NHL 2012-2013: A hooligans game played by hooligans

From what I gather there's never been a chance of a second Toronto team; the Leafs ownership simply won't allow it.

I also heard that they were thinking of adding a wild card berth to help with the jammed up East. I like the proposed division the Capitals would be in, although it would be weird to have Columbus in there!

As a Wings fan, I would hate that proposed change; we'd be getting back the old Norris rivalry with the Leafs but would lose everything else, including Chicago and St. Louis.

I'm not a huge fan of the imbalance, but it's sort of unavoidable without having to choose one of Detroit and Columbus to stay in the West, which neither team wants to do.

Divisional playoffs will be fun, though.

Does Bettman still want to place a team in Las Vegas?

Moving a team from the east to Seattle would solve that in one move. So would folding two teams, but I guess that's not on the table yet.

In other news, Jonathan Drouin does hockey well:

Bryzgalov's new mask is awesome:

So, I'm looking in at the Caps game...

WTF are they doing superimposing banner ads on the glass behind the goal? At least the Hurricanes broadcast doesn't do that.

How are you watching it? I think that Canadian broadcasts do that....

I'm so used to them I don't even see them anymore. It's like the ones behind home plate during baseball games.

GameCenter Live.

I've never seen them do that.

From a link in the animated .gif thread:



Payback for Cam Neely?

The whole video is better:

Not strictly NHL-related, but today is the three-year anniversary of this:




(Skip to about 1:10)

Watching it still gives me chills.

Do not want!

You know, I love Canada, I really do, and I've spent considerable time there. But when it comes to international hockey, FUCK CANADA.

The fact that you can't beat us at the game we taught you is no reason to get all pouty. (And no Americans, the world juniors do not count, and yes I know all of the NHL Canadian juniors were allowed to play, still doesn't matter).

Dude, WTF? It still counts even when we lose. You sound like a Boston fan.

I was mostly joking, you can tell by the unnecessary condescending tone that I used while talking about a sport that is primarily about sportsmanship and teamwork.

I love how the guys who sound the most excited are the commentators from BBC and France. Awesome.

Of course Mike Ribeiro plays for the Caps now.

Yep, and he's been pretty damn awesome. He seems to be one of those players that you hate him when he's on someone else's team, but love him when he's on yours.

Realignment approved!

I worked a factory job once that had a rotating cast of young backpacker employees and retain fond memories of successfully trolling young Swedes about hockey. "Oh, no, we consider you a threat! I mean, not like the Russians or Czechs, but..."

Devils first 12: 8-1-3, 2nd overall
Devils second 12: 3-7-2, 7th overall

Ugly 2nd quarter for the Devils, just ugly. With this short season things can change so fast. Get well Marty! David, start scoring some goals again!

I see Washington has climbed out of the cellar, so there's hope yet Athryn.

Blackhawks going to lose their first regulation game.

Yeah, I don't think we're making the playoffs this year, unless some miraculous and lengthy turnaround happens. There's just way too much inconsistency going on, and I am nowhere near knowledgeable enough on how to fix it.

All I know is that yesterday's loss was so bad I almost cried*, I was so frustrated -- and the jerks at NBC just make it worse by gleefully twisting the knife. I swear, I am just not going to watch the games they cover.

*also just may have been hormonal mood swings!

You think you have it bad? I took Ovechkin as my first round pick in my FHL. I really thought Adam Oates could do for Ovie what he did for Kovie.

He is, but there are other factors that are stifling him still. One of those things is the team's terrible FO%, particularly in the o-zone.

Hrm, maybe watch less when there's less, uh, moody swing stuff.

This Devils slide and short season have combined to make me anxious during games. I was watching last night game only to see them blow a 2-0 lead. I was telling myself that 'even an OTL would be a positive' as I thought they were going to blow it. I was on edge most of the final 10 minutes of the game. Less on edge in OT, but glad they were able to snag the OTW.

So realignment has been approved for all and will be a reality next year. Inside of the announcement is this bit:

I have to wonder if there is any chance of bring back the old Adams, Patrick, Norris and Smyth divisions.

Still not a fan of how there are 16 in the east and 14 in the west.

Everyone seems to assume we'll see two expansion teams soon; one in Quebec and one probably in Seattle.

Quebec City doesn't really help with the region imbalance. Now, moving the Panthers to Seattle on the other hand would fix that right up.

Except it would then create divisional imbalance.

A team in Minneapolis would be just fine ;)

Seattle wants hockey really bad.

I'd love to have a Hockey team in Seattle. As much as I like rooting for the Canucks since I was a kid (even growing up down near San Francisco), having a team in Seattle would be a good thing for the city, and I think they would support one.

Now that I'm out here in Minnesota I just can't bring myself to root for the Wild. Why do expansion teams in any league always have to come up with the worst names and logo's possible?

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrgh! Two things are extra rage-worthy with the stupid Wild name and logo.

So the dumb thing is that the name was chosen with a stupid goddamn fan voting thing, and the one that the Wild beat out was the Voyageurs. That would've been awesome! Ties into MN history and culture, is unique, and roughly 10% as stupid as "the Wild."

The other super dumb thing is that the North Stars name and logo are fucking league-owned; they didn't go with FUCKING ASSHOLE WHO SHOULD BURN IN HELL FOREVER when he moved the team to Dallas. But they refuse to sell them to or let the Minnesota franchise have anything to do with them.

Fucking bullshit, all of it.

I'm still a Wild fan, of course. I can't help it :(