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2013 - 2014 NHL Discussion Thread (1 Viewer)

Scott Merryfield

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There are lots of changes in the East this year. Detroit joins the "Atlantic" division with Montreal, Boston, Toronto, etc. (I still think the division name is stupid). The Bruins lost Seguin and Ference, and added old man Iginla. My Habs are not much different, with the only significant addition being another smurf forward in Briere. Two of their young prospects made the Montreal opening night roster -- defenseman Jared Tinordi (who was up late last year) and center Michael Bournival. They will be without defenseman Emelin until December with a knee injury suffered late last season.

The Canadiens and Leafs play tonight on CBC, so I'll be watching.

If there are any Washington Capital fans out there, keep an eye on teenage rookie Tom Wilson. He's a Plymouth Whaler who's getting an early season look with the Caps. Wilson is a big power forward who can also skate and score, delivers bone-jarring checks, and will give you 100% on every shift. He was Washington's first round pick in 2012, and I think he's going to be a heck of a player. He may get sent back to Plymouth after 9 games so as not to burn a year of his entry level contract, but he's really outgrown the Ontario Hockey League. However, Wilson is not eligible to play in the AHL this season, so it's either Washington or Plymouth of the OHL for him this season.

Washington also kept another Whaler -- defenseman Connor Carrick. He, however, is eligible to play in the AHL, so he may get sent to Hershey after his 9 game trial with the Caps.While I figured there was a 50/50 chance Wilson would not return to Plymouth this year, losing Carrick was a surprise, as he was a 5th round 2012 NHL pick. However, Carrick has really developed quickly and impressed the Caps in training camp.
 

Aaron Silverman

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I got a promo email from the Panthers to buy a 3-pack of tickets to "see Tim Thomas take on the Bruins twice" plus one other game. I may take 'em up on that! :)
 

Scott Merryfield

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Aaron Silverman said:
I got a promo email from the Panthers to buy a 3-pack of tickets to "see Tim Thomas take on the Bruins twice" plus one other game. I may take 'em up on that! :)
In Detroit, we instead get the "screw the Canadian fans" plan. With their change in conferences, the Wings have jacked up the price on all games with the Habs and Leafs, since they know fans from across the border will pay the ridiculous asking price. A co-worker with season tickets in the last row in the corner of the upper bowl always offers to sell me his Habs tickets at face value. He told me his $30 seats are $58 for the games against Montreal. You cannot even see the action clearly at the far goal from his seats. The Boston games are also a premium price, but not quite as high. I have a friend with seats on the glass -- I shudder to think what the asking price for those seats are (I have not talked with him lately). They were normally about $150, so I would guess the price will be well over $200 for the Canadiens and Leafs. At those prices, this Montreal fan will not be going to any NHL games this season.
Ockeghem said:
It looks like I will get the Washington - Chicago game tonight. That's fine, but I would love to see the Maple Leafs - Canadiens tilt.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/schedule
Keep an eye on Tom Wilson, Scott. Hopefully he is in the lineup tonight for the Caps. I will be flipping to that channel during intermission of the Habs - Leafs game.
 

Ockeghem

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Scott Merryfield said:
Keep an eye on Tom Wilson, Scott. Hopefully he is in the lineup tonight for the Caps. I will be flipping to that channel during intermission of the Habs - Leafs game.
Scott,Will do. I don't think I get CBC (I think in a PM we may have mentioned this channel before), unless that's one of the NBC sports channels. I do get all of those channels.

Here is an article on Daniel Briere. I realize that the subheading reads "Montreal veteran finally puts on his favorite team's colors," but there's no accounting for taste. ;)

http://espn.go.com/nhl/preview2013/story/_/id/9751761/nhl-daniel-briere-excited-wear-montreal-canadiens-sweater
 

Scott Merryfield

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Ockeghem said:
Scott,Will do. I don't think I get CBC (I think in a PM we may have mentioned this channel before), unless that's one of the NBC sports channels. I do get all of those channels.

Here is an article on Daniel Briere. I realize that the subheading reads "Montreal veteran finally puts on his favorite team's colors," but there's no accounting for taste. ;)

http://espn.go.com/nhl/preview2013/story/_/id/9751761/nhl-daniel-briere-excited-wear-montreal-canadiens-sweater

CBC is the Canadian Broadcasting Company, so it is not one of the NBC sports channels. Here on the east side of the state, we get the CBC affiliate out of Windsor -- just across the river from Detroit. I have been watching Hockey Night in Canada on CBC since around 1970.

There was a nice moment with Briere during the opening ceremonies tonight. Guy LaFleur entered the rink carrying a torch, which he passed on to Briere. Danny then passed it to the next Canadien who was introduced, and so on.
 

Ockeghem

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Scott Merryfield said:
CBC is the Canadian Broadcasting Company, so it is not one of the NBC sports channels. Here on the east side of the state, we get the CBC affiliate out of Windsor -- just across the river from Detroit. I have been watching Hockey Night in Canada on CBC since around 1970.

There was a nice moment with Briere during the opening ceremonies tonight. Guy LaFleur entered the rink carrying a torch, which he passed on to Briere. Danny then passed it to the next Canadien who was introduced, and so on.
Scott,

Thanks for that information on the CBC. Yes, CNBC (220) showed some of the LaFleur / Briere footage before the Maple Leafs - Canadiens game. They referred to it as the "passing of the torch."
 

Scott Merryfield

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I did not see hardly any of the Caps - Hawks game last night, but one of the few times I did flip channels I caught a shot of teenager (and former Plymouth Whaler) Connor Carrick in the penalty box, so I know that at least he played. ;)

The Habs lost in the same manner as late last season -- mistakes on defense combined with inconsistent goaltending. Defensive breakdowns lead to 3 of Toronto's 4 goals. Montreal was outskating the Leafs, but Toronto did not make mistakes like the Habs.

There was a very scary moment in the 3rd period. Montreal's new enforcer George Parros was fighting Leafs goon Colton Orr for the 2nd time that night (and about the 20th time in their careers), when Orr lost his footing. Parros was in mid-punch, and fell over Orr, hitting the ice face-first. It appeared Parros was knocked unconscious, and Orr immediately motioned to the bench for medical assistance. Parros was taken off the ice on a stretcher.

Incidents like this one is what will lead to an eventual ban on fighting, IMO.
 

Scott Merryfield

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BTW, my hometown Plymouth Whalers are well-represented at the beginning of the NHL season. Per the team's website, 16 Whalers alumni have been named to various NHL opening night rosters. The Whalers include:

Gregory Campbell (Boston); Brett Bellemore (Carolina); John Mitchell (Colorado); Jared Boll and James Wisniewski (Columbus); Tyler Seguin (Dallas), Stephen Weiss (Detroit); Justin Williams (Los Angeles); David Legwand (Nashville); JT Miller (NY Rangers); James Neal (Pittsburgh); Tom Sestito (Vancouver); Connor Carrick, Michal Neuvirth and Tom Wilson (Washington); Chris Thorburn (Winnipeg).

This year's Whalers team has two players who are potential 1st round picks in next summer's NHL Draft -- goalie Alex Nedeljkovic and forward Matt Mistelle. Nedeljkovic was ranked the #1 North American goalie prospect in the NHL Central Scouting preseason "players to watch" list, and the only goalie listed as a potential 1st round pick. Also on the team is Ryan Hartman, Chicago's first round pick in last summer's draft, and Victor Crus Rydberg, a 5th round pick by the Islanders last summer.
 

Ockeghem

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Scott,

As I tuned in and saw some of the pre-game last night on CNBC, they were airing some of the Briere / LaFleur ceremony. For a split second I thought I was going to get the Maple Leafs - Canadiens game. In any event, I was switching back-and-forth between the Capitals - Blackhawks game and the Reds - Pirates wild-card game. The Capitals - Blackhawks game was very good, with some stellar goaltending at both ends (most notably Crawford).

I don't know how I feel about the fighting issue in the NHL. It's so steeped in tradition. Being a traditionalist in most things, I tend to like to leave things the way they are, but I can see that fighting may eventually be banned.

I just watched a clip of the Parros injury. Ugh.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/9756894/montreal-canadiens-george-parros-suffered-concussion
 

Scott Merryfield

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Ockeghem said:
I don't know how I feel about the fighting issue in the NHL. It's so steeped in tradition. Being a traditionalist in most things, I tend to like to leave things the way they are, but I can see that fighting may eventually be banned.

I just watched a clip of the Parros injury. Ugh.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/9756894/montreal-canadiens-george-parros-suffered-concussion
I'm not a banner-waving "fighting must go" person, either. However, it will only take one incident similar to the one last night with Parros where the outcome is much worse -- either a permanent injury or a death -- and fighting will be gone. With all the legal issues surrounding sports and safety these days, there will be no other option. I think it's inevitable -- it's just a question of when.
 

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The new "hybrid" icing rule will be interesting. Basically it allows the linesman to make a judgement call once the first player reaches an imaginary line at the face-off dots (the winner doesn't have to be that player). It's intended to prevent injuries to players racing full-speed to the boards.
 

Ockeghem

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Interesting!"It was the first time in NHL history that a team scored its first goal of the season on a penalty shot, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Lightning went 0-for-5 on the power play, failing to score on a pair of 5-on-3 advantages, while allowing the two short-handed goals."http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400484250

It's nice to see too that the Bruins have signed Dennis Seidenberg to a four-year contract extension. :)
 

Scott Merryfield

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Aaron Silverman said:
The new "hybrid" icing rule will be interesting. Basically it allows the linesman to make a judgement call once the first player reaches an imaginary line at the face-off dots (the winner doesn't have to be that player). It's intended to prevent injuries to players racing full-speed to the boards.
I think the new rule is a good idea, although it was a little strange seeing the whistle blow before the puck was touched. I am somewhat used to that when watching OHL games, but it is not a hybrid icing there. Instead, the whistle blows immediately after the puck crosses the red line -- there is no opportunity for the offensive team to negate the call. The NHL's rule is a good compromise between safety and still allowing a team to negate the call, IMO.
 

Aaron Silverman

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In sad news, although the Lightning list their games as carried on SUN Sports, they are not available in my Pantheresque neck of the woods. Sun was showing boxing or something last night. :(
 

Scott Merryfield

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Aaron Silverman said:
In sad news, although the Lightning list their games as carried on SUN Sports, they are not available in my Pantheresque neck of the woods. Sun was showing boxing or something last night. :(
I understand your pain in trying to get hockey on TV in the South, Aaron. We have a condo in South Carolina, and seeing playoff hockey when we are down there in the spring requires some effort. Fortunately we found a sports bar called Overtime that shows every game for any major sport you can imagine -- they have TV's everywhere. The most fun I ever had watching a hockey game on TV was at that place a few years ago when Montreal upset the #1 seed Capitals in the opening round. My wife and I watched Game 7 sitting with a bunch of Canadians who were down there on a golf trip. It was almost like being at the game -- including long lines for the men's room between periods. :lol:
 

Aaron Silverman

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There is actually a nice sports bar/ restaurant semi-walking distance from my house, but various recent medical and automotive bills preclude me from going there as much as I'd like.

We do get all the Panthers games on TV, at least.
 

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