Cannot believe the Los Angeles Kings have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals! And same for the New Jersey Devils. Obviously, I have to root for the team I grew up with as a kid. But everything I learned in my time following the Kings leads me to believe something will happen to screw it up again. We'll just have to wait and see.

Go Kings, go!

2011-12 NHL Predictions

The Boston Bruins celebrate their 4-0 win in the decisive Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. (Photo by Dave Sandford / Getty Images)

Decided to whip up a quick post on my predictions this season. The Pens will finally get a healthy Crosby & Malkin back in the line up at the same time, and cruise into the Finals. The Kings aka Philly-West will ride their newly acquired former Flyers and overcome poor MAF. Kris Letang will cut off his hair in protest. I'm taking the Los Angeles Kings over the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, the Kings taking their first ever Stanley Cup back to sunny and smoggy LA.

Eastern Conference

Washington
Pittsburgh
Boston
Buffalo
Tampa Bay
Montreal
Philadelphia
Winnipeg
New Jersey
NY Rangers
Carolina
Ottawa
Toronto
NY Islanders
Florida

My boldest guess is predicting Winnipeg will make the playoffs, ahead of NY & NJ. Just going on a whim here, but I don't think they're as bad as everyone thinks. Kane is going to lead the team, along with Buff and Ladd. Disappointed fans in Atlanta will take a lot of abuse as the Winnipeg fans blame them for the Thrashers' inability to make the playoffs the last few years.

The Leafs will get off to another good start, then disappear. Kessel will be in the doghouse again, yadda yadda. On the bright side, the Senators will finish ahead of the Leafs, much to the delight of hockey fans everywhere (come on, you know you love seeing the Laffs fail!).

Western Conference

San Jose
Los Angeles
Vancouver
Detroit
Chicago
St. Louis
Anaheim
Columbus
Calgary
Dallas
Nashville
Minnesota
Edmonton
Phoenix
Colorado

Sharks and Canucks will again disappoint their fans. No big shocker. Detroit will have another strong year, and Columbus will sneak into the playoffs.

Meanwhile, I'll still be hoping I'm wrong, and my Boston Bruins can pull off a repeat!

It's Hockey Season!

So glad hockey is back. I have some very interesting news: for the first time in my life, I'm now a season ticket holder! Not for the Boston Bruins, unfortunately. I'm a 100-level season ticket holder for the New Jersey Devils. It happened by accident actually. I called to inquire about a mini-game plan for 14 games. As it turned out, doing 14 games + one more game would have cost just $150 less than a full season! So I bit the bullet and took the whole season, hoping that if I sell off some games I can end up paying a bit less than I would have for the mini pack. I've already managed to sell off three games, so I'm well on my way.

Why NJ, and why not NY? Well... the Rangers tickets are not only more expensive, but higher up, and the rink isn't as nice (sorry, but it's the truth!). I love the Prudential Center. The lighting is great, and the 100-level seats are nice. I'm thrilled to be able to get to quite a few games this year. Especially looking forward to seeing the Los Angeles Kings for the first time live in over a decade (they were the team I grew up with, for those that don't know).

This season is going to be great! I am really looking forward to my Boston Bruins working to defend their title. Also, I'm looking forward to seeing the Jets, especially Mark Scheifele. He looks to be quite an exciting player.

In any case, I leave you with a view from my seats. If you're in the NY/NJ area and are looking to attend a particular game, let me know; we might be able to work something out. (Section 117, Row 10, Seat 7)

Can the Cooke Crumble Already?

Come on NHL, please get it right today! If you don't want hockey to be a joke, you're going to have to bite the bullet and give the biggest head shot offender a more painful suspension. Yep, Matt Cooke's been at it again: this time with an elbow to the head. I doubt they'll get it right, but obviously the piddly suspensions they've given him thus far haven't taught him anything. My vote: 20 games minimum.

If Mario Lemieux utters a word, he'll become a laughing stock. The only way he could redeem himself in my eyes is by sending Cooke down to the ECHL. Permanently.

Here's the latest Cooke hit:



His in-person hearing with the NHL is at 1pm EST.

Why Bettman Needs to Disappear

Gary Bettman needs to go away. He needs to retire, or be removed as the NHL Commissioner. The dude reportedly makes over US $7 million a year (and that was in 2009, so it could be more now). He's done a lot of questionable things. Yes, he fixed free agency a little bit. But he's to blame for the over-expansion to non-hockey markets, which to say the least, hasn't really gone as planned. Rather than "Americanize the game," I think he should have focused on bringing the game back to Canada. Instead we've got not one, but two teams in Florida, and one in Phoenix of all places. Along with Atlanta, Carolina, etc. Anyway, below are some examples that show how little Gary knows the NHL fan base.

NHL Guardians, need I say more? This move is almost as genius as The SciFi Channel re-branding to SyFy because they thought it would help them target "Non Geeks." Talk about abandoning your key users! Okay, some of the Guardians were kind of cool, but ultimately it was a bust. Was Gary trying to target comic book aficionados, hoping they'd all of sudden become fans of hockey? Very strange move on his part, and it shows he doesn't understand his users.

Clay Aiken at the 2011 All Star Game. The dude is a former American Idol contestant. I really shouldn't have to delve further than that. I get that he's from Raleigh, but that doesn't mean the typical NHL fan would listen to his music, or that typical "Claymates" would all of a sudden get into hockey. Get an up-and-coming Canadian band, like Neverending White Lights. I really don't know what the NHL was smoking when they picked Clay. Is he a hockey fan? I know he's performed at various NHL arenas, but unsure what the connection is. Three Doors Down I can live with, but they aren't exactly "hip" or "now." Again, I'd have gone for Three Days Grace. (It's actually a working theory of mine that someone got the band names mixed up and offered the gig to the wrong one.) Show a little respect for Canada; that's all I'm suggesting. Canada is literally a hot-bed of music, use it to your advantage!

Favoritism to Sid the Kid, Super Mario, and the Pens. This has definitely gone too far. The Penguins' Matt Cooke has played some really dirty hockey, and he needs to pay for it. Despite the fact the Head Shots rule didn't exist before Savard's injury, his play was dangerous and he should have received a suspension. The fact that he didn't get anything for it is criminal. Also, Lemieux has recently condemned the NHL and claimed he doesn't know if he wants to be a part of it all anymore because the NHL wasn't hard enough on the New York Islanders. Give me a freakin' break. For that statement alone, Mario should have received a fine. Instead, Gary is saying he's not commenting on it at all. Show us some character, Gary. Stand up for the NHL.

Pens Favoritism continued, World Cup Silliness. I am under the firm belief that teams that haven't had the Winter Classic yet should have gotten the opportunity to host it before the Penguins got their second turn. It's a huge cash cow for the NHL, and I had a blast with all the new memorabilia the Boston Bruins came out with when it was our turn. Personally, I'd like to see a NY Rangers/NJ Devils Winter Classic.

I will admit, HBO's 24/7 Penguins/Capitals was a fantastic way to promote the game. But we can still gain new fans for the NHL without Side and Ovi. Trust me. I really hope that Bettman was kidding when he said they were looking to eventually have Winter Classics in the south. Really Gary? The Winter Classic concept is great... but don't have a Winter Classic anywhere that's going to be artificial. And as my friend Jo has said, we don't want to see palm trees in the distance.

For God Sakes, NBC (and Versus) Knows Zilch About Hockey. Why are we dealing with these guys? They only want to talk about the Pens. And maybe a little about the Caps. But mostly about the Pens. Especially Joe Beninati. He will even bring up Crosby and Pittsburgh in games that don't involve the Pens. I know he's got a history with the NHL, but I'm going to let you in on a little secret: most of us are annoyed by him. Annoyed so much we mute the sound so we don't have to hear about Sidney or his beloved Caps. Do some research. Figure out who the best announcers are. I'm gonna put my vote in for the King's Bob Miller. But please, please no more Beninati. Versus and NBC don't give a crap about hockey--they don't even do pre or post-game shows. You know, the least they could have done was show the All-Star Game on NBC. But it was hidden away on Versus, where pretty much nobody watched it. It was a really bad deal, Gary. Remember that when their contract is up. Oh, and don't ever sign a long-term deal with them again. Remember: they HATE hockey. They want to bury it between golf and gymnastics broadcasts.

Give Your Fans More of What They Want. I noticed that TSN has actually created an iPhone app (for Canadian users only, alas), to follow the NHL trade deadline. This is a fantastic idea! I don't know why the NHL hasn't jumped on something like this, and expanded it to include the US fan base as well, and have Droid and Blackberry versions of the app as well. The NHL continually misses the boat on things like this.

Center Ice Sucks. I had a lot of problems when I first subscribed to Center Ice. It kept freezing up (thankfully this doesn't happen anywhere near as much as it used to), and 90% of my teams games are not in HD. This is my main problem/frustration. I'm paying $170 to see my team's games in crappy non-HD. I propose that they create a new subscription type of Center Ice, Center Ice HD. I'll pay more to get my games in HD. This is just a really obvious idea, Gary. If you pitch it you can steal it from me and pretend it was your idea.

That's it for now, but I'm sure I'll think of more complaints as soon as I hit the post button!

Bruins & the NHL Trade Deadline

Well folks, the NHL trade deadline is looming once again: February 28th, 2011, 3PM EST. The Boston Bruins are apparently in talks--yes, again--with the Toronto Maple Leafs for their coveted puck-moving defenseman, Tomas Kaberle. The thing is, Kaberle has apparently stated that he only will waive his NTC for Boston. In doing so, his trade value has dropped substantially, since it means the Bruins wouldn't be in a bidding war with him. Burke said that Boston's not the only team he's speaking with, but we all know that he's probably just trying to recoup some value Kaberle's statement may have made.

What do we give up for Kaberle, an UFA? I figure either a roster player or a 2nd rounder would work, since his contract is just about up. But I've heard some doozies from Leafs fans on Twitter. The first one that made me laugh (and probably one of the reasons folks are calling them "delusional Leafs fans") was Toronto's 1st round pick back PLUS Tim Thomas. For Kaberle and nothing else. LOL. Yes folks, all I can do is laugh out loud at work, and get strange looks from coworkers after that one.

Even better: Tyler Seguin plus their #1 pick back for Kaberle. Whahaha. That's really ridiculous. It just troubles me that Leafs fans seem to think their players are so much more valuable than anyone else. If Mike Fisher had been a Leaf, they'd have expected three first round picks for him!

I liked the one that Mike Miccoli was pondering: Kaberle for the #2 pick from MINN along with Blake Wheeler and Zach Hamill or Jamie Arniel. This would make a lot of sense for Toronto, since they'd gain a linemate for Kessel, and a prospect. It's no secret to anyone that follows me on Twitter that I'm pretty damn tired of Blake Wheeler's laziness. I think he could be an awesome player if he could only get himself motivated. He proved last season that he could adapt to new roles and be good at them (read: lots of time on the PK), so he does have decent value. But to me and many other Bruins fans, lazy doesn't translate well when it comes to the playoffs. Definitely would be a good rebuild-minded deal for the Leafs. I also liked @ThankYouKessel's thought that perhaps the pick would be conditional. I think the Leafs would be fools not to take this deal, because both Arniel and Hamill are highly-touted prospects. There's a chance it could also be Joe Colborne, but I'm not sure PC wants to let him go this soon.

I'm not so keen on the Mark Stuart trade rumors, sending him to the Chicago Blackhawks for a pick. I'm biased of course, because he's my second favorite Bruin only to Milan Lucic. That said, I can see that it would probably be better to keep Adam McQuaid, who's younger, and of similar play style. But that said, why not trade Boychuk, who's been pretty invisible this year (totally suffering from Matt Hunwick-itis)? Boychuk is a fan fave, but Stuart is a leader. I definitely see him getting the A at some point.

Only time will tell, but no matter what happens, I for one am excited about the Bruins chances this off-season.

Super Mario, Super Hypocrite

Yes Mario, I am calling you out as a hypocrite.

Let me first clarify: I'm not siding with the New York Islanders; they were definitely in the wrong and their suspensions were warranted. I'm simply upset that Mario Lemieux is suddenly angry/disappointed with the league for not coming down on them harder. Why, you ask? He employs Matt freakin' Cooke. While many Pens fans say Cooke doesn't do things that are premeditated, he continues to hurt people with his reckless and questionable play. So in all honesty he may as well be doing things that are premeditated. The league has been extremely light when it comes to penalizing Cooke and Pittsburgh, so Mario is being called out by many as a hypocrite. Most recently, Matt Cooke received four games for another reckless play. Yes folks, that's right: four games for a repeat offender. The Boston Bruins' Daniel Paille received the same for his first offense. I'm not defending Paille--he definitely deserved a suspension--but just using his punishment as an example. Paille had no other prior suspensions, but Matt Cooke received the same number of games just days later.

The Pittsburgh Penguins need to fire Mario's speech writer, because that was the most ludicrous statement ever. Of course hockey fans all over the league are pissed, what do you expect? Matt Cooke is hurting people, and he very well may have ended a very talented playmaker's career. It's silly for Mario to come out of the woodwork (after being silent regarding Cooke's antics) condemning the NHL for not coming down hard enough on suspensions when the league's been shockingly easy on his team.

A bit of backstory: the Matt Cooke incident is very close to my heart. Savvy is on my team--the Boston Bruins--and he's a fan favorite. And every time I see the hit or the press conference photos of Marc after his injury, I find myself holding back tears. Yes folks, Mario's words stung. Here's a plan of action for you, Mario: Get that loser off your team, fire him, ask Colin Campbell to ban him for life, and then complain. Do your part, and your actions will garner respect from everyone. You can call me biased, but the truth doesn't lie. Matt Cooke is constantly trying to hurt other players out there.

Honestly, Mario's turned himself into the asshat. One of the best players in the history of the NHL, and he comes up with this? It's nothing short of disappointing. I always liked Mario as a player, so it's difficult to even verbalize how disappointed what he said has made me feel.

Pens fans ask why we always have to bring up Cooke. How can we not? How can we not bring up Cooke and Sidney and the clear favoritism the league puts behind its poster boy? That's just the environment that Bettman has fostered, which is unfortunate. In all honesty, both Bettman and Campbell need to be ousted. Maybe getting in some fresh blood is exactly what the NHL needs. I mean, Bettman shows he knows less about promotion than pretty much anyone (Guardians Gary? Really?).

Anyhow, that's it for now. I leave you with my favorite Don Cherry rant of all time.