Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Hawks and Wings will stay in the same conference.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/73...alignment-plan

I like the fact that the first two rounds of the playoffs will be against teams from the same "conference", brings back old rivalries ala the old Norris division. I also like the fact that every team in the NHL will play a game in the United Center once every season.

Your thoughts?

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

I like the fact that the finals could be two eastern teams like Bruins,Rangers...old school :banger

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Yes, it will be interesting to see how they seed the 3rd round, apparently that decision will come from the GM meetings in 2012.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Will the old division names still fit?

Adams, Norris, Smyth, & Patrick

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

They were like Men among boys last night. I am surprised it wasn't worse on the scoreboard. The Pens have some serious work to do.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

I'm excited for the home and home with all the teams every season. Finally Bettman did something right!

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Agreed, and for the first round staying in the conference means no more 10 PM start times for at least the first round of the playoffs.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Haven't posted in this thread, but follow my Wild. I've been very impressed with their play this year. The offseason pickups are working out so far, including the coach. seems that he's got the buy in from the players and it's working. Will they be able to keep it up for the rest of the year? I don't know, but the future looks pretty damn bright, with all the young guys playing as well as they have.

Great to see the realignment revive some of the old school (for me, Norris Division, with MN, St. Louis, Chicago, and Detroit) rivalries. It'll be nice that I'll be able to watch more than 10 min of the first period for a lot of road games. Plus, we'll get the Stars here to boo mercilessly more often. :p

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

The Wild are off to an excellent start, Mike.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Yes! Plus more chances to face that Chicago team in the playoffs. :noon

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Good luck with that! :wo

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Ugh...stinking putting them on the PP ever 10 seconds....

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Speaking of. Watching Sharks Stars. One of the worst officiated games I have seen in a while. While on PP Dallas had two many men they ignored it, same PP Ott horribly interferes with vlassic stick in legs they let it go and they score. I understand letting them play, but $hitty is $hitty. Hope they can hold on to lead.


Got to check to see if Ovie will be suspended for spear

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Two Losses in a Row, What are we going to do here in Boston, jump off bridges :D

Tough Loss last night.
They hit 5 or 6 posts , the pucks just not bouncing for them right now.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

B's drop 2nd in a row,tuff games to watch when you dominate the games hit the post time and time again.
All you can do is tip your hat to the hot goalies.:chr

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

6 straight wins for the Wild. I'm sure enjoying this ride so far! They may not keep it up for the whole season, but the future here is pretty damn bright. :)

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Pittsburgh comes to the Isles tonight and I am very excited to say I think we have a good chance. El Cubano is coming off of a not so great game and Pit is w/o sid so I think we can and should win this one.

early Christmas present from my Mother in law. a 60" HDTV is now up and running for me to watch it the match. Gotta love center ice...

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Big comeback win for the Hawks over the Sharks, the United Center was rockin'!

Scored to tie it up with 1:00 left, and new daddy Patrick Sharp won it in the extra period.

I have an overwhelmiing urge to smash Ryan Clowe in the mush. ;)

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Was happy they got a point. Playing back to back I was suprised they had a lead and outplayed the Hawks for 2 periods.

As for Clowe I could see your hate. He made Keith look like a *****. Keith should know if you are going to be superman and come save someone you are likely going to eat one. That said he feed Keith a lot more then one. He took it like a champ though bloody face and all. :r. Don't know what Hossa said or did to wind Clowe up so bad, but he wanted to beat that ass bad. As Cherry and others have been pointing out with Sidneys recent antics, if your going to pull **** or run your mouth you better be ready to answer the bell. Again I don't know whaT Hossa said or did and I have never known him to be a.dirty player, but Clowe isn't known as a dirty player and generally respected as a guy who will step up and answer the bell. Hossa did something to piss him off.

Great game congrats on the win.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

I don't know how a sucker uppercut while Keith is wrapped up by someone else makes him look like a *****, Mike, but OK. Hjalmarsson played like a *****, maybe that's what you meant. :r

Always liked Clowe, now wishing I could get him to play rat ice in Chicago.

Hawks were lucky to get 1, much less 2, the way SJ outplayed them in the first 40 minutes.....but we'll take 'em.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

I meant he took it like a champ and I doubt he will be the one to fight Clowe the next time.

Sharks have just looked horrible of late. Unable to hold a lead. Tonight was painful to watch.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Good Win by the B's last night.
41 save Shutout by Rask :tu

Chara, possibly back this week, but we'll see... you know those lower body injuries :td
Hamil, another assist his third game and second call up from the minors :tu

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

#1 Vs. #2 (points wise) tonight on Versus. Let's Go Hawks!!!

Mike, I watched the Sharks game, at least they grabbed a point. Couture's pass to Marleau was awesome.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Awesome as it was, it was like a kick in the Jimmy.... That last 2.5 or so minutes was chaos for the Avs and turns out, about 10 seconds too long...

Fun game all the same.... Even let the Little One stay up and watch the shootout with me(momma gave me the look).

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

From an Avs fan's perspective, it had to be. Sergei was good in the shootout, though.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Go WILD! :D

Just hope that Bouchard won't be out for too long. Haven't heard anything after he got boarded last night, and he has a history of concussion issues.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

But Zidlicky is back, that should give the Wild a boost.

Go HAWKS! :D

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

The Flyers are playing the Wild tonight? :confused:

:D

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Getting real tired of all the concussions :(

I don't even think this list is complete:

Milan Michalek
Zybnek Michalek
Giroux
Pronger
McDonald
Skinner
Pitkanen
Wilson
Kobasew
Zidlicky
Crosby
Savard
Letang
Gerbe
Mueller
Martinek
Goc
Niederreiter
Marc Staal
Michael Sauer
Kurt Sauer
Laperriere
Beagle
Schenn
Bortuzzo

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Don Cherry had it right it's all the pads the players wear hard plastic like armor, years back the pads were much softer, elbow pads were soft rubber now if you get a forearm shiver you will get your head taken off.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Didn't check today's standings. :hn

How was that 1st Wild goal not icing? BS. :2

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

I like Grapes, in someways he has a point and in someways he is too much of an old school guy.

Actually elbow pads changed in 2003 because back in the 2002 playoffs when Mclaren (a Bruin at the time, shocking I know) destroyed Montreals Richard Zednicks face with the hard plastic capped elbow pads. It was a shocking hit. I still have a pair of Jofas which have the plastic. I remember them being banned the next year 2003 season. Elbows are definatley less dangerous then 10 years ago and most are rubberized caps now. Unless the league changed the ban and I missed it. If you think a player who stands infront of the net or a dman who blocks shots wants to wear soft elbows I would ask you to do it first. One Chara slapshot and your career is over.

As for the shoulder pads I agree caps should be shrunk a little, but no way the hard plastic inserts should be remroved from the body of the pads unless you want some players to die. The composite sticks used, the training of the players, the increased talent size strength of the players, the different style of the game with guys standing infront of the net because the goalies equipment is so much bigger and the goalies are so.much better, the emphasis on shot blocking, I am just scratching the surface all make todays game considerably faster and more dangerous then 20-15 years ago. Shrinking pads would have lethal consequeces in todays NHL or cause a complete change in the style of game now played, for the worse I would argue.

Its not as simple as changing the pads. Unless you want to completely change the style of game. The same style the Bs used to win the cup. An extremely physical aggressive style of play. If you think they will play that way with pads from 20 years ago I got a bridge for you.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Quick, look again! ;) :lr

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

I figured I only had a small window to opportunity to correct you! :r

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Dammit!

Oh well, at least they pulled a point out of it. Didn't see much of the game, but know that Backstrom is generally not that great in SO situations.

I'm glad this rivalry is being revived routinely in the future. :) Bring back the Norris Division. :p

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Thought both the Hawks Wild, and Bruins Sens were great games. Love NHL GCL.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

I agree that skater's pads need to be looked at but, the pads I really want to see change are goalie pads. Shrink them to half the size they are now and the sore sheets would look like those of the late 80s.

I'm sure with current technology they can protect goalies without those giant pads. I mean they've changed a billion things, no 2-line pass rule, shrank the neutral zone, expanded the blue lines, moved the nets twice, etc, all to increase scoring yet they barely tweaked goalie pad sizes.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Pronger out for the season

I did not see that coming. :(

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

That's what Pronger said about that puck, Joel. ;)

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Well...ain't that a :gary!!!

:sl

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

the Sharks are sucking again. So much talent apparently not enough heart still.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Well, I am just happy I fell asleep at the end of the second.... Appears the Avs fell asleep with me....:td


GO AVS!

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

I fell asleep with the Sharks down by 2......wha' happen? :r

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Yeah they found their sack. They are still blowing and need to get it together. Nice explosion of offense though.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Awesome ceremony for Niedermayer tonight in Jersey.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Hawks tied for #1 in the NHL.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...ay042610-b.jpg

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Have Hossa in my fantasy hockey he's been a beast for me!!!!

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

The Bruins are not in a good mood this afternoon.11:00 in the first and they are up 3 - 0. One of the Flyers made the mistake of pissing off Chara and paid for it. I suspect that Marchand and Lucic will also have playtime later since one of the referees was already warning Marchand to behave. Should be another fun 50 minutes.:D

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Wish I had been off to watch the Bruins game, boxscore looks pretty crazy, Paul.

Re: NHL '11 - '12 Thread
 

Bruins blowout Flyers, Thomas throws a shutout now sitting on top of the Eastern Conference.
This team is getting stronger all the time.