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[Dannyalcatraz]

Stars and Devils ÜBER ALLES!

However, it will be interesting to see if the younger teams and players that were starting to emerge before the Clash of the Idiots will continue to improve. I watched all the playoff games start to finish, and I liked what I saw from the Lightning and the Flames.

 

[GlassJaw]

I lost complete interest in the NHL long ago but I'm glad that they made some (much-needed) rules changes. I'm skeptical about the shoot-outs but I'll give it a shot. I really wish they dropped some teams though - there are just way too many.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Just looked over the new rules. Most are pretty good!

I've watched enough international hockey to know that the new 2 line pass will DEFINITELY up the offensive opportunities- Sweden used that a lot...they called it the "Torpedo" pass.

The Tag-Up offsides will also increase flow and scoring.

However, I've seen too many injuries on touch-up icing plays to be a fan of it, even though it does allow for the occasional heroics.

 

[Ambrus]

Hockey... That's the one with the little flat black ball right; or is it the one with the brown pointy ball?... So what's this about a strike?

 

[IronWolf]

It will be nice to have the teams back on the ice again this year! Looking forward to the season and hoping the Blue Jackets really have forgotten their losing ways....

 

[Teflon Billy]

THis is the year of the Blue Jacket. Having a full year off the team will be really well rested and will hopefully have forgotten their very losing ways.....

...and Rick Nash has been nothing short of spectacular in interntional play during the whole NHL fiasco.

 

[Crothian]

...and Rick Nash has been nothing short of spectacular in interntional play during the whole NHL fiasco.

Cool!! Bringing Lord Stanley's Cup to Columbus!!!

 

[IronWolf]

...and Rick Nash has been nothing short of spectacular in interntional play during the whole NHL fiasco.

I had the opportunity to see Nash play live several times here in Columbus and he was pretty amazing. He seemed to be able to make some pretty sweet moves and just know where the puck was going to be. Fun player to watch.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

NHL.

What, pray tell does NHL stand for?

Alas, I remeber in the before times, there was an NHL, the one sport where Canada still reigned supreme. Then the Lightening were allowed into the league. And a Movie (Ye old Mighty Ducks)

I've not given a darn for hockey for several years now. I breifly became an Avalanche fan when the games were actually on TV. (If your games are shown on ESPN 2, competing with Duck Hunting Today, World's Strongest Man, & the Lumberjack Competition....

The Fat Lady's Dressed, Prepped & waiting in the wings.

The NHL 1893 to 2004 R.I.P. Cause of Death? Stupidity/Greed take your pick on who was stupider/greedier: the players or the owners. Whichever you choose, you're right.

 

[Bront]

The owners in Chicago systematicly have destroyed the hockey fandom here in this city. Now we can look forward to another year of not being able to watch a Blackhawk's home game on TV because the owners are afraid it might cost them ticket sales. Instead, it has cost them fans, and few in Chicago are able to follow their own local team, so they stopped trying.

The players were too stuborn. If they had signed last year, they would have gotten more out of the league. Meanwhile you have owners screaming about not being able to devide up billions of dollars.

Hopefully these rulechanges will help. Shootouts are good, but did they get rid of the 4 man OT? (By far, one of the dumbest rules ever).