Hockey Trash Talk & BS thread

So, here's an odd and somewhat long post, but please bear with me here.

I grew up in Wisconsin. Packers fan. Never played or followed hockey at all.

In '99, I was doing a contracting gig for a company subbing a big project for Rite-Aid pharmacies. I'd fly into an area, rent a car for a month, and spend that month installing and upgrading satellite uplinks all over the area. There's a shit-ton of Rite-Aids in western New York. I flew in to Buffalo the day of game 1 of that Stanley Cup series that had the Sabres against the Stars.

Not since being a kid in Wisconsin have I ever seen a population soundly behind its team. People put TVs out of the porch or in the front window so you could walk down the street and watch the game action. Totally insane.

Anyhow, I watched that series and really enjoyed it, but trying to watch games the following reg season killed it for me, with the icing every 90 seconds and thuggery defensive play.

I pretty much forgot about hockey...until, as luck would have it, the night of game one of the SCF with the Kings playing the Rangers. Fell back in lust.

So now I understand that the rules have changed, and I love what I saw in the finals this year. Is this what hockey usually looks like now?

If so, I need to pick a team. Since I have no preconceived geographic loyalty, how does one go about picking a team to root for?

 

I watched Selanne growing up so I rooted for the Ducks. If Selanne went to the Jets and Anaheim died in a fire I would follow the Jets.

I'm in between LA and Anaheim and everyone jumped on the Gretzky wagon so I follow Anaheim.

 

Typically geographical proximity is the method of choice whether being where you grew up or where you currently reside. Some kids grow up with a father who watched a particular team and so developed the same loyalty.
Ultimately you are free to follow any team you like. I will watch certain teams because I like how they play the game.
It certainly makes it a lot easier to get into a team if they are being televised locally.

 

I call BS. I would never trade JVR/Kadri+Gardiner+ 8th overall for the 1st overall in this draft
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl-draft/kadri-package-not-enough-to-get-no-1/

 

I guess it depends how highly the brass values those players. It seems like a lot of beef goin out with not so much comin back.

 

Very interesting situation. Hard to say if there's a "way" to pick a team at this stage of your life. I went to my first Oilers game in 1978 (I was 8 years old), and it's something that just gets imprinted on you. I honestly do not care for any other team. And because the Oilers have such a shit record with playoffs for the last SEVERAL years - it's obviously difficult for me to give a crap during such time. It becomes a series of 'who would I rather see lose' than who do I want to win. In many cases, I cheer for the roof to cave in - and no one wins. Sort of like the SCF this year.

 

He was good, but this seasons stats weren't the greatest. But I think he was one of the hardest working guys on the bench

 

If you're French, root for Montreal
If you're a bandwagoner, root for LA
If you're a douche bag, root for the Rangers
If you don't own a pair of shoes, root for Detroit
If you enjoy having your spirit and dreams crushed, root for Toronto
If you sit down when you pee, root for Pittsburgh
If you have difficulty swallowing food, root for San Jose
If you have ever worn a tight, white seashell necklace, root for Anaheim
If you are a huge dick root for Philly
If you have a huge dick root for Winnipeg

 

Panthers

 

Those prices are way to high. Kadri might of had a sophomore slump and JVR looks better every year, you can't replace JVR's net presence! In my books those two have some serious future upside and now is the worst time to trade them.

Gartner I'm not so sure about. Part of me wonders if he's another kabarle. The type of offensive d that looks great when he's always playing behind the number 1 line or on the power play, but is useless as a defencemen when held to the definition.

 

Fixed it for ya...

 

well played

 

FIFY

 

You're watching the world soccer federation ?

 

Did Joanas hill get on Brouder shit list?

 

i totally agree. Gardiner is an amazing skater but hes more of a top 4 potential guy, nothing more. Very good on the PP too

 

ya theres a lot of people saying Ritchie might be the best player to come out of that draft too if he keeps developing like he is, and hes going to be around the 8 spot

 

Judging by the time of this post I assume you were too drunk to walk. (I'm jealous)