DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum NHL 2017-2018 Thread

Vegas has a team. They might be 5-1 after tonight (up 2 goals in the 3rd). I’d like to go see a game there but it might be just as expensive as a game here in Chicago.

Leafs are 5-1, best Capitals tonight on the road. Austin Matthews is already one of the best players in the league and he just turned 20. Toronto has a lot of young talent and arguably the best coach in hockey.

It's early but I feel good, as a long-suffering Leafs fan (even longer than I've rooted for the Browns, by about 15 years)

Glad you started this thread, btw, I'd been thinking about it.

The regular season is still kinda meh, but one thing that could maybe spike some interest is scoring races. There are quite a few volume scorers in the league now.

Wings are in cap Hades big time.

Blue Jackets off to a hot 5-1 start!

How is everyone else fairing?

I'm obviously biased, but I don't want to see the game amended to make room for guys scoring 75-90 goals. I think the league is perfect where it's at. The average vegas line for an over/under in an NHL game is 6.5. I think that's perfect.

The league has done a great job maintaining the true spirit of the game, while allowing teams more scoring chances.

There is talk every year of cracking down on goalie equipment, which is ridiculous (and several NHL goalies have spoken out about now being exposed to more injuries). Guys are ripping shots in the upper 90's. I don't think goalie equipment is the way to go. There has been a bit of an increase in power plays. I guess one way to possibly increase scoring without screwing around with goalies, or the size of the net would be to increase power play times.

In my rec league, any slash or hook is an automatic double minor. It's not to increase scoring, but more to cut down on the bs that happens when guys who are babies about contact get touched with a stick.

But you really feel the effects when someone takes one of those double minor, and they are very common in our leagues. At least once or twice a game someone draws one of those.

There's not much to do about the regular season being kind of pointless. The league won't decrease games, because it decreases money.

I've never had a problem with baseball having as many games as they do. I think it's kinda cool that it's like a soap opera during the summer. Just about every day your team is on. That is why there is such an attachment with these players, yet most NFL fans see their guys as disposable (to go along with the short shelf life of the average NFL guy).

If the NHL worst problem is the regular season is kinda too long, and kinda pointless, I'd say they are really doing well. Remember 15 years ago when games were at a snail's pace, 2-1 games were the norm, and a lot of teams were forgettable in terms of overall talent?

I really wish they'd look more at the NBA and how that league goes about their business. The NBA season is identical to the NHL, more predicable with the amount of teams, yet interest and ratings are a lot better. You'll probably never top the NBA with that stuff but I think there is a lot to learn from them.

Sucks, but they are probably going to have to build it the new way/nba style of getting high picks and cashing in.

Just started watching Hockey when I quit football. Don't know the rules but it is fast and exciting and they don't kneel . What is a double mirror.

Assuming the target is more NHL fans that aren't already fans, I think scoring needs to increase and the stars will need to unleash big totals to bring those new eyes. Having McDavid chase a Wayne record would get non-fans talking.

If we're talking about refining the game for the current fans and that will translate into less new fans, then yes, the league is fine as is.

Aside from major changes in scoring, I've always thought to make all penalties go the full time. If a team can score twice during a 2min tripping minor, so be it. He stays in the box for the full time. Maybe that is the little tweak needed without changing pad or goal size. I also don't want more penalties because more stoppages are never a good thing. Hockey is fast and needs that flow.

I read an article a while back saying just that. The writing was on the wall, but how could you not chase the cup when you still have Datsyuk and Zetterberg playing at a high level? I think they were a quality goaltender away from winning another cup or two. Howard just couldn't cut it on the biggest stages.

I also think the GM Ken Holland's time has come and gone. He was a genius at finding talent overseas and the homegrown, rough around the edges, grinder types that could still put the puck in the net. He probably should have cut his losses and ended the playoff streak a few years ago.

The current team is fun to watch, but if they make any kind of late season run, they don't have the available capital to acquire assets to push them over the top.

Isnt the wings top affiliate Grand Rapids? The Griffins have been consistently one of the top teams in the AHL for quite awhile.Which would indicate a ton of young talent for The Wings.

I was lucky enough to get a chance to play at the brand new Blackhawks practice facility the other night.

I never want to play on bad ice again, lol, easily the best surface I have ever been on.

Top notch facility too, and they have a dunkin donuts in there lol

That sweep by the Preds broke their spirit. Hopefully the Steelers react the same next season after what the Jags did to them last week.