MulesWillFly93

Sweet! Then I'm all for it. It seemed to me like there ought to be lots of hockey fans in WA/OR, but I'd never met anyone from there, so I wasn't sure. Do you mean people drive down JUST for a game? Or is it more snowbirds who are already in the area for the winter (and there are definitely a lot of those)? If it's just for the game, those are some dedicated hockey fans! If it's the snowbird effect, I hope maybe they'll keep going to Kings games just because they're there, but you never know...give WA a hockey team, and maybe people won't be so hot to be Kings fans anymore. Hmm, interesting side effect, either way.

I was about to lose it a couple weeks ago, until the '90s and '00s Cup clinchers and the Wings/Yotes playoffs series came on the NHL Network recently. The playoffs games just make me want the new season to start even more, though, so we can put all that behind us. I mean, I know we won that series, but those 3 losses were of the "crushing to the soul" type. And then there was the Sharks series. I don't think I'll torture myself with that one. Maybe Game 4, but I don't know, it's kind of like watching a chicken run around with its head cut off...it's keeping moving for the time being, but it's still dead as a doornail in the end. Can you tell I'm depressed here? Even Game 4 can't cheer me up.

Just throwing things out here, but it seems to me like if the salary cap wasn't such a hindrance, more of the free agent talent out there wouldn't have such a problem getting signed, and then we wouldn't need more teams. That said, I think Winnipeg should definitely have a team, whether they get their Jets back from Phoenix or have to start another team. I'm on the fence about Seattle...it seems like a great environment for hockey, but I have no idea how many people there are actually hockey fans, and their population is kind of small. If they can do a study that shows they have a high proportion of hockey fans in the population, then heck yeah, go for it. Thrashers, anyone? I think Las Vegas is a big no way. It'll be just like the Coyotes problem. And unlike L.A., Anaheim, and Phoenix, where you have people driving from out of the area to go to games (like me), nobody is going to drive 5 hours to Vegas just to see a hockey game when the majority of people who go there already have a team that's way closer to them. Sure, I suppose they might show up to a game if they're already visiting the city, but that doesn't do much to build a loyal fanbase. I just don't see it. Plus, I could be totally wrong about this, but my impression is that Las Vegas doesn't get as many snowbirds as Phoenix does. So while you have a bunch of Northern hockey fans in Phoenix looking for a fix who might break down and go to Yotes games, I don't think the same would happen on such a widespread basis in Vegas.

Hehe, similarly, I'll be at both games in Anaheim and probably at least one in L.A. Gosh, I don't know what I'd do if I lived in Detroit...so many to choose from - the mind boggles! This is totally just me and not really suggestions, but here's a couple I'd pick: - Pens (it so wouldn't happen, but I can't resist the thought of a Howard/Crosby redux) - Avs (yeah, you can stick a fork in the rivalry, but I'm a rather nostalgic person...plus, you can still make fun of their jerseys, if nothing else) - Lightning (gotta see Stevie's new team...hell, I'm planning on seeing them in Anaheim, but watching them play the Wings would obviously be more meaningful) - Coyotes (if it was free...wouldn't waste money on them, but I did like hating on them this year and wouldn't mind doing it in person) - Blackhawks (for the O6 rivalry and for the gloating that half their Cup-winning team is gone) - Maple Leafs (ehehehe) - Ducks (goddang wouldn't that be sweet? Finally, a chance to turn the tables...except no Ducks fans would be there, so gloating wouldn't be half as fun for me as it is for that bunch of jokers at the Ponda who give all the Wings fans - aka half the arena - heck)

Ditto. I think it's rad that Mo's come back to Detroit (was a little miffed when he said "Detroit or retire" and then all of a sudden the Wild & Sharks popped into the picture, but since he did end up with us and kept his word, I'm over it and just happy about the whole thing...anyway), but I'm not made of money and am saving up for a Datsyuk jersey at the moment, and it'd be nice to have an Yzerman one also, so I need to get the basics covered before I even start thinking about anything else. I'd totally get a t-shirt, though. I don't know if I'll actually end up buying one, but that's do-able, anyway. No reason other people shouldn't get a jersey, though; he seems like a nice guy (a little dingy, perhaps, but he's playing for the Wings, not trying to get into Harvard), he's had a great career, and he's from Detroit. Sounds like a good deal to me, if you're looking for something beyond the usual suspects.

Article from NHL.com: Link: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=535719 Hmm, they don't say where they got this news from, though.

Agreed - if Zets (and everybody else) can just stay healthy, that's an awesome enough year for me! I think they'll all do just fine as long as they get a whole season's worth of ice time in. Help us, hockey gods, you're our only hope. (Well, maybe not our only hope...we do have some pretty rockin' 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines this year.)

Hey, it's off-season. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

I just want Homer and Modano on a line together so I can sing, "Chip and Daaale's Rescuue Raangers!" every time they come on the ice.

- Red Wings. Stanley Cup. 2011. - Caps lose in SCF to us - Kings win Pacific Division, make it to conference final (but lose to us, of course). (That's not really super-bold, is it? Especially the division part.) - Sharks squeak into playoffs as 8th seed - Devils finish last in the league - The Preds and Blues get into some kind of hillbilly throwdown after a night at the Nashville honkytonks and both teams are suspended for the rest of the season - The Oilers kick ass and take names...to a point. Don't want them threatening the Wings or anything; I just feel sorry for all those people up there who have jack all to do during winter, and then their hockey team, the one thing keeping them going, comes in dead last. That's depressing. - Everybody on the Wings stays healthy. - Steve Yzerman finds the fountain of youth and comes back to play for the Wings for another season. He can still do the GM thing; hockey games only take up one hour of the day, after all. Beat that for bold. Oh wait, I can - Gordie Howe jumps on the bandwagon and dons the skates, too. They both have record years. Gordie knocks out Pronger's front teeth. - And I'm stealing this one 'cause I like it: Doughty signs with the Wings in the off-season.

Ahaha, I fail at being a hockey fan. I was just about to say, "Hey, how 'bout 99? He could double the number!" but then I thought, "Oh. Right." Anybody got a wet noodle I could borrow? Anyway, I'm waiting until Thursday to get excited (Kovalchuk's got me gun shy), but if it's true, yay, Mikey! I thought I'd shrivel up and die before this week got here, but here we are, and it looks like (in all probability) that he's made the right decision. Am really looking forward to this season. Edit: Just thought of something: can't wait to see Mo score on Turco, muahaha.

Yeah, that's what I thought, too. At first I thought he was all about the money, but considering those KHL contracts he turned down, it seems like he's a lot about the money, but he's also about the Cup, too. I'd still like to see him with the Kings instead of the Devils...less money, but still realistic money, and much more Cup.

I'll watch it. I don't like that they're repeating teams already, and yes, I'd still be complaining if it was the Wings again instead of the Pens. It just makes the day seem a little less special because you know it's less about tradition, which I thought was sort of the point of an OUTDOOR hockey game, and more about having it be an all-star game type of situation. I know this is philosophical BS and that the NHL is just trying to make money, but the WC seems like the one day where they ought to throw a bone to the knowledgeable fans with a sense of history (since it is a throwback sort of game and all) and stop trying to wow us with the latest & greatest. Whatever...it's hockey, it's outdoors, it's fun...I'll watch. Plus I hate football. Habs/Leafs for 2012, dammit.

Not that I know what I'm talking about, but I think it's dumb that the Devils, and especially Kovy, could be fined. Sure, you let Hossa's go through, no prob, but now not only do you void Kovalchuk's contract for going a whole 2 years longer, you FINE them for pushing the envelope? I mean, I DO think they were trying to circumvent the cap, but voiding the contract was the proper action to take, and it didn't need to go further than that, especially when the NHL should have nipped this in the bud. Don't punish the crap out of the Devils and Kovalchuk just because the rules weren't clearly defined.

Hehe, I was all like, "Hey, what's Parros doing there?!" before I realized a couple more people had them, too. The one guy in the pink bathing suit is also looking rather...unique. Congrats, Hank! Aww, love the pictures - they're so cute together! And the rest of the Wings look so dashing, too! I'm talking about the pictures of the wedding, of course...the beach pictures are more on the, er, hysterical side.

Can I just thank all you Wings fans for not being complete retards for the most part? I've heard some of the dumbest s*** today out of the mouths (or fingers, I suppose) of whiny Kings fans who can't seem to comprehend anything regarding the cap, or what a GM does, or how much your average hockey player makes. I, too, am sad that Kovy didn't sign with the Kings, but I can at least understand WHY. And people ask me why I'm a bigger Wings fan than a fan of any of the California teams...

A-frigging-MEN!!! Living in California, I happen to like the Kings (obviously not as much as the Wings, of course), and MY GOD this has been killing me. I can't tell you how excited I was when it first sounded like he was going to sign with them, but now I'm just thinking JEEEEbus, just make a decision!!! I don't care what it is!! Close your eyes and point to a contract, if that's what it takes!! DO SOMETHING, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!! Phew, just had to get that out. I think I feel better now. Still frazzled and wishing he would sign (especially with the Kings), but better.

Okay, here's my best try: Yeah...they don't cite any sources from the Wings' camp, so I don't really know where they're getting this from (besides Eklund).

Yeah, I gotta say, I was one of the ones who was a little worried at first, but he definitely put in the effort and made a difference once he got going. And then there was that hat trick... Yeah, I'm pretty darn content with that. Heh, every time I see that post title I crack up... I don't know what getting flaffed is, but I'm not really sure I want to find out. Especially since Ryan is involved...dude can't even have a conversation about his stick and keep a straight face.

Oh s***, I was standing right in front of you the whole time! :facepalm: Didn't see the post about the Sawchuk shirt in time (rad shirt, by the way...oh, and I did get your message before I left - I just didn't read this thread!). Your son was so cute - I was just about ready to join him on the goalie pads when 6:00 finally rolled around, hehe. I got him in one of the pics I was taking afterwards, so I'll send message it to you. Here's me (looking retarded as usual...I am THE worst picture taker) and The Man Who Facewashed Crosby

Hey, how early are you guys going to get there? Do you think there'll be a ton of people? I always seem to underestimate the number of Wings fans in California, so I'm guessing I shouldn't just show up at 6 and expect to just stroll right in, right? So excited! I've never met any of the Wings.

Same here. I'd be bitter, but I don't want the Kings to have to sell the farm to get the greedy jerk, so I, too, am over it. Hmph. I was really hoping he'd sign with them...they're the only California team I like. I don't know what the heck he's thinking. If he were greedy, he would've taken the Thrashers' offer. To hold out like this for the money is borderline delusional, if you ask me; nobody has that much money. If that's not the case and what he really wants is to play for a competitive team, why the heck didn't he sign with the Kings? Seems like the perfect situation - he'll still get paid a buttload but with a team that'll be able to make playoffs runs. That ain't gonna happen with the Islanders, that's for sure. Third thought is he'll just go to the KHL and rake in some mega bucks and assure himself a spot in the Olympics. Frankly, that's making the most sense to me right now. The only other thing I can think of is that he realllly didn't like somebody in the Thrashers organization, so he didn't want to take their offer no matter what but is trying to squeeze the same amount (or more) out of another team because he can. Also, one thing I know he's not doing is sitting around wishing his favorite team would call him up and offer him $5 mil a year so he could accept and play for them just because he likes them so much...nobody's that cool, sorry.

Yeah, there's always that option. If they can get Kovalchuk, then I wouldn't mind at all if he f***ed off to the KHL...I'm not that attached to him, heh, and I'd LOVE to see Kovy on the Kings. Also, I didn't realize just how much he was asking for - $5-6 million? Dude, you're not Zetterberg, even when you try. Well, I hope he has a nice time in the KHL; I don't see the Kings or anybody else going for that.

Zactly. I just read a thing on the Kings' site that says they're not too enthusiastic about re-signing him if he's going to ask for a big raise, and apparently it looks like he's going to (even though he only had 19 goals last year). So if the Kings, who actually have some cap space to work with (according to what you guys have said, anyway), aren't going to re-sign him, how the heck would we? Besides, the article says he's another one to whom the KHL is calling (that got grammatically complicated, heh), so maybe he won't even be around next year. Bummer. I was hoping he'd at least re-sign with the Kings...I've gotten used to seeing his jersey hanging at the local ice rink. It's the one piece of memorabilia there that doesn't inspire loathing in me. Unlike, say, the Corey Perry cut-out.

Ahem. Yeah, yeah, I know it was only once, but come on, was that not the best thing ever? Also, I like Abdelkader for his fire, and I liked Miller's penalty box trash talking during the Coyotes series. I think Ericsson needs to step it up a little, but he has potential.