Finally The NHL Season is Here

5 Things We are Looking Forward To This Year:

 

Thankfully the NHL & NHLPA have resolved their issues for the time being to bring hockey back onto the ice.

Here is what we are looking forward to.

 

1.  Length of Season - Some would argue that an 82-game regualr season is too long any way.  Now every game & shootout counts.  You cannot go on a 10-game slide and hope to get into the playoffs.  Same with those that are able to usually have a 'cushion' in riding out the schedule.  Should make for higher paced hockey too.

 

2.  Who will be the best players out of the Gate??? It will be interesting to watch and see which players Those playing in AHL, Junior, Europe, or stayed at 'home' will be the strongest out of the gate.  

We think it may be those that stayed in North America playing some game in the AHL, or RUSSIA that will be off to strong start due to level of play.

 

3.  Adjusting to New CBA - The last lockout brought a new 'salary-cap era'.  Teams, GMs, Agents, Coaches and co. had to adjust to the new rules and find loopholes or circumvent the CBA. Trades & buyouts... It may not be as extreme this time round, but look for the savviest GMs that are ahead of the curve that will make the most of theis golden opportunity before the others catch on.

 

4.  New teams Take Shape- Yes, we are looking to the revamped Minnesota Wild with Suter & Parise, Carolina with The Stall Bros. + Semin...and not to mention Rick Nash will finally have a centreman to play with.  He may get lead the league this year for the New York Rangers

We took LA's Quick in the 1st Round (9th Overall)

5.  Hockey Pools- We love to debate and chat about hockey.  So here are the guys we were able to pick up in this years OS Team Pool.  We went defence & goalie heavy as we drafted 9th out of 13 teams.  Draft details - Snake-Draft, 1-G, 3-D, 6 Fs + 1 Mystery Player (Pre-Draft Blind Ballot Extra Player that will NOT be taken in the draft)

 

G- Quick - LA

D- Weber - Nash

D- Letang - Ptt

D- J. Shulz - Edm

F- Ovechkin - Wash

F- Perry - Ana

F- J. Carter - LA

F - J. Staal - Car

F - Heatley - Min

F - Koivu - Min

M- C. Glencross - Cgy

 

Flames' Glencross was our Mystery Player Pick

 

Hopefully they will do their fantasy GMs proud, or there will be some phone calls to make!!!

 

 

 

GAME ON !!!

 

- Daniel Tkaczuk,

President, iHockeyTrainer.com