NHL 2010/2011 Season

[ScoopBrady]

Figured now that the preseason has started we can start a new thread. Here's a video of the new rules regarding hits to the head. It's definitely a step in the right direction.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/w ... gle_sports

[Feanor]

I came here to post that link. I always said the NHL would never do anything about headshots until Crosby or Ovechkin got mained, but the injuries suffered by Booth and Savard were obviously enough.

Man, the difference between the Pronger hit to the head they say is legal and some of the illegal hits is really small. It's going to be almost impossible to the refs on the ice to differentiate between the two.

[Naples39]

Season starts tomorrow!!

Something to get everybody in the mood;

[MizzouRah]

This Saturday the Blues take the ice!!!

[10spro]

The hit to the heads have been addressed somehow, everyone brought it in to the table for discussion, it'll be interesting to see how educated the players are now. The new rules offer narrow protection though, outlawing only blindside hits to the head. The fact that M. Savard may miss a big chunk of the season is a clear message to the league.

Another change I've seen is the leg pads for the Keeper which are proportionate to their body size. So about 20% of goalies have to go to smaller pads because of the new rule, but at the same time it would benefit the taller guys whom have more range.

[pk500]

The NHL didn't go far enough with legislation for hits to the head. I watched the video that was used to educate players, and the message can be summarized this way:

If you hit a guy to the head from the blind side, you're heading to the box and may be suspended.
If you hit a guy to the head from the front side with your shoulder, you're fine, even if you decapitate him. It's his f*cking fault for keeping his head down. If you hit him with your elbow or stick, it's two minutes in the sin bin, even if the opposing player is carried off on a stretcher with no brain waves.

In other words, the NHL still promotes brain injury. F*cking Neanderthals. ANY hit to the head should be punished by instant ejection and a suspension of five to 10 games without pay. Clean, debilitating body checks can be thrown without hitting a player's head.

There's no badge of honor for guys like Savard and Brett Lindros, whose eggs will be permanently scrambled for life. The NHL never will get the proper message until Ovechkin, Crosby or Toews suffer a serious head injury from a hit to the head.

Tacit endorsement of head-hunting by the NHL really sullies the league.

[Naples39]

Better than nothing, which is what many (myself included) expected. Hopefully it's just the first step.

[tjung0831]

Pumped for the season and looking forward to the Leafs and Canadiens games and then the Flames and Oilers late game tonight. The Oil should be flying tonight. Tons of speed in that lineup and now they add Hall, Eberle, and Paajarvi...can't wait to see all three of those kids tonight. Eberle has been my favorite player not in the NHL for a couple of years now. Kid is just a magical player.
Going to see the Blues home opener on Saturday night...I got front row Mezzanine seats(2nd level) at center ice! $187 for two tickets!!
Here are my predictions for the year.

Stanley Cup
Canucks over Bruins in 6 games

Hart Trophy - Steve Stamkos
Norris - Drew Doughty
Vezina - Roberto Luongo
Art Ross - Steve Stamkos
Calder - Taylor Hall

So many good kids in the NHL to start the season! It's a great time to be an NHL fan....lots of great young talent! By the end of the season, the talk won't be who's better...Crosby or Ovechkin, it will be who's better...Crosby or Stamkos!

[pk500]

Better than nothing, which is what many (myself included) expected. Hopefully it's just the first step.

Given the glacial pace of the enlightened cavemen who run the NHL, you'll see stricter enforcement on all head shots either by 2020 or when Crosby suffers a subdural hematoma from a frontal hit, whichever comes first.

[pk500]

Eberle is ready to become a breakout NHL star. Hall and Paajarvi have been typical NHL rookies during the preseason. Flashes, but inconsistent.

But at least there's realistic hope in the City of Champions this winter. Haven't felt that in a few years.

[Lancer]

You beat me to it, i wanted to give our my predictions first.

Well I agree with you, Canucks will win the cup this year. I see them in 6 or 7 games over one of the Pennsylvania teams.

Biggest disappointments will be Chicago and San Jose.

[10spro]

Eberle is ready to become a breakout NHL star. Hall and Paajarvi have been typical NHL rookies during the preseason. Flashes, but inconsistent.

But at least there's realistic hope in the City of Champions this winter. Haven't felt that in a few years.

Watched the rookies when they played my 'Nuckers in preseason, and indeed J. Eberle stood out more for me that the other two guys. His speed , his quick hands, his good finish. The sooner the Oils can deal their poison in S. Souray and get their goaltender situation sort it out and Khabi not become a distraction, this team will be an exciting one to watch in the near future. But if they suck again badly like last season, stay at the bottom five at least and continue to build up with young players, instead of finishing say among the bottom 11-12th for the draft.

[10spro]

Hey, thanks for thinking that my 'Nuckers will be raising the Cup after only 40 years of frustrations. The team does have more depth this season, love the acquisition of D. Hamhuis and the fact that Bobby Lou gave up his captaincy is the best thing that could have happen to this team. He's got a new coach this year, he seems fresh after his mediocre performance last season where he was pulled for several games and C. Schneider is more than a capable backup guy. VAN should get good value for him and trade him at the end of the season, he's ready to be a solid starter but not at the Roger's arena where Louie is signed for 12 years.

Starting their opener on Saturday night against LA, minus Salo who's out until Xmas, Burrows (hopefully just one more month of rehab) and Rypien.
High, high hopes are set up for this team and personally I am being cautiously optimistic. The last two losses to the Hawks the last couple of years, took a toll on me especially last year when the team was 5 minutes away from playing game 3 of the playoffs at home with a 2-0 lead in the series.

I still think the Wings will come out on top of the western Conference, followed by Canucks and Hawks.

I like PIT's chances of winning the Easter conference this year followed closely by WAS.

[10spro]

Biggest disappointments will be Chicago and San Jose.

I disagree. Sure everyone will be saying who are these SC champs, but they still have the core of the team intact and a couple of younger guys that will raise some eyes. No they won't repeat as champs but I have them coming out fourth in the Western division swapping positions perhaps with the Sharks who will miss the services of Rob Blake. Their question mark is A. Niemi, was his rookie year just a fluke?

[Diablo25]

Jesus, Flyers rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is standing on his head so far against the Penguins!

[toonarmy]

I'm just glad the NHL saw fit to get the boy band Hedley to open the season. Nothing says excitement and hard hitting like a boy band that middle school girls worship.

[Diablo25]

I'm just glad the NHL saw fit to get the boy band Hedley to open the season. Nothing says excitement and hard hitting like a boy band that middle school girls worship.

I was thinking the same thing. Very weak.

[Diablo25]

How is this game still only 1-0!!! Unbelievable.

[pk500]

I'm just glad the NHL saw fit to get the boy band Hedley to open the season. Nothing says excitement and hard hitting like a boy band that middle school girls worship.

It was the best it could do. Kind of like California Speedway getting David Hasselhoff to sing the national anthem before the NASCAR Nationwide Series race this Saturday. The Hoff just oozes NASCAR charm.

[Diablo25]

The Hoff just oozes NASCAR charm.

[Gangrel]

Well,so far it's 4-0 Oil and Eberle has two of em.

Die Flames Die.

[10spro]

Well,so far it's 4-0 Oil and Eberle has two of em.

Die Flames Die.

This dude is special. Speedy, quick hands, beautiful move on Kipper. Oils are just schooling the Flames in the transition game, CAL looks stunned.

[tjung0831]

Eberle with the goal of the year in the NHL already! That goal was sick!

[pk500]

Goal of the Year after one game -- Tjung highlight reel!

It was a lovely goal, no doubt. Paajarvi is showing really crafty hands here in the third period, too. Enjoying the Center Ice preview, as I'm not buying the package this year. Too much coin for not enough games in HD, at least here with TimeWarner.

Still giving the Calder to Hall, Tim?

[Gangrel]

Yes, yes it was.