[OT] Hockey Fever: The NHL Playoffs Thread

[Flexor the Mighty!]

That Boston thug needs to miss the rest of the playoffs. Is it just me or are all the teams in the east pretty much even? None of them are particularly scary.
Whoever wins the west will win the cup.

P.S. Bye bye ChickenHawks!! GO BLUES!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chairman_Kaga]

Precarious position?

The only places that hockey is having issues right now are Florida, Pittsburgh, and of all places Canada...

the "small market teams" that do most of the complaining come from the home of hockey...makes no sense to me...

Bettman is a fair guy and so is Colin Campbell. I've been watching hockey for way too long and seen unfair rulings by the boatload. Campbell and Bettman have done a pretty good job of claping down on the thugs, but injuries still do happen.

Ulf Samuelsson ended Cam Neely's career, IIRC he didn't get any kind of punishment.

It was a deplorable sports related injury, and McLaren should be done for the rest of the playoffs...but until someone produces any kind of proof that he deliberately and intentionally stepped out onto the ice to hurt someone...I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

And if the Habs go head-hunting they will lose the series and they would deserve to.

oh...and the Eastern Conference doesn't have a prayer anyway. It makes no difference who comes out of there, the West will take it.

edit: spelling

 

[madriel]

Re: Precarious position?

The only places that hockey is having issues right now are Florida, Pittsburgh, and of all places Canada...

the "small market teams" that do most of the complaining come from the home of hockey...makes no sense to me...

Chairman, the Canadian teams are having problems because the players are paid in American dollars, but the tickets are priced in Canadian dollars. The exchange rate is killing the Canadian franchises.

 

[Chairman_Kaga]

Chairman, the Canadian teams are having problems because the players are paid in American dollars, but the tickets are priced in Canadian dollars. The exchange rate is killing the Canadian franchises.

I am well aware of the economic reasons behind the problems that Canadian teams face, but it's a harsh reality of modern sports. They need to accept this and figure out a viable plan to salvage hockey north of the border. And I don't mean some hair-brained profit-sharing or salary cap scheme either.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I don't think the NHL needs a cap now, but something must be done. The cap has worked wonders in the NFL, and needs to be applied to MLB quickly.

 

[madriel]

The NHL needs to commit itself to preserving small market teams with solid fan bases. Something precious will go out of the game if teams like the Oilers and Flames have to fold or move to a locale where people don't care about the game.

Revenue sharing and salary caps may seem the most obvious way to go, but I feel that it's more important that the NHL come up with something that will work for them. Importing the NFL's solution wholesale may not be the optimal plan for the NHL.

.

 

[Quickbeam]

Not to pull this thread away from hockey and the NHL playoffs, but I'm sick of the over-proliferation of sports franchises.

[rant] Let's begin with hockey:
As a fan (being American, Canadian, or otherwise should have NOTHING to do with it), I find it appalling that Canada is left with only six NHL teams unless I've miscounted. Meanwhile, such hockey hotbeds as Nashville, Tampa, Carolina, Miami, Atlanta (for the second time), Dallas, Phoenix and San Jose have teams! WHY?!? Furthermore, the ridiculous number of teams has diluted the talent level to the point where players such as Gino Odjick, Stu Grimson, Bob Probert and Tie Domi are able to hang around indefinitely. In a league where the overall number of available slots to fill is limited, such players wouldn't see the light of day. Goons and has-beens hang around nowadays because the NHL has 62 teams!!
Going back to Madriel's point/Canada having too few teams, I can only say this -- the NHL better find a way to save the remaining Canadian franchises, because we'll all lose if the birthplace of hockey finds itself without teams.

Look at basketball:
OK, nevermind. Let's not do that. There are so many crappy teams in the NBA it isn't even funny any more.

How about Major League Baseball:
They're headed for another strike/lock out, and teams like my beloved Detroit Tigers possess no more than a handful of quality ballplayers. You wanna know what's wrong with baseball? I have four words for you -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays. That's an Arena League Football team name isn't it? You know your sport's in trouble when team like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays exist.

And finally, the NFL:
Look at what qualifies as a starting QB nowadays: Akili Smith/Scott Mitchell; Elvis Grbac; Rob Johnson; Charlie Batch/Ty Detmer; Shane Matthews (until he got cut); Matt Hasselbeck; Trent Green; Tony Banks; Quincy freaking Carter; and the many useless Carolina Panther QB's. 'Nuff said. [/rant]

Back to the NHL playoffs...GO WINGS!!!

 

[skulrik]

Originally posted by Chairman_Kaga
The only places that hockey is having issues right now are Florida, Pittsburgh, and of all places Canada...

All arena are full in Canada, at each match, playoff or regular season. It's not like in some city you forgot to mention: Tampa bay, Anaheim, Carolina...

The cap is a good idea. But I admit that our government must do something. It's crazy, we lost two team for now, and they dont react !!

There one thing I must admit, the American are really more dynamic and creative than us, when it's time to speak developpement and money.

Campbell and Bettman have done a pretty good job of claping down on the thugs, but injuries still do happen.

The number of injuries have reach a maximum !! It's true that Hockey is less physical and fight are now very rare..... they have been replaced by vicious hit, highsticking and hooking. Good job Bettman. *clap clap*

And for McLaren, I have good eyes, and I dont need more proof that what I see. But, maybe he just responding to the order of his coach. It's just a theory of mine.

For the futur game, I can see 3 different scenario:

1- The Bruins play proper game, and Montreal too, and we can continue this awesome series.

2- The Bruins play proper game, but the Canadiens try to avenge Zednick. Bad

3- The Bruins continue like in the last game, and Montreal do the same thing. Bad , but if it's that the Bruins want.... we must protect our players...

I hope that we will see scenario 1.


Last thing.
Quickbeam: With cheap shot, I dont make difference between a super star and a goon, between Mario Lemieux and Tie Domi, or Koivu and McLaren. If they try to hurt someone, they must be punish equally.

 

[Chairman_Kaga]

The idea that the coach of the Boston Bruins would order a player to potentially cripple someone is ludicrous at best. Continuing this conversation with someone so OBVIOUSLY biased on the side of the Habs that you would even suggest it is futile.

I have been watching hockey for almost 30 years and am very familiar with the reasons behind major injuries. My point was deliberate thuggishness that results in a serious injury is being handled effectively. That has nothing whatsoever to do with any other injuries that may occur. Hockey is a rough sport. It's not baseball where they will bench you for a stubbed toe.

Hockey players can get hurt, it's a risk they understand when they lace up their skates. The idea is too minimize the severity of potential injuries. It's unfortunate when it happens, but it DOES happen and it's not always someone's fault.

Again, hinting even in jest that there was some sort of plot behind the bench to take out Zednik is not funny. It is also not rational.

 

[skulrik]

... may be I've exagerated... sorry

I really really really hope you have reason.

Now, let's play hockey

Go Hab Go !!! (I'm probably a little bit biased )