2014-2015 NHL Season Thread

[UMFan83]

Season starts tonight with 4 games.

 

Starting the discussion....Crazy how close we were to starting the 2nd NHL season with a Seattle team:

 

In July 2013, the Glendale City Council voted—barely, by a 4-3 margin—to approve a complicated lease deal that was the last possible hope of keeping the Coyotes in Arizona. A new report from the Seattle Times reveals that the NHL had a contingency plan in place if the vote went the other way: moving trucks were literally standing by to relocate the team to Seattle.

 

Three sources with knowledge of negotiations confirm the Coyotes would have been bought by New York investment banker Ray Bartoszek and his partner Anthony Lanza and moved to Seattle as soon as the following day — playing up to three seasons at KeyArena — had the vote not passed.

 

"Most people don't realize how close we were to actually getting an NHL team,'' says former Seattle mayor Mike McGinn, who had been involved in the relocation talks.

 

http://deadspin.com/the-coyotes-were-damned-close-to-moving-to-seattle-1643791488

[Brian707]

I see a rematch of the 2013 Cup. Chicago vs Boston with Chicago winning again.

 

Tampa seems to be a team on the rise with the "experts"

 

I also see Colorado taking a huge step back.

[UMFan83]

I see a rematch of the 2013 Cup. Chicago vs Boston with Chicago winning again.

 

Tampa seems to be a team on the rise with the "experts"

 

I also see Colorado taking a huge step back.

 

Yeah I've seen TB a lot too. Am I missing something?

[Derwood]

Two ESPN "experts" are predicting the CBJ in the ECF, one has them winning the Metro

[BrockLanders]

I see a rematch of the 2013 Cup. Chicago vs Boston with Chicago winning again.

 

Tampa seems to be a team on the rise with the "experts"

 

I also see Colorado taking a huge step back.

 

Yeah I've seen TB a lot too. Am I missing something?

 

Well, the roster is young and loaded and Bishop had an excellent year in goal last year. They signed one of the top free agents in Stralman, Hedman made a huge leap last year. Jonathan Drouin is probably the best prospect in hockey and he'll debut this year, sophomores like Palat and Tyler Johnson should only get better. They'll presumably have a full year of Stamkos. I think they're the second best team in the East after Boston.

[biittner77]

I see a rematch of the 2013 Cup. Chicago vs Boston with Chicago winning again.

 

Tampa seems to be a team on the rise with the "experts"

 

I also see Colorado taking a huge step back.

 

Yeah I've seen TB a lot too. Am I missing something?

 

Well, the roster is young and loaded and Bishop had an excellent year in goal last year. They signed one of the top free agents in Stralman, Hedman made a huge leap last year. Jonathan Drouin is probably the best prospect in hockey and he'll debut this year, sophomores like Palat and Tyler Johnson should only get better. They'll presumably have a full year of Stamkos. I think they're the second best team in the East after Boston.

 

Yeah, why not the Lightning in the East? Price could very well carry the Habs to the finals as well. What I don't get was the guys on NHL Network picking the Rangers.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/the-thinking-fans-guide-to-the-2014-15-nhl-season-1640824140

 

This breaks down teams into groups based on what the stats indicate they will be.

 

Tampa is in the "going to be great" section with Boston, Chicago, LA, NJ, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Ferguson.

Tampa Bay Lightning: The Bolts are the sexy pick to come out of the East this year. They're clearly good at possession (51 percent, 11th in the league) and scoring (240 goals, eighth in the league), and they got better this summer by adding some depth both up front and on the blue line (most notably former Rangers Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman). Rookie of the Year candidate Jonathan Drouin will start the season with the team, and Steven Stamkos probably won't break his leg this year. The question, then, is whether Ben Bishop continues to play at a high level (an excellent .920 save percentage over 108 career games). If he can keep it up, the Lightning should be dominant.

[Banedon]

http://deadspin.com/the-thinking-fans-guide-to-the-2014-15-nhl-season-1640824140

 

This breaks down teams into groups based on what the stats indicate they will be.

 

Tampa is in the "going to be great" section with Boston, Chicago, LA, NJ, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Ferguson.

Tampa Bay Lightning: The Bolts are the sexy pick to come out of the East this year. They're clearly good at possession (51 percent, 11th in the league) and scoring (240 goals, eighth in the league), and they got better this summer by adding some depth both up front and on the blue line (most notably former Rangers Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman). Rookie of the Year candidate Jonathan Drouin will start the season with the team, and Steven Stamkos probably won't break his leg this year. The question, then, is whether Ben Bishop continues to play at a high level (an excellent .920 save percentage over 108 career games). If he can keep it up, the Lightning should be dominant.

 

I clicked the link before I read your quote, and was thinking it was going to be a funny article. Disappointed.

[Derwood]

Flyers vs Bruins has been entertaining, and Doc is in mid-season form already

[Banedon]

“When you have the designated fighter on the end of the bench,” Milbury thundered Saturday night, on a panel that included Ron MacLean. “I think it’s wrong. I think it’s time to take a look at how to get rid of that, and what is the role of fighting … If you want it to be a part of the game at all.

 

“The only reason we have fighting in the game is because we like it. Don’t tell me [it polices the game], Ron. That’s logical hogwash.”

 

EDIT: Oops, I misread...that quote is from 2011, but he said similar stuff last night:

 

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/08/lets-grow-up-and-get-rid-of-it-milbury-says-its-time-to-take-fighting-out-of-hockey-video/

[Brian707]

Sharks beat Kings 4-0 :shock:

 

Sharks always look like world beaters before April 15th. Kings always look mediocre before April 15th.

[Banedon]

Sharks beat Kings 4-0 :shock:

 

Sharks always look like world beaters before April 15th. Kings always look mediocre before April 15th.

 

Also, cup hangover.

[UMFan83]

Sharks beat Kings 4-0 :shock:

 

Sharks always look like world beaters before April 15th. Kings always look mediocre before April 15th.

 

Hawks killed the Kings last time they hung a banner and went on to win the Cup.

 

Too bad its the gutless choking Sharks otherwise I'd sense a trend brewing.

[Guest]

Sharks beat Kings 4-0 :shock:

 

Sharks always look like world beaters before April 15th. Kings always look mediocre before April 15th.

 

Hawks killed the Kings last time they hung a banner and went on to win the Cup.

 

Too bad its the gutless choking Sharks otherwise I'd sense a trend brewing.

 

Had a friend on Facebook crowing about the win saying some teams are undefeated and some teams can't score on a 5-on-3. I just laughed and responded with some teams win two Cups in three years while others blow 3-0 series leads in the playoffs.

 

Also had a friend tell me he heard the joke "I must be dreaming because the Sharks could never go up 4-0 on the Kings."

[Brian707]

Colorado gets ripped 6-0 last night. Its just one game but I really do believe that team is on the outside looking in come playoff time.

[bukie]

Colorado gets ripped 6-0 last night. Its just one game but I really do believe that team is on the outside looking in come playoff time.

They were one of the worst teams in the league statistically last year and lost one of the two players they had that actually controlled the puck. I see them possibly last in the West this year.

[jersey cubs fan]

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has been suspended indefinitely from all club activities pending a formal investigation by the National Hockey League of an arrest this morning on charges of domestic violence.

 

The suspension was imposed under Section 18-A.5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which provides that, during the pendency of a criminal investigation, “The League may suspend the Player pending the League’s formal review and disposition of the matter where the failure to suspend the Player during this period would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the League.”

 

Voynov, who will continue to be paid during the pendency of the investigation, was arrested for California Penal Code section 273.5, Domestic Violence.

[Banedon]

Smart. Learned from the NFL.

[jersey cubs fan]

The NHL has a Russia problem.

[biittner77]

The NHL has a Russia problem.

 

"In Russia, NHL problem has you." #yakovsmirnoff'd

[Derwood]

WTF is going on with the schedule this year? How can you have Minnesota having played only 5 games while Boston and Calgary have played 9?

[jersey cubs fan]

WTF is going on with the schedule this year? How can you have Minnesota having played only 5 games while Boston and Calgary have played 9?

Seems to me this type of oddity is very common every year in the NHL.

[UMFan83]

WTF is going on with the schedule this year? How can you have Minnesota having played only 5 games while Boston and Calgary have played 9?

Seems to me this type of oddity is very common every year in the NHL.

 

yeah i was going to say, this happens every year it seems.

[Derwood]

This season would be much more fun if half the team wasn't injured

[sneakypower]

http://giant.gfycat.com/KlutzyShockedHectorsdolphin.gif