Hockey Night In DSP

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 4:23 pm

Gangrel wrote:I just want to know where all this vaunted "scoring" we were supposed to have has gone? Granted, I've only seen the last two Saturday night games, but from seeing highlights of the others, something is missing.....

Gang:

No doubt. The Oil has gone from a team that some preseason pundits predicted could have up to eight 20-goal scorers this season to a team with one consistent goal-scoring threat -- Smytty.

Lupul is six shades of useless. Soft beyond belief, with hands of stone. I hope he's included in any deal Lowe makes for a puck-rushing defenseman in the next month. The sooner Lupul leaves, the better.

Sykora should be on a milk carton as missing since his strong start. Hemsky is, well, Hemsky. Doesn't shoot enough, disappears some nights despite his immense talent.

Horcoff is looking to snap out of his slump a bit, but he's not there. Raffi and Pisani are showing that last season and last postseason, respectively, were abnormal, as they have returned to non-scoring form.

The biggest problem with the Oil is that their top offensive threat is a guy who might have the puck on his stick for one second, tops, when he scores. Smytty is the ultimate garbage man, and I say that with complete admiration. No one does it better in the NHL. In fact, Smyth is the best player I've seen in front of the net since Tim Kerr with the Flyers in the early to mid-80s.

But the Oil doesn't have a Crosby, an Ovechkin, a Hossa, a Malkin, a Heatley, a Sundin, a Jagr, a Lecavalier, a Selanne, a guy who just frightens the sh*t out of the opposition and can take it coast to coast for a goal every time he touches the puck.

This is a team full of muckers and grinders or skilled players not quite at the elite level but not willing to pay the price in the corners. Combine that with a green defense, and it's a bad recipe.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:19 pm

PK, is A. Helmsky still on IR? I know he's not a very consistent guy, week in, week out but he's the playmaker for your team and if he still out, I think EDm misses his play. But EDM misses C. Pronger. The D is young & shaky while the veterans had their share of miscues. But they miss Pronger the most especially on PP's. They need another d-man.

Tim, Blues are a confident bunch but I don't know if they are the hottest team. No doubt A. Murray has resurrected the dead there.

The Canucks would have something to say about that. Last week's game vs BUF (IMO the best NHL team) VAN was 40 seconds away from victory giving young back up goaltender D. Sabourin his 1st win in the NHL, but it wasn't meant to be. It was the third game in four days of a very succesfull road trip where they took 7 out of 8 possible points.

Got to give credit also to those damn Flames as they continue to win without Iggy.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:28 pm

James:

Hemmer was only out Thursday against Anaheim. He was back Saturday night against Calgary. He may have stayed out longer, but then Stollie broke his nose and suffered a concussion on a cheap shot by Pahlsson Thursday night.

Pahlsson is a dead motherf*cker when Anaheim and the Oil meet for the last time during the regular season in early March. I hope Stortini is recalled just for that game and beats the stuffing out of Pahlsson.

The Oil misses Pronger terribly. Hell, so does Anaheim. It's no coincidence that Anaheim hasn't even reached .500 in its games since Pronger has been hurt.

Pronger is more valuable than Niedermayer. It's a travesty if Niedermayer wins the Norris over Pronger, who is the most complete defenseman in the world.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:57 pm

a wed night all-star game...

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:03 pm

Sudz wrote:a wed night all-star game...

Against "American Idol," too.

Sadly, I think a Geiger counter in a sterile room would register a higher number than the All-Star Game ratings Wednesday night on Versus.

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:08 pm

It's about time;
NHL likely to revert to pre-lockout sked

I also agree that a Wednesday night all-star game baffles the mind. Here it is, the first non-football weekend in 5 months, with no other big sporting events this weekend to speak of, and the game is scheduled for midweek?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:48 pm

Naples39 wrote:It's about time;
NHL likely to revert to pre-lockout sked

I also agree that a Wednesday night all-star game baffles the mind. Here it is, the first non-football weekend in 5 months, with no other big sporting events this weekend to speak of, and the game is scheduled for midweek?

That's great news. About time, players were getting sick of facing the same team three times in a week. About the AS game, it's a big gaffe by G. Bettman no doubt. But I am so glad the schedule may get back to basics, I hope the league gets the proper votes.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:45 pm

It just blows my mind that Bettman isn't using his commissioner's powers to force the schedule change upon the owners. He's letting their votes settle it, as if owners are going to vote for anything outside of their self-interests.

Owners of teams in the Northeast aren't going to vote for the new schedule, as their travel costs have been slashed drastically with the current schedule. Hell, New Jersey, the two New York teams and Philly are on buses more than planes.

The current schedule is a joke. I barely get up for the Battle of Alberta anymore since it takes place about once every three weeks. As Drew Remenda said on HNIC last Saturday, rivalries are made in the playoffs, not the regular season.

Plus it's criminal that players like Crosby and Ovechkin only go West once every three years. That's robbing hockey fans to save owners a few bucks.

F*ck the owners.

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:09 am

I saw a flyer's fan put together these jersey mock-ups based on the new templates, and while they are extremely un-traditional, I think they look pretty damn good. Maybe there is some hope for the new unis.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:17 am

The look is cool, no doubt. It remains to be seen if the players feel comfortable in it, because the tight fitting Nike jerseys worn during the Olympics did not go well with the players.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:39 am

I'll still wear my 1984 Oilers #99 Kelly home (white -- as it should be) sweater regardless of what Bettman and his splooge-guzzling buddies at Reebok unveil tomorrow.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:43 am

RBK's new Jerseys may look cool and all but not for $425 at nhl.com

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:27 am

pk500 wrote:Sadly, I think a Geiger counter in a sterile room would register a higher number than the All-Star Game ratings Wednesday night on Versus.

To me it doesn't matter what night it's on, if it's on Versus I won't be able to watch it.

And considering how much the NHL is struggling attendance-wise, having the AS game on a weeknight doesn't seem like that crazy of an idea, at least they won't have to give up all those valuable weekend home dates for one weekend. I bet the owners were behind that move also.

I'm glad the schedule's going back though. That's good news.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:09 am

[quote="Naples39"]I saw a flyer's fan put together these jersey mock-ups based on the new templates, and while they are extremely un-traditional, I think they look pretty damn good. Maybe there is some hope for the new unis.

[quote]

Wow..those are badass. I like those for sure but then again a fan made those. The NHL had some sausage sucking up and coming rebok fashion designer so we know how this story is going to play out.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:51 am

I doubt the ratings would be any better on a Sunday afternoon.

I always enjoy the skills competition more than the game, so I'm looking foward to it tonight.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:56 am

10spro wrote:RBK's new Jerseys may look cool and all but not for $425 at nhl.com

$425? You've got to be kidding me. What a joke.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:12 pm

Great, fan-oriented editorial about the sliding state of the league:

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/h ... criticism/

More common sense from Mark Cuban:

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/stor ... .wsptbiz22

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:17 pm

NHL to keep current schedule next season

Very disappointing. I really feel like the fans overwhelmingly wanted to get rid of the new schedule.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:17 pm

This sounds like a great mix of wood and composite sticks, and it retails for only $79:

http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Hockey/ ... 4-sun.html

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:29 pm

Naples39 wrote:NHL to keep current schedule next season

Very disappointing. I really feel like the fans overwhelmingly wanted to get rid of the new schedule.

What the f*ck is wrong with Bettman and the owners? Pretty soon, the only hockey fans left in America will be those like me, who would watch Rosie O'Donnell without pants if she was on the Oilers.

Seriously, the owners and Bettman don't give a sh*t about the fans. The disconnect between management and the fans is greater in the NHL than any other major sporting league I can think of in North America.

The game is dying, truly dying, in the U.S. outside of the diehards, and Bettman and the owners don't seem to give a flying f*ck.

The NHL's new slogan: "We Know How To F*ck Pucks."

This reader post in the TSN feedback forum from the schedule story Naples linked above sums it up pretty neat and tidy:

"I'm not sure the NHL could do any more to destroy it's greatness if it tried. Gary Bettman and the owners are determined to make it a total "who cares" non-entity. I have never seen a league destroy itself so quickly as the NHL has done. The schedule is boring. The games are boring. There's no trading. The All-Star game is only available on cable (a US channel that still has a relatively small market, to boot). Heck, the All-Star voting was only available online. It's time for Gary Bettman and this group of owners to go. I want MY NHL back."

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:57 pm

the new unis:

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:43 pm

Nothing was more hideous than Cooperalls. Nothing.

But I do like the size of the goalie pads and the old white circles on the tack board (what blockers used to be called).

That goalie is the late, great Pelle Lindbergh, too. Man, how good could that guy have been if he didn't stuff his Benz into that stone wall? Plus one Ron Hextall would have made a later NHL debut, probably in a sweater other than the Flyers'.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:44 pm

Like you said PK, G. Bettman should use his brain a bit more along with his commissioner's powers to override any decision made by the governors, in order to please the fans more and not so much the people that elected him.

If he stands pat he's in danger of alienating Hockey fans even more next season. Bettman has not taken a stand on the issue so far and has basically allowed teams to make their cases but the league has to step in. And quickly. The feeling is that if there is an appetite for change, Bettman will facilitate it. Well, Gary?

But he remains unconvinced there will be the two-thirds majority required to make a change, because people like Lou Lamoriello has him on a puppet string. The whole point about divisional match ups with the current schedule is to re-vive the rivalries. Well, teams like NY, NJ even PITT look forward to face PHI as much as they can, in order to grab two easy points in the standings, but where's the rivalry then?

Man, this Bettman makes me mad...

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:31 pm

pk500 wrote:
That goalie is the late, great Pelle Lindbergh, too. Man, how good could that guy have been if he didn't stuff his Benz into that stone wall? Plus one Ron Hextall would have made a later NHL debut, probably in a sweater other than the Flyers'.

Take care,
PK

I believe it was a Porsche 944 that he crashed. I remember hearing that report on the radio in St. Louis and then hearing Broken Wings by Mr. Mister...to this day everytime I hear Broken Wings, I think of Pelle Lindbergh. Also Hextall was still a couple of years away at that point. The Flyers went with a few different goalies for the next year and a half....Guys like Bob Froese and Chico Resch.
Extra credit - Name the Hartford Whaler in that picture.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:43 pm

tjung0831 wrote:I believe it was a Porsche 944 that he crashed.

Tim, you're absolutely right. I remember now because Rangers' fans up in the blue seats at MSG used to chant this to Hextall after Lindbergh's death:

"BUY A PORSCHE, HEXTALL, BUY A PORSCHE ... "

Pure class.

tjung0831 wrote:Extra credit - Name the Hartford Whaler in that picture.

Ron Francis?

Take care,
PK