[cotmfk]

New season is coming on - rookie camps are going, big-name players coming back to town now.

Caps were FINALLY the champs! However, I do not have high expectations this year. It's a long season and anything can happen - as long as you make the playoffs.



What are Vancouver fans saying about the addition of Jay Beagle?

Edit:

Also, Cup stands now banned.

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington...-be-same-again

[infinitekidM2C]

Slightly early but we can do this. LA Kings fan here since we acquired Gretkzy! (took a year or two off though lol).

Looks like Vegas GN just traded for Max Pacioretty. I don't know much about him but I do know that Vegas isn't resting on their laurels! I expect them to be very good again this year damnit. Hopefully the Sharks and Ducks get worse.

[jgoens]

I was waiting until hockey news started appearing before starting a thread...but, we have one for the new season now. Couple of weeks exhibition games start and we will see projected lineups.

Hockey thread was fairly active after the finals last season. Hope we have a fun one this year.

[Tuxedo]

Blackhawks fan, yeh Max Patch trade makes Golden Knights legit. I'm worried for Crawford so if he's strong we have a shot if leaning on Ward/Forsberg oy! needs a miracle.

[UncleWede]

So does the NHL publish a list of things you can't do after battling all season, thru all the injuries, to win the cup????

Maybe if I go look now I can get tickets for "king guys/Sharkies

[Ralph335]

In. Ready for Flyers camp battles to start. Hoping Myers and Frost get a spot on the big club.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

Slightly early but we can do this. LA Kings fan here since we acquired Gretkzy! (took a year or two off though lol).

Looks like Vegas GN just traded for Max Pacioretty. I don't know much about him but I do know that Vegas isn't resting on their laurels! I expect them to be very good again this year damnit. Hopefully the Sharks and Ducks get worse.

Pacioretty is a good pick up. Montreal seems to be a dumpster fire right now. I bet he's happy to be out of there (plus having the new contract). I bet he has a good season (30+ goals).

Amazing how much Vegas lost with the Tatar trade. All those picks and they barely used him. Seems like he was almost a throw in with the Pac trade to dump salary. Will be interesting to see if Tatar can get back to form or not.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

So does the NHL publish a list of things you can't do after battling all season, thru all the injuries, to win the cup????

Maybe if I go look now I can get tickets for "king guys/Sharkies

I agree - I wasn't aware there were rules. I figured the players respect the Cup enough to not do something stupid to it - so there wouldn't be a need for rules.

[fgaus196]

Penguins training camp starts Friday. Hopefully everyone stays health and they can make a push for a long Cup run this season.

[cotmfk]

Steve Yzerman OUT as GM in Tampa!

Did not see that coming.

[Ralph335]

Any idea why he stepped down? Most considered him a top GM in the league.

[cotmfk]

I don't know the details. Speculation I read was that he was moving to Detroit to be with family - not to eventually be GM of Detroit. Apparently he will be an "advisor" for Tampa for one year to serve out the rest of his contract with them.

[sspade]

Skarks with a HUGE addition today picking up Karlsson from Ottawa.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by sspade

Skarks with a HUGE addition today picking up Karlsson from Ottawa.

Yep, just saw that. How does having a defense pair of two Norris defensemen sound? Sharks haven't made a whole lot of trades, but this looks to be a great on.

[Ralph335]

Miss out on the Tavares sweepstakes? Just get the best defenseman in hockey instead.
Insane.

My buddy who is a Sharks fan is doing backflips over this trade.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by Ralph335

Miss out on the Tavares sweepstakes? Just get the best defenseman in hockey instead.
Insane.

My buddy who is a Sharks fan is doing backflips over this trade.

I would say the Sharks are arguably the best defense in the league between the trio of Burns, Karlsson and Vlassic. Burns may not be the best defensive guy but he sure adds offense to the blue line.

I'm not real familiar with what Karlsson is about as I have only seen him play a couple of times.

And for the Sharks, Braun and Dillion have been solid in the back.

Nothing is a guarantee to go deep in the playoffs, but between having the services of Thornton back we have a better looking team than last year as of now.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I would say the Sharks are arguably the best defense in the league between the trio of Burns, Karlsson and Vlassic. Burns may not be the best defensive guy but he sure adds offense to the blue line.

I'm not real familiar with what Karlsson is about as I have only seen him play a couple of times.

And for the Sharks, Braun and Dillion have been solid in the back.

Nothing is a guarantee to go deep in the playoffs, but between having the services of Thornton back we have a better looking team than last year as of now.

Excuse my ignorance, but is Thornton still relevant at his age/physical condition?

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

Excuse my ignorance, but is Thornton still relevant at his age/physical condition?

I think he is--while he is past his prime and may be more important in the locker room than the ice, he is still a phenomenal passer and it will be interesting to see if he gets paired up with Kane which could be a dynamic pairing. Kane could easily have a career year and score 40 goals--Joe thrives when he has goal scorers to feed.

Think in terms of a power play with Thornton, Kane, Pavelski, Burns and Karlsson---probably pretty hard to stop. Kane crashing the net, Pavelski sniping around the net, Burns blasting from the blue line, Thornton passing around to these guys and Karlsson..going to bring something.

[Ralph335]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I would say the Sharks are arguably the best defense in the league between the trio of Burns, Karlsson and Vlassic. Burns may not be the best defensive guy but he sure adds offense to the blue line.

I'm not real familiar with what Karlsson is about as I have only seen him play a couple of times.

And for the Sharks, Braun and Dillion have been solid in the back.

Nothing is a guarantee to go deep in the playoffs, but between having the services of Thornton back we have a better looking team than last year as of now.

I don't know if its the best but it's one of the best. Nashville might be better but if it is, it's marginally better.

Sharks have to be a lock to win the Pacific now in my mind. The weapons they have are something special.
Really glad I re-upped my NHL.tv subscription this year so I can get all games. Sure there will be plenty of fun Sharks games to watch.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I think he is--while he is past his prime and may be more important in the locker room than the ice, he is still a phenomenal passer and it will be interesting to see if he gets paired up with Kane which could be a dynamic pairing. Kane could easily have a career year and score 40 goals--Joe thrives when he has goal scorers to feed.

Think in terms of a power play with Thornton, Kane, Pavelski, Burns and Karlsson---probably pretty hard to stop. Kane crashing the net, Pavelski sniping around the net, Burns blasting from the blue line, Thornton passing around to these guys and Karlsson..going to bring something.

Yep, should be fun to watch!

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

Yep, should be fun to watch!

Comments coming out of San Jose is they are going for it all....basically, anything less than a cup is fail. Pretty strong group here...but I have seen this team looking good so many times--it's a long season..and really two seasons. Let's win the group and get the right matchups. It's really not about the stars but the backup guys....look at Vegas.

[Ralph335]

In that case, better go find your Ryan Reaves

The Vegas model is have your top line shoot at an incredible percent and have your goalie stand on his head. Probably not repeatable.