Can we play hockey now?

[sonickteam2]

so apparently (though this has been said before) that the NHL and NHLPA has a tentative deal.
 
   tsn sure seems to think its for real.
 
 
  tsn

[xcanuck]

Originally posted by sonickteam4:
  so apparently (though this has been said before) that the NHL and NHLPA has a tentative deal.
 
   tsn sure seems to think its for real.
 
 
  tsn

This has been confirmed. It's up on the official NHL website.
 
 You know...I LOVE hockey. But I've got to take a stand and let both players and owners know they've acted like idiots. I'm boycotting the entire season - no merch and no games. I'll watch on TV but that's it. Considering the cost of season tickets, it's not a trivial amount. I just hope more people let Bettman and Goodenow know their displeasure.
 
 Speaking of Goodenow, I feel a public lynching in the air. It's one thing to have Jeremy Roenick blast you, but when a quiet player rep like Manny Legace rips you a new one...well...you know you screwed up.

[smakawhat]

oh.. I am sure the fans will come back and fill the arenas in droves now..
 
 NOT..

[RatBastard]

Canuck, when they finally hit the ice fly an IM my way and we can hit a caps/flyers game.

[sonickteam2]

I'm still gettin my season tickets. i'll boycott a lot of stuff, hockey is not one of those things.

[myuman]

Hockey has a different fanbase I believe.  I can't wait to get to the arena again.  I feel most hockey fans feel the same.  Most saw this (lost season) or at least the threat for quite some time.  So I was certainly bracing and prepared.  Bottome line is, if you are a fan, this game beats the heck out of any yawner at Fedex, RFK, or the other sport at the phone booth anyday... so lets get started!  Any rule changes to make it even better is just gravy.

[kcjones119]

I love  hockey .  I always choose 2 regular guys, a fat guy and a skinny guy.
 
 Seriously, I'm quite happy.  Playoff hockey is what is right with pro sports.

[xcanuck]

Originally posted by RatBastard:
  Canuck, when they finally hit the ice fly an IM my way and we can hit a caps/flyers game.

Man, I'd love to! Hockey is the best sport to watch live - but I'm not giving any money to the league or the players for at least a year (I'll make an exception if the Habs score Crosby in the draft or if they make it to the playoffs).
 
 It's probably a harsh thing to say in this area, but I hope the league contracts. 30 teams aren't viable, especially in the southern markets - including DC. I'd like to see the league go back to 24 teams. That would cull out some of the less talented players and then I think we'd less of the obstruction that slows down play.
 
 Anyhow....Game On!!

[Guiny]

GO LEAFS!!!!!!!!!!

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

I can't wait until this year's Detroit/Washington game at MCI so me and my fellow Red Wings compatriots can have the "Let's Go Red Wings" chant reverberate through the venue as we kick DC's sorry excuse for a team's ass 5-1.

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

Originally posted by xcanuck:
 

It's probably a harsh thing to say in this area, but I hope the league contracts. 30 teams aren't viable, especially in the southern markets - including DC. I'd like to see the league go back to 24 teams. That would cull out some of the less talented players and then I think we'd less of the obstruction that slows down play.
 [/b]

I agree contraction is needed (although I'm not sure DC is a good choice), but I don't think that will cut down on obstruction. NJ is incredibly talented, and they trap like nobody's business. Unless we want absurdly strict obstruction holding rules called, it's an inevitability in the game.  

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by xcanuck:
   I'm not giving any money to the league or the players for at least a year
 

you arent really Canadian are you

[xcanuck]

Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
  I can't wait until this year's Detroit/Washington game at MCI so me and my fellow Red Wings compatriots can have the "Let's Go Red Wings" chant reverberate through the venue as we kick DC's sorry excuse for a team's ass 5-1.

My wife is from the Detroit area and she's a huge Wings fan. We always wear our Wings jerseys to MCI for the Det/Was games....and they're always a blowout. I read somewhere that Ted Leonsis blows a gasket at these games because there are more Wings fans than Caps fan  
 
 As for the obstruction argument, I think there's a difference between The Trap as a legal and viable game plan vs. obstruction penalties (hooking and interference). There are alot of lower rung players that can't keep up with the faster forwards - so they grab and hook from behind. The league has been lousy at calling the penalties, regardless of whatever noise they make about it. And, of course, the whistle gets thrown away during the playoffs. Getting rid of the less talented players isn't the only solution - but it's a step in the right direction.

[xcanuck]

Originally posted by sonickteam4:
   

Originally posted by xcanuck:
   I'm not giving any money to the league or the players for at least a year
 

you arent really Canadian are you [/b]

Haha! Oh yes I am. Right down to the Canadian flag tatoo'd on my ass    Hrmm...that was TMI, eh?

[Venerable Bede]

Originally posted by xcanuck:
  We always wear our Wings jerseys to MCI for the Det/Was games....and they're always a blowout. I read somewhere that Ted Leonsis blows a gasket at these games because there are more Wings fans than Caps fan    
 

didn't leonsis once try to limit the amount of tickets sold to people from pittsburgh for a playoff series?  it's gotta be pittsburgh that infuriates him more.