NHL Season 2011-2012

[Purge]

Since some GT'ers here like to occassionally lump all Canuck fans in with the asshatish punks that caused last June's riot, I thought I post an example of a true Canuck's fan    If you watch it through to the end, you'll get an idea of why local boy Dan Hamhuis has become so endeared with the fans here. It's an NHL.COM video, so I'm afraid you'll have to 1st watch an ad.

Cute kid. Bet he was a conspiracy plant, though. They then sold off the signed jersey to pay the Red Wings MORE money (to overcome the crippling salary cap, of course).

Too bad my Jets only play well at home.

[El-Producto]

The Leafs implosion is absolutely epic.

It is downright comical living in Leaf Nation and watching this.
When you build a team around Phil Kessel, and have Dion Phaneuf as your captain.. you've got problems.

[Clanwolfer]

I absolutely can't believe the Caps have managed to stay in this thing - maybe the Leafs downward spiral served as a warning for them to get it together (plus it freed up that 8th playoff spot as a gift). Of course, teams keep pressing from behind, too - Winnipeg, Florida, and Washington could all legitimately take the 3 seed, and the losers are competing for that 8th seed with Buffalo and maybe even Tampa. I keep expecting Florida to implode (-25 goal diff and leading the division!) but they're just hanging on and winning when they need to win.

[Devil]

Officials are ruining the NJ/Phi game.

Missed calls followed by awful make-up calls.

Hope a PP doesn't decide the game.

[Devil]

Nevermind.

Devils get to crawl back in their hole, only to be seen if they manage to win 3 rounds in the playoffs.

Now back to your regularly scheduled Penguins. 

[Blackjack]

I can't believe my Caps keep doing this to me. I gave up at 4-1, and then they went beserk. I missed everything.   Probably the third or fourth time in the last couple weeks they've played like crap for 2 periods or 50+ minutes and then gone crazy to win it.

Actually we're so used to regular season ease and 1st and 2nd round playoff swoons, that I'm really hoping this often agonizing, frustrating regular season that cost Boudreau his job and saw veteran players regularly benched by Coach Dale Hunter for double-digit numbers of games, and fans questioning everything and everyone, might lead to battle-hardened squad that won't break us fans' hearts in the playoffs. Assuming they get there.  

[Koz]

Bruins are hilariously bad right now. They would have to have a total meltdown to miss the playoffs, but it's looking more like a 7 or 8 seed at this point.

[Isgrimnur]

Changes being considered

OK, it needs a better name. But "for lack of a better term," as NHL exec Colin Campbell put it Tuesday, the ringette line intrigues the general managers enough that they want to try it in the American Hockey League next season.

The line comes from the game of ringette. It would run across the tops of the face-off circles. When coming out of the defensive zone, teams would have to advance the puck to the line before they could pass it to the far blue line.

It's a compromise between leaving the game as it is and re-instituting the red line to outlaw two-line passes. In theory, it would still allow for a stretch pass, but it would keep teams from firing the puck from deep in their end to the far blue line and simply tipping it to avoid icing.
...
Hybrid icing

This is a compromise between touch icing and no-touch icing intended to reduce accidents at the end boards. Instead of seeing who touches the puck first, the officials would see who wins the race to the face-off dots. If the defensive player wins or there is a tie, icing. If the offensive player wins, the play remains live.
...
The GMs now need to refine the language for the NHL. (For instance: How do you determine the winner of the race? By who's stick is first? Wouldn't Zdeno Chara win every one?)
...
No more "attainable passes."

This would make icing more uniform. Currently, officials can wave off icing if they feel a team made an "attainable pass." But standards vary from official to official. Starting next season, players would be required to touch the puck to negate icing.

[Devil]

No touch icing and remove the trapezoid.

That's it.

[pr0ner]

Hey Leo:

MATT STAJAN. 

 

[Kagath]

Uh oh. Looks like the Blues may be getting the President's Trophy this year.

How's that curse gonna work out for ya Theo?

[gellar]

VRWC.

[pr0ner]

VRWC.

I see Jeff Carter's still healthy and not concussed, too.

[Arkon]

No touch icing and remove the trapezoid.

That's it.

Fully agreed...otherwise, quit fucking with the game.

[pr0ner]

I wonder how Theo feels about Alexander Radulov being allowed to join the Predators for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs without having to pass through waivers if he wants to come back.

[Purge]

The GMs now need to refine the language for the NHL. (For instance: How do you determine the winner of the race? By who's stick is first? Wouldn't Zdeno Chara win every one?)

You think that's a stick Chara's holding??!

[theohall]

I wonder how Theo feels about Alexander Radulov being allowed to join the Predators for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs without having to pass through waivers if he wants to come back.

He was already under contract and the Predators still had his rights.  It's not like signing a FA after the deadline.  Perfectly legal.

To me, it's no different than teams getting college kids to join their teams when the college season ends.  They weren't under contract before the trade deadline, but are eligible to play through the playoffs still.

[pr0ner]

No vast anti-Blues conspiracy?  Such a shame.

[Kagath]

Now I haven't looked back through the thread (yeah I did) but what was that being said about the Wings not having difficulties while missing Dats and Lidstrom again?

Spoiler for Hiden:

VRWC 

[ScubaV]

With all our injuries and general suckitude, the VRWC really needs to step up its game.  Maybe send some goons to go after Blues players Nancy Kerrigan style? 

[Isgrimnur]

I'm glad I didn't watch the first two periods of the NJ - COL game. 

[Devil]

I'm glad I didn't watch the first two periods of the NJ - COL game. 

Whole lot of nothing.

[Isgrimnur]

I've been watching the third.  15+ more minutes of nothing.

[Devil]

HATE THE SHOOTOUT!!!

Great game for the Avs. They hung on and Giggy saved them when they, predictably, looked beat in the third period. I think this was their 5th OT game in a row?

I think Giggy cried at the end of this one too!

[Isgrimnur]

Your guys were wicked on the shootout.

[pr0ner]

Devil, the Devils were supposed to beat the Avs in regulation, not the shootout!

[Devil]

Sorry! Avs played well, Devs couldn't score. These things happen!

I think we play them again in 2017, so I'll see what I can do for you then. 

[pr0ner]

Ha.  I don't think it will help the 2012 Flames in 2017!

[kronovan]

I'm still standing by my prediction that the Sharks and Kings make it in, Avs and Coyotes don't.

Oh...and if the Canucks start Luongo in net tonight, they'll probably find a way to lose to the bottom dwelling Blue Jackets.  

[Devil]

At least we avoided the 'round the clock coverage about Sid's reaction to his first loss since coming back.

Dodged a bullet there.

[Kagath]

So, any bets on when someone will try to put him out again?

[soulbringer]

12:30 eastern 3/18/12  after all it is the flyers

[Kagath]

12:30 eastern 3/18/12  after all it is the flyers

Maybe I'll have to watch that one.

[Devil]

Not the start I was looking for 

[theohall]

Not the start I was looking for 

Which part - the three fights at once or the goal against?

[Devil]

Not the start I was looking for  

Which part - the three fights at once or the goal against?

Both. The 3 fights were dumb and probably led to the goal.

Gonna be fun to watch the Rangers get bounced in the first round. No idea why they are where they are.

[Devil]

Kozzy -

Who is more terrified of the Bruins: Vancouver or Toronto?

Just outright, piss their pants, fear?

[El-Producto]

Kozzy -

Who is more terrified of the Bruins: Vancouver or Toronto?

Just outright, piss their pants, fear?

I'd say Toronto, since they just lost 8-0 to Boston.

I don't think Vancouver is afraid of Boston at all this year.  They have some toughness now, and Thomas' flopping around isn't working for him this year.

My god, the Canucks look absolutely asleep tonight, although Schneids is playing well.

[kronovan]

My god, the Canucks look absolutely asleep tonight, although Schneids is playing well.

Yeah the whole team actually played decently in that game with 2 exceptions - the Sedins. My god they stunk in that game and there play along the boards in particular was entirely laughable. The Wild's Harding was the diffence maker; a really great game for him and fully deserved the shutout.

[Koz]

Good god the Leafs are bad. On one of the Boston goals the Leafs made a line change while Boston had the puck in the neutral zone. Hey look, a 4-on-2! After the second period the Bruins had as many goals (7) as the Leafs had shots on goal.

Also nice to see another Lucic beating of Komisarek.