NHL Thread

[Corndad]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B59CBAbCAAAj7ur.jpg:large

[RaginRonic]

http://www.tsn.ca/maple-leafs-fire-head-coach-carlyle-1.175898

Not much of a surprise here.

[JimmyMess]

I saw that. figures. shanny should step up haha, can't make the team any worse!

[Emperor Smeat]

Next year's Winter Classic announced to be Canadiens vs Bruins at Gillette Stadium. The actual date to be announced during this year's All-Star break.

[JimmyMess]

'Young Guns' and Euro All-Star team to be featured in World Cup of Hockey
By Rick Westhead
Comments (2)



Hockey Puck
Hockey Puck, TSN

NHL and NHLPA executives are expected to announce on Friday the details of the rekindled World Cup of Hockey, a tournament that will feature eight teams, including two unconventional ones.

Besides Canada, the U.S., Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Finland, the league and union will announce a European All-Star team will participate. That team will be stocked with players who come from countries other than those participating as nations.
Also, the tournament will feature a team with North American players under the age of 23.

An executive with an NHL sponsor confirmed the details to TSN.
The tournament will also feature a best-of-three final, which will help to drive up the broadcast and sponsor rights for the tournament both in North America and Europe.
The National Hockey League and its players association have told team executives they hope to generate between $75 million and $100 million from the rekindled World Cup of Hockey.

A person familiar with the matter told TSN that the tournament, which is scheduled to be held in September 2016, will raise about half its revenue from the sale of broadcast and internet streaming rights. The NHL and NHLPA have predicted those rights may garner close to $50 million.

It's a gamble to spend so much on a tournament like the World Cup when there's no guarantee Team Canada will advance beyond the round robin portion. But if it does, there could be a big payoff in TV ratings. The final of the World Cup will be a best-of-three format, TSN has learned.

Besides TV rights, the NHL and NHLPA will also sell sponsorship rights to the World Cup. They anticipate selling to eight premier corporate sponsors and negotiating deals of at least $1.5 million in each category, a source told TSN.

The NHL and NHLPA will also garner revenue from ticket and merchandise sales. However, it's expected that the NHL and the Players' Association will have to pay Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment at least $5 million for hosting the three-week tournament.
While executives with the Montreal Canadiens wanted to host some of the World Cup games at the Bell Centre, the NHL and its players union decided to host all of the games in Toronto. That way, if the tournament is a success, they could auction off the rights to host the games in 2019, perhaps, to the city that offers the best revenue guarantee - be it Montreal, New York, Stockholm, Moscow, or another city.

To be sure, there are still many unanswered questions about how much profit the NHL and players union will generate from the World Cup.

They need to pay for insurance for all of the players.

Typically, the NHL and the Players' Association buy premiums that offer better coverage than simply career-ending policies. Payouts are rare, but they do happen. The Islanders' John Tavares, for instance, was covered by an insurance policy when he was injured during the Winter Olympics earlier this year in Sochi, Russia. The Islanders were compensated by an insurance company for the time he missed.

It's unclear how much insurance will cost the NHL and NHLPA.

Then Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said last August that it would cost at least $1 million simply to pay for insurance for the 47 Canadian players invited to Team Canada workouts in advance of the Winter Olympics.

NHL player agent Allan Walsh said some NHL players have been skeptical over whether it's a good idea to steer away from the "national team" concept.

"Some players believe this should be limited to players playing for their country," Walsh told TSN. "What are you playing for if it's "Team Young Guns" or European All Stars? What are you playing for? That's a problem. It's an issue."

Walsh said featuring a young guns team particularly could lead to lopsided scores.
"The downside is that team gets pounded," Walsh said. "I don't think it would have an impact on the player's psychology or career - just an impact on the legitimacy of the team in the tournament, when people sit back and say whether this kind of team was a good or bad idea."

Still, Walsh and other agents said there could be a great payoff for the league from marketing a team built around young stars like Nathan McKinnon, Connor McDavid and Jonathan Drouin.

Walsh said that while some fans have called for the NHL and NHLPA to include teams from Slovakia or Slovenia, that might not be practical, since the tournament is run by the league and its players association - both of which want to use the event to build the profile of their own players, not those playing in leagues overseas.

[road doggy dogg]

So the 8 teams will include a Canada team, a U.S. team, and a North American under-23 team? Interesting

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Islanders have been so fun to watch this year.</font>

[RP]

When the Hawks get into a shootout, you may as well mark 2 points down for them.

[road doggy dogg]

lol Brodeur retiring and joining the Blues' front office as an assistant GM. Seems so random

[road doggy dogg]

Oh, and uh, the All-Star Game was this weekend. But clearly nobody cares about that (as they rightly shouldn't)

[RP]

I dunno. They had nice jerseys.

[Fenix122]

Always a good night when the Islanders beat the Rags

[Arashi Kage]

Oh, and uh, the All-Star Game was this weekend. But clearly nobody cares about that (as they rightly shouldn't)

Agreed. The All-Star game is no longer exciting. It is a joke. Rightfully so that Crosby and Malkin chose to skip it due to "injury".

[JimmyMess]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wq4oBT1WXSY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

only Toronto.

[road doggy dogg]

lmao

so many Leafs fans in the office, that vid is defs making the rounds

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wq4oBT1WXSY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

only Toronto.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oqq-glymrRs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[RP]

I feel like the Leafs are becoming the NHL equivalent of the Cubs.

[RP]

That save by the Preds goalie. Omg. Wow!

[RP]

Tarasenko just undressed Crawford on the ice and touched him

[RP]

I hate the Blues almost as much, if not more than the Red Wings.

[RP]

Wow huge trade. Evander Kane to Sabers. Love it for Winnipeg.

[Clerk]

This thread and sport is a complete joke. Throw it out. Only good thing is Barry melrose's Mancave on ESPN.

[RP]

The only good thing is when you die in real life and Patrick Kane fucks your mom on your casket while it gets lowered into the ground, in front of the very few family who want to show up and claim themselves as relatives of yours.

[Clerk]

The only good thing is when you die in real life and Patrick Kane fucks your mom on your casket while it gets lowered into the ground, in front of the very few family who want to show up and claim themselves as relatives of yours.


HAHAHA Mad or nah. My belt cost mo than yo check

[RP]

K

[Heyman]

Wow huge trade. Evander Kane to Sabers. Love it for Winnipeg.



It's a good deal for the Sabres as well. Evander Kane will likely play with one of Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel for years to come. Meanwhile, Sam Reinhart will be the 2nd line center. Bogosian will be on defense, and the Sabres also have a few other blue chip prospects on D.


Grigorenko is another forward within the system.


Sabres could be on their way to looking very similar to the Penguins of the late 00's.

[JimmyMess]

Potentially good for Buffalo if Kane ever pulls his head out of his ass. Otherwise he won't be able to perform at his potential

[Heyman]

Potentially good for Buffalo if Kane ever pulls his head out of his ass. Otherwise he won't be able to perform at his potential



I think playing with McDavid or Eichel will motivate Kane beyond belief.


Seriously - The Sabres are going to be fucking sick in a few years.

[road doggy dogg]

Between Rex Ryan and Connor McDavid, Buffalo sports not looking so awful in the coming years. Maybe.

[RP]

Marian Hossa nearly beat the Canucks himself last night. I hate the loss, but it was a heck of a game. Blackhawks might be coasting to much. We're well on our way to having to play the Blues in the first round. That's not gonna be fun.

[Clerk]

Hockey sucks. Nothing entertaining about it. There like girls they cant fight

[Heyman]

Marian Hossa nearly beat the Canucks himself last night. I hate the loss, but it was a heck of a game. Blackhawks might be coasting to much. We're well on our way to having to play the Blues in the first round. That's not gonna be fun.


Every single match-up in the West is going to be tough.


Anaheim, St. Louis, Nashville, Chicago, and San Jose are all dangerous teams.


Winnipeg might actually be the most physically intimidating team in the league now.........even moreso than LA, Boston, Nashville, and Philadelphia.


Los Angeles will likely step up and find a way to make it in.........and they are always dangerous.


As much as I hate to admit this since I'm a Canucks fan, Vancouver will likely be the only bottom seeded team that could be 'somewhat easy' to defeat in the first round. Calgary as well if they manage to sneak in.


Other than that though, each team will be tough as hell. Dallas and Minnesota won't be pushovers either if they crawl in.

[JimmyMess]

I'm stuck in tunnel vision watching the Leafs shit all over their diapers, so I haven't watched as much hockey as I used to.

But yes, your analysis seems legit, the West is always full of super competitive teams

[RP]

Right now the Preds would play the Flames. The Blackhawks need to make a run and get in first. I much rather play the Flames instead of the Blues. Blackhawks v Blues in the first round will be incredible though.

[Bad News Gertner]

Wow, R.I.P Steve Montador.

[JimmyMess]

Leafs Trade to Nashville:

Santorelli
Franson

Predators Trade to Leafs:

2015 1st Round Pick
Oli Jokinen
Brendan Leipsic


That's making some moves right there.

[RP]

That's how you win a shootout!

Kane made Fluery look silly.

[road doggy dogg]

that Kane SO goal was filthy

[road doggy dogg]

and so glad I have holiday tomorrow, would really dread going to work and hearing all about stupid Leafs trade from everyone

[Bad News Gertner]

Great trade for both teams

[LoDownM]

Never get to watch hockey anymore, always at work :(

[RP]

Blackhawks vs RedWings always feels like a holiday.

[RP]

WHAT A CRAZY GAME RIGHT NOW. Wings score cause a puck hit off Seabrook and then Hawks answer with a minute 20 left because a puck went off Kromwell. Overtime pending. Amazing game.

[RP]

Overtime

[RP]

Shootout! CRAWFORD OWNS DATSYUK!

[RP]

TOEWS BEATS HOWARD!

[RP]

Down to Sharp

[RP]

COME ON SHARPY

[RP]

FUCK!

[drave]

http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/slides/photos/003/387/691/94207543-view-of-the-detroit-red-wings-banners-before-a-nhl-game_crop_north.jpg?w=572&h=380&q=75

http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shinmaryche/media/nhlgdt/banner.jpg

http://homepages.uwp.edu/davis111/stanleycupbanners.jpg

http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20130106&Category=SPORTS05&ArtNo=130106002&Ref=AR

http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/06/large_RedWingsTopPhoto.jpg

[JimmyMess]

Yep those are the Red Wings

[road doggy dogg]

fuck yes they are

[Heyman]

With the risk of sounding like a biased Canucks fan, I feel confident that Bo Horvat is going to be a very good 2nd line center in the league one day, and wouldn't look completely out of place as a future 1st line center.


He reminds me of a poor man's Jonathan Toews, which is in no way a bad thing. Excellent two way game, with a tremendous work ethic.


#BoHorvat #WatchThisKid

[road doggy dogg]

Would it be much of a stretch to say that you... Bo-lieve in him?

[JimmyMess]

that was incredibly well played

[Heyman]

Would it be much of a stretch to say that you... Bo-lieve in him?



Abso-fucking-lutely. :cool:

[JimmyMess]

To Toronto:

Zach Sill
2015 4th Round Pick
2016 2nd Round Pick

To Pittsburgh:

Daniel Winnick

Leafs will also eat half of his 1.5 million salary

This has Mark Hunter all over it. He's going big, going to scout like they should have been doing for years.

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol Zach Sill is so friggen terrible. And I'm a fan who LOVES players who drop the gloves.

[Corndad]

Lol Zach Sill is so friggen terrible. And I'm a fan who LOVES players who drop the gloves.

Seemed like a good kid and all but... yeah here in Pittsburgh we threw a mini parade today getting rid of him. Awful.

What are your impressions of Winnick?

[Bad News Gertner]

Great PK guy. Very hard worker, can chip in offensivly. Great pick up.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Maple Leafs get: Nathan Horton
Blue Jackets get: David Clarkson

Wow, can't believe the Leafs were able to dump that contract.</font>

[JimmyMess]

<font color=goldenrod>Maple Leafs get: Nathan Horton
Blue Jackets get: David Clarkson

Wow, can't believe the Leafs were able to dump that contract.</font>

fuckin good riddance!

[JimmyMess]

Jagr to Florida for 2 picks.

Thought he was headed back to Pittsburgh for a while

[Emperor Smeat]

Blackhawks-Coyotes trade:
Blackhawks got Antoine Vermette
Coyotes got 2015 1st Rd pick and Klas Dahlbeck

Vermette was one of the two guys the Bs wanted the most but Blackhawks were more agressive in the trade talks.

[JimmyMess]

Jeff Petry shipped to Montreal.

Trade Deadline day. They make the biggest deal out of it and its usually a dud.

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The danger of putting all tweet with a certain hashtag on TV (via <a href="https://twitter.com/JE_Iannicello">@JE_Iannicello</a>) <a href="http://t.co/bnHTa7E7st">http://t.co/bnHTa7E7st</a> <a href="http://t.co/17QjOQ1SjR">pic.twitter.com/17QjOQ1SjR</a></p>&mdash; SB Nation (@SBNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNation/status/572535241946087424">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

all tweets*

Come on SBNation.

[road doggy dogg]

jesus christ

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Isles got Michael Neuvirth for basically nothing. Neuvirth was playing too well and therefore impacting Buffalo's ability to tank properly.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

Poor Buffalo... do they realize they'll still only have a 20% shot at McDavid?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Probably, but if they finish last they can't pick any lower than 2nd. Jack Eichel would have been a consensus #1 overall pick in most years so that's a pretty good concession prize.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

Is that how it works? I read something here: http://www.mynhldraft.com/2015-draft/draft-lottery-odds/

The NHL will also make a change for the 2016 draft where they will determine the top three draft slots and not just the first overall that has been done in the past. The team that finishes last could now potentially drop down to the fourth overall pick, and not the second overall as it now stands.

"Three draws will be held: the 1st Lottery draw will determine the Club selecting first overall, the 2nd Lottery draw will determine the Club selecting second overall and the 3rd Lottery draw will determine the club selecting third overall."

After the drawing for the top three slots, the remaining four through 14 will go in inverse order of their regular season points.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>2016 ;)

2015 is just for the top pick. Would have come in handy this year though as many teams feel Eichel is plenty worth tanking over.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

ohh right, yeah next year that noise is in effect

[Emperor Smeat]

Will the lottery be done in public or behind-the-doors NBA style where rigging could be possible or assumed?

[Bad News Gertner]

I will bet my posting career at TPWW that the Leafs end up picking #1.

[Shisen Kopf]

I watched the Leafs/Caps game the other night all the way through. Why did I do that? Goddamn the Leafs are a bunch of sorry fucks.

[Bad News Gertner]

Caps vs Blue Jackets game was bad ass. 4 fights tonight, Ovie with a couple goals.

[road doggy dogg]

lol Lupul, Phaneuf and Cuthbert threatening to take legal action against TSN. This story is going to get so beyond ridiculous

[JimmyMess]

There's only one reason that legal teams and players respond this way to "slander" like this. It is because it's true.

I heard this story at least a week before this tweet hit the air.

[road doggy dogg]

I don't think they have a leg to stand on, personally. I'm sure they'll settle with TSN out of court. Can't imagine they'll try and nail some kid for a tweet. Unless they're trying to set some historic precedent where people can be held accountable for their tweets, which I don't think those three are trying to do

[JimmyMess]

they'd be able to get something out of tsn for sure... but there is no way they'll be able to get the guy who wrote the tweet. it's not his fault tsn aired it.

[road doggy dogg]

lol now Lupul's picking fights with people on Instagram

http://deadspin.com/joffrey-lupul-is-now-threatening-to-fight-people-on-ins-1689414231

[JimmyMess]

he might tear his rotator cuff if he tries to challenge online.

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol the dude should call their bluff and make Lupul take a lie detector test

[road doggy dogg]

Was just watching a highlight of a Calgary Flames player's shootout goal... never noticed the Flames' jerseys have the Canada flag on one shoulder and Alberta flag on the other. Kinda cool.

When I first saw it I thought it was Canada on one and the player's home country on the other (Sweden, Finland, etc). I think that'd be a pretty cool thing to have on a jersey... idk. People would probably hate it because hockey fans get irrationally upset over everything lol

[road doggy dogg]

THE HAMBURGLAR playing really good for Ottawa... crazy they are within striking distance of a playoff spot

He got a lifetime gift card to McDonalds too lol. KILLIN' it for my D&D too holla

[Heyman]

Would be sweet to see the Sens get in and take away the final seed from the Bruins.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The Islanders look like the 2007 Mets on ice at this point.</font>

[Fenix122]

<font color=goldenrod>The Islanders look like the 2007 Mets on ice at this point.</font>

Yep...what's worse is I keep watching with naive optimism that they'll turn it around.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>It'd still take a LOT for the Isles to fully choke and not make the playoffs, the Bruins would basically need to win out with the Isles losing out at the same time. But at this point they're staring a wild card in the face which is a pretty big fuckup on its own.</font>

[Arashi Kage]

It's Championship week in TPWW Fantasy Hockey.

Who is Kenny Powers? I know that Datsuyk is non-TPWW.

http://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/tpww_hockey

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Isles were down 4-1 in the 3rd, came back to tie it with 28 seconds left. Then Halak allowed the softest goal ever with 3 seconds left to lose.

20 minutes later, the Senators tied it up against the Penguins. So the Islanders missing the playoffs altogether is still in play.

At this point? Screw the rhetoric of anybody being able to win in the playoffs. The Isles would only embarrass themselves further. Best thing that could happen would be for them to complete the chokejob and fire Capuano.</font>

[Bad News Gertner]

Eric Boulton finally got into a fight. All.is right with the world.

[Arashi Kage]

Exciting to see that the defending champs (L.A) are eliminated from the playoffs and that Calgary & Winnipeg are officially in. Happy for the fans in Winnipeg, and Calgary's success this season has been almost a cinderella story.

Interesting to see which 2 out of Pittsburgh, Ottawa, and Boston will make the cut in the Prince of Wales Conference.

[Emperor Smeat]

Bs needed either the Sens to lose or Pitt to lose to have a chance and neither happened. Doesn't matter what happens in the rest of the Bs-Bolts game since Penguins took the last spot.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Isles collapse again and blow a late lead. Lose in a shootout. No home ice in the playoffs after a 100 point season.

And Nashville let up a couple of points to Benn, so Tavares ends up losing the Art Ross.</font>

[RaginRonic]

A while ago, I talked about division realignment in the NHL. Tonight, I did some actual work to figure out how it could work with a 32-team NHL, while being a bit fairer to the Canadian NHL clubs.

First, it would involve the return of the Quebec Nordiques in the East, and the expansion of Las Vegas in the West. The alignments are below for both 4 divisions, and 8 divisions, with playoff qualifications explained.


2 Conferences-4 Divisions
To make playoffs, you finish 1st to 4th in your division.
No WildCard OR Division Crossover, no matter the reg. season points.

Eastern Conference

Division 1

QUE
MTL
BOS
NYI
NYR
NJ
PHI
WAS

Division 2

OTT
TOR
CAR
FLA
BUF
PIT
TB
CLB


Western Conference

Division 3

WPG
EDM
DET
NSH
CHI
STL
MIN
DAL

Division 4

CGY
VAN
COL
ARI
VEG
ANA
LA
SJ


2 Conferences-8 Divisions

To make playoffs, you finish 1st or 2nd in your division.
No WildCard OR Division Crossover, no matter the reg. season points.


Eastern Conference


Division 1

QUE
BOS
NYI
NYR

Division 2

MTL
NJ
PHI
WAS

Division 3

OTT
CAR
FLA
BUF

Division 4

TOR
PIT
TB
CLB


Western Conference


Division 5

WPG
DET
NSH
CHI

Division 6

EDM
STL
MIN
DAL

Division 7

CGY
COL
ARI
VEG

Division 8

VAN
ANA
LA
SJ

As you can see, in both scenarios, each division has an equal number of Canadian and U.S. NHL clubs.

Also, there is NO MORE East V. West Conf. play in the reg. season, to save on jet lag and travel costs.

The All Star Game also is tweaked to a 4-quarter game. Each team has 4 goaltenders, who each play 1 quarter only. If there's a tie, the best goalie per team plays the 5 minute OT + shootout. Each team captain is part of each conference(1E, 1W). Winning captain secures home ice advantage for his conference's rep. in the Stanley Cup Final.

To further cut down on jet lag and travel cost, the Cup Final is changed to 2-3-2 game split.

In the 8-division NHL scenario, for the Conf. Semi-Final round(Round 2), the division playoff champions are seeded based off the combined reg. season point standings of the teams that qualified for the playoffs within each division. Best division playoff winner would play 4th place division playoff winner, while 2nd place division playoff winner plays 3rd place division playoff winner.

[Heyman]

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I predicted that the Bruins would defeat a tired LA Kings team in the Stanley Cup Finals before the season started. :(

[Heyman]

Bs needed either the Sens to lose or Pitt to lose to have a chance and neither happened. Doesn't matter what happens in the rest of the Bs-Bolts game since Penguins took the last spot.


Good riddance to the Bruins.


Really arrogant pieces of shit of there, in terms of their team and their fans (give or take, a handful of non-obnoxious fans).


I hope they miss the playoffs for the next 10 years.

[Emperor Smeat]

Leafs cleaned house today with the GM, interim head coach, several other coaches, scouting director, and player development director all getting fired.

[Bad News Gertner]

They are apparently firing 18 scouts too.

[RaginRonic]

Leafs cleaned house today with the GM, interim head coach, several other coaches, scouting director, and player development director all getting fired.

Good...get the overwhelming stank of what Brian Burke cooked up out of the Air Canada Centre. Brian...just a stooge for the other NHL clubs working the Leafs from within as well.

Hopefully, the Leafs won't fuck up the draft, and won't fuck up who they hire in the front office.

Be rid of Kessel too...another stooge for another team that's poison to TOR.

And offload the bloat contracts too. No player deserves that much for failing on purpose. One Leafs player made over $94,000 for just their season finale against MTL.

Yeesh. =P

[road doggy dogg]

So pumped for playoffs to start tonight. So many series where you don't know wtf is gonna happen

[thecc]

Feeling pretty good about the Rangers. I would absolutely love for an islanders choke.

[OssMan]

time to watch some hockey n stuff

[Emperor Smeat]

Really good back-and-forth game between the Sens and Canadiens going on right now.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Great win from the Isles. The young guys looked super composed. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrock NNNNNNNelson.</font>

[Corndad]

No confidence at all going into this.. AND the Rangers score 30 seconds in before I hit Send. Good Lord.

[road doggy dogg]

Rangers look absolutely dominant right now. Could be a short series.

[road doggy dogg]

Mrazec looked incredible tonight. Wow. Only 14 shots for the Wings though, that's not the way to win a playoff series

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Some really good games already. Only team I feel pretty safe writing off so far is Nashville. Blowing a 3 goal lead at home and then losing in double OT is the kind of thing that should destroy a team mentally. Plus, Chicago seems to do really well in the playoffs every year.

We'll see though. Crazier things have happened.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

aaaaaand the Edmonton Cavaliers win the McDavid sweepstakes

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Arizona winds up getting the shaft as they end up at #3.

Twitter outrage accusing the NHL of rigging it. Not sure I buy that. Bettman's been adamant about generating interest in the Arizona market so I don't see the incentive for rigging.</font>

[Bad News Gertner]

Yeah, a Canadian winning does nothing for the league

[Emperor Smeat]

aaaaaand the Edmonton Cavaliers win the McDavid sweepstakes

4th year in a row I think they've successfully kept the Lottery belt. Not even Cena held the WWE belt for that long overall.

Edit: Nevermind, 4th time they've won the Lotto belt and not in a row.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The Canadian teams are always going to have fanbases that give a shit, though. I really doubt Edmonton are gaining any extra interest from this. Their fans have suffered for ages and have just come to accept it. In fact just taking a peek at their message board it seems most of them are just laughing it off because they'll ruin his career.

McDavid agrees based on his reaction.</font>

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CC6fRD9WgAAaLvm.jpg

[Fenix122]

WOOOOOOO!!!! TAVARES BABY!!!

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Great win for the Isles. Love the physical defense they were showing.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

Baring a miracle, Sens and the Hamburgler "feel good" run is about over. Could even end up being the first team eliminated depending on what happens tomorrow with Ducks-Jets and having the earlier Game 4 time.

[road doggy dogg]

Anderson played really good in game 3, but wow was that OT goal a softie

[Heyman]

Arizona winds up getting the shaft as they end up at #3.





Arizona won't get McDavid or Eichel, but Strome and Hanifin will likely be franchise players themselves.


Lots of franchise level superstars should come out of this draft. Hockey experts believe that this draft will be ever deeper than the 2003 draft.


As a Canucks fan, I hope Benning finds a way to move up. I'd be willing to trade McCann, Lack, and our own 2015 1st.

[road doggy dogg]

Was really hoping Winnipeg would at least win a home game this playoffs... poor Winnipeg fans

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Hot win from the Isles today to force a Game 6. Blowing the 2-goal lead in Game 2 is looming large but whatever.

As much as I hope they win Game 7 to advance in the playoffs for the first time in ages, at least if they lose the last image of the Coliseum is the entire Isles roster at mid-ice leading the crowd in the Daniel Bryan YES chants.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>11 shots on goal in a do-or-die game. typical LOLIslanders playoff exit.

Shitty way to end the year but they had numerous times to put themselves in a better position and couldn't. Still loads of talent on the roster so I'd think they'll be a playoff team again next year.</font>

[Bad News Gertner]

Oh how sweet it is!

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Booo! Canadiens stave off elimination. Boo!

[thecc]

WOOOO!!! Rangers aren't dead yet.

[OssMan]

is Taylor Hall any good

Was sposto be the best player when he was drafted

[Droford]

Caps are gonna blow a 3-1 series..pft

[Droford]

Up 4-1 the rangers couldn't resist letting the caps make it a 1 goal game with 10 to go

[El Fangel]

Habs

[Bad News Gertner]

Habs indeed

[road doggy dogg]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On average, emperor penguins grow to be 3.8 feet tall &gt;&gt; <a href="http://t.co/HpD6bwgzhQ">http://t.co/HpD6bwgzhQ</a> <a href="http://t.co/PgLuwLYuBB">pic.twitter.com/PgLuwLYuBB</a></p>&mdash; Discovery (@Discovery) <a href="https://twitter.com/Discovery/status/598579119954251776">May 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/Discovery">@Discovery</a> As of May 13, 2015, the average Pittsburgh Penguin grows to be 6’1”.</p>&mdash; Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) <a href="https://twitter.com/penguins/status/598584355045408768">May 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/penguins">@penguins</a> Strange. Our latest observations show no Penguin activity currently on ice in Pittsburgh. Where did they go?</p>&mdash; Discovery (@Discovery) <a href="https://twitter.com/Discovery/status/598881558842482688">May 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


oh SHIT

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol:

[road doggy dogg]

Babcock to the Leafs
8 years / $50M by the sounds of it

[RaginRonic]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFeApxQXIAAM3-m.jpg:large

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/601090583759822848

Says it all, doesn't it?

O.o

[Emperor Smeat]

Bruins announced Don Sweeney as their new GM. Spent the past 6 years as the team's assistant GM.

[thecc]

Wooo. Rick Nash finally had it going tonight.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>NHL/NBC can't possibly be happy that the Lightning made it to the finals instead of the Rangers</font>

[Ruien]

Hell no. Now they will pray the Blackhawks win to get a big market team into the finals. Lets go Blackhawks!

[Wehttam]

good series

[Simple Fan]

Watching Around the Horn and apparently the NHL would prefer players to shave so they can be more recognizing. Seems silly a good beard will make you recognized.

[Bad News Gertner]

It's NBC wanting the players to shave.

[Simple Fan]

True, don't see why it matters NFL players have their whole head covered.

[Bad News Gertner]

People get involved in a sport that is still a niche sport, but believe we've been doing it wrong the entire time.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Don't think most of the teams give a fuck what the networks want. Playoff beards will stay.</font>

[RaginRonic]

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/15/sweet-home-chicago-blackhawks-are-your-2015-stanley-cup-champions/related/

Good....this is what you Tampa Bay fan fucks get for what you did to Calgary 11 years ago. Now you know how they felt then.

Tampa's fans, fuck you all.

> 8 - (

[ClockShot]

Just read an article that that the Stanley Cup wasn't at the United Center in time before the game was over. With the flooding and road closures, they needed a police escort and were flying down the road at 100 MPH to get it there.


http://espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/story/_/id/13087877/2015-stanley-cup-finals-delayed-stanley-cup-arrives-chicago-blackhawks-clinch-championship-game-6-win

[RaginRonic]

http://www.prowrestlingtees.com/wrestler-t-shirts-1/cm-punk/punk-hawk-color.html

http://www.prowrestlingtees.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/h/u/hulk.jpg

Heh. > : - )

[road doggy dogg]

Flames trade for Dougie Hamilton from the B's

Give up 15th, 45th, and 52nd picks for him. Huge trade for Calgary. B's were in rough cap shape so kind of had no choice

[road doggy dogg]

Lucic to the Kings!

[Emperor Smeat]

Rumor is the Bs are trying to package the 13th, 14th, and 15th pick to get into the Top 10 and nab Noah Hanifin.

Panthers also trying to get into the Top 10 but probably won't be able to now because of the Bs and a bunch of other teams being more agressive.

[Bad News Gertner]

Wow, Flames reall bent Boston over the couch

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol Chris Pronger just got dealt. That's such an NHL thing to happen.

[road doggy dogg]

How is that even allowed? Fucking Arizona. Fuck Pronger.

[road doggy dogg]

Also, the Islanders drafted a Chinese dude named AnDong Song. Amazing.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Some retards on Facebook are complaining about that pick, decrying it as nothing but a publicity stunt put on the part of Charles Wang.

It was a 6th round pick for christ's sake. Many of them don't pan out anyway.</font>

[Nicky Fives]

Knowing the dumb shit Wang has done, it probably was a publicity stunt attempting to get some of that Chinese money to help them from being relocated in a few years once expansion is approved.....

[Bad News Gertner]

Kessel to Pittsburgh! Wow, the Leafs have some exciting prospects coming up.

[road doggy dogg]

Wings sign Mike Green, 3y/$18M

good pickup

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol Mike Green is horrible. Another terrible signing by Holland.

[road doggy dogg]

How so? Fills a need

[road doggy dogg]

Now, the Richards signing I can see being a bad move

[Emperor Smeat]

The Boston Bruins have acquired forward Jimmy Hayes from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Reilly Smith and the rights to Marc Savard.
Probably the bigger piece to the deal is the Bruins free up around $4 million in dead weight cap space because of Savard's injury problems. Career got derailed once he became concussion prone and hasn't played a game since the last time they won the Cup.

Also freed up another $3 million by getting rid of Smith.

[Bad News Gertner]

How so? Fills a need

6 million for a d man whose best years are behind him and is horrific in his own end. It's another Weiss contract.

[road doggy dogg]

I don't think it'll be as bad as Weiss', but $6m is a bit much for an injury-prone player.

[road doggy dogg]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/11/nhl-broadcasters-antitrust-settlement-idUSL1N0YX1ZW20150611

sorta good newsish

[Bad News Gertner]

What the hell are the Bruins doing? Matt Beleskey is horrible.

[road doggy dogg]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/rich-clune-hockey-nhl/

Incredible read.

[Bad News Gertner]

Rich Clune is an awesome story. Too bad the stats nerds won and enforcers are now gone. The leagur has become unwatchable.

[Ruien]

Can't wait until 2017 when the Blackhawks win the cup again.

[Blonde Moment]

Also, the Islanders drafted a Chinese dude named AnDong Song. Amazing.

That should make some chants interesting

[weather vane]

What an offseason. Insanity. Excited somehow though.

[RaginRonic]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CKnO2UhVAAAdYce.jpg

Yeah...this is real! O.O

http://www.tsn.ca/polopoly_fs/1.335179!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/default/leafs-organizational-chart.jpg

Yeesh! O.O

[Bad News Gertner]

What a horrible choice.

[Wehttam]

patrick kane allegedly being investigated on rape charges.

#buffalove

[RP]

Patty Kane be raping bitches!

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>RIP Al Arbour</font> :(

[weather vane]

Hurry up. I hate the NFL rn...

[road doggy dogg]

yeah football can suck it

let's go hockey

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Isles should be fun to watch again this year</font>

[parkmania]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tzjZMkOGegc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[road doggy dogg]

Habs score on first shot of the season lol

[Bad News Gertner]

I literally couldn't care less about the NHL

[Emperor Smeat]

:n: at that stinker of an opener the Bs had tonight. Basically a repeat of everything that was bad about last season for them.

[weather vane]

We won a game!!! Wooooo.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

yay

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol Eric Boulton got signed to a one year deal to basically hang out with the Islanders. So great.

[Nicky Fives]

There was a time in my life where I never missed a Habs game, and I'd catch late games most nights as well..... I haven't watched a game all season long.....

[road doggy dogg]

I find it a really hard transition going from baseball season to hockey season. Where I'm used to expecting a game at 7:00 most weeknights for baseball, there's often 2 or 3 nights between games in NHL and I don't even bother checking when the team is playing next...

[Bad News Gertner]

The games are so fucking boring

[OssMan]

There was a time in my life where I never missed a Habs game, and I'd catch late games most nights as well..... I haven't watched a game all season long.....
same with me 4 most of the teams I like

[Nicky Fives]

same with me 4 most of the teams I like

Still kicking ass in my Yahoo Fantasy league though....

[Penner]

I find it a really hard transition going from baseball season to hockey season. Where I'm used to expecting a game at 7:00 most weeknights for baseball, there's often 2 or 3 nights between games in NHL and I don't even bother checking when the team is playing next...

The schedule is really messed up this year. The leafs have something like 16 back to backs and this week they play Monday and then Saturday. Like if the games were more regular and standard I would enjoy it more

[road doggy dogg]

It does seem really "fucking stupid" that there are back-to-backs then like 3 nights off. You'd think the schedule makers could do their job properly

[Shisen Kopf]

Red Wings are so annoying to watch at times.

[road doggy dogg]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/patrick-osullivan-nhl-abuse/

jesus

[Bad News Gertner]

John Scott made the all-star game!!!!!!! Yes!

[BCWWF]

An absolute travesty that Zach Parise and Ryan Suter did not make the All-Star Game.

[Emperor Smeat]

Apparently the NHL is currently dealing with a mess they helped create for the All-Star game due to a recent trade done by the Coyotes.

John Scott won the fan vote as a captain for the All-Star game but got demoted recently by the Coyotes. NHL got involved wanting him to drop his spot while he refused. League might get hit with grievance complaint by Scott if the NHL and/or Habs refuse to let him play. Habs rumored to be leaving him in the minors till at least after the All-Star game which could lead to Scott filing the grievance in retaliation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It appears as if John Scott will NOT play in the NHL All-Star Game after trade to Habs. <a href="https://t.co/v52VgJfb9y">https://t.co/v52VgJfb9y</a> <a href="https://t.co/i4yWAiLyRm">pic.twitter.com/i4yWAiLyRm</a></p>&mdash; theScore (@theScore) <a href="https://twitter.com/theScore/status/688140155362803713">January 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/40620/john-scott-deal-further-complicates-all-star-debacle

[road doggy dogg]

This story keeps getting fucking better hahaha

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

They got what they wanted. People are actually caring about the NHL All Star Game.

[Emperor Smeat]

Flames Dennis Wideman got an indefinite suspension by the NFL for a blindside hit he gave to a ref during a recent game.

Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman has been suspended pending a hearing with the NHL next week, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun and multiple reports.

Wideman will have an in-person hearing with the NHL on Tuesday, a source told ESPN's Scott Burnside.

Wideman cross-checked a linesman during Calgary's 2-1 home loss to the Predators on Wednesday night, a hit Wideman said was unintentional.

Wideman had just taken a hit from Nashville winger Miikka Salomaki and was skating toward the Flames' bench when he leveled linesman Don Henderson from behind, sending Henderson to the ice and against the boards.

Wideman was not penalized for the move.

He said after the game that he was distracted after the Salomaki hit and unintentionally collided with Henderson.

[JimmyMess]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nj4PoDrqv-E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

He just buries the guy lol.

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: NHL still doesn't want John Scott in the All-Star game. Went as far as to use his children into the mess by implying he'd be bringing shame and ridicule to them if he played.

On Thursday -- just as players and media and league executives are touching down in Nashville for the All-Star Weekend -- Scott published his account of what happened throughout this whole mess. He revealed that the NHL tried to shame him out of the All-Star Game by using his kids as ammo. Here's Scott in his own words, writing for The Players' Tribune:
But while I don’t deserve to be an All-Star, I also don’t think I deserve to be treated like I’ve been by the league throughout this saga. I’m an NHL player — and, whatever my set of skills may be, that I’m an NHL player is no accident.

...

But I’m one of them. And that means a lot to me.

It means a lot to my family.

So when someone from the NHL calls me and says, "Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?"

… That’s when they lost me.

That was it, right there. That was the moment.

Because, while I may not deserve to be an NHL All-Star, I know I deserve to be the judge of what my kids will — and won’t — be proud of me for.

Also the GM for the Candiens implied it was the league that forced them to make a trade for the player.
Marc Bergevin, GM of the Canadiens, comes out and says that he "can't really tell you why he had to make that trade," fueling those reports.
http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2016/1/28/10861822/john-scott-all-star-game-bully-kids-dang-thats-low-nhl

[road doggy dogg]

The NHL just keeps looking worse and worse in this

[JimmyMess]

I was hoping Scott would surprise everyone in the hardest shot. But no.

[JimmyMess]

Also, I don't think Arizona has a rep in the game? Scott was and he got dealt, shouldn't they have had a replacement? I guess it would have thrown the team balances off but still, weird shit!

[road doggy dogg]

The only thing that matters is that that Dylan Larkin kid is pretty good.

[road doggy dogg]

Phaneuf to the Sens!

[JimmyMess]

yeah that was a huge shock this morning

[Bad News Gertner]

Leafs trade James Reimer, Jeremy Morin for Alex Stalock, Ben Smith and a conditional 4th. What an odd trade for Toronto.

[Emperor Smeat]

The Boston Bruins did not trade pending unrestricted free agent Loui Eriksson at the deadline, but general manager Don Sweeney did acquire forward Lee Stempniak from the New Jersey Devils and defenseman John-Michael Liles from the Carolina Hurricanes, the teams announced.

Boston sent a 2016 fourth-round pick and a 2017 second-rounder to New Jersey. The Bruins sent third- and fifth-round picks, along with minor leaguer Anthony Camara, to the Hurricanes.
Seems like nobody was willing to give up a top quality young player for Eriksson but at least they get some more depth now at the cost of some draft picks.

[road doggy dogg]

another riveting trade deadline

[Bad News Gertner]

I had the sportsnet.ca feed playing in my headset at work all day. What a waste of time. I don't watch the NHL anymore at all, but the trade deadline still excites me.

[JimmyMess]

jared tinordi 20 games for banned substances.

[Emperor Smeat]

Not counting 2005, first time in 46 years no Canadian based teams are making the playoffs.

Ottawa was the last hope of preventing it from happening but Flyers hold the tiebreaker against them for the final playoff spot and tonight's Bruins-Wings match prevents them from having a chance at the last divisional spot.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/no-canadian-teams-nhl-playoffs-1.3513988

[Bad News Gertner]

Can't wait for Ronic to post

[RaginRonic]

I guess this means, as of Wed. Mar. 30, 2016, Canada's relevancy in the NHL is dead. And this is all due to Gary Bettman making constant changes to the league's financial model to stop the NHL teams in Canada from ever winning the Cup again.

To him, having NHL teams in Canada is only seen as a token gesture to us, to keep our mouths shut.

To Gary, the teams here are only to be treated as a pro 'farm system' for the teams in the U.S. And he punishes all fans of Canada's teams for being that...fans of Canada's teams.

Gary is nothing more, to me, than a snivelling coward, just like Donald Trump. But, let's face facts, American financial conservatives, like him, buy the ability to escape punishment for unfair treatment of non-American collectives. It's his way to stay in power till he dies in office.

And he also won't permit the one who takes office after his death to let Canada's teams back into the Cup conversation. That his business model must stay in place, unchanged, long after he's gone.

It all reeks of institutionalized anti-Canadian corporate fascism coming from the NHL HQ in New York, and it all sucks wholesale.

Gary also doesn't want to see any display of Canadian patriotism on a U.S. TV network during a Cup ceremony, because, to him, and NBC in the U.S., who have editorial control over the league on TV, on both sides of the border, don't want to see, for example, the Habs winning the Cup at home on NBC, with a Canadian flag waving in the background.

To NBC, it's all about Old Glory, and nothing else.

It's time for him to be forced from power, by any means necessary. And he can take that bald idiot, Bill Daly, to Hell with him. > = (

[Bad News Gertner]

Fucking bullshit

[road doggy dogg]

lol

[Emperor Smeat]

:| Another late season collapse for the Bs.

[Evil Vito]

The Isles completely tanked tonight's game to ensure that they'll play the Panthers instead of the Penguins.

I don't blame them. I don't know if the Isles will finally end their playoff series win drought but they definitely match up better with Florida than Pittsburgh.

[Emperor Smeat]

Bruins decided to keep Claude Juilien as their coach for next season. There were rumors for a little while about him getting fired soon since he wasn't part of management's traditional end of season press conference and them having another late season collapse.

[Evil Vito]

Isles :y:

[weather vane]

Hate hockey. Sucks.

[road doggy dogg]

That mason goal. Yikes

Came right after he made a ridiculous save too

[Evil Vito]

A Las Vegas expansion franchise is apparently a done deal and will be announced in May.

I don't really see how that will work. People go to Vegas to party and gamble, not to go watch a hockey game.

[ClockShot]

Damn. They built the T-Mobile Arena stupid fast out there.

An NBA team would be great in Vegas. Hockey, not so much. But atleast when I go out there again, something new will be waiting for me.

[Evil Vito]

I feel like the Blues will find a way to lose their series after leading 3-1. Had a chance to close it out at home yesterday and couldn't get it done. I can't rule out the Sharks doing the same thing, either.

Not sure if I just automatically associate those two teams with blowing it in the playoffs or if I'm just convinced that the Blackhawks and Kings have magic horseshoes up their asses this time of year.

[Evil Vito]

Well the Sharks advanced but the Blues once again choked away a chance to close out the series. So now they can finish the chokejob at home on Monday.

[Ruien]

Hawks did the same thing to the Blues last year right? Plus, everyone wants the Hawks to advance in the playoffs.

[Evil Vito]

I don't think anybody outside of Chicago or the NHL league office actually wants to see the Hawks advance tbh. I don't hate the Hawks or anything either, I just like to see new teams get in the mix.

Still a billion times better than the NBA's terribly boring and predictable playoffs.

[Bad News Gertner]

I really enjoy the Hawks. Kind of want Pittsburgh to win just so Kessel can leave powdered donut sugar fingerprints on the cup

[Emperor Smeat]

Don't mind the Hawks being the current powerhouse of the NHL since the playoffs are usually great overall.

[Fenix122]

John Fucking Tavares! Finally ending the 23 year playoff series win drought.

[Evil Vito]

TAVARESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Ruien]

I don't think anybody outside of Chicago or the NHL league office actually wants to see the Hawks advance tbh. I don't hate the Hawks or anything either, I just like to see new teams get in the mix.

Still a billion times better than the NBA's terribly boring and predictable playoffs.

The only team on ESPN.Com is the Hawks when they do promote the NHL playoffs.

Blackhawks are like the Cavs in the NHL world. Everyone roots against us. Hell, half the teams do this crap where we can't buy tickets if we are against then in the playoffs. If you have a certain zip code it won't allow you to purchase them.

[Emperor Smeat]

New Non-Hawks/Kings champ guaranteed for the first time in 5 years.

[Evil Vito]

The Isles AND Blues win series?!?! What is happening? What is life?

[Droford]

Caps/Penguins overtime brings back ugly memories

[Droford]

Oshie with a phantom (or not) hat trick game winner

[Bad News Gertner]

Draft lottery tomorrow. Leafs really can't go wrong with either of the top four.

[JimmyMess]

if Edmonton pulls #1 we riot. Or laugh.

[Stickman]

Fucking canucks move down in the lottery, fml.

Fuck the Leafs

[Corndad]

Pens/Caps is going at least 6 games. Tremendous 1st 2 games.

[Bad News Gertner]

Woooooo #1

[YOUR Hero]

Happy for the Jets. Moved up to the #2 spot.
... so do the Leafs go after Stamkos in the off season now that they're guaranteed to get Matthews

[Stickman]

I think every team will try to go for stamkos, you'd be crazy not to. The only thing with the leafs going for him is the term would have to be less than he may want. Regardless where he goes the dollar amount will be the same, it's more a term based signing I think. After 4 years the Leafs will have to pay their young guys so can they afford to have him locked up long term