2008-2009 NHL Season Thread

Rented Mule

Well, for those of you who have paying atention, the NHL pre-season is well underway. The NHL Season O-ficially starts 04 October in Prague when the Penguins and Rangers meet up for two games.

My Chicago Blackhawks look to be much improved (on paper) as the excitemtn is back in the United Center for the first time in a decade. Off-season additions Brian Campbell and Christobal Huet were the top D-man and Goalie available on 01 July.

Sophomores Patrick Kane and newly named Captain Jonathin Toews will be expected to lead this team, along with (a hopefully healthy) Martin Havlat.

The D will be lead by new addition Cambell, along with All Star Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrok and former first rounder Cam Barker.

I am hoping to see a much need boost on the PP this season with the addition of Campbell as well as the maturisation of the 'kids'.

I'll be flying out for the start of the season to take in three or four games.

Happier days are ahead for the 'Madhouse on Madison'.

cena

do you think nasn well be showing the first for free

Rented Mule

cena wrote: »

do you think nasn well be showing the first for free

I am a NASN subscriber so I am not sure how to answer that, but I fully expect to see the NHL opener in Prague to be broadcast.

MrJoeSoap

Last season they showed the two openers for free but I'm not too sure this time around. They're showing all the European games live anyway.

Gonchar is out for quite a while it seems, which is an unspeakably big loss for the Pens. I'm expecting a solid season but not as expectant this time round. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised. Just can't wait for it to start.

citytillidie

MIght have showed the ones last year for free since they where in London, i dont mind I subscribe to Setanta and get NASN.

I am looking into trying to get over to the Allstar game this season, should be good with celebrating 100 years of the Habs

Rented Mule

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

Last season they showed the two openers for free but I'm not too sure this time around. They're showing all the European games live anyway.

Gonchar is out for quite a while it seems, which is an unspeakably big loss for the Pens. I'm expecting a solid season but not as expectant this time round. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised. Just can't wait for it to start.

I would hope your expectations would be higher this time this year than this time last year.

They will be fine as the season progresses.

Montreal do look to be the Beast in the East in the meantime.

citytillidie

cena wrote: »

do you think nasn well be showing the first for free

Accoding to the sky planner NASN is free all this weekend

cena

was nice to see nasn show some hockey for free today. wouldn't mind having this channel, only i can't afford it due to been out of work over an injury

HalloweenJack

I expect another big season from Ovechkin and the Capitals.

Hopefully, the Leafs will push on a bit.

Spaceman Spiff

HalloweenJack wrote: »

Hopefully, the Leafs will push on a bit.

I think most Leafs fans are just going to sit back and debate whether or not they should take Tavares or Hedman at the draft.

Rented Mule

Spaceman Spiff wrote: »

I think most Leafs fans are just going to sit back and debate whether or not they should take Tavares or Hedman at the draft.

Don't worry .....they'll figure out a way to screw that up too.

Running Bing

How are the Bruins shaping up this season?


I didnt see their game the weekend but do they have a good chance of making the play-offs again?

Shanannigan

hope habs go all the way for their 100th season, also to keep up their record of winning a stanley cup in every decade... this is their last chance to do so..

patrickincork

Watched the Leafs against the Redwings, and the Leafs impressed me that night. They seemed to fight the extra bit for everything. From what i had been hearing over there, they were written off already. Pity the Habs stuffed them on Saturday tho!

BrianCalgary

The Leafs started strong then stunk vs Habs.

The Flames startesd strong for a period vs Vancouver, then stunk the next two periods. Ref helped the Canuck cause in the rematch. Then we beat Colorado. Another topsyturvy season at the Saddledome.

I am going to go get tickets on Saturday for the game vs Boston on Oct 30.

The chill winds have started to blow from the North, we see snow on the mountains, winter is close behind and hockey has started.

The good about being a Canadian.

Waitsian

BrianCalgary wrote: »

The Leafs started strong then stunk vs Habs.

The Flames startesd strong for a period vs Vancouver, then stunk the next two periods. Ref helped the Canuck cause in the rematch. Then we beat Colorado. Another topsyturvy season at the Saddledome.

I am going to go get tickets on Saturday for the game vs Boston on Oct 30.

The chill winds have started to blow from the North, we see snow on the mountains, winter is close behind and hockey has started.

The good about being a Canadian.

The bad being the fact you live in Calgary? :P

BrianCalgary

mod9maple wrote: »

The bad being the fact you live in Calgary? :P

ya you.

Well the Flames continue to struggle. Time for Kipper to be given a rest.

Got my tickets for the Boston game on the 30th.

BrianCalgary

Flames are cooking now. Canucks faltering (hee-hee). Oilers having trouble putting the puck in the net.

Looking forward to the Bruins Flames game tomorrow night.

Freshly squash

Crushing victory for Flyers last night. They probably deserved a break after the rough start to the season.

BrianCalgary

Enjoyable evening last night. 3-2 victory for the Flames, 5 in a row. makes me feel guilty for thinking they were garbage after just 4 games.

Rented Mule

My Blackhawks are off until Sunday when they will face the Flames in the United Center.

Should make for a great night in the UC as the Hawks are currently leading the NHL in attendance at the moment.

What a difference a year makes.

BrianCalgary

We have fallen on hard times the last couple of games. Should be a good one on Sunday.

We've got Nashville tomorrow night. I should see most of the game as my boys soccer team is selling teh 50/50 tickest at the 'dome.

BrianCalgary

Wild one at the 'dome last night.

5-0 lead and hang on to win 7-6. At least got the win.

Rented Mule

BrianCalgary wrote: »

Wild one at the 'dome last night.

5-0 lead and hang on to win 7-6. At least got the win.

I preffered last night in the United Center.

6-1 Blackhawks.

Toews FINALLY puts one past the netminder. Ther kid has been fighting hard all season and finally gets a 'friendly bounce' past Kipper. Hopefully the folld gates will open for him now.

Kipper was stellar at times, and did not deserve that sort of beaating. He looked a hell of a lot better than Huet last night.

Hopefully the Hawks can keep this momentum going at home, because the circus is coming to town and they'll be on the road for the better part of three weeks.

BrianCalgary

The Calgary - Chicago game was on pay-per-view and I'm cheap so I didn't see it.

Nice win over the Leafs last night.

Freshly squash

That Red Wings-Pens game from two nights ago was the best game of the season so far. They should just show it to people who know nothing about the sport. That would have converted anyone.

Rented Mule

Freshly squash wrote: »

That Red Wings-Pens game from two nights ago was the best game of the season so far. They should just show it to people who know nothing about the sport. That would have converted anyone.

As a Blackhawk fan, I laugh at anything 'bad' that happens to the Red Wings and this just made my season.

Did the Pens turn around and blow a three goal lead last night ?

Running Bing

BrianCalgary wrote: »

The Calgary - Chicago game was on pay-per-view and I'm cheap so I didn't see it.

Nice win over the Leafs last night.

How much do they charge for PPV games Brian?



Anyway Bruins looking class at the moment. Five in a row now and a class win over the Candiens on Thursday. Really want to beat the Rangers tonight though:D

BrianCalgary

Babybing wrote: »

How much do they charge for PPV games Brian?



Anyway Bruins looking class at the moment. Five in a row now and a class win over the Candiens on Thursday. Really want to beat the Rangers tonight though:D

On regular TV:
$13.95 per game. You can buy the whole 10 game package for $119.95

For HD:
$15.95 or $139.95 for the package.

Shanannigan

does anyone know what this article is about?
http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=393080

BrianCalgary

Shanannigan wrote: »

does anyone know what this article is about?
http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=393080

All Star Balloting. We the fans can vote for the players to start in the All-Star game.

Shanannigan

cool.. well by the sounds of those figures habs are on the all stars.. or maybe the fans of the other hockey teams want to take any chance they can to distract habs from their centennary stanley cup bid..

Rented Mule

Shanannigan wrote: »

cool.. well by the sounds of those figures habs are on the all stars.. or maybe the fans of the other hockey teams want to take any chance they can to distract habs from their centennary stanley cup bid..

This is really a joke.

Not your comments, but the fact that they are stuffing the ballot box.

Shanannigan

i just read up on the all star game on wiki-pedia.. cos yeah i'm still a bit of an NHL noob.. so i get the picture now.. if the habs manage to keep the way they're going now though they'll be the first team in NHL history to have 6 players start the all star game...

BrianCalgary

Shanannigan wrote: »

i just read up on the all star game on wiki-pedia.. cos yeah i'm still a bit of an NHL noob.. so i get the picture now.. if the habs manage to keep the way they're going now though they'll be the first team in NHL history to have 6 players start the all star game...

And to we purists the all=star starters are meaningless as they are there due to ballot box stuffing.

Great on teh Flames, beat Vancouver in both ends of teh home and home last week to come within 1 point of them atop the Northwest.

Rented Mule

Shanannigan wrote: »

i just read up on the all star game on wiki-pedia.. cos yeah i'm still a bit of an NHL noob.. so i get the picture now.. if the habs manage to keep the way they're going now though they'll be the first team in NHL history to have 6 players start the all star game...

If this keeps up, you'll see teams organising 'ballot stuffing campaigns' for their fans to take part in. Then you'll see the teams with the largest attendance monoplising the event.

This is not what it is meant to be.

Waitsian

Rented Mule wrote: »

If this keeps up, you'll see teams organising 'ballot stuffing campaigns' for their fans to take part in. Then you'll see the teams with the largest attendance monoplising the event.

This is not what it is meant to be.

All those all-star games are a joke and should not be taken seriously. If the teams were only picked by fellow players and or coaches or even journalists/commentators then I'd value the selections. But as they are now, forget about it. I don't take any interest in them. :rolleyes:

For the World Series venues to be decided by the All-Star game result is nothing short of a farce. :mad:

Rented Mule

WOW ......the Oilers took a beating at the hands of my Blackhawks last night.

9-2 in Edmonton.

Tha's the first time that they have given up nine goals since losing to Los Angeles back in the Gretzky era.

BrianCalgary

No complaints about the Oil getting wholloped.

I thought the Flames were going to blow another late lead last night, but got the win in OT on a goal by Bertuzzi even.

Looking good!!!!

Rented Mule

Flames v Hawks tonight in the Saddledome.

Rented Mule

My Blackhawks just swept through Western Canada going 3-0 against Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

Waitsian

Leafs win again tonite and have scored 18 goals in their last 3 games, and I think won 5 of their last 6. I'm not sure this team has what it takes to make the last 8, but Im enjoying watching them. Pogge played tonite and looks good. I'm afraid I have to say Cujo has, to date, looked like he should retire. It's kinda sad to see him get beat so easily.

BrianCalgary

Rented Mule wrote: »

My Blackhawks just swept through Western Canada going 3-0 against Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

We still got a point out of them.

BrianCalgary

mod9maple wrote: »

Leafs win again tonite and have scored 18 goals in their last 3 games, and I think won 5 of their last 6. I'm not sure this team has what it takes to make the last 8, but Im enjoying watching them. Pogge played tonite and looks good. I'm afraid I have to say Cujo has, to date, looked like he should retire. It's kinda sad to see him get beat so easily.

And a cry can be heard throught the NHL and minor arenas throughout the land: BREAK UP THE LEAFS!!!!!

Rented Mule

BrianCalgary wrote: »

We still got a point out of them.

We still got two :P

BrianCalgary

Rented Mule wrote: »

We still got two :P

Thanks for the chuckle.

Rented Mule

mod9maple wrote: »

Leafs win again tonite and have scored 18 goals in their last 3 games, and I think won 5 of their last 6. I'm not sure this team has what it takes to make the last 8, but Im enjoying watching them. Pogge played tonite and looks good. I'm afraid I have to say Cujo has, to date, looked like he should retire. It's kinda sad to see him get beat so easily.

Wow ....they just gave up eight goals to a hapless Dallas team.

Rented Mule

NEW YORK -- Chicago Blackhawks forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews own comfortable leads in voting for the NHL all-star game while races for the other Western Conference starting spots remain open.

Rented Mule

Can you say 'Eight in a row' ???

My Blackhawks beat the Flyers last night for their eighth win in a row in front of a record crowd (22,712 ) at the United Center.

The Hawks are five points behind Detroit in the Central Divison (with two games in hand) and a home and home series against Detroit this week. The balance of power in the Central Division could change hands this week with a strong performance from the Blackhawks.

Everyone tune in on New Years Day to see the Blackhawks play the Red Wings outdoors at Wrigley Field in the Winter Classic.

Shanannigan

i was lookin at that alright.. that outdoor ice looks impressive.. i can imagine the atmosphere will be good.. and i'm sure the hawks will raise their game accordingly.. they're on a good run at the moment

Rented Mule

Shanannigan wrote: »

i was lookin at that alright.. that outdoor ice looks impressive.. i can imagine the atmosphere will be good.. and i'm sure the hawks will raise their game accordingly.. they're on a good run at the moment

Nine in a row !!

The Hawks kick off a home and home series against Detroit in the Joe tis evening, as they go for #10.

The Hawks have not beaten Detroit this season.