Official NHL 2016-2017 Thread

[TheCountOfNYC]

I am now 0-5 when going to see the Rangers play live. 

[Nick]

I am now 0-5 when going to see the Rangers play live. 

This season, or overall? Because if that's this season then that's frankly quite impressively horrendous.

[TheCountOfNYC]

I am now 0-5 when going to see the Rangers play live. 

This season, or overall? Because if that's this season then that's frankly quite impressively horrendous.

Overall. But still, I have a better track record seeing the Jets and Mets than I do the Yankees and Rangers.

[KevShmev]

I am now 0-5 when going to see the Rangers play live. 

 

[TAC]

Watching the replay of the Blues/Haks alumni game.
The Blues alumni team is 

Classy move by Tkachuk wearing Demitra's jersey. But holy hell Keith! Did he eat him?
Bernie Federko looks awesome and Pierre Turgeon hasn't aged at all.

Gary Unger Larry Patey and Brian Sutter

But who are the flotsam & jetsam playing for the Hawks? No Chelios? Amonte? Roenick? Doug Wilson? Savard? Is Larmer playing? WTF?

[TAC]

Hurricanes

https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/story/carolina-hurricanes-equipment-manager-sees-action-net-010117

[gmillerdrake]

Watching the replay of the Blues/Haks alumni game.
The Blues alumni team is 

Classy move by Tkachuk wearing Demitra's jersey. But holy hell Keith! Did he eat him?
Bernie Federko looks awesome and Pierre Turgeon hasn't aged at all.

Gary Unger Larry Patey and Brian Sutter

But who are the flotsam & jetsam playing for the Hawks? No Chelios? Amonte? Roenick? Doug Wilson? Davard? Is Larmer playing? WTF?

yeah...that was neat to watch. And you're right about Tkachuk in both respects. Very cool to honor Demitra (I read they were very close friends) and he has easily put on 100 lbs.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Radulov and Weber both play one of their best games of the season against their former team. God damn right.

[TAC]

Thanks Santa!

[TAC]

RIP Milt Schmidt...

[TheCountOfNYC]

Not NHL related but it is hockey related: What a game between USA and Canada for the World Juniors Championship. This was two evenly matched teams playing at their very best, and it had to be decided in a shootout. Congratulations to the USA who FINALLY beat Canada for a hockey championship. One of the best hockey games I have ever seen, up there with Blues-Blackhawks Game 7 last year, Rangers-Capitals Game 7 two years ago, Bruins-Canucks Game 7 in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, and USA-Canada for the gold medal in the 2010 Olympics.

[mikeyd23]

Not NHL related but it is hockey related: What a game between USA and Canada for the World Juniors Championship. This was two evenly matched teams playing at their very best, and it had to be decided in a shootout. Congratulations to the USA who FINALLY beat Canada for a hockey championship. One of the best hockey games I have ever seen, up there with Blues-Blackhawks Game 7 last year, Rangers-Capitals Game 7 two years ago, Bruins-Canucks Game 7 in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, and USA-Canada for the gold medal in the 2010 Olympics.

Missed the game last night, good to hear the US won. Did the NHL network really air that game last night instead of the Jackets game though?

I mean I get the WJC game was huge, but it wasn't a NHL game and meanwhile they had the Jackets going for a tie of the longest winning streak in league history (an opportunity to promote their actual product) and it wasn't nationally aired? Come on NHL....

[SchecterShredder]

Not NHL related but it is hockey related: What a game between USA and Canada for the World Juniors Championship. This was two evenly matched teams playing at their very best, and it had to be decided in a shootout. Congratulations to the USA who FINALLY beat Canada for a hockey championship. One of the best hockey games I have ever seen, up there with Blues-Blackhawks Game 7 last year, Rangers-Capitals Game 7 two years ago, Bruins-Canucks Game 7 in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, and USA-Canada for the gold medal in the 2010 Olympics.

Agreed, it was a fantastic game. As a Canadian I would have preferred a different result, but I honestly didn't have them in the gold medal game at the start of the tournament anyway. And once it went to a shootout I knew Canada was truly pooched with how well that Terry kid was in the shootout against Russia.

Between that game and the Oil v Bruins game I had a good fill of hockey last night 

[gmillerdrake]

I have zero expectations/hopes for the Blues making a legit run at the cup this season. One game they're outplaying and handily defeating the top teams of the league and the next game they're losing to teams with losing records and looking horrid doing it. No consistency at all.

It was a massive mistake not to let Hitchcock go and just hand the team over to Yeo right off the bat.

[LudwigVan]

Not NHL related but it is hockey related: What a game between USA and Canada for the World Juniors Championship. This was two evenly matched teams playing at their very best, and it had to be decided in a shootout. Congratulations to the USA who FINALLY beat Canada for a hockey championship. One of the best hockey games I have ever seen, up there with Blues-Blackhawks Game 7 last year, Rangers-Capitals Game 7 two years ago, Bruins-Canucks Game 7 in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, and USA-Canada for the gold medal in the 2010 Olympics.

Agreed, it was a great game.  Big fan of these World Junior tournaments, and I really enjoyed the previous games by the other teams too, Russia, Sweden, Swiss (who are surprisingly good).  The only downside to me is having this game be decided by a shootout.  I think they should go all the way with the sudden-death OT, NHL style.  Canada had to know they were in trouble once it boiled down to the shootout.

[fadetoblackdude7]

I have zero expectations/hopes for the Blues making a legit run at the cup this season. One game they're outplaying and handily defeating the top teams of the league and the next game they're losing to teams with losing records and looking horrid doing it. No consistency at all.

It was a massive mistake not to let Hitchcock go and just hand the team over to Yeo right off the bat.

Gotta have the faith, my friend.

[gmillerdrake]

I have zero expectations/hopes for the Blues making a legit run at the cup this season. One game they're outplaying and handily defeating the top teams of the league and the next game they're losing to teams with losing records and looking horrid doing it. No consistency at all.

It was a massive mistake not to let Hitchcock go and just hand the team over to Yeo right off the bat.

Gotta have the faith, my friend.

this is the least inspiring team I've seen in some time. There are certainly bright spots....Tarasenko, Paryako, Schwartz....very good and fun players to watch but man it just seems like they are 'missing' something.

Being that they allowed Brauer to sign with Calgary when they knew they weren't re-signing Backes....they forfeited the whole 'size' and 'hard' game I've grown accustomed to watching them play for the past few years and started to focus on this fast and quick game. It's not nearly as consistent. Fun to watch when they are all clicking and firing on all cylinders but if you have one or two players not playing it shows and they pay the price.

[KevShmev]

I have zero expectations/hopes for the Blues making a legit run at the cup this season. One game they're outplaying and handily defeating the top teams of the league and the next game they're losing to teams with losing records and looking horrid doing it. No consistency at all.

It was a massive mistake not to let Hitchcock go and just hand the team over to Yeo right off the bat.

Gotta have the faith, my friend.

this is the least inspiring team I've seen in some time. There are certainly bright spots....Tarasenko, Paryako, Schwartz....very good and fun players to watch but man it just seems like they are 'missing' something.

Being that they allowed Brauer to sign with Calgary when they knew they weren't re-signing Backes....they forfeited the whole 'size' and 'hard' game I've grown accustomed to watching them play for the past few years and started to focus on this fast and quick game. It's not nearly as consistent. Fun to watch when they are all clicking and firing on all cylinders but if you have one or two players not playing it shows and they pay the price.

Sadly, I agree. Good team this year, but I'd be surprised to see them get out of the first round.  I wonder if they'll do anything at the trade deadline to shake things up a bit.  Trading Shattenkirk keeps sounding like a foregone conclusion.

[mikeyd23]

Good first game back from the break last night for the Pens!

[TAC]

Nice tribute to David Backes in St. Louis tonight.

[gmillerdrake]

Nice tribute to David Backes in St. Louis tonight.

Dang it! Missed it. Was sculpting and cutting two Pine Wood Derby cars with the kiddos for their race next week.

Looks like the Blues are taking the night off anyway.....at least Jake Allen has......again.....

[TAC]

Oh, by the way, I'm carrying his illegitimate child.

[mikeyd23]

Just curious, how is Backes viewed among St.Louis fans?

[TAC]

Here's how the St. Louis boys responded when he signed with the Bruins:

  I never really embraced Backes fully.   

Why not?

Not sure.  He was just never a guy I was wowed or excited by, as a fan.  I guess I just expect more from a captain than he always gave.

I understand Kevs sentiment here. I think Backes was a good captain, but the negatives to his play are infuriating. Particularly some of the bad penalties he'd take. Players take bad penalties.....but he always seems to take them at the worst possible time.

As a Captain he sticks up for his teammates and leads...but to Kevs point, there was always 'something' missing or off?

Nonetheless Boston is getting a good player.

[gmillerdrake]

Just curious, how is Backes viewed among St.Louis fans?

Adored. He was here 10 years, played intense and loved his team mates.....pillar of the community with charities and especially his pet outreach. He's just a real good dude and was/is a good player. I'm glad we got his 'best' years.

[gmillerdrake]

I tell you what, you don't know what you got til it's gone. St. Louis greatly misses him....or someone like him.....that style of play.

I'll stand by the remarks I made about his untimely penalties and seeming to 'miss' someThing about his game....but this season not having him it's very clear what he brought to the team isn't easily replaced.

[mikeyd23]

Okay, just curious because from afar, he seems like a player that I would get frustrated with on ice. He sounds like he was great off the ice, which is cool but on the ice he always struck me as one of those players that had the ability to be truly great but never quite got there.

I mean St. Louis had some really, really good teams with him as the C and they never got there all the way, could never close the deal and win it all. Not knocking on him, just saying.

[TAC]

He is on pace for 20 goals even though he's missed like 10 games. (Concussion/ Bursar on elbow).
He has been great in front of the net, and has brought some much needed toughness to the team.

He is not fast, nor flashy, and I think people may think he is something that he is not. He was one of my Top 5 Non Bruins in the league, and I've always liked him. I don't blame him as the Captain for the Blues not getting over the hump. It's not easy and the West has been stacked.



BUT, the Bruins still suck at home, don't show up some nights, and are not ready to start some games.

[gmillerdrake]

He is not fast, nor flashy, and I think people may think he is something that he is not. He was one of my Top 5 Non Bruins in the league, and I've always liked him. I don't blame him as the Captain for the Blues not getting over the hump. It's not easy and the West has been stacked.

All of this......


And this....

one of those players that had the ability to be truly great but never quite got there.

He was VERY good....but just was never able to get to that final level of GREAT

[mikeyd23]

He was VERY good....but just was never able to get to that final level of GREAT

Exactly, like I said, not trying to knock on the guy, but that's always been my opinion of him from a distant perspective.

He is on pace for 20 goals even though he's missed like 10 games. (Concussion/ Bursar on elbow).
He has been great in front of the net, and has brought some much needed toughness to the team.

He is not fast, nor flashy, and I think people may think he is something that he is not. He was one of my Top 5 Non Bruins in the league, and I've always liked him. I don't blame him as the Captain for the Blues not getting over the hump. It's not easy and the West has been stacked.

Honestly that's all well and good and sounds about right. Good but not great. Also, I'm not saying I blame him for anything during his time as Captain, but there are some players that just never win anything, and Backes is that guy.

[TAC]

I don't think Backes is a great player, and never have. And if he's your best player, you're not going anywhere.

BUT, he can play on my team anyday!

[mikeyd23]

Well said.

[SystematicThought]

I don't think Michel Therrien knows how to pull goalies

[SchecterShredder]

I don't think Michel Therrien knows how to pull goalies

I think he just seems to think that it sends a message to the player when you ruin his confidence and leave them in for, oh let's say, 7 or 10 goals.

[SystematicThought]

Apparently it was Price's decision to stay in the game when given the option to be pulled. I guess I understand Price's decision, but it seemed like he gave up in the third