The official 2007-08 NHL Season discussion thread.

Post by **Tasku** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 11:27 pm

Ah, thanks for clearing that out for me. Must've been a good show

Post by **getzlaf15** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 11:54 pm

It pains me to say it but London messed up big time, just before the start of the game, the lights went out and the teams had to go back to the dressing rooms for some 15 minutes, not a good start for such a prestiguous event, and doesnt bode well for us [England] hosting more of these.

Post by **batdad** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:07 am

Nah, Getzlaf that happens sometimes everywhere. Not a big deal. Issues happen, especially in:

1. New buildings
2. The old Boston Gah-den

Post by **B. Stinson** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:33 am

Eh... lights-out are no biggie.

The Flyers had a night where the goal horn was stuck... in the on position.

EDIT: And I believe this year's NFL season opener had an evacuation alarm go off... the entire stadium was evacuated... and it was all just an accident.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:18 am

Still... not a good 1st impression, hopefully we'll get more of these, i think its a real good idea from Bettman, the first hes had in ages, where the games in Tokyo popular, never thought japan as a real hockey nation???

2things that shock me here :

1stly:Evacuation at the Saints-Colts game, i watched that too, didnt notice anythin.
2ndly: The flyers goal horn was on[], shocking (sorry, had to be done)

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 2:39 am

The Wing's held a free to the public practice today. I don't know about other NHL teams, but the Wings' practices aren't open to the public. I got a good seat right 1st row behind the bench. A couple hundred people showed up. When Lidstrom came on the ice, everyone started cheering. Then he glanced up at the crowd and just sort of smiled, and then everyone went crazy. It just kinda sent chills down my spine that just a smile from Lidstrom could get that sort of a reaction out of people.

Anyways, it was pretty cool, a kid behind me got Hasek's stick. I got a couple of pucks from Draper. Lidstrom, Babcock, and Holland spoke to the crowd after words about the upcoming season.

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 10:27 am

Never got really noisy because most of the crowd didn't follow either the Ducks or Kings (like myself), I must have seen at least one jersey from every team in the NHL yesterday.

I even got on CBC's coverage, putting my hands over my ears during our national anthem

Apart from being embarrassed by the lights, the concession stands were a joke - I left my seat at the horn to end the second, and in near 15 minutes, they managed to serve two people, so I gave up

I guess you pay peanuts, you get monkeys...

I'm guessing Anaheim will be the 'home' team today, since everything yesterday was Kings? (from the announcer to the LED strip to the mascot)

Post by **getzlaf15** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 3:28 pm

Thats really good that you saw jerseys from every team, shows a wide fan base from us Brits

Concession stands are a joke, you pay like 3 quid (bout 5 dollars) just for a small drink

The Ducks are classed as "home" tonight, so we will have our home jerseys and our announcers, lets hope they can play like the home team and win!!!

Post by **Calv** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:26 pm

the concession stands were a joke, waited ages to get anything...

Also didn't help that there were delays on the Northern Line and the Victoria Line was closed on the underground

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:55 pm

Next year, it looks like it will be in Prague for 2 games. Teams : Pittsburgh vs Tampa Bay

Post by **Shadd666** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:59 pm

jacknife77 wrote:Next year, it looks like it will be in Prague for 2 games. Teams : Pittsburgh vs Tampa Bay

Interesting... but where did you find that info?

Post by **batdad** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:16 pm

They spoke about it on CBC during the game, and on Sportsnet after the game in the highlights package report.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 5:38 pm

The Boston Bruins have announced their rosters to open the season and Lucic has made the cut. Looks like he'll be sticking with the Bruins for at least 9 games.

http://bruins.nhl.com/team/app/?serv...ticleid=338795

Post by **batdad** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:00 pm

WOW! Congrats to Milan. I know I have been trumpeting how Boston stole him in the draft, but I figgered he would be at least 2 more years away from even getting a shot with Boston. Awesome news for him! rubbish for me and my kid...we love watching him in person

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:46 pm

I guess the organization really loves his attitude. He's more mature than most kids his age. They also like the personality he brings to the team with his style of play. He's the type of player they want the Bruins players to be. Overall, they just love him here already.

I kind of hope that they send him back to Vancouver after 9 games or whatever. I don't want to see him spend the whole season in Boston if they're only going to give him 5 minutes a game. He'll be much better served by getting lots of ice time with the Giants. Plus, the leadership experience he'll get as captain there can't hurt.

I think they're just keeping him up for a bit and giving him a shot so they can give him a taste of the NHL and make him hungry for more. Either way, the kid has worked his tail off and deserves the recognition.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:54 pm

Plus he is supposed to be the Giants captain. Geez.

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:05 am

For the Habs, Chipchura, Grabovsky and Carey Price made the team!
O'byrne, Halak and Lapierre are the final cuts.. but ill bet we will see Lapierre and O'Byrne back on the team later on in the season.

By the way shadd, I never put info on this site without having read it somewhere from a reliable source.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:43 pm

jacknife77 wrote:By the way shadd, I never put info on this site without having read it somewhere from a reliable source.

No worries

I was just wondering if there was an article to read something about this for more details.

Back on topic, i can't wait to see Price at the NHL level, even if it means that Huet will have less and less starts, and probably retire or leave the Habs in 1-2 years

Post by **batdad** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:59 am

Random thoughts about what I saw tonight---

Judging from Ottawa-Toronto and Pronger-Kopecky (Welcome to the NHL KID!!)

the people whining about how hitting will be gone if the NHL outlaws headshots because people will be too scared to hit should shut up now.

Hitting is a non issue. There is going to be alot of it, perhaps even more. Ottawa and Toronto just smoked each other all over the place all nite. Fast pace and huge hits! And Wade Redden is a scrapper? Wow. Volchenkov, Fisher, Vermette, Stajan, Neil, Tucker, Antropov, and even Heatley, Alfredsson, Sundin and Antropov were just smoking people. And then Steen hammers Neil. Awesome!

Fast hockey too..but what the heck was up with Spezza? His timing and play were just off tonite. He was horrible.

And nice contract Heatley. 2 goals..game tier late and OT winner. Great stuff...

But...who is going to be available on the UFA market this summer? It appears no one, save Markus Naslund

FromChaos · Post by **FromChaos** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:21 am

Great...Hopefully Spezza will step it up. Its only one game.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:11 pm

Oh yeah..that I Know. But he was getting rubbish from his coaches virtually every shift. If he was feeling good about himself before the game, he certainly was not by the time the second period started. Paddock is known for loving Spezza, from their days together in Binghampton...but last night the relationship looked as happy as Alain Vigneault--Mark Chouinard.

I don't think I have seen Spezza play that poorly ever. He will shake it off though..how can he not? Playing with Alfie and Heater...it should be simple to shake it off.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:49 am

Well... Lucic played in his first regular season NHL game last night and got into his first fight. He did okay for himself. He got some punches in, protected himself, and didn't go down. He bloodied up his knuckles pretty good punching the Stars player's helmet though.

Post by **batdad** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:31 am

Yeah and tonite he played all of 6 fricking minutes. If this keeps up for 7 more games..they better send his butt back to junior. Cause that rubbish ice time is not going to help him develop at fricking all. Come on Boston..wake up.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:46 pm

I tend to agree with you on this one. Unfortunately, it sounding more and more like they like what he brings to the team. He's playing smart (not making rookie mistakes) and playing physical. Lucic is one of those players I wish you could send to the AHL early. I don't think junior is going to help him too much right now but I'd like to see him get more ice time. The AHL would be so much better. Too bad he's a year too young for it.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:27 pm

Oh junior is going to help him buddy. He is going to beat the rubbish outta little kids and score goals like crazy. By the end of the season his head will be so darn big it might explode. Get his ass back to the Giants.

He is not going to get any effing better playing 5-6 minutes/game..and if Chiarelli and whoever your coach is this week don't know that..then they should have another coach. Jesus.