ok, ive been watching the devils all season, i guess ill weigh in now.

-the gomez-gionta-brylin line is AWESOME to watch. they set the tone for this team, which is weird, because it used to be madden's D line that set the tone. how times have changed.

-the D we signed to replace stevens/niedermeyer just dont work. in the old league, malakhov and mcgillis would fit in with the devils D perfectly. but as of right now, one of these guys HAS to go. they just dont cut it, and they cost way too much.

-hey, mogilny. SHOOT THE FUCKING PUCK. guy looks to pass way too much.

-been pretty happy with clemmensen as he's filled in for brodeur. broduer, by the way, is not nearly as effective with the weakened D and the no-touching outside the trapezoid. the league really screwed him on that rule.

-we cant play D. the old, tried-and-true devils D (rub the forward out on the way to the boards) is illegal now, and the team is flat out struggling. and its basically the lumbering defensemens fault. when sean brown (sean brown!) is your 2nd best defensemen, somethings wrong. and this is with colin white injured (great, another big, immobile D-man). better bring up hale and get some legs on D, and quick.


the devils will be lucky to snag the 5th spot in the playoffs...though i still expect them to make it. but this isnt the team i grew up loving.

that said, i fully expect them to adapt, and fairly quickly. the forwards are in place...it's just a matter of straightening the D out. the problem is very clear: mcgillis, malakhov, matvichuck, white...too many old-style d-men.

At first it seemed like the new rules created more speed and more open ice and led to some bigger hits. This was good. This, however, has seemed to have faded and I agree, there does seem to be a lack of animosity out there. There are minor flare ups every now and then, but they are few and far between...

The thing is, that tells me that they are getting it right! As a fan, you should not be able to see 100% of the actual penalties on the ice. You are 100 or more feet removed from the surface of a game being played at high speeds and you think you should be able to act as defacto referee?

The fact is, refs are calling penalties exactly how they should be. A little tug with a stick or a glove, regardless of the effect it has on the play or the player, is a penalty. Yes, there is currently a ridiculous parade to the box most nights. It takes more than a month to erase a decade worth of bad habits. Coaches have spent 10+ years teaching guys to use their sticks and hands to slow opponents. It's basically instinct with a lot of guys at this point. So even if they stick their stick out, and realise quickly what they're doing and pull it away... tweet! And I think that's good.

In time they'll figure it out, or the coaches will find other guys who will, and the games will flow properly. It is November 3rd... we haven't even been watching for a month yet! 1 month! I know this is the Internet generation and whatnot, but good gravy everyone needs to take a chill pill and let this thing take it's course.

On the other hand, this could also be a great big example of "be careful what you wish for". Perhaps a majority of fans liked the old style more than they thought they did.

Some of us knew that the whole time & called out the current farce for what it is from the get-go.

hxxp://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=141753&hubname=

This is an amazing story, seems Jacques Demers spent all his 15 years in the NHL without the ability to read or write. The English version of his book hits stores in early 2006, and I'll be picking it up for sure.

Is the book just a bunch of pictures?

That is amazing. Wow. To get that far without being able to read or write? Unbelievable. I love Jacques Demers. Always will. He was the coach of the Wings back when I first really started watching hockey ('87-'88). I loved that Wings team: Probert, Kocur, Gallant, Yzerman, Burr, Barr, PETR KLIMA!, Adam Oates, Chabot, Snepsts, Bridgeman, Zombo, Norwood, Chiasson, Hanlon and Stefan in net... Just loved that team. They even had this back up goalie, Sam St. Laurent who still wore one of those old-time Jason-style goalie masks. That was a fun era for the Wings.

yeah, saw the Demers story last night and was in disbelief.

just amazing that an adult can succeed in ANY job without being able to read or write

No, a Montreal newspaper columnist helped him write the book... the same guy also helps him with his weekly column.

I saw the Demers story yesterday too, and thought it was great stuff.

Perhaps Klima spelled his name Peter....but Demers was unable to spell and it turned into Petr?:D

I went to the Hurricanes / Bruins game here in Raleigh last week. That's my first game under the new rules, and I'll chime in on the "I love the new style of play" side of things. Less thuggery, more skating, skill, and flow to the game. Plus the game only took about 2.5 hours to watch including most of an overtime period, which sure seemed shorter than the games I used to go to.

A big thumbs up from me on the new NHL.

Of course, you'd say that because Carolina's 8-2-1 under the new rules. ;)

I think part of the problem is, people don't have a problem with the penalties, until they start getting called on their team.

As far as people wanting the old game back? NO THANK YOU! Hockey is not about the clutch and grab, it's about the skate shoot and score.

Yeah, I'm with Cards4ever. I'll take a whole year of crappily officiated penalty-play filled hockey if it got rid of the clutching and obstruction and everything. That said, very few people are willing to go for that. It's exactly what he said: everyone's happy as long as it's not their team. Have some patience, yeesh.

SI

For those of you who like to "slum" it, here are a list of players to watch this fall for next years draft.

http://centralscouting.nhl.com/CSMenu.nsf/0/29046f7701bfae6385256af7004ffb41/$FILE/2005%20Players%20to%20Watch.pdf

Ah, so you mean something Blues and Blackhawks fans can agree on ;)

SI

Hmmm, not sure if that was directed at me or not. I'm not a Blues fan, I'm a Minnesota Gopher fan! I watch the NHL mainly to watch players with Minnesota connections. I go to a lot of HS games and College games and I was told that was "slumming" it, so, that was my reference. :)

Nah, that was actually me trying to make some peace with the Blues fans as, well, both of our teams suck this year :(

SI

I like this Avs team more and more as the season goes along.

btw, I wrote up a little team-by-team report for the first month of the season. Western Conference only. (Eastern will be next month)

http://www.smart-guys-sports.com/?p=32

For anyone who hasn't read his writeup, it's good stuff.

SI

Parise?

Welp, Columbus no longer has their good as Nash is injured again.

Good stuff, Double D!

hes shown some promise...but he hasnt clicked with any linemates yet.

robinson had him playing with mogilny and gomez at the start of the year....then parise moved to a mogilny-kozlov line....and then yesterday against the rangers he was with pandolfo and someone else, whom i forget. mightve been a kid who was just called up.

so basically, he's been everywhere but on madden's line (the top checking line). truthfully, he hasnt stood out much. but he seems scrappy, has gotten some time with the pp unit, and should fit right in for years. just hasnt clicked with anyone yet, i guess.

I saw a lot of him at NoDak. He's a very unique player, and I think you're lucky to have him. I expect him to be quite good, maybe something like Holik in his good years.

yeah, saw that.

Sorry, Chicago. :(

Everyone that was raking Milbury over the coals for taking Nilson just ahead of Parise a couple years ago isn't looking quite so smart right now...

Milbury still sucks donkey balls

Any sucess the Islanders have is completly by accident, it is by no means an indication of Milbury's hockey knowledge.

The Blues just lost 7-2 to the Oilers (who are playing exceptionally well right now).

The Blackhawks are currently losing 8-1 to the Stars.

The Norris Division, or whatever the hell it's called nowadays (Central?), is crap. It's almost like the NFC North of the NHL.

Yes. He is a horrible GM this Milbury.

I'm not saying he's a good GM... but taking Nilson was a smart pick and those Parise-lovers should have realized the Devils would be getting someone who could contribute early, but never be more than an energy player and decent penalty killer.

But Milbury made the pick by accident... :)

Ovechkins goal in the shooutout tonight .. Hot damn.

Also .. Thrashers and Caps with some drama. Could be fun to watch play out.

And the hit in the Caps/Sabs game. Damn.

Fun night of NHL action.

Made a lot of trips to Grand Forks huh? Or is the Fighting Sioux Network available in Madison?

Yeah, that was a real oof last night. :(

SI

It seems the Flames will try and win the 'old way' in the 'new' NHL. They've played well the past few games by virtue of solid defensive play, limiting scoring chances against, good penalty killing and timely goaltending. This is the only way the team can win because there is just a limited amount of offence. The team is actually showing that it can be extremely physical while not taking penalties which is vital. And of course, any team that wants to drop the gloves will play into the Flames' style. It's rubbing off on the new acquisitions with Amonte, McCarty and Ritchie all fighting in the past few games.

Tonight will be a good test against Vancouver.

Stars get a nice shootout win in Colorado tonight!

Haven't got into watching it closely yet, that season off affected my patterns. How has 'Sid the Kid' been doing? (that is such an annoying nickname)

would have loved to watch that, but the NHL apparantly decided to blackout certain games to certain people. I called up DirecTV and made life a tad uncomfortable to a rep and then her supervisor, but they couldn't really give me any acceptable answer. I'm pretty pissed off to have the game just blacked out seemingly at random by the leage, and have asked to have someone at DTV contact me with some answers (wont be holding my breath on that).

it's only one game, but I'm rather furious at the way NHL is fucking around customers. neither Dallas or Colorado is close to me, so it's not a local blackout, and local blackouts are the only blackouts I'm supposed to have on Center Ice

EDIT: I suspected was that it was just a technical glitch on the part of DTV and they were just giving me a load of bull. Well, I just happened to be browsing through my Now Playing list, and the game MAGICALLY became unblacked out to me not long after I called. Still annoyed, because I missed all but the 3rd period, and even more so because since I didn't think I had it recorded, I checked on the score...I can't watch a game where I know what happens.

Hah, I'm the exact same way.

a bit of a head scratcher from the Bruins. They trade Andy Hilbert to the Blackhawks for a 5th rounder. Now, granted, the B's don't really have a need for a forward right now, but Hilbert is a former 2nd round pick, is 24, and has been solid in the AHL (79 points last years).

Just seems like they gave him up too cheap.

Back-to-back wins against the Canucks, making it four in a row for the Flames. Awesome game again tonight. Phaneuf was first star with a goal (game winner) and two assists. He won't win the Calder playing our west with Sid the Kid and Ovenchicken in the east but he's playing well enough to be nominated. Of course, it's really early.

Phaneuf rocks. I'd watch more Flames games just to watch him work.

Shutout for Turco against the hated and feared Oil tonight, and it was well earned. The forwards tried to leave him out to dry a few times tonight, but he wouldn't have any of that.

In the odd trades department...


So we had a goon (I forgot his damn name!), but they let him go in the offseason. We have Erskine, but he's such a defensive liability that they don't want to carry him as the 7th D-man on the roster. I guess there isn't anyone in the minors who can fill this role, so we get Perrott? For a 5th? (maybe 6th). Sheesh.

Johnny, are you around? Can you tell me something good about this guy? I hear he can't skate, he can't shoot, and he makes bad decisions. Can he fight well?

Well, i liked Perrott better then Belak...lol...thats not saying much though.
Perrot gives a good effort, but thats about it.....He can forecheck, and throw a few hits, but again, not effectivly enough to be a regular...Its pretty much a steal for Toronto here. It will be a 6th rounder, as i dont see Perrot getting in anyone's lineup for more then half their games. He's exactly what the coach said, he's the 23rd man on the roster

edit: his fighting never stood out to me....he was last in the hierarchy or fighters for toronto. I couldnt even tell you if we won or lost most of his fights.

I watched Perrott pretty regularly in his 90+ games down here with the Baby Leafs... I'll echo Johnny's remarks that he's not a regular NHLer. He is however a very hard worker so if that's something Dallas needs then they got what they needed... I think he's worth a 6th Rd pick... 5th Rd not so much.

Perrot fell out of favor in Toronto last week after the Sens game.In the game against Ottawa Domi had his ass handed to him in a fight,Perrot was playing that game and did'nt fight all night.Perrot is there to add toughness to the team,in this game he showed he may not be willing to do that anymore thus making him useless.

let's see if this works

Who was that Philly goalie who gave up the shot from center ice in the playoffs a few years ago?

dola

I think my last post jinxed CuJo.

Ninymakki(Sp?) Let one in from center a few weeks ago for the Flyers.

Dan Cloutier vs the Wings in 02?

Here's an 'article' (it's Fox) that suggests members of the UofM Gophers team have been involved in underage drinking. The players in question include Flames first round pick Kris Chucko, future first overall pick Phil Kessell, Jeff Frazee and Evan Kaufmann.

Up here the drinking age is 18 so many of us were laughing this off but I'm also hearing that the NCAA takes this very seriously and that many of these players could be in serious trouble. In Chucko's case, it could go so far as him losing his eligibility and him having to play in the WHL for Brandon.

For those in the know, how serious is this?

http://www.kmsp.com/news/investigato...ry.asp?1650014

Chris Osgood vs the Blues in 98?

Seriously, there must be something more important these ass hats could be investigating...

Was it that long ago? Or, did he do it more than once? He's also the one who prematurely started celebrating a playoff win and watched a puck fly past him and off a post, isn't he?

I happened to catch the last 5 minutes of the Nasville/Edmonton game last night. It was 1-1 with under 2 minutes left, and it ended 3-2. That was pretty cool. I don't think I ever saw that happen in years past.

Osgood also gave one up to Jamie Langenbrunner in 99.

That sounds like a series between the Wings and Sharks.

Actually, it happened to Osgood twice in the 98-99 season. Al MacInnis scored from center ice in the second round, and Jamie Langenbrunner did it in the as well.

Osgood wasn't celebrating when that happened. The game was tied. He just left the net to play the puck and couldn't get back in time before it went in. It was horrible. That series was probably the most painful sporting event(s) that I have ever suffered through. I was crushed. I actually banned myself from hockey for a while. (Note: the ban lasted until January '95, but only because of the strike. I ended up going to a pre-season Wings' game).

That was '97-'98, no? And even with all that nonsense, we still won the Cup! :D

I remember the MacInnis goal vividly. It was my first year of law school. I was in the midst of a "24 hour take-home" exam for Con Law. Basically, you pick up the exam from the library and have 24 hours to finish it. I picked it up around noon, worked diligently until around 7:30. Then I decided to work on the exam, while having the game on in the background. It wasn't working at all, so I figured I had made enough progress so I would watch the game and then go back to the exam. I went to a friend's house to watch it. With a minute to go, I stood up and put my coat on. I didn't want to waste any time chatting or lingering around post-game. A few second's later MacInnis scores.

The game didn't end until the second overtime on a nice goal by Shanahan. I think the Blues almost won it, but their best chance hit the cross-bar. I didn't get home until after midnight. Luckily I was pretty pumped up by the win, so I finished the exam.

I was still seriously displeased.

That was Vernon, I think. Hrmm... That happened against the Blackhawks in the '95 playoffs. A terrifying moment for sure.

It was a Sunday afternoon game, I think. During the game I ate some promotional "Batman" hamburger from McDonald's. It was pretty tasty.

You remember eating a promotional hamburger from McDonald's during a hockey game 10 years ago. I feel ashamed for being such a casual hockey fan. I'm not sure I can return to this thread in good conscience.

Yes, it was. That was also the year Belfour tried to chop one of the Wings agitators (I believe it was Lapointe) in half with his goalie stick from the crotch up. OWCH!

there's painful and then there's Roy's Statue of Liberty But He Doesn't Have The Puck.

Indeed! Poor Marty. I loved the guy when he was with the Wings, but he sort of became the poster child for excessive spending after Boston gave him the $5.5 million a year. You can't blame a fella for taking the money, but the Bruins insane to give it to him. He's a great character guy, but he's really a third line type of player, strong, physical, and will chip in up to 20 goals in a very good year.

The greatest Martin LaPointe moment was his goal in game 6 of the '97 Western Conference Finals. It was a beauty of a slap shot from above the circles that disintegrated Patrick Roy's catching glove and went into the net. Looking back, I think that series is probably my favorite Wings playoff series ever, even with that stinker of a game 5.

Good times... Good times... ;)

He was such a tool.


Good, but a dick.

I have no argument for that.
but, at least when he retired...he stayed retired.

Yes. I think, at the moment, he is cearly my most hated sports figure of all time. He was a great goalie, amazing, but I hated him nonetheless. Claude Lemieux comes in as a close second. After that, things get fuzzy...

Fixed that for ya.

:eek: :eek: :eek:



:D

You're an evil, evil man, bbor!

Kilma rules. The exciting moves, the great hair, that super-cool helmet... A young H_B even got a little teary-eyed when he was traded to Edmonton for Jimmy "*&*$ing" Carson. I think they traded Klima, Joe Murphy, Adam Graves, and Jeff Sharples to Edmonton for Carson, Kevin McClelland, and a mid-round draft pick. A horrible trade. Just horrible.

Speaking of hate, I did hate Jimmy Carson. Even when he was a member of the Wings I hated him. That's a rare thing. I can only think of a handful of Wings I've actually hated while playing for the team: Carson, Joe Murphy, Marc Potvin, Jim Cummins, to name a few. I didn't even hate Tim Cheveldae, despite his complete suckitude. I actually kinda liked the guy, especially when he wore his "lucky" yellow suit before a big game.

Since I am bored and have already taken a trip or two down Red Wings Memory Lane... I think the Wings' 1989 draft class has to be the best draft ever for the organization and, perhaps, one of the best draft classes in the history of the NHL. This draft was the cornerstone for the Wings 3 Cups.

1989
11		C		Mike Sillinger
32		D		Bob Boughner
53		D		Nicklas Lidstrom
74		C		Sergei Fedorov
95		C		Shawn McCosh
116		R		Dallas Drake
137		D		Scott Zygulski
158		D		Andy Suhy
179				Bob Jones
200		D		Greg Bignell
204		L		Rick Judson
221		D		Vladimir Konstantinov
242		R		Joe Frederick
246		G		Jason Glickman

Granted, not all of these guys are household names and the first round pick didn't exactly blow the doors off the NHL, but it's an amazing draft class. Sillinger and Boughner are solid NHL players. They have bounced around the league a lot, but even now, 16 years later, they starting in the NHL. Same goes for Dallas Drake, current captain of the Blues.

The gems of the draft are obviously Fedorov, Lidstrom, and Konstantinov. For a while there Fedorov was the best player in the NHL. Well, for one year at least. Even after that he was always dangerous and an amazing talent, though he's starting to fade away out there in Anaheim. Lidstrom is, well, Lidstrom. Multiple Norris Trophies. Probably in the top 10-15 defensemen of all time. I still think there was no better defensemen in the leauge than Konstantinov in 96-97. He could do it all, hit, skate, pass, shoot, you name it. He was as complete a defensemen as one would want before his untimely accident. But for that, I think he, and not Lidstrom, would have been the one taking home the Norris year after year.

Just taking a quick look back at some drafts...

Edmonton's '79 (Kevin Lowe, Mark Messier, and Glen Anderson) and '80 (Coffey, Kurri, and Moog) drafts were pretty outstanding, especially when you consider the number of players drafted.

I also love the Wings '83 draft which saw Steve Yzerman, Bob Probert, Joe Kocur, Petr Kima!, and Stu Grimson get drafted into the league. Great times ahead for all!

you can have Boughner back

no doubt about it...that was an insane draft.

Wait, wait? So you're saying there's underage drinking at college? No way!

SI

not saying it wasn't a bad draft. but it WAS a pretty deep class: Sundin (sniff), Guerin, Stu Barnes, Holik and Kozlig were also first rounders, and guys like Foote, Travis Green, Paul Laus (!), Brisebois, Greg Johnson, Dafoe, Draper (Winnipeg), Klatt and Reichel were also drafted. and then there was that OTHER 6th round pick, just ahead of Dallas Drake. Some Pavel Bure guy.

just to throw it out there, the year before, Colorado..er, Quebec, drafted Leschyshen, Fiset, Kamensky, Gusarov and Lapointe. Not a bad draft. Then again, they also took Wade Belak in the first round if 1994, so I guess they cancel each other out.

w00t! Canes down Buffalo 5-3 and set franchise record with eighth straight win! They didn't come from behind, but they still had to work for it as the Sabres were peppering the goal all game and Gerber had to stand on his head a lot to keep a lot of the shots out. Empty-netter late sealed it, though.

My question is how big of deal is it to the NCAA? A couple of people have indicated to me that the UofM could face sanctions and players could lose eligibility. Is that a likely response by NCAA authorities?

The drinking is probably going to result in some 1 game suspensions for the players. The bigger issue is, it looks like they were allowed in free on Karaoke night when there is supposed to be a $3 Cover Charge. It also looks like they were given free drinks, also a NCAA violation.

Being a Gopher fan, I know, hear, and understand the point of view of "underage drinking, shocking", but these guys are going to pay the price for that choice. Like or not they are pretty popular figures on campus and around town and they just can't blend in like a normal college student. Lots of Frats and the like to drink at, hopefully they use those sources next time.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13127100.htm

I'm officially on the Kansas City Penguines bandwagon. I just need to get me a sweater so I can watch them play in our new building, eh.

Wow. An absolute beauty of a goal by Crosby in the shoot-out against Montreal. He was Pittsburgh's third shooter and the shootout score was 0-0. He scores. Pens win. A classic goal for his first game against his favorite team growing up. The excitement building up that goal and the fans' reaction is definitive proof that the shoot-out is the way to end a tie in the regular season. It was electriftying. The alternative? A long, dull walk to the parking lot. The debate has ended, kids.

'Nuff said.

Yeah that was a crazy goal... I knew he was going to score, too.

I'll take a point after being down 2-0 after the 1st period...

I just wish Ottawa would lose games at some point this season....

Wow. The Avs are up 3-0 against Vancouver. They scored 3 goals in the first seven minutes and before the Canucks even had a shot on goal...

Yay! Hawks win the crapfest in St Louis. And I actually got it on tv here (Fox Sports Midwest coverage for the Blues). The only nights I get the Hawks and Rockets on tv, they're both on at the same time :(

SI

aw fuck.
I'm thinking...15 minutes in and no one cares about the Avs anyway. there wont be a spoiler there. oops (no biggy, really, but I ain't coming back. besides, the Avs play like crap when they have the lead).

fwiw, their last game (vs SJ), they had a 2-0 lead 3 minutes in, again before allowing a shot. they ended up getting outshot 18-8 in that period!

bye.

Gah!

DD, I'm so sorry. I should've thought to put spoiler warnings on that post. Damnit! Will do so in the future.

no you shouldn't have. it was totally my fault.

why am I still here?

can I call 'em or what?

They won 5-3. They were fine, though they did sit back a bit and let Vancouver take it to 'em. Still, it's hard not at times with a 4 goal lead.

true. but they looked as awful in the 2nd period as they looked good in the first. and they start to coast like that EVERY time they get a lead. I'm sure I sound like a Toronto fan, complaining about a win, but I really do wish they'd cut that the fuck out.

love to watch the team though. they are doing way better than I expected.

Wait, I thought we held parades when we won. Which is it again?

that definitely didn't come from me.

er...did it?

Parades. Definitely parades.

No, it was someone else. Probably one of those puppy-kicking Red Wing fans. But both points of view are pretty common, and I'm always kind of amused by the stereotypes of Leaf fans that seem to contradict each other.

On the one hand, we complain about everything. On the other hand, we do cartwheels over even the smallest victory.

On the one hand, we brutally turn on our players and tear them apart. On the other hand, we think all our players walk on water.

On the one hand, we delude ourselves into thinking we're going to win the Cup every year. On the other hand, we're so damn pessimistic and depressing to be around.

On the one hand, we're fickle morons for hopping on and off the bandwagon over every little development. On the other hand, we're hopeless idiots for being the only fans in the league that sell out the building every night no matter how well the team does.

On the one hand, our team never wins the Stanley Cup. On the other hand... um, actually, forget that one.

Still, couldn't all the Leaf-haters get together and at least get on message?

can we all just say Darcy Tucker is a pansy, and leave it at that?
oh wait, we ALL agree that Wade Belak sucks, right?