2011-12 NHL season

[jersey cubs fan]

Pronger is out for the year. This concussion issue is getting serious for the league.

 

I wonder if it's a symptom of a faster game or if there are just more diagnoses. I think it's the former.

 

faster, better diagnosis, bigger pads.

 

Faster, stronger, better diagnosis and a better understanding of the risks from getting a concussion. I was knocked cold making a tackle toward the end of a high school football game. I came out of the game but there was no question on Saturday morning that I was going to be practicing all week and playing the next week. Post-concussion syndrome was basically just, I got my bell rung but I'm okay. Nobody could get away with missing prolonged periods due to concussion issues without being labeled a huge [expletive].

[NewUserName]

This is just perception but I am in my mid 40s and it seems that hitting in both football and hockey is higher on the body than it used to be. This is more football oriented but I have heard ex coaches and players defend Harrison's hit on McCoy as a good football play. I am not sure when it became a good football play to hit above the waist/stomach without wrapping your arms, but I am almost positive even 10 yrs ago no one would have called it a good tackle.

 

In hockey, the check is first and foremost used to knock someone off the puck. I think a good hit at the shoulders is effective, but it is also easier to juke around. I am sure I was taught to hit hips/chest into the body with stick on the ice. The second motive is to wear an opponent down. I think there is no doubt finishing good body checks is much more effective than shoulder and up hits....unless you actually knock someone senseless.

[jersey cubs fan]

This is just perception but I am in my mid 40s and it seems that hitting in both football and hockey is higher on the body than it used to be. This is more football oriented but I have heard ex coaches and players defend Harrison's hit on McCoy as a good football play. I am not sure when it became a good football play to hit above the waist/stomach without wrapping your arms, but I am almost positive even 10 yrs ago no one would have called it a good tackle.

 

When learning the game of football what Harrison did was a complete no-no. Absolutely horrible form. But the NFL 50 years ago was nothing but horrible form if you look at the videos. It became all about the collision and not about the tackle. The Harrison apologists are complete morons with no sense. It's so easy to make good plays without doing that (assuming you are good enough to make a play in the first place).

[TruffleShuffle]

claude giroux is the man. no more concussions plz.

[jersey cubs fan]

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Sharks forward Martin Havlat will miss up to eight weeks following surgery Thursday to repair a partial tear in a tendon in his left hamstring.

 

San Jose general manager Doug Wilson said the team was prepared for the worst after Havlat injured himself jumping over the Sharks' bench during Saturday's 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.

[Drew Doughty]

kinda cool to me: las vegas born minnesota wild prospect jason zucker was named captain of team usa's WJC team. cool for a vegas kid to actually get drafted, for one (i think he's still the only one), and even cooler that he's actually a good prospect. good to see players starting to come from those non-hockey markets.

 

the kings have won 3 out of 4. woo. 2 of those in a shootout and the other against the blue jackets...but still! yay winning. so glad murray got fired.

[UMFan83]

I know there is a ton of good college football on and I've been watching plenty, but I can't help but get into the Winter Classic game every year. This one between the Flyers and Rangers has been good.

 

That said, the novelty is surely being lost quickly. Every game except for the Wrigley Field game has been played in the Northeast (Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Boston and Philadelphia). They need to do something bold to keep the interest high, like play the game in a western market, possibly even a warm weather city. Not something like LA where there would be a ton of issues, but how about a San Jose-LA Kings game at AT&T Park in San Fran? I know San Jose is only loosely affiliated with San Jose, but I think that would be an awesome way to showcase two west coast teams at a relatively unique ballpark. Plus, San Fran really isn't all that warm in the winter, and the temp at game time would probably be in the low 50's

 

Some other choices would be Avalanche-Red Wings at Invesco Field, or Stars-whoever at Cowboys Stadium (or if thats not outdoor enough, Ballpark in Arlington.) I don't think Dallas gets all that warm in the winter either. They could also include Canada into it and do away with the Heritage Classic.

 

Two bolder options would be to try to pull it off in a warm weather city like LA or Phoenix, or changing the format and instead of a regular season game, make the All Star game the Winter Classic. I'm not sure if that would hurt the popularity of the Winter Classic or help the popularity of the All Star game, but its an idea.

[bukie]

If the weather is nowhere near freezing, there is no way to get an outdoor ice rink in NHL condition.

[Derwood]

so when the ice is a pond by the 10:00 mark of the first period, what happens?

[bcl412]

I was going to say, how the hell do you pull off an outdoor stadium in a desert?

[Careless]

so when the ice is a pond by the 10:00 mark of the first period, what happens?

I don't know, but it would be bold.

I was going to say, how the hell do you pull off an outdoor stadium in a desert?

play at night

[bukie]

I was going to say, how the hell do you pull off an outdoor stadium in a desert?

play at night

 

Putting together a NHL-thickness ice surface from scratch in 3 hours would be a feat of miracles.

[bukie]

I mean, there are just a limited number of cities available where the weather is consistently cold enough to pull off an outdoor NHL rink for the Winter Classic, because the furthest south you'd be able to go would be possibly St. Louis (maybe Nashville, but it's a little dicey weather-wise this early in the winter). Denver would be an option, as would having two Cali teams playing up the mountains perhaps, or in a separate northern state (which no team would agree to sacrifice a home game for).

[UMFan83]

I'm pretty sure that the NHL played an exhibition game outdoors in Las Vegas within the last 10 years. This is what lead me to believe they could play a game with the temps in the 50's

 

Edit: It was 1991. Temps were in the mid 80's when the game was being played.

 

The Las Vegas strip provided the background for the first ever NHL exhibition game to be held outdoors. The Kings and the Rangers battled under the lights outside Caesars Palace - the first hockey game played in Las Vegas since 1968 - in mid-80 degree temperatures. The game drew a crowd of 13,000, most of whom wore shorts and t-shirts to take it all in. "We were a little bit in awe and I'm sure (the Rangers) were too," said Wayne Gretzky, who tallied a goal, about the outdoor game. "We kept looking at each other and couldn't believe we were playing hockey in 80-degree weather. But it was real nice."

 

Now an exhibition is different than a regular season game but it can be done. I'm sure technology has improved enough over the last 20 years that it could happen. So there people who mocked my idea.

[NewUserName]

I know there is a ton of good college football on and I've been watching plenty, but I can't help but get into the Winter Classic game every year. This one between the Flyers and Rangers has been good.

 

That said, the novelty is surely being lost quickly. Every game except for the Wrigley Field game has been played in the Northeast (Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Boston and Philadelphia). They need to do something bold to keep the interest high, like play the game in a western market, possibly even a warm weather city. Not something like LA where there would be a ton of issues, but how about a San Jose-LA Kings game at AT&T Park in San Fran? I know San Jose is only loosely affiliated with San Jose, but I think that would be an awesome way to showcase two west coast teams at a relatively unique ballpark. Plus, San Fran really isn't all that warm in the winter, and the temp at game time would probably be in the low 50's

 

Some other choices would be Avalanche-Red Wings at Invesco Field, or Stars-whoever at Cowboys Stadium (or if thats not outdoor enough, Ballpark in Arlington.) I don't think Dallas gets all that warm in the winter either. They could also include Canada into it and do away with the Heritage Classic.

 

Two bolder options would be to try to pull it off in a warm weather city like LA or Phoenix, or changing the format and instead of a regular season game, make the All Star game the Winter Classic. I'm not sure if that would hurt the popularity of the Winter Classic or help the popularity of the All Star game, but its an idea.

 

The only Winter Classic I have ever watched is the Hawks/Wings game in Wrigley because I am a big college FB fan. Wings fans are pretty sure they are getting the Winter Classic next year in the Big House or Comerica. My guess they will play either the Hawks or the Leafs if they play in the Big House. They would need a decent road team draw to fill 110,000 seats I would think.

[jersey cubs fan]

The only Winter Classic I have ever watched is the Hawks/Wings game in Wrigley because I am a big college FB fan. Wings fans are pretty sure they are getting the Winter Classic next year in the Big House or Comerica. My guess they will play either the Hawks or the Leafs if they play in the Big House. They would need a decent road team draw to fill 110,000 seats I would think.

 

They don't play college football on new years anymore

[NewUserName]

The only Winter Classic I have ever watched is the Hawks/Wings game in Wrigley because I am a big college FB fan. Wings fans are pretty sure they are getting the Winter Classic next year in the Big House or Comerica. My guess they will play either the Hawks or the Leafs if they play in the Big House. They would need a decent road team draw to fill 110,000 seats I would think.

 

They don't play college football on new years anymore

 

They play enough for me:)

[Banedon]

http://i.imgur.com/juFQN.gif

[tfarks]

Checking out the top 50 sports gifs of the year?

[Banedon]

Had it linked to me by someone else. Didn't know how recent it was. Still made me lol.

[NewUserName]

Looking like the guy from Slapshot makes that gif all the better

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.broadstreethockey.com/2012/1/4/2682669/flyers-rangers-fan-fight-genos-steaks-winter-classic

 

Flyers fans assault Rangers fans after came, one of the guys looks to have bragged about it on facebook and then tried to back away from those comments.

[TruffleShuffle]

boston beat the flames 9-0 tonight. they have twice as many goals for as goals against, lead the league in goals per game and goals against per game. they're really damn good.

[UMFan83]

I know there is a ton of good college football on and I've been watching plenty, but I can't help but get into the Winter Classic game every year. This one between the Flyers and Rangers has been good.

 

That said, the novelty is surely being lost quickly. Every game except for the Wrigley Field game has been played in the Northeast (Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Boston and Philadelphia). They need to do something bold to keep the interest high, like play the game in a western market, possibly even a warm weather city. Not something like LA where there would be a ton of issues, but how about a San Jose-LA Kings game at AT&T Park in San Fran? I know San Jose is only loosely affiliated with San Jose, but I think that would be an awesome way to showcase two west coast teams at a relatively unique ballpark. Plus, San Fran really isn't all that warm in the winter, and the temp at game time would probably be in the low 50's

 

Some other choices would be Avalanche-Red Wings at Invesco Field, or Stars-whoever at Cowboys Stadium (or if thats not outdoor enough, Ballpark in Arlington.) I don't think Dallas gets all that warm in the winter either. They could also include Canada into it and do away with the Heritage Classic.

 

Two bolder options would be to try to pull it off in a warm weather city like LA or Phoenix, or changing the format and instead of a regular season game, make the All Star game the Winter Classic. I'm not sure if that would hurt the popularity of the Winter Classic or help the popularity of the All Star game, but its an idea.

 

The only Winter Classic I have ever watched is the Hawks/Wings game in Wrigley because I am a big college FB fan. Wings fans are pretty sure they are getting the Winter Classic next year in the Big House or Comerica. My guess they will play either the Hawks or the Leafs if they play in the Big House. They would need a decent road team draw to fill 110,000 seats I would think.

 

I read that the Hawks are out. Detroit is ok, but against its another team in the NE/Great Lakes area. Would love to see them put it in a different region at some point. I'm sure to the casual fan, other than playing at Wrigley or Fenway, its has seemed like the same thing every year.

[NewUserName]

boston beat the flames 9-0 tonight. they have twice as many goals for as goals against, lead the league in goals per game and goals against per game. they're really damn good.

 

They are great to watch also. They play a very entertaining style of hockey.