The Official 2021-22 Season Talk Thread

[Majingir]

Another season of hockey is about to get underway. Preseason kicks off this Saturday with a team that can win playoff rounds vs a team that can't win playoff rounds, which by the sound of things, could have a full house.

Lots of storylines to follow this season.

Seattle enters the league as the 32nd franchise, which could very well be the start of the longest time in the post O6 era without expansion, as I doubt we see any more in the next decade or two.

The Arizona Coyotes are playing their final season in their current arena. And maybe final season in Arizona? Where have we heard that before over the course of the last 15 years?

NHL returns to ESPN for the first time in 15+ years, and also goes to TNT.

Marc Andre Fleury is now in Chicago, and could be playing his final season.

Joe Thornton is in Florida of all places.

Ovechkins quest for the goal record continues. He's likely passing Dionne, Hull and Jagr this season to move into the top 3 all time.

Crosby likely gets goal #500 this season.

Both Ovechkin and Crosby could crack the top 20 all time in points.

Getzlaf, Backstrom, Spezza could all get 1000 points in their career this season.

Fleury likely gets win #500, becoming 3rd ever goalie to do that.

And the Leafs continue their neverending quest to win a playoff series.....

[Majingir]

My early guess at playoff teams:

Atlantic:
Lightning
Bruins
Leafs
Panthers (WC)

Metro:
Pens
Caps
Canes
Islanders (WC)


Central:
Avs
Wild
Blues
Preds (WC)
Jets (WC)

Pacific:
Vegas
Seattle
Oilers


Cup finals: Lightning over Avs

[Majingir]

Hockey is back tonight!

It's weird though how I'm not even so excited. Maybe its partly because of how last season ended, or because of things not feeling normal for so long that I've gotten use to things being different from how they used to be.

[rdnk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Majingir

My early guess at playoff teams: Atlantic: Lightning Bruins Leafs Metro: Pens Caps Canes Islanders (WC) Panthers (WC) Central: Avs Wild Blues Preds (WC) Pacific: Vegas Seattle Oilers Jets (WC) Cup finals: Lightning over Avs

I thought the only division realignment was Coyotes to central and Seattle to pacific. I'm pretty sure the Panthers are still in the atlantic and the Jets in the central.

Not a big fan of Nashville. They lost Arvidsson, Jarnkrok, Rinne and Ellis in the offseason. Replacements include Rittich, Glass and Myers. It feels like a retool year. I think Dallas, Chicago, Vancouver and LA are better teams.

Picking 15/16 teams who made the playoffs last year to make it again is interesting.

[Majingir]

Only took 4 months, but Leafs finally got that 4th win vs the Habs.

[bhurst99]

Quote: Originally Posted by Majingir

Hockey is back tonight! It's weird though how I'm not even so excited. Maybe its partly because of how last season ended, or because of things not feeling normal for so long that I've gotten use to things being different from how they used to be.

You shouldn't be excited about the regular season. Our Leafs could go 60-20-2, Matthews could score 70 goals and Marner could tally 150 points -- and none of it will matter if they go out in the first round.

[Majingir]

Quote: Originally Posted by bhurst99

You shouldn't be excited about the regular season. Our Leafs could go 60-20-2, Matthews could score 70 goals and Marner could tally 150 points -- and none of it will matter if they go out in the first round.

Even in a fantasy scenario, no way Leafs are only losing 2 in OT/SO lol.

I'm sure the entire team knows the deal here. If they lose in rd1 or dont make it, major changes are bring made. Could be something like Rielly not brought back along with Marner moved.

If they make it to rd2, that's where it gets tricky. They should be making it far, but rd2 is more than likely TB. So losing to the 2x defending champs isn't bad, but losing in the 2nd round sounds bad.

[Majingir]

Evander Kane now under investigation for submitting a fake vaccine card to the NHL.

And nobody was surprised.