2011-12 NHL season

Butterscup1679666578 · January 7, 2012

the NHLPA turned down the realignment plan.

NewUserName · January 8, 2012

I have read that this is basically Fehr using this issue to start re-establishing the unions power. I do not think they really against realignment. They just want more say. I also think this is a sign that a new CBA is going to be very difficult and would think the chances of a stoppage is probably higher than I expected.

sneakypower · January 13, 2012

Mike Cammalleri traded to Flames for Rene Bourque

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=384922

Cammalleri was pulled midway through the Canadiens game against the Boston Bruins on Thursday and sent back to the hotel amid reports of the potential trade.

Reports are that Cammalleri was sent to the team hotel to "wait further instructions." Wednesday Cammalleri made some questionable remarks regarding the team they included: "We prepare for our games like losers. We play like losers. So it's no wonder why we lose"

minnesotacubsfan · January 13, 2012

Damn losers

17 Seconds · January 13, 2012

kujay, what do you make of the blues? are they legit?

kujay · January 13, 2012

I watched a good part of last night's game, and it was clear there was a huge talent gap between them and Vancouver. But then the announcers noted that with 7:00 left in the game VAN only had 18 shots.

My point is I think the Blues D is very underrated. Shatty, Polak and Petrangelo (sp?) are very good players.

On the flip side, they just don't have that finisher on offense. They have a bunch of second-rate Sharps or Hossas: Berglund, Oshie, Perron, even Backes. Good players, but none of them great.

So they are a very defensively sound team without playing like Nashville, which I respect, but I don't think they'll be able to keep up with any of SJ, VAN, Detroit or the Hawks in the playoffs.

NewUserName · January 13, 2012

I watched a good part of last night's game, and it was clear there was a huge talent gap between them and Vancouver. But then the announcers noted that with 7:00 left in the game VAN only had 18 shots.

My point is I think the Blues D is very underrated. Shatty, Polak and Petrangelo (sp?) are very good players.

On the flip side, they just don't have that finisher on offense. They have a bunch of second-rate Sharps or Hossas: Berglund, Oshie, Perron, even Backes. Good players, but none of them great.

So they are a very defensively sound team without playing like Nashville, which I respect, but I don't think they'll be able to keep up with any of SJ, VAN, Detroit or the Hawks in the playoffs.

Ken Hitchcock has a good track record of straightening up a teams defense rather quickly. I think if the Blues can get a hot PP during the playoffs they can easily make a run, but I agree that their lack of scoring will make it hard to win the Cup.

kujay · January 13, 2012

I watched a good part of last night's game, and it was clear there was a huge talent gap between them and Vancouver. But then the announcers noted that with 7:00 left in the game VAN only had 18 shots.

My point is I think the Blues D is very underrated. Shatty, Polak and Petrangelo (sp?) are very good players.

On the flip side, they just don't have that finisher on offense. They have a bunch of second-rate Sharps or Hossas: Berglund, Oshie, Perron, even Backes. Good players, but none of them great.

So they are a very defensively sound team without playing like Nashville, which I respect, but I don't think they'll be able to keep up with any of SJ, VAN, Detroit or the Hawks in the playoffs.

Ken Hitchcock has a good track record of straightening up a teams defense rather quickly. I think if the Blues can get a hot PP during the playoffs they can easily make a run, but I agree that their lack of scoring will make it hard to win the Cup.

They are also a team with the cap space, if not the money (in light of the ownership situation), to add an impact scorer at the deadline if one is available.

NewUserName · January 13, 2012

I watched a good part of last night's game, and it was clear there was a huge talent gap between them and Vancouver. But then the announcers noted that with 7:00 left in the game VAN only had 18 shots.

My point is I think the Blues D is very underrated. Shatty, Polak and Petrangelo (sp?) are very good players.

On the flip side, they just don't have that finisher on offense. They have a bunch of second-rate Sharps or Hossas: Berglund, Oshie, Perron, even Backes. Good players, but none of them great.

So they are a very defensively sound team without playing like Nashville, which I respect, but I don't think they'll be able to keep up with any of SJ, VAN, Detroit or the Hawks in the playoffs.

Ken Hitchcock has a good track record of straightening up a teams defense rather quickly. I think if the Blues can get a hot PP during the playoffs they can easily make a run, but I agree that their lack of scoring will make it hard to win the Cup.

They are also a team with the cap space, if not the money (in light of the ownership situation), to add an impact scorer at the deadline if one is available.

its funny you write that, I was reading a story this morning about Phoenix. Shane Doan and Ray Whitney are going to be FAs after the season. I was thinking how scarey it would be if St Louis could somehow swing a deal for both of them. I think it is probably unrealistic to get both, but I think that is a kind of move that would make the Blues very hard to beat.

kujay · January 13, 2012

I watched a good part of last night's game, and it was clear there was a huge talent gap between them and Vancouver. But then the announcers noted that with 7:00 left in the game VAN only had 18 shots.

My point is I think the Blues D is very underrated. Shatty, Polak and Petrangelo (sp?) are very good players.

On the flip side, they just don't have that finisher on offense. They have a bunch of second-rate Sharps or Hossas: Berglund, Oshie, Perron, even Backes. Good players, but none of them great.

So they are a very defensively sound team without playing like Nashville, which I respect, but I don't think they'll be able to keep up with any of SJ, VAN, Detroit or the Hawks in the playoffs.

Ken Hitchcock has a good track record of straightening up a teams defense rather quickly. I think if the Blues can get a hot PP during the playoffs they can easily make a run, but I agree that their lack of scoring will make it hard to win the Cup.

They are also a team with the cap space, if not the money (in light of the ownership situation), to add an impact scorer at the deadline if one is available.

its funny you write that, I was reading a story this morning about Phoenix. Shane Doan and Ray Whitney are going to be FAs after the season. I was thinking how scarey it would be if St Louis could somehow swing a deal for both of them. I think it is probably unrealistic to get both, but I think that is a kind of move that would make the Blues very hard to beat.

Wow, yeah.

I think one of the other issues St. Louis has is that they are very young and very few of these guys have experience with a playoff run. They got swept by Vancouver in 2008 and otherwise haven't been in the playoffs since Perron was in grade school. Guys like Doan and Whitney would go a long way toward getting them ready for the playoffs.

UMFan83 · January 14, 2012

The NHL has all but finalized details to hold next year's Winter Classic between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, while continuing negotiations for a second outdoor rink in downtown Detroit where all ancillary events would be held, a source told ESPN.com Friday.

NewUserName · January 14, 2012

The NHL has all but finalized details to hold next year's Winter Classic between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, while continuing negotiations for a second outdoor rink in downtown Detroit where all ancillary events would be held, a source told ESPN.com Friday.

Kind of sounds like a lot of fans from Detroit are not happy about the game being in Ann Arbor. I also wonder how many UofM fans may not buy tix expecting a potential New Years day bowl bid?

bcl412 · January 14, 2012

I'm going to assume the appeal of playing it at the Big house instead of in Detroit is to set some sort of hockey attendance record or something like that but would they fill Michigan Stadium?

hawkeyecub · January 14, 2012

Welp, I hope Iowa is playing on NYD next year so I can completely ignore that Winter Classic. Those bastards will probably make for an awful season of 24/7 too.

kujay · January 17, 2012

STL won again tonight at home. They are on fire. And next game is at home against Edmonton, likely another win.

jersey cubs fan · January 19, 2012

http://deadspin.com/5877515/why-yes-a-boston-bruins-fan-tackled-the-tampa-bay-mascot-after-it-doused-him-with-silly-string

This must be a Florida thing (anything that is a Florida thing is a bad thing). Why the hell is a hosting organization actively creating hostility with away fans? I've never seen this sort of thing in the many away arenas/parks I've been to, except when I was in Miami and saw how much the stadium operators played into the anti-Jets sentiment. Pittsburgh does a stupid into where a Pirate ship blows up a boat with the logo of whatever team is playing there before the game, but it's mostly a one off thing at the beginning. In Miami they spent half the game fellating Jason Taylor and the other half trying to instigate fights with Jets fans.

Banedon · January 19, 2012

Pittsburgh does a stupid into where a Pirate ship blows up a boat with the logo of whatever team is playing there before the game, but it's mostly a one off thing at the beginning.

So it's like the Bulls intro? With the Bulls crashing into the opposing teams bus?

jersey cubs fan · January 19, 2012

Pittsburgh does a stupid into where a Pirate ship blows up a boat with the logo of whatever team is playing there before the game, but it's mostly a one off thing at the beginning.

So it's like the Bulls intro? With the Bulls crashing into the opposing teams bus?

I haven't seen a Bulls home game since the late 80's, so no idea.

kujay · January 19, 2012

The Blues mascot routinely does that with the silly string. We always assume the "fan" in the visiting team's jersey is a plant.

We assume that because the Blues will also sometimes during timeouts show a fan wearing the other team's jersey picking his nose, or dipping his hot dog in his soda and eating it, or some other silly [expletive].

biittner77 · January 27, 2012

It was funny hearing them refer to Ottawa as "The Nation's Capitol" during the all star selections.

NewUserName · January 27, 2012

I think the NHL has at least made the picking of the teams somewhat interesting. I say this because I actually looked up the teams. But I still have no intention of actually watching the game.

Though a line of Kane with Datsyuk would be awfully fun to watch.

kujay · January 27, 2012

I think the NHL has at least made the picking of the teams somewhat interesting. I say this because I actually looked up the teams. But I still have no intention of actually watching the game.

Though a line of Kane with Datsyuk would be awfully fun to watch.

The skills competition is more interesting and entertaining than the game, but I'm sure I'll watch both.

biittner77 · January 28, 2012

I think the NHL has at least made the picking of the teams somewhat interesting. I say this because I actually looked up the teams. But I still have no intention of actually watching the game.

Though a line of Kane with Datsyuk would be awfully fun to watch.

The skills competition is more interesting and entertaining than the game, but I'm sure I'll watch both.

Baseball is really the only sport that should actually play its all star game. Name the team, have the skills competition and then go home.