tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5849592584866258078.post6235012775372169187..comments2024-03-23T08:51:00.197-04:00Comments on Nobody Wins on the Blue: The NHL is back! stop crying. JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734790775785469438noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5849592584866258078.post-50969659850978705072013-01-08T11:21:07.560-05:002013-01-08T11:21:07.560-05:00I know you welcome opposing views, but I can't...I know you welcome opposing views, but I can't offer one because I agree with you. <br /><br />I think the poll that your friend cited is probably a snapshot of how people felt immediately after the CBA framework was agreed upon. I think people’s opinions about this are changing day to day and even hour by hour. As the hockey world begins to focus less on the fucking nightmare that was the CBA and more on the players, training camps, upcoming games, roster moves, etc. people are going to forget that they were so pissed and come back to the game. <br /><br />I’ve been listening to Canadian sports radio (TSN 1050 To, TSN 690 Mtl, Fan 590 To, etc) non-stop for the past few days and I’ve noticed a softening of people’s opinions (callers and commentators) about NHL hockey as they focus less on Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman and more on whether Roberto Luongo is going to be traded to the Leafs or the Panthers. <br /><br />As for the legitimacy of the 2012-13 yet-to-be-determined cup winners, I think the asterisk in the record book is important because it will not be a full season. Plain and simple. However, I think winning the cup this year will be a significant but different type of challenge and whoever wins it can hold the cup just as high as their predecessors. <br /><br />Here are two (opposing) points on this:<br /><br />First, I'm a fan of the New York Rangers. As many of you know the Rangers blocked a shit-ton of shots last season and play a grinding, physical brand of hockey. Although they held on to the top spot in the Eastern Conference at the end of the regular season, I think that style of play and all its accumulated bumps and bruises took its toll on the Rangers. If the playoffs had started after 48 games last year I don't think the Devils had a chance in the ECF... and fuck Ottawa… we would have mopped the floor with Ottawa.<br /><br />Point 2. This season is a different (but no less difficult) type of challenge for all 30 teams. This shortened season is going to be a test of coaching and team leadership. The coaches and captains of teams who really ready to make a run at the cup are going to have to make sure that their young players step on the ice for game one ready to go. Rookie mistakes cannot be tolerated for long. Also, veteran players often pace themselves throughout a 84 game season to conserve energy for the playoffs. Coaches will have to ensure that they hit the ground running. In short, extended slumps are unacceptable. <br /><br />For this reason I think we will see that teams who have a lot of continuity from last year to this year (same coaching staff, same core of players, same system) will have an advantage. In other words, teams like Montreal are fucked and teams like Bruins, Rangers, Pitt should fare better. With virtually no preseason and little time for practices between games, this is a tough year for a new coach to step in and teach his team a new system or for teams to build chemistry.<br /><br />Final point, you wrote “The Devils won the Cup that year and I have NEVER heard one single person, website, or media outlet put and asterisk next to that team or season.” You must not have asked me about this! The Devils suck and any cup they’ve won was a fluke of nature! Just kidding. Can’t believe I’m actually writing this, but that Devils team was very solid and they were a sniff away from winning the cup in 1994 too. Thank you 8 pound 6 ounce little baby Jesus for Mark Messier and that fucking Matteau goal!! Oh and fuck that uncle-daddy Brodeur too. I’m out!<br />WMNnoreply@blogger.com