NHL Offseason: All 10 weeks of it

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Iggy got the same number of goals 2 seasons ago. Is he going to tank every 2nd seasons?

He usually "tanks" right after he signs a contract, historically.

He's still a much solid player than Smyth is, even if he was a bit expensive last season.

Whether you like him or not, Smyth is a Sutter kind of player.

I have no idea how you can say this. You seem to think grit = sutter.

Look at Smyth's hit statistics. They're incredibly low. He's a pansy, he's not gritty.

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither
But you do pay a lot of attention to seasons before the rules changed.

Iggy was disappointing, sort of like Big Bert was a bust last year.

You're not the least bit worried?

Not at all. Iggy stands to benefit from the rule changes, as do most powerforwards who can get to the net without hooking and holding.

The difference this year was Iggy had Conroy before who was a nice setup man, which was lacking last season.

You're oversimplifying things to try to make a point, but it doesn't work if you actually think about it...

[notyoueither]

Tell you what, let's see what happens.

[Asher]

What a novel idea.

Gee, I wonder if Iginla's performance will improve when paired with Tanguay?

Regarding your "worried" comment -- I think Flames fans shouldn't be worried at all. The roster is pretty much locked, and it's an impressive one. Edmonton and Vancouver still have a lot of holes to fill.

[notyoueither]

I doubt it'll happen, But I for one will laugh my ass off if Smyth outscores Iggy again.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Asher
What a novel idea.

Gee, I wonder if Iginla's performance will improve when paired with Tanguay?

Regarding your "worried" comment -- I think Flames fans shouldn't be worried at all. The roster is pretty much locked, and it's an impressive one. Edmonton and Vancouver still have a lot of holes to fill.

Get used to the holes. There isn't going to be a whole lot more ink spilled in Oil Country.

I think they're willing to play with a young defence and an improved offence.

There might be another dman and a forward signed, but that's about it.

[notyoueither]

Can't get no respect.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=173733&hubname=nhl

...

Additional highlights of TSN's broadcast schedule include:

Eight doubleheaders
A minimum of four nationally televised games for each of the six Canadian clubs
Seven Original Six match-ups
Seven games featuring the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, 12 games featuring the 2006 Eastern Conference finalist Buffalo Sabres, and 12 games featuring the new-look Detroit Red Wings
A rematch of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final with Carolina @ Edmonton on December 6
A rematch of the 2006 Western Conference Final with Edmonton @ Anaheim on October 25, as new Duck Chris Pronger takes on his former team
A rematch of the 2006 Eastern Conference Final with Carolina @ Buffalo on December 28

The Montreal Canadiens headline TSN's Canadian schedule with nine games, followed by seven Toronto games, six Ottawa tilts, five match-ups each for Vancouver and Calgary, and four games for Edmonton.

[Asher]

Still pathetic -- they need to let Sportsnet HD air games as well.

[Kontiki]

Petr Sykora signs with Edmonton.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=173939&hubname=

Doesn't make alot of sense to me to go after another forward. Maybe they're looking to build some trade bait for later on.

[Asher]

Anyone here have NHL Centre Ice w/ Rogers? If so, do you know if they offer any of the games in high def?

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Kontiki
Petr Sykora signs with Edmonton.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=173939&hubname=

Doesn't make alot of sense to me to go after another forward. Maybe they're looking to build some trade bait for later on.

I think it's good news. If they decide to play run and gun like it looks they will, they needed more scoring on the left side and more talent for the PP.

Of course, having spare forwards and dmen could very well lead to a trade for a more established blue-liner before the deadline, and that couldn't hurt either.

[Asher]

First predictions on the new season, courtesy of The Hockey News.

Eastern Conference

1. Carolina
2. Ottawa
3. NY Rangers
4. New Jersey
5. Buffalo
6. Philadelphia
7. Montreal
8. Atlanta
9. Tampa Bay
10. Toronto
11. Florida
12. Boston
13. Pittsburgh
14. NY Islanders
15. Washington

Western Conference

1. Anaheim
2. Nashville
3. Calgary
4. San Jose
5. Dallas
6. Detroit
7. Minnesota
8. Columbus
9. Phoenix
10. Los Angeles
11. Vancouver
12. Edmonton
13. Colorado
14. Chicago
15. St. Louis

Looks like they got the hate on for Canadian teams other than Calgary.

[notyoueither]

Meanwhile, what about the Malkin saga?

[notyoueither]

http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=156461

[Lord Avalon]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060823/SPORTS05/608230459/1048/SPORTS

Just call him Captain Lidstrom

August 23, 2006
BY HELENE ST. JAMES
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Nicklas Lidstrom will be the next captain of the Red Wings, replacing Steve Yzerman, the Free Press has learned.

But the team is holding off on a formal announcement, according to a person in the organization, to make a big splash before the season starts. Training camp opens Sept. 15 in Traverse City.

Lidstrom, 36, joined the team for the 1991-92 season. He is the longest-serving member of the squad and arguably the Wing's best player. In June he won his fourth straight Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman.

Teammate Henrik Zetterberg, the team's second-leading scorer last season behind Pavel Datysuk, also was thought to be in the running for the captaincy. At the Wings' request, Zetterberg sat next to Yzerman in the locker room to learn from the veteran leader.

But Zetterberg, who is 10 years younger than Lidstrom, will have to wait his turn.

Meanwhile, news out of Philadelphia this week suggested that Peter Forsberg was likely to take over the captain's 'C' previously worn by former Red Wing Keith Primeau. If it holds true, by season's start there will be six Swedes captaining NHL clubs.

Lidstrom wasn't available for comment, but earlier this summer he told the Free Press it would be an honor to become captain. He would further swell the ranks of Swedish club commanders, joining Toronto's Mats Sundin, Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson, Vancouver's Markus Naslund and Los Angeles' Mattias Norstrom.

Lidstrom, who has been an alternate captain the past few years, is a natural successor. Like Yzerman, he is quiet, but his words command tremendous respect in the locker room. Like Yzerman, he leads by example.

Yzerman had worn the 'C' since 1986-87, when at 21 years he became the youngest captain in franchise history.

Now the Wings are busy planning Yzerman's official retirement ceremony and are likely to announce the date within a month. Considering everything he has meant to the organization from his rookie season in 1983-84, the Wings don't want to rush anything and won't be ready for opening night. Nothing short of perfection will do for the Wings on the night Yzerman's No. 19 is hoisted to the rafters at Joe Louis Arena.

The Wings have plans for the man behind the number, too, and within two weeks members of management plan to sit down with Yzerman and discuss his role in the front office in the years ahead.

Yzerman, 41, retired last month after 22 NHL seasons.