Kevin's Watch

... but will it be better?

My two cents on the whole thing:
-The introduction of the shoot-out really sucks! This is an idea made to try to appeal to the casual fan, not the 'real fans'. Gads, I gag just thinking out it. (i could argue this point a very long time, but I won't rant now...)

-salary cap? Hmmm interesting. Inevitable I guess, but really, this whole thing is the fault of Gary Bettman, and his "grow to grow" mentality. Too many non-hockey cities were given franchises without any hope of maintaining a viable fan base. A salary cap is fine, as long as it accuratly grows with the revenue brought in. But who is to going to check the reliable figures on that one!

-no centre line for offside calls. Fine, but people are mistaken if they think it will create more offence. In my opinion, it will do the opposite!

-brough back touch-up off side. yah, this is good. keeps flow of game going.

-smaller goalie equipment. good idea. At the very least, hopefully they will finally be able to standardize the equipment like they started two years ago. Having been a goalie myself, as long as you have GOOD equipment, there should be little danger to greater injury risk. Remember that guy from the Mighty Ducks?... Gads, his equipment was sick...

OK, that's my 30 second spew of the new hockey season.
GOLEAFSGO!

It's going to be real hard for me to latch back on--I only followed the Av's because Partick Roi was such a kick-ass goalie, and the Phoenix Coyotes pretty much suck--someone's going to convince me to back a new team soon or I'll forget about the sport. And no dAN it can't be the champion Tampa Bay Lightning, cause then I'd be a bandwagon jumper, and we simply can't have that

Yah, I see your point. I guess I kinda have a different view of hockey; not sure if it is because of the Canadian-thing, or the Toronto-thing. Toronto has always been a hockey town. Even in the dismal 70s, when Harold Ballard put together an entertaining, yet, not entirely talented squad of players. Year after year the Leafs would miss the playoffs or be out in the first round and still the Gardens sold out EVERY SINGLE DAY ... and still does! It almost doesn't matter who gets on the ice for our team, Torontonians will still pay the outrageous prices to fill seats. Oh, we will grumble and complain loudly about prices and how much our team sucks (if that's the case), but it won't stop us from filling an arena or watching on TV.
Gads, we're a sick bunch of people. Is it the same in the southern US with football or in the U.K or Scotland with soccer/football?...

Nothing, and I mean nothing is like Scottish soccer fans. Them boys is scary.

yah, I've seen some of your postings on the 'soccer' thread...

They brought flares into the SkyDome. A guy two rows behind me had an accordion! They were chasing down their Guinnesses with vodka and Diet Coke!

my Sabres dumped their best offensive player in Miroslav Satan. great, even less offense now.

I am glad it's back, but maybe for a different reason. The local team here in Peoria, Illnois, the Peoria Rivermen is going to be a class A affiliate of the St. Louis Blues this season, one step up from the NHL. If they are like the Cubs, who own the minor league baseball team here, they will use that a springboard for players who get hurt and are coming back. SO we should get some really good hockey this year for a fraction of the cost of going to an NHL game.

good point. As much as I missed the NHL, I did get to see some great minor league hockey! St. Mikes here in TO were definately worth watching and at a fraction of the cost.
On a similar note, the Leafs have said they will be slaching ticket prices across the board by 5%, so instead of $857 for a cheap seat, it will only be $814.

Cail wrote:Nothing, and I mean nothing is like Scottish soccer fans. Them boys is scary.

I know what you mean, but I wouldn't extend the fiery sporting and religious confrontation you'd find at a Celtic vs. Rangers/Hearts vs. Hibs game to a rainy Saturday afternoon watching Strathclyde and Hamilton Academicals trudge up and down a waterlogged pitch!

I'm so glad its back, and the Flyers picked up forsberg, hatcher and rathje. big improvements. I won't miss the red line for 2 line pass, it was a stupid rule, made no sense. need it for icing tho. not a big fan of the shootout either, i never had problems w/ties, just the teams that played for ties b/c they sucked. what's the touch up off side change? now next spring won't be such a boring sports season, since the nba sux.

It will be nice to catch a few Stars games on Satellite.

ACK! It's true--calibaby (duchy's hub) told me Forsberg moved to the Flyers...(but I didn't want to believe it) damm...the only other reason why I liked the Avs . I can't stand the Flyers...never could, maybe it was Bobby Clarke and that stupid "Broard Street Bruisers" mentallity. Growing up near Trenton we did not get along with the people across the river.

35 MORE DAYS!!!!

OK, exhibition hockey is here!!!! I saw The Leafs play Ottawa. Although we lost, it was exciting! I'm so hooked! (b@stards!)

Tonight every single team in the NHL plays!!!! This hasn't been seen in over 80 years!!!
I'm so pumped!
Go LEafs! Go!!!

ok, gotta calm down...

Didn't watch any games, but it looks like scoring went up a little. I noticed one game went into overtime. I don't think goals scored in shootout count towards season totals, but they do against goalie in his GAA?

good question. dunno. I would not think so.
My Leafs lost in a .... gag ... shoot-out
you want a shoot out?! I'll give you a shoot out!!...

We don't see much hockey over here, but I love it when I get the chance. Fast, flowing, offensive, entertaining and above all violent The guys playing it know the score so everyone else should be ok with it.