Seraph

I've decided the Rangers will be my eastern conference team next season. First, I go to school in NY state, so why not? Second, who doesn't love Shanny? Third, they've done some nice things this offseason.

Who likes the new way of scheduling?! I remember an interview with Gary Bettman and they asked him if he was going to do anything regarding the widespread disapproval of the schedule, and he said, "oh no, our sources say the fans are loving it..." What crap is that?! Who's liking it?! I bet he just pulled that right out of his grimy Garry Bettman ass.

He seems to always get sucked into them amidst a scrum. Does he ever just go after a guy?

That looks like some crap I would pull.

Maybe if we paid him with crates and crates of pudding. I hear that doesn't count against the cap.

BLAHDY BLAH... original six team... BLAH... Bettman is causing the world to implode... BLAH BLAH... news media... and poor coverage... BLAH BLAH... your post doesn't make any sense... BLAH!

That was exactly Gary B's most brilliant point.

I'm down with that, actually. The NHL needs to make the game itself accessible to kids. I think that's how you really get people interested in a sport. Basketball and football are everywhere because all you need is a ball and a few kids and you're set. Then you can go home and empathize with the struggles the professionals are going through. It's not like that with hockey. If it's made more accessible, people will eventually be more interested. I don't think there is a short term solution for the lack of fans.

We're out of the JS sweepstakes and into the condition-of-the-groin sweepstakes. If he can stay healthy, this will be great. Next year is our year.

He had to have mixed the prices for Hasek and Bertuzzi. 750k is Hasek's previous contract, right?

Yeah, Wikipedia doesn't mean anything. I just changed the 06-07 winner to Robert Lang.

I'm not sure about the free parking. I live far far away. If anyone is going and doesn't mind, could they pick up a pair of gloves for me if the price isn't too steep? I can pay for them plus shipping. PM me if you can help out!

I think Holland is using the media to get the deals he wants. I think the comment about Bert signing for the right price for a guy that has just had back surgery is a pretty good tactic. Way to play it, Holland.

Mebbe the fans didn't know that a parade was part of the custom of winning?

Lids is gonna win next year though.

I feel like the new jerseys are losing the hockey feel we're all so used to. They are leaning more towards soccer jerseys or something. I suppose we can get used to them again, but I don't like the busy feeling that I've seen in some of them.

haha, that made my smile.

I think the resurfacing nostalgia about Feds is as annoying as the next guy, but I wanted to add that I think his mentality would be different if he were to come back. Now that the drive to succeed individually is becoming unreachable in his mind, he can actually concentrate on playing for the team rather than worrying about being a star again.

Haha, imagine the hullabaloo if Ottawa had won.

Funny you guys are looking to get back into it too. I have a huge exam coming up next week, but after that, my next project is to find a place in Seattle to play hockey so I can play all summer while I work at the university.

You forgot to mention that we've got a monthly thread quota to meet on 1) threads proposing the triumphant return of Fedorov. 2) threads proposing the return of McCarty... what else? 3) Threads proposing a brilliant trade involving Draper (with his no trade clause)... what else? If you've got some extra time on your hands, be sure to come and contribute by making one of these, especially if we've been slacking. EDIT: OH! and 4) be sure to make a thread to bash one or the other of our goalies every once in a while.

I think I agree. The players are always saying how much they appreciate the fans and such. I think if you're a true supporter you can have your fun with Stanley if your team wins.

Portland or Seattle, gosh darn it! KC and Vegas don't seem like conventional sports markets. What other teams do they have (I wouldn't know)?! Are they doing this on purpose to have a bigger turn-out for hockey?

You lucky duck.

I think you disagreed with me there and argued my point. And why would rent-a-players want to leave a team they saw huge success in? If they could have stayed, then they probably would have. I think the cap forces players to become rent-a-players. Shanahan was a rent-a-player too. He stayed after the team saw success because the team wasn't limited by a cap. That Red Wings team was able to keep its fans because the players that brought success to the team stayed around and Ilitch could keep resigning them. And I think the Richards signing proves my point exactly.