Official Hockey discussion thread

So a few teams are buy-out happy this off season. MTL, PHI and TB all buying out hefty contracts. I forget the player Montreal is buying out, but as for the other to teams, Brysgalov and Lecavalier. Letang rejected long-term contract with Pittsburgh. Who knew the off-season was going to be this exciting?! Vancouver and New York have given TLC a great idea for a new show: Coach Swap.
 
The Kings have reasonably quickly turned themselves into a model organization and Sutter is one hell of a coach
 
Brown is the model hockey player: dick on the ice, good sergeant off it.
Nobody is happier about Kovalchuk's "retirement" than the cash-strapped Devils.
 
mckindog said:
Brown is the model hockey player: dick on the ice, good sergeant on it.
Nobody is happier about Kovalchuk's "retirement" than the cash-strapped Devils.
Click to expand...

Ironically so! Most of the articles I've read basically say that his departure hurt them short-term, but long-term it was a good thing. Brodeur was very butt hurt about it in terms of a professional walking away from a contract, but also sees the financial positives.

I have to agree with him. We first started seeing these ridiculously long contracts with the Islanders when they offered Yashin a 10 year contract back in 2001 of which he only played 5. They offered Depietro... 15? or 12? I forget, but they just bought him out. Philly offered Bryzgalov 9 years and they too just bought him out. Kovalchuk only played 3 years of his 15 year contract which begs the question... What is the point of these ridiculously long contracts if you can just be bought out or walk away from them? Sure Brown's contract is for 8 years, but he's also 22 and is only a 5.7M hit, unlike Letang who went from 3M to 7M and Kovalchuck was 30 when he signed his contract, still a few good years in him, but realistically how many players actually play past 37 who are not Chelios?
 
As a Sabre fanwho has to deal with that shit every time Torontogoes to Buffalo, I say good on 'em.
 
Hello!
Looking for HD artwork for Canadian T-shirts for 'Somewhere Back in Time' (Ed in hockey gear, preferably red, for legal reasons later they used blue). Would have it printed on a jersey. Is buying and scanning the T-shirt the only option? You can reply here.
 
Hard to believe we are about ready to start another season.

A few videos

Patrick Kane stick handling .. pretty impressive


.. and Brandon Bollig's spoof .. which made me laugh a bit up up to the 55 second mark, then I was laughing my ass off

 
I can't believe Kessel got suspended for the rest of the preseason for slashing... bit excessive. Anyway, other than that quite an uneventful preseason. For the first time in a few seasons we have a clear cut line between contenders and pretenders. Columbus, Detroit, Florida, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, San Jose are clearly weak in my eyes. Only TWO teams have "elite" goaltenders: L.A and NYR, but have questionable offense. It will be interesting to see who surprises and who delivers.
 
Who is 39 :p. It's one year, we'll see how his sabatical affects him. Even if he recreates the magic he had in Boston the rest of the team is sub-par. They may finish 9th or 10th in the East. Wait... how do standings work now? is it strictly by division?
 
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Holy Shitsnacks! I was complaining to a friend of mine how relatively uneventful this season has been gearing up to be and then THIS happens:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=689289&navid=nhl:topheads

Avs' Varlamov arrested on domestic violence charges

Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov turned himself in to Denver Police Department detectives Wednesday on domestic violence-related charges. Police said he is in Denver County Jail.

Police said Varlamov was arrested on second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault charges. The kidnapping charge is a Class 4 felony, punishable by two to six years in prison under Colorado statutes; the assault charge is a misdemeanor.

Kidnapping?! DV?! WTF mate?! Good thing Giguere is playing better, because Varlamov could be gone for 6 years (considering he is 25, the best years of his career).

On a more predictable note Crosby once again leads the points race, let's see how long it takes for him to get hurt.

On an Olympics note, Canada is a heavy favorite to repeat goal, but I am not so sure they will. Sure they are loaded up front, particularly at center, and they have a great D. BUT I think their goaltending is a HUGE question. The current candidates are Price, Luongo and Crawford, none of which scream, "consistency," or "solid." The only one to win a stanley cup and mainly on the merits of the team in front of him, not because of him is Crawford. Luongo is too much Drama and as he displayed in the last Olympics has major chinks in his armor. Price has never played to his potential or expectations and is yet to drive Montreal deep into the playoffs. So if Canada repeats it won't be because of their goalie.
 
Well my Sabres finally blew it all up yesterday. About two years overdue.
We're a very bad, very young team.
But there are few better people in hockey than Pat Lafontaine, so I have hope for the future.
 
Well, I am still shaking my head that they fired Lindy Ruff for Ron Rolston. Ruff is in Dallas with...not so much more to work with there, and they are doing better than Buffalo, anyway.
 
Haven't been following the NHL too closely so far this season (doesn't seem too spectacular really), but glad to see Cory Schneider finally made it out of Vancouver.
 
Hawks traded to get Versteeg back ... he should be a big help on the penalty kill and as winger. Feeling good about a repeat, backup Goalie is the only blatant hole on the roster now
 
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