NHL 2013 season

[renard_ruse]

So, the're back, if anyone cares. Season to start January 19.

Will the fans be back? How will TV ratings be affected?

Who will win the Cup?

Do you care?

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

HOCKEY SUCKS!!

 

[renard_ruse]

HOCKEY SUCKS!!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

Thanks for sharing.

haha you're learning i see.

 

[Lancecastor]

"hate gary bettman"


About 341,000 results

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

"hate gary bettman"


About 341,000 results

...lol

 

[doctor_insanus]

"hate gary bettman"


About 341,000 results

Surprisingly low number. There must be a lot of hockey fans experiencing Stockholm Syndrome by now.

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

Hockey ruins ESPN HIGHLIGHTS!

 

[renard_ruse]

The NHL still hasn't released the 2013 schedule. It was supposed to be released earlier today.

What a mickey mouse league.

 

[renard_ruse]

The league is again showing its complete lack of consideration for its fans by not even clarifying when the season will start. Its not even been confirmed it will start on 1/19 for sure.

If they are having trouble putting the schedule together they should come out and say that. Saying nothing shows again their lack of respect for the public.

 

[GiaCat]

How can they name a Stanley Cup champ for half a season? That is just cheap.

 

[coastal-boy]

How can they name a Stanley Cup champ for half a season? That is just cheap.

You haven't heard? It isn't called the Lord Stanley Cup anymore...it is called the Gary Bettman Bull Shit Cup

 

[renard_ruse]

Almost a quarter of the way into the season, the Kings suck.

The Canadiens are beginning their usual collapse earlier than normal.

Worst of all, the Mighty Ducks are having a great season.

Too bad they didn't just cancel the whole damn thing.

 

[ms_ann_thrope]

I guess you missed the Blackhawks/Coyotes payback drama. Hockey is such a barbaric sport.

 

[Ramone45]

From what little I've seen, the quality of play has been dreadful. Slow, boring. At least after the last strike, they changed the rules for a few months to favor the skill players before they reverted to the old clutching and grabbing. The officiating has been awful, as usual. Lots of gratuitous fighting. I'm angry at the league for their avarice. They've lost me, and lots of others, as a fan.

 

[TheOcho]

From what little I've seen, the quality of play has been dreadful. Slow, boring. At least after the last strike, they changed the rules for a few months to favor the skill players before they reverted to the old clutching and grabbing. The officiating has been awful, as usual. Lots of gratuitous fighting. I'm angry at the league for their avarice. They've lost me, and lots of others, as a fan.

I get that with no pre-season it's taken the officials a couple of weeks to be better - better in this case would be "not as shitty as they are now, only slightly shitty" - but could the NHL not have sent these officials to work AHL games during the lockout to keep them somewhat sharp?

As for the quality of play... meh, it wasn't like it was firewagon hockey the last couple of seasons anyway...

 

[Ramone45]

I'm not buying the excuses. The players and officials owed it to the customers to anticipate that the lockout would end and they would be faced with a fraudulent short "season". The customers deserve top-notch performance from the get-go without any excuses. There are plenty of opportunities for players and officials to maintain their skills. If they are going to foist a 48 game season on us, I expect every game to be like game 7. Fuck them. I'm hearing excuses such as the players haven't developed endurance yet. What the fuck have they been doing? They are professional athletes.
Honestly, in the end, in its current form, the NHL is simply a poor product.

 

[renard_ruse]

Playoff predictions?

Pens vs. Hawks final?

I'm going out on a limb here and going to say Kings vs. Leafs for the Cup. I know its very unlikely, but what the heck.

 

[NightPlay]

Final

I am going Pit and Chi. Maybe Wash? They have been doing pretty well.

 

[gardenia19]

Fucking Wild.

 

[tactful]

Ice fighting with sticks.

 

[Bobarino74]

I am going Pit and Chi. Maybe Wash? They have been doing pretty well.

Lets go Blackhawks !!!!!!!!

 

[renard_ruse]

I predict the Kings will blow the series against the Sharks.

They are giving up way too many shots on goal (40 last night). Even Quickie can't stop that many.

 

[ChinaBandit]

The Rangers are screwed now. That sucks!

 

[renard_ruse]

Kings did alright this year when you consider its rare that a defending champion even makes it back to the Conference finals. At least they went down fighting, unlike the Penguins.