The Energon Pub

[First-Aid]

After searching though the forums, I suddenly realized that there was no NHL Hockey thread! So it's time to drop the puck, hit the attacking zone, and go D to D and set up the shot for the 2009-2010 season. Though we are about a month into the season, we can still get some good discussion in.

I will admit I am a Blackhawks fan. I also work for the organization, assisting the trainer in the Hawks' AHL franchise in Rockford. Tonite I watched the Hawks-Habs game. In the first period was a very serious hit by Andrew Ladd on Matt D'Agostini. Though technically not an illegal hit, it was a hit that shouldn't have occurred. A check is NOT a hit aimed at the opponent's head and, whether or not Ladd intended it to, D'Agostini took it in his head. I think the refs made the correct call...the players need to realize that hitting above the shoulders or chest is going to bring a penalty and a stiff fine.

Beyond that, it's nice to see Huet finally looking like a number one goalie...I've been very nervous about him. The team is offensively very deep...the Hawks are scoring even without Toews, Seabrook, and Hossa who are all three hurt. But the goaltending made me nervous. Last season, Annti Niemi was down in Rockford and i got to see what he was capable of...he's damned good. DAMNED good. Huet should be looking over his shoulder if he start to fall apart. On top of that, the other goalie in Rockford- Corey Crawford- is nearly as good as Niemi is. The goalie future looks good for the Hawks...but we need to win this year. We are going to lose players in the offseason...and honestly right now, it looks like Toews could be a salary cap casualty. All in all, this looks like it could be a Stanley Cup year for the Hawks. Here's hoping!

Shouting out to all you Canadian Transfans...i KNOW you have opinions...let's hear what you got all!

[Blurrz]

I'm a die-hard, born and raised Oilers fan. Can't really complain about anything this season, they've exceeded expectations, (just like the Broncos), and are racking up alot of points. Only think I miss from last year is that fact that I'm no longer in the company of fellow Oilers fans in Edmonton, but rather the rowdy bunch of Vancouver Canucks fans here in Victoria.

[First-Aid]

Could be worse...you could be in Toronto...LOL

[Blurrz]

........

LOLOLOLOL

No, seriously. The Canadian media heavily favours the Maple Leafs. I remember in the beginning of September, everything was like "Maple Leafs are contenders" "Brian Burke has saved this team" "This is the best team in years"

and...

1 W, 7 L, 3 OTL - 5 Points, 30th in the league.

I know it's only been a month into the season, but that deserves a laugh.

[First-Aid]

Good point..LOL Since I work with the hockey team I obviously meet a ton of Canadians...great people all around.

Evgeni Malkin is out for three weeks. Think that's going to hurt the Pengs? The opposing D can focus on Crosby now...who is really hot BTW.

Have you had a chance to see that Ladd hit yet? I'm curious to hear your take on it...

[Blurrz]

Uhhhhhh holy ****. There's so much **** happening on the ice, I don't think D'Agostini knew what the hell happened. In a sense, yeah, that's kind of Dirty, however, I'm not sure if it's against the rules. Oilers had a player called Raffi Torres, he used to do that stuff all the time.

[First-Aid]

Name sounds familiar. But you're right...it wasn't an illegal hit as there was no elbow. It just happened to hit him higher than Ladd intended I think. This was definitely not a head hunting situation. My boys have a nice long break now for a while- which is good cuz we'll get some guys back from Chicago to play for us tonite...

[Dagon]

First-Aid, as a fellow Chicagoain, I also say "Go Blackhawks." I've always liked Huet but last season, with his relative lack of playoff success, I don't know. Really though, once they signed Huet as a free agent I just knew Khabi was on the outs here, and that sucked, but realistically, it's true Chicago sports team management.

I really stopped in to remind ol' Blurrz that my beloved Colorado Avalanche are currently 10-3-2, and number one in the West. You know I'm just razzing you, and I'm not trying to be a dick or anything, but you know, Oilers, Avalanche, we have a division rivalry going on here. And I fully understand that I must enjoy it now, before the inevitable Colorado collapse kicks in, as it always does.

[Editor]

quick story:

Saturday Night I went to my Parents place for dinner and stuck around to help my Mom give out candy while my Dad help take my niece and nephew out.

While doing that we had the Montreal/Toronto game on. About a minute before Toronto tied it up at the end of the third, a trick or treater came to the door. As she was leaving her dad asked it we were watching the game, and what the score was. I told him 4-3 for Montreal and he said thanks but seemed deflated. I asked if he was a Leafs fan, to which he said yes. I said "I'm sorry" he nodded and said thanks. Nothing like a Leafs fans broken under the weight of their suckitude to the point of walking away like a wounded dog. I tried a minute later to tell him that they had tied it up, but he was already a few houses away chasing after his kid.

Right that aside, I am a Canucks fan, and glad they are back above 500. The West is going to be a tough fight this season, it's gonna be a good one.

[Dagon]

Right that aside, I am a Canucks fan, and glad they are back above 500. The West is going to be a tough fight this season, it's gonna be a good one.

Oh god, you too? Now I'm going to get you AND Blurrz laughing at me when the Aves finally remember who they are and stop doing well. Now, let's just get a Red Wings fan in here to make it all complete....

[First-Aid]

Why do we want a Red Wings fan?

Weren't the Avs like 9-1 at one point? They haven't been the same since Roy retired...

[Editor]

Right that aside, I am a Canucks fan, and glad they are back above 500. The West is going to be a tough fight this season, it's gonna be a good one.

Oh god, you too? Now I'm going to get you AND Blurrz laughing at me when the Aves finally remember who they are and stop doing well. Now, let's just get a Red Wings fan in here to make it all complete....

I don't tend to laugh at Avs fans due to the number of players Colorado has had over the years that have been complete thorns to the 'nucks. And also a lot of the achievements of the Av's have been with the help of Joe Sakic, who did come from the Canucks backyard. Regardless of a lot of stuff that's been said, most Canucks fans respect Burnaby Joe, regardless of where he's played.

That said I do have a problem with the small number of Av's fans that harp about the team winning the cup in their first season while completely forgetting the fans in Quebec City that stood by the team for years and were totally shafted by the franchise.

[Dagon]

Right that aside, I am a Canucks fan, and glad they are back above 500. The West is going to be a tough fight this season, it's gonna be a good one.

Oh god, you too? Now I'm going to get you AND Blurrz laughing at me when the Aves finally remember who they are and stop doing well. Now, let's just get a Red Wings fan in here to make it all complete....

I don't tend to laugh at Avs fans due to the number of players Colorado has had over the years that have been complete thorns to the 'nucks. And also a lot of the achievements of the Av's have been with the help of Joe Sakic, who did come from the Canucks backyard. Regardless of a lot of stuff that's been said, most Canucks fans respect Burnaby Joe, regardless of where he's played.

That said I do have a problem with the small number of Av's fans that harp about the team winning the cup in their first season while completely forgetting the fans in Quebec City that stood by the team for years and were totally shafted by the franchise.

Hey man, I supported the Nords as well. It's a shame for Quebec the team moved just as they were poised for a championship run, but you know, thems' the breaks really. A shame yes, but the Aves just like every other team has their share of douchebag fans. I'm not one of them, or at least I try hard not to be.
As for the Aves/Canucks, the Aves used to just roll over Vancouver for the longest time, and then the shoes changed feet and now a Aves win over Vancouver is cause for a parade. I hate the Canucks (you know, in the fan way) for that, and Luongo especially. The Canucks are so good though, and thank goodness for competive games. Thank god we're not all Panthers or Thrashers fans, 'cause that division is a joke.

[Editor]

Hey I wasn't singling you out, just the bozos out there who jump on bandwagons built on the backs of other fans. Sure there aren't many Coyote fans right now taking advantage of old Winnipeg fans, but the losers do exist who forget some teams have histories beyond their city limits.

The Southeast Division is a joke, at least the Pacific (as the other new post expansion division) has shown a bit more life over the years.

Is it just me but does anyone else feel the league lost some of it's personality when they did the divisional realignments added the the Southeast/Pacific and dropped the historical names from the other divisions and conferences?

[Dagon]

The Southeast Division is a joke, at least the Pacific (as the other new post expansion division) has shown a bit more life over the years.

Is it just me but does anyone else feel the league lost some of it's personality when they did the divisional realignments added the the Southeast/Pacific and dropped the historical names from the other divisions and conferences?

Agreed. I hated it when they realigned and changed the division names. Just this weekend I was lamenting the loss of the Hartford Whalers to my girlfriend who had no idea what I was going on about. Realignment, moving teams, changing names, it all stinks. I don't mind expansion so much, although new teams do water down a league. For example, look at the Southeast. Florida (new team), Tampa (New team), Atlanta (new team) Washington, Carolina (relocated team). {All new team labels are relative). God its' the division SOMEONE has to win, but no one seems worthy of doing so. Ok, Florida was in the Cup Finals in 96, Tampa won it in 04, Ovechkin is the best player in the game (Up yours Crosby, you over rated fluff!), Carolina's been in the Finals a couple times. But to think that one of those teams perenially ends the season with 86 points and the third slot in the playoffs, while the 4th team has around 100 points? Shame. I thought the end of ties was supposed to cure this kind of thing.

[Editor]

It was, and it could have except for the creation of the new divisions and the removal of Division playoffs, for the Conference style instead.

By forcing the conference style and giving divisional leaders a lock on 1-3, it will continue to awards under performing teams that manage to be the best of the worst.

Look at 2 seasons ago in the East. Washington claimed the 3rd spot while tied with 7 and 8th place Ottawa and Boston for points. they ended up playing the 6th place Flyers who finished their season with more points than Washington. One less win and they would have tied Carolina in 9th spot, and Carolina would have gotten 3rd with 92 points on wins, despite the Devils being 4th with 99 points.

Drop 2 teams and run 4 divisions of 7 teams or expand (GASP) another time to set up 8 divisions and reestablish the divisional playoffs to give a proper merit based system rather than giving home ice advantage to teams 2-10 points below the "lower" team they face.

[Dagon]

Drop 2 teams and run 4 divisions of 7 teams or expand (GASP) another time to set up 8 divisions and reestablish the divisional playoffs to give a proper merit based system rather than giving home ice advantage to teams 2-10 points below the "lower" team they face.

Ok, first off, to go back up a post or two, I know you weren't singling me out with the bandwagon thing, and I didn't take it that way, so sorry if I gave the impression that I did. I understand what you mean about the new fans of moved teams thinking that they just miraculously grew a champion, and the ignoring of the previous years worth of work. You know, just so we're clear together on that. I have a jerk off pal that accuses me of being an Aves bandwagoner, and he knows nothing at all about hockey, and is in fact a bandwagoner for every team he likes in any sport, so, I know how annoying that gets.


As for your playoff idea, if there were four divisions per conference, the top two teams per division go and everyone else goes home. That's the ticket. Reorganize the top 8 teams then based on points amongst each other, and it just might work. It seems that the senario mentioned in your post with the Devils/Flyers/Canes etc. only happens in the Eastern conference. The 9th place team ends up with more points than the 3rd place team. In the West, it seems like there's a point or two difference between 8th and 9th place but by and large everything's good. Of course there are exceptions, but for the most part.

Alright, let me ask. Is there anyone else in the world that finds Sidney Crosby to be over rated? Or if nothing else, over hyped? Sure he's good but come on, Ovechkin and Malkin are so much better than him, and he makes me angry in that same way that the NFL commentators do when they proclaim the Chargers Super Bowl champs in waiting at the start of every NFL season. I don;t want to be thought of as some kind of kook, but I just don't think he's living up to his hype.

[Blurrz]

Dear god, a Canucks and an Avs fan here too? We just need some crazy Cow and a green hippy to complete the Northwest Divison family..

[Dagon]

Dear god, a Canucks and an Avs fan here too? We just need some crazy Cow and a green hippy to complete the Northwest Divison family..

Guess we know who runs this thread.....

[First-Aid]

I don't think Sid is overrated and i can tell you that the respect he gets in the locker room (not the Penguins, the locker room I work in- at the AHL level) is significant. However, I believe he may be overhyped. I believe you can be overhyped and not be overrated. Ovechkin is sick for sure, but I see him more as a solo player with a few guys skating the ice around him; he's too selfish to really be a good team player right now...not saying that can't change down the road. Crosby has the respect of his lockerroom, enough to take the C. I'd be interested to see would happen to Malkin without Crosby, but I think Crosby would do better without Malking than vice versa.

Dear god, a Canucks and an Avs fan here too? We just need some crazy Cow and a green hippy to complete the Northwest Divison family..

Guess we know who runs this thread.....

The more the merrier! Just don't want to see anyone in the penalty box... except the Red Wings fans (which we fortunately haven't seen yet...)

[Blurrz]

Shush, no talking. Watching the Oilers vs Islanders game now... Hopefully some free two points.

[Editor]

Shush, no talking. Watching the Oilers vs Islanders game now... Hopefully some free two points.

GO Isles!!!

To touch back a second Dagon, as much as a 4 division per conference would work it would mean we would see a league like:
Prince of Wales Conference

Adams / Northeast
1 Hamilton Steelheads
2 Montréal Canadiens
3 Ottawa Senators
4 Quebec Nordiques
5 Toronto Maple Leafs

Patrick / New England
1 Boston Bruins
2 Buffalo Sabres
3 New Jersey Devils
4 New York Islanders
5 New York Rangers

Pearson / Southeast
1 Atlanta Thrashers
2 Birmingham Barracudas
3 Florida Panthers
4 Nashville Predators
5 Tampa Bay Lightning

Selke / Atlantic
1 Carolina Hurricanes
2 Columbus Blue Jackets
3 Philadelphia Flyers
4 Pittsburgh Penguins
5 Washington Capitals

Campbell Conference

Smythe / Northwest
1 Calgary Flames
2 Edmonton Oilers
3 Portland Ice Dogs
4 Seattle Thunderbirds
5 Vancouver Canucks

Norris / Central
1 Chicago Blackhawks
2 Cleveland Barons
3 Detroit Red Wings
4 Kansas City Scouts
5 St. Louis Blues

Pearson / Pacific
1 Anaheim Ducks
2 California Golden Seals
3 Las Vegas Dealers
4 Los Angeles Kings
5 San Jose Sharks

Masterton / Midwest
1 Colorado Avalanche
2 Dallas Stars
3 Minnisota Wild
4 Phoenix Coyotes
5 Winnipeg Jets

Would it fix the playoffs? It should. Do we want to see a 40 team league? Probably not. Would 40 teams be good for the league? I doubt it.

[First-Aid]

Would it fix the playoffs? It should. Do we want to see a 40 team league? Probably not. Would 40 teams be good for the league? I doubt it.

I'd rather they went with four divisions and take the top two teams in each division. 28 teams would be ideal I think. I also want to see a team back in Winnipeg.

[Blurrz]

Stupid f-ing Oilers. Stupid f-ing Hockey. Stupid stupid stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dagon]

extensive division realignment

Hang on, where are you getting some of these teams from? And, of all the teams that have moved that you're resurrecting, like the Jets, why is there no mention of the Hartford Whalers?
Anyhow, I'm guessing some of the teams are AHL teams or ECHL teams or whatnot, but I understand what you're doing with the divisions and stuff, so I'm clear on that. As good an idea as this is, it is waaaay too many teams for any league, and that's probably where/why this would fail. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea and everything but 40 teams is too many, then we have to talk about lengthening the season, or you don't play every team every year, or whatever.
First Aid's idea is a good one too, top two from each division, except that then we get stuck with two Southeast teams, and no one wants that. Honestly I don't know if there is a real viable solution to the playoff situation, other than increasing the quality of certain teams. I don't think realignment solves anything, it just jumbles up groups and ultimately would give some other team a chance to whollop the Florida Panthers or the Islanders or the Leafs for a few years.