Official NHL 2015-2016 Thread

[gmillerdrake]

Here's the thing... I like to leave my expectations on the floor.  Makes it a lot easier for my team (or any situation really) to exceed them.  The joys of being in sales - set expectations low; deliver high.  Runs into my real life... I expect very little - especially when it comes to the Leafs.

I shall adopt this mantra this season for the Blues. I'll watch some games....see some highlight reel goals from Tarasenka....couple good saves from Allen or Elliot and a fight or two. But I'm going to try and avoid getting sucked back in to that abusive relationship for as long as possible.

[jingle.boy]

If they're performing well (ie, Top 5 in the West), I give it 5 weeks.   

[Nick]

Well, two fun bits from today.

1. Raffi Torres suspended 41 games, 3rd longest suspension in league history.

2. Andrew MacDonald waived by the Flyers. When he clears, his 5m salary will be greater than the entire rest of the AHL Phantoms.

[King Postwhore]

Well, two fun bits from today.

1. Raffi Torres suspended 41 games, 3rd longest suspension in league history.

That's not a surprise from a chippy player like Raffi.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

That is HUGE. Glad to see the DoPS put their foot down. This suspension will hopefully ensure no other GM wants anything to do with him. He doesn't deserve a place in the league.

[Dark Castle]

I really don't think Raffi was headhunting with that hit, and while I think he should definitely be suspended either way, 41 games is insane. We'll see plenty of other hits just like that this season and they'll get a baby slap on the wrist. I get that he's a repeat offender but if you watch that hit from better angles, it's not as bad as the jumbo tron video made it out to be. Still a bad hit, but yeah that's how I feel.
Other than that I'm really digging the Sharks lineup for offense. I guess we'll have to see if Donskoi sticks around or if he's just here to get a few games in before being sent back down but Donskoi with the two Joes is utter sexiness.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

41 games is closer to being too few rather than too much. No matter what, he will always be attempting to injure other players when on the ice. He's done it time and time again. He should be removed from the league, but that wouldn't happen. 41 games will at least be enough to ensure no one takes a chance with him again.

We'll see plenty of other hits just like that this season and they'll get a baby slap on the wrist.

That's because Torres is a special case. He's gotten a 25 game suspension, and still didn't learn from that. He should be punished accordingly. He's a piece of shit.

[Dark Castle]

After watching that hit again, man I just want him not on the team. Even though I think he just tries to impress to hard and is stupid at hitting, he's just a waste of roster space in the NHL now.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Wow he's not even gonna appeal. Honestly pretty shocked about that.

[SystematicThought]

The first goal of the NHL season was certainly an interesting one. Bernier didn't even see it. Was it just me or was he getting interfered with a lot tonight?

[Dark Castle]

Oh how I loved watching tonight's game. That hit from Brown on Cootch was absolutely ridiculous and if he's not suspended the NHL organization is full of shit. Was so relieved that Couture wasn't injured from that, and later came back to lay that beast hit on Lucic.

Sharks looked fresh as heck tonight, and I hope to see them continue the freshness!

[gmillerdrake]

If they're performing well (ie, Top 5 in the West), I give it 5 weeks.   

Took until Tarasenkos goal in the second period. Dag Nabbit!

[KevShmev]

Yep, it didn't take me long to get sucked back in either.

[Nick]

Sucked to lose, but the Flyers and Bolts introduced the league to 3v3 tonight, and holy hell, talk about upping the number of heart attacks this season!

[gmillerdrake]

Sucked to lose, but the Flyers and Bolts introduced the league to 3v3 tonight, and holy hell, talk about upping the number of heart attacks this season!

Is it literally just one scoring chance after another?

[gmillerdrake]

Yep, it didn't take me long to get sucked back in either.

They promised me it'd be different this time......

[Nick]

Sucked to lose, but the Flyers and Bolts introduced the league to 3v3 tonight, and holy hell, talk about upping the number of heart attacks this season!

Is it literally just one scoring chance after another?

This one absolutely was, yes.

[Dark Castle]

Seems like Dustin Brown is just going to be talked to. Absolute fucking bullshit. If you're going to suspend a guy for half a season ( very deservedly so) how can you just ignore that absolute piece of shit hit that Brown laid out on Couture? You can't just set a precedent that makes it clear dirty hits are a no fucking go, and then just wave that one off, it was such a cheap and dangerous shot. Couture was even bleeding from the face after it, and still Brown gets to walk away like the complete piece of shit that he is.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Seems like Dustin Brown is just going to be talked to. Absolute fucking bullshit. If you're going to suspend a guy for half a season ( very deservedly so) how can you just ignore that absolute piece of shit hit that Brown laid out on Couture? You can't just set a precedent that makes it clear dirty hits are a no fucking go, and then just wave that one off, it was such a cheap and dangerous shot. Couture was even bleeding from the face after it, and still Brown gets to walk away like the complete piece of shit that he is.

Agreed. Brown needed discipline for that. So lame.

Also, Chucky + Eller + Semin is proving to be a great line! Hopefully this continues.

[Dark Castle]

Artemi Panarin got another goal tonight. Out of all the rookies this year, he's the one I've been following with the most excitement. Glad to see he's off to a swell start.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Rangers: lose three straight with two of those games being to the mediocre Jets and Devils with Hank in net. Go on to shut out a good Sharks team with Raanta in net. Because that makes perfect sense.

[Dark Castle]

Sharks have a lot of  injuries right now, and the lines have been switched up a lot so there wasn't much chance for the team to build chemistry with these sudden line changes. Good win for the Rangers, but it's not like the Sharks were close to full strength tonight. Missing Cooch, Donskoi, Martin, and Smith really hurt the team. Hopefully the others beside Cooch return soon because we need them and hopefully Cooch has as swift a recovery as he can.

[jingle.boy]

Still waitin for Babcock to make a difference.  Not sure it'll be this year.

[Jarlaxle]

Rangers: lose three straight with two of those games being to the mediocre Jets and Devils with Hank in net. Go on to shut out a good Sharks team with Raanta in net. Because that makes perfect sense.

Just gotta say (not a fan personally), but the Jets are more than mediocre, they have a damn good team.

[jingle.boy]

Yeah, they definitely improved over the off-season, and gave the Ducks a run for their money last playoffs.  Dropping all those 3rd period leads was depressing, but they look to be bouncing back and starting the season in the right direction.

[jasc15]

Just posting here because I noticed the thread was started by zerogravityfat.  I haven't seen him around here in years, but the OP date is June 2015.

[millahh]

Just posting here because I noticed the thread was started by zerogravityfat.  I haven't seen him around here in years, but the OP date is June 2015.

That was also his last date active.  I somehow missed that he quoted me in his sig...and I forgot ever having said that! 

[gmillerdrake]

Anyone live in Nashville? We've got a large group of family heading down to Nashville for the Blues v Preds game on 2/27/16. My brother in law lives down there and we just booked rooms and tix.....was thinking if anyone here lived down there and was going to that game we could meet up....say 'hey'....and give the forum the always popular middle finger made famous by none other than one Chad...jingleboy. Just a thought....

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I like this season so far.

[Jarlaxle]

You're a blue jackets fan, right? 

[Dark Castle]

Got our tickets locked up for the game this Sunday. We'll be nosebleeds for days but that doesn't matter with hockey I've found. So excited, get to see the boiz again. Hope to see another hat trick, Pavelski or somebody else, who knows maybe a certain Joe could get 4 

[jingle.boy]

God the Leafs suck.

That's all.

[SystematicThought]

I have a feeling with Babcock though, you guys will be a force in the next few years, possibly even next season or by the trade deadline, who knows.

Living in Minnesota, I've been hearing a lot of people saying how the Wild are a force and great team, but the defense is weak, goaltending shaky, the offense is the key piece for them. Despite being 6-2-1, their GF and GA are 28 and 25 respectively. Most of their games involve them rallying to win the game.

And Dubnyk's comment about not caring if every game they win 5-4, just as long as they win...The fact that they pay him $5 million a season and he says that he doesn't care about letting in 4 goals a game, just as long as the offense does their job? That just irked me and if I was a Wild fan, that would make me kinda irritated.

And don't get me started about my Senators... Just a sad start...

[jingle.boy]

I have a feeling with Babcock though, you guys will be a force in the next few years, possibly even next season or by the trade deadline, who knows.

Can't see it being this year, perhaps playoffs next year.  I do agree that this is a long-term strategy, but still, my god they suck.

[TAC]

Chad, how to the folks up there feel about Phaneuf?