the NHL Thread

Keith1212

Well-Known Member
A black man just started the hockey thread oh shit.

I went to my first game late last year. It was a shoot out victory against the Penguins. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I went to another game last month. The tickets were gifted to me that time. I understand the bare basics of the sport but none of the little things and the NHL is still brand new to me. I consider myself a Rangers fan now.

What else is there to say?
 
Glad the Flyers put out the dumpster fire that was the start of their season. Riding a nice win streak into the break. Hope they continue to improve as the playoffs approach.

Still... Steve Mason. :(
 
Ron Hextall was a great goaltender early and they traded him for that concussion specialist. It's been all downhill from there. Remember when Roman Cechmanek would have a 1.02 GAA during the season and then have a 5 GAA in the playoffs? Fun.
 

DeadMan

aka spiker or DeadMong
Ron Hextall was a great goaltender early and they traded him for that concussion specialist. It's been all downhill from there. Remember when Roman Cechmanek would have a 1.02 GAA during the season and then have a 5 GAA in the playoffs? Fun.
Cechmanek, haha. I completely forgot about that guy. He was so good in the regular season and then so bad in the playoffs. It was like clockwork.
 

goblue96

Disney and Curling Expert
Hextall, Vanbiesbrouck, Cechmanek, Snow, Boucher, Esche, Niitymaki....all had their bright spots but always shit in the bed at some point in the playoffs leading to their replacement.
 

Rutgers Mike

Dr. Sad
Ron Hextall was a great goaltender early and they traded him for that concussion specialist. It's been all downhill from there. Remember when Roman Cechmanek would have a 1.02 GAA during the season and then have a 5 GAA in the playoffs? Fun.

Hextall had a very good rookie campaign, but then he never got better. Trading him in the Lindros deal was the right move, especially since they ended up getting Hextall back a few years later anyway.

I don't think finding a goalie is as easy as I'd like to think it is, as some of the guys who I thought were elite guys have shit the bed in the big spot too (Luongo for one.)
 

Packfan

Administrator
Administrator
BhVBDUICcAAGSIj.jpg
 

Renegade

Charge on!
So like I do every 4 years after I enjoy watching Olympic hockey, I'm going to try to give a shit about the NHL. What team should I choose? I'm thinking the Capitals because I went to a game when I lived in DC, and I dislike Tampa and Miami teams on principal, so the nearby Lightning and Panthers are out.
 

Simo77

Well-Known Member
Lightening is an good team. But if they're out on principal it sounds like you're down to 1 choice. You could always bandwagon I guess. Or just watch a few games until you find someone you like. Anyone form the Olympics you want to follow? Unfortunately unless your in a home market you're limited on who you can see. Unless you go to a sports bar a few times per week.
 
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osick87

Well-Known Member
Community Liaison
I had to look before I put him. He became in Season 2.

If you want a really good up and coming team, go with St. Louis.
 

osick87

Well-Known Member
Community Liaison
Google says Tallahassee is roughly 4 hrs away from Tampa so if you want to take a weekend to go to a game then I would pick an Eastern team. In the same division would allow you more chances to watch quite a few games against the Lightning.
 

Renegade

Charge on!
Google says Tallahassee is roughly 4 hrs away from Tampa so if you want to take a weekend to go to a couple games then I would pick an Eastern team. In the same division would allow you more chances to watch quite a few games against the Lightning.

Good idea. In the Atlantic Division, that gives me Boston (no fuckin' way), Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, or Toronto. I imagine being a Canadiens fan is difficult for someone who doesn't speak French. Are the Canadian teams on a different TV deal, or do you typically get their home games in the US too? Otherwise that kind of leaves Buffalo or Detroit.
 

osick87

Well-Known Member
Community Liaison
Coming from where you are, your best bet is just streaming a game online whenever you get an itch.

Boston is a big team that is very good at possessing the puck. If it's against principle, that's fine but they are the best team in the division and it's not even close.

Buffalo is rebuilding and I have no idea where they will go.

Detroit is always steady. Their core players are starting to age so I don't know how good they'll be in the next few years. However it is Detroit and they always find a way to be solid.

Montreal isn't bad. They've got good young pieces but their GM is sort of dumb when it comes to trading.

Ottawa is meh. Their owner is super cheap because his investment firm is losing money.

Toronto is sort of exciting to watch. They have top US talent in Kessel and JVR. Their biggest problem is their GM and Coach are stuck in the old school way of thinking.
 

osick87

Well-Known Member
Community Liaison
Meh I guess you could say that. I think the playoff drought slightly quelled the normal Toronto fan's homerism. Renegade is far enough away he doesn't have to deal with people who think Colton Orr is vital to the Leafs success.
 

Renegade

Charge on!
If there's good online streaming, then I'm still thinking Washington, or maybe Minnesota, since Orlando is one of their minor-league affiliates.

Is there a franchise that's known for original thinking/being progressive in how it approaches the game? Also, someone who's more attack oriented would probably be good too.
 

Chase

Well-Known Member
If there's good online streaming, then I'm still thinking Washington, or maybe Minnesota, since Orlando is one of their minor-league affiliates.

Is there a franchise that's known for original thinking/being progressive in how it approaches the game? Also, someone who's more attack oriented would probably be good too.

If you hate BearDown, become a Penguins fan and buy a $350 authentic Crosby jersey. Ray Shero (GM) is also really big into analytics.

If you want good offense, other than the Pens/Bruins, your best bet is heading out West and rooting for a team like Chicago, San Jose, Anaheim. The West is a lot better than the East. Personally, Colorado, San Jose or Vancouver would be nice teams to root for, especially if you ever wanted to go to a game..
 

Chase

Well-Known Member
Washington is a mess. Minnesota has Ryan Suter and Zach Parise (two American's who looked very average in Sochi) locked up until 2025. They're probably going to add Thomas Vanek in the offseason. They have a good farm system too but I can't see them winning a playoff series anytime soon.
 

osick87

Well-Known Member
Community Liaison
If there's good online streaming, then I'm still thinking Washington, or maybe Minnesota, since Orlando is one of their minor-league affiliates.

Is there a franchise that's known for original thinking/being progressive in how it approaches the game? Also, someone who's more attack oriented would probably be good too.


The big thing right now is Possession stats. Corsi is Shot attempts (which includes blocked shots and shots that miss the net) for - Shot attempts against and Fenwick (Corsi with shot blocks taken out). These stats represent posession nicely (Can't shoot if you don't have the puck).

The top teams in Fenwick For Percentage

Chicago, LA, St Louis, Boston, San Jose and Anaheim are always among the top in it.

Holy LA's shot percentage is horrible (4.9%). Look for that to progress towards the mean (7-10%)
 

Rutgers Mike

Dr. Sad
If there's good online streaming, then I'm still thinking Washington, or maybe Minnesota, since Orlando is one of their minor-league affiliates.

Is there a franchise that's known for original thinking/being progressive in how it approaches the game? Also, someone who's more attack oriented would probably be good too.

Islanders FTW

Also as far as streaming goes, they have GameCenter Live

Edit: I'm not an Islanders fan, but they could use one.
 
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Packfan

Administrator
Administrator
Feel bad that one team is going to lose because the conditions are bad. This is so cool, thank god for HD and love the overhead camera
 

osick87

Well-Known Member
Community Liaison
Nice to see the Flyers trading for another shitty D-man.

Canucks trade Luongo for a 4th liner, and a .898 save % goalie
 
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