigan gets a premiere event in their stadium, and the NHL can set a world attendance record in the only location where it is really possible for them (except for maybe the new stadium in Dallas -- but that wouldn't be outdoors, and I'm not sure they could get 100k fans to attend a game in Dallas).
The other stumbling block is Red Wings owner Mike Illitch, who wanted everything in downtown Detroit where his business interests are located (Tigers, Red Wings, restaurants, theaters, casino). Setting up Comerica Park as a secondary outdoor site for all the other festivities and ancillary games was a concession to appease him. The annual Great Lakes Invitational college hockey tournament, as well as the alumni game and some other games, would probably be held at Comerica.

 

[Jeff Gatie]

A doozy between the two beasts of the east going on right now. Thank the Lord it isnt like the Bruins/Rags snoozefests of the past, and Lundquist looks beatable. Let's hope their usual third period domination act pulls it out for the B's.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

A doozy between the two beasts of the east going on right now. Thank the Lord it isnt like the Bruins/Rags snoozefests of the past, and Lundquist looks beatable. Let's hope their usual third period domination act pulls it out for the B's.

The game was on the NHL Network, and was quite entertaining. A tough ending for Bruins fans, but still a fun game to watch.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Another rumor making the rounds regarding next season's Winter Classic is that the NHL has approved a CHL request to hold multiple outdoor games December 31st in Detroit. The target venue seems to be Comerica Park, with the London Knights and Windsor Spitfires in action against the OHL's two Michigan based clubs, the Plymouth Whalers and Saginaw Spirit.
FYI, the CHL is the Canadian Hockey League, which is the umbrella governing league for the three Canadian major junior leagues -- the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Comerica Park makes sense, since U of M would never agree to allow any CHL games to be played at The Big House. The Canadian juniors are a direct competitor to NCAA hockey, and the colleges hate that CHL teams are constantly stealing their signed players.
If this rumor turns out to be true, I'll need to convince my wife to spend New Year's Eve at an outdoor hockey doubleheader. The Christmas shopping will need to involve some nice jewelery.

 

[Ockeghem]

Scott,
Thanks for the information. The other night, I tuned in to the NHL network, and saw a hockey game being played outdoors. One of the teams was listed as 'TOR,' so naturally I thought it was the Maple Leafs. But then I thought, outdoors? As I checked the score guide (I have Direct), I see that the Maple Leafs game was at an intermission. LOL. The game I was watching was TOR vs. HAM (Hamilton). Do you know which league these two teams are from?

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Scott,
I assume that would be the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (can't remember Hamilton's nickname). That league was supposed to have an outdoor game this season. The NHL Network televises some AHL games, and they also occasionally show a CHL game of the week. One of the Whalers overage players -- Jamie Devane -- began the season playing for the Marlies before getting sent back to Plymouth.
Shocking game last night in Montreal, where the Habs routed the red hot Red Wings. The Canadiens drove Wings goalie Jimmy Howard from the net after 1 period, and built a 6-0 lead before winning 7-2. It looked like Detroit started their All-Star break a night early. Too bad it will all be for naught, as this team needs a miracle to make the playoffs.

 

[Ockeghem]

Scott,
I assume that would be the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (can't remember Hamilton's nickname). That league was supposed to have an outdoor game this season. The NHL Network televises some AHL games, and they also occasionally show a CHL game of the week. One of the Whalers overage players -- Jamie Devane -- began the season playing for the Marlies before getting sent back to Plymouth.
Shocking game last night in Montreal, where the Habs routed the red hot Red Wings. The Canadiens drove Wings goalie Jimmy Howard from the net after 1 period, and built a 6-0 lead before winning 7-2. It looked like Detroit started their All-Star break a night early. Too bad it will all be for naught, as this team needs a miracle to make the playoffs.

Scott,
Okay, thanks. I enjoyed the game. Watching them play outdoors reminded me of my childhood days when I took to the ice practically any chance I could to play hockey. And in the summer, we played street hockey, which is truly a treat for those who have never played it.
Some Michigan sportscasters were calling last night's Canadiens - Red Wings game a 'throwaway' game, as Lindstrom didn't play (a situation the team is going to have to get used to on a regular basis probably by next season if not the following season), and the All-Star break is right around the corner. Babcock said something to the effect that his team 'lacked concentration.' Yeah, you might say that.

 

[Ockeghem]

Here is a follow-up to our discussion regarding the 2013 Winter Classic. It looks like it's a go.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/7554474/michigan-board-regents-oks-stadium-nhl-winter-classic
I'm looking forward to tonight's Bruins - Sabres game, which I will get to watch on NBCSN. I'd love to see Boston pick up these two points. The standings are really tight (over all) between six or seven teams right now.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Mlive.com has been reporting the Winter Classic at The Big House is a done deal, too, and it will be announced by the NHL on Thursday.
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2012/02/red_wings_4.html
The article also mentions the other games to be played at Comerica Park: the annual NCAA Great Lakes Invitational tournament, an AHL game between the Grand Rapids Griffins (Red Wings affiliate) and Toronto Marlies (Leafs affiliate), and two OHL games featuring the Plymouth Whalers, Saginaw Spirit, Windsor Spitfires and one more team (probably the London Knights).
As for the standings, I'm hoping the Habs will be sellers at the trade deadline to help wrap up a top 2-3 draft pick. Next year's draft is supposed to be a strong one.

 

[Ockeghem]

A good come-from-behind win for the Bruins yesterday afternoon. When they were down a goal with about a minute to go in the third period, I wasn't too confident.

Scott,

Did you catch the Canadiens - Maple Leafs game last night? Montreal looked quite solid in this one. I thought the final score was kind of surprising. Toronto hasn't been playing all that badly lately. I haven't forgotten that the Bruins needed overtime in game seven last year to get by the Canadiens in the early round of the playoffs.

I'm looking forward to the Capitals - Rangers game (NBC) today. The Flyers - Red Wings game is also televised tonight. It should be a fun day of hockey viewing in our home.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

A good come-from-behind win for the Bruins yesterday afternoon. When they were down a goal with about a minute to go in the third period, I wasn't too confident.
 
Scott,
Did you catch the Canadiens - Maple Leafs game last night? Montreal looked quite solid in this one. I thought the final score was kind of surprising. Toronto hasn't been playing all that badly lately. I haven't forgotten that the Bruins needed overtime in game seven last year to get by the Canadiens in the early round of the playoffs.
I'm looking forward to the Capitals - Rangers game (NBC) today. The Flyers - Red Wings game is also televised tonight. It should be a fun day of hockey viewing in our home.

No, I missed most of the Habs - Leafs game. We were at the Plymouth Whalers game. I turned the Montreal game on when we got home, and they were ahead 5-0 with about 10 minutes left. From reading the game recap, it appears the Leafs laid an egg in the 2nd period.
While they have now won four straight games, all the Habs are doing is screwing up their draft position. They have too many teams to pass in order to make the playoffs.

 

[Jeff Gatie]

Great SI article about the "little ball" every other team loves to hate:
Feisty, ferocious and very denim-collar, Brad Marchand of the Bruins is making enemies fast, but there's a payoff in that for the NHL's best team
My favorite quote:

But the ultimate Rat moment came in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals against Vancouver. Marchand opened the scoring early by snapping a short-side tracer over goalie Roberto Luongo's shoulder, but the ending of a 5--2 Boston win was what left an indelible mark—in memory, if not on Daniel Sedin's jaw. With two minutes left, Marchand tapped the Canucks star with one, two, three, four, five, six left jabs as referee Kelly Sutherland watched. When reporters asked afterward why he had done it, Marchand said, "Because I felt like it."