Ice Hockey

[Mike the Metal Ed]

On 19/06/2025 at 03:59, ShadowKing said:

Yeah, another season done and still no cup for Canada, but I see some hope.

 

In Montreal case, feel like they can build on this season, they just brought in that Russian defender.
 

In Toronto case, with Marner leaving hopefully they can invest that money wisely, unless Mcdavid wants to come home, save up cap space and spend it on him.

 

In Winnipeg case, if hellybuck can just play in the playoffs like he does in the season they have a shot.

and hopefully Ottawa don't completely implode and can continue to build

[MC Prussian]

This is the season where Crosby overtakes Le Magnifique and potentially breaks into the NHL's all-time points Top 5.

Needs about 111 points, though, to be on par with the great (and somewhat forgotten) Ron Francis.

Steep, but not impossible.

[spacemunky]

13 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

This is the season where Crosby overtakes Le Magnifique and potentially breaks into the NHL's all-time points Top 5.

Needs about 111 points, though, to be on par with the great (and somewhat forgotten) Ron Francis.

Steep, but not impossible.

Sad though that the Pens haven't done anything to make them a Cup contender, or even a playoff team again. 

[MC Prussian]

Talks about the Nordiques returning to Québec are still ongoing. I wish they'd find that investor to make it happen.

https://www.letsgohabs.com/equipe-lnh/canadiens-de-montreal/retour-des-nordiques-a-quebec-on-sait-enfin-ce-qui-manque-pour-le-retour-dune-franchise-de-la-lnh

 

Hartford Whalers next. I know, the market isn't the best. But stranger things have happened.

[CheeseHead]

1 hour ago, MC Prussian said:

 

Hartford Whalers next. I know, the market isn't the best. But stranger things have happened.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer is a huge Hartford Whalers fan. The batting gloves he wears are Whalers branded - he’s been on an absolute tear since he started wearing them! I can only imagine how much he would love it if they returned

[Golden Fox]

I'm already fed up with this season. After the great Sharks teams with Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Boyle, Burns etc. flamed out with just 1 losing Stanley Cup appearance to show for it, and Doug Wilson being replaced as GM by Mike Grier, they have gone full rebuild and have gone through the tanking years to get some high picks (Macklin Celebrini - no 1 overall, William Eklund, Will Smith, Michael Misa, they have started looking to compete again & signed some sensible veterans this off-season (Jeff Skinner, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy), so there is a bit of excitement in Sharks-land for the first time in years (even if pre-season betting still has them as the 2nd worst team in the league...).

And in game 1, home against a divsion opponent, they had a lead at the end with Vegas in desparation mode pulling their GK - only to miss an empty netter, concede late and lose in OT.

In game 2, home against a division opponent, they had multiple 2 goal leads, then a lead at the end with Anaheim in desparation mode pulling their GK and they concede late and lose in OT.

 

Its only 2 games, but having gone winless, seeing that optimism deflate, and it starting to get in the guy's heads that they can't win tight games, its feeling like a long season already, and that excitement seems a long time ago...

[spacemunky]

19 minutes ago, Golden Fox said:

I'm already fed up with this season. After the great Sharks teams with Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Boyle, Burns etc. flamed out with just 1 losing Stanley Cup appearance to show for it, and Doug Wilson being replaced as GM by Mike Grier, they have gone full rebuild and have gone through the tanking years to get some high picks (Macklin Celebrini - no 1 overall, William Eklund, Will Smith, Michael Misa, they have started looking to compete again & signed some sensible veterans this off-season (Jeff Skinner, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy), so there is a bit of excitement in Sharks-land for the first time in years (even if pre-season betting still has them as the 2nd worst team in the league...).

And in game 1, home against a divsion opponent, they had a lead at the end with Vegas in desparation mode pulling their GK - only to miss an empty netter, concede late and lose in OT.

In game 2, home against a division opponent, they had multiple 2 goal leads, then a lead at the end with Anaheim in desparation mode pulling their GK and they concede late and lose in OT.

 

Its only 2 games, but having gone winless, seeing that optimism deflate, and it starting to get in the guy's heads that they can't win tight games, its feeling like a long season already, and that excitement seems a long time ago...

Nothing worse than being stuck in the endless "rebuild". Ask any Buffalo Sabres fan about that 

[Golden Fox]

3 hours ago, spacemunky said:

Nothing worse than being stuck in the endless "rebuild". Ask any Buffalo Sabres fan about that 

I've been following the sport pletty closely since 2007 (until the last couple of years...) and have seen enough teams go through peaks and troughs. e.g. Blackhawks from awful to winning cups to awful again, but can't imagine following the lifeless Buffalo. Other than a couple of 1st round exits in 2010/11, they haven't even sniffed the playoffs. Just purgatoy.

 

The Sharks mistake was once their window was closing, they tried to "rebuild on the fly" and traded for Erik Karlsson and tried to build around him, which although was clearly failing, Wilson continued to double down and try and complete. But Hasso Plattner, the owner is not stupid, so learnt from that and made the call to pull the plug completely and go through the pain of some really terrible seasons to get the high draft picks. I do think they have a very good core, and will be competing again within a couple of years, but there is just a bit of impatiance in wanting it to be this year.

 

On 12/10/2025 at 11:37, MC Prussian said:

Talks about the Nordiques returning to Québec are still ongoing. I wish they'd find that investor to make it happen.

https://www.letsgohabs.com/equipe-lnh/canadiens-de-montreal/retour-des-nordiques-a-quebec-on-sait-enfin-ce-qui-manque-pour-le-retour-dune-franchise-de-la-lnh

 

Hartford Whalers next. I know, the market isn't the best. But stranger things have happened.

Genuinely think there is about zero chance of the NHL going back to either of those markets. They simply aren't big enough. There doesn't look to be anything in that tweet other than acknowledging they don't even have the basics in place at the moment and just wishing they did. The most depressing thing is that the Avalanche are taking a page out of the Hurricane's book and cashing in on the team they took away and destroyed the brand of by now bringing it back and pretending to hounour it while it just clearly being a money grab.

https://uni-watch.com/2025/10/06/colorado-avalanche-tease-quebec-nordiques-throwback-uniforms/#google_vignette

Edited 14 October 2025 by Golden Fox
Typo!

[spacemunky]

Ovi with goal number 900 

[MC Prussian]

6 hours ago, spacemunky said:

Ovi with goal number 900 

Not the biggest fan, but that's quite an accomplishment. Sky's the limit now. 1000 goals don't seem that unrealistic now.

[spacemunky]

9 hours ago, MC Prussian said:

Not the biggest fan, but that's quite an accomplishment. Sky's the limit now. 1000 goals don't seem that unrealistic now.

He's grown on my over the years. Certainly huge respect for breaking Gretzky's goal scoring record. 

 

Although he's 40, he still managed 44 goals last season, in only 65 games. He's got it in him to hit the 1000.

[spacemunky]

Neither Stanley Cup finalist from last season(Panthers and Oilers) would make the playoffs, as it stands right now.

 

Leafs and Jets also struggling.

 

Nice to see teams like the Sharks and Blackhawks improved with their young talent. I know we have some supporters of both here.

 

Avs are class of the league though, by far.

 

Long way to go!

 

 

[MC Prussian]

And he‘s just gone and done it. Crosby now is the Pens‘ all-time top-scorer.

 

No.8 in the NHL all-time best list.

[SemperEadem]

Largest ever domestic uk league crowd yesterday at Steelers vs Panthers.

[spacemunky]

One of my favourite things about this holiday season is the start of the World Junior Hockey Championships, which kicks off every year on Boxing Day.

 

After two straight years with 5th place finishes(unheard of for us here), we are hoping to regain our status as the world's best.

 

An opening win over the Czechs yesterday was a decent start, especially considering that they've knocked us out the previous two years.

 

The US of course, will be tough, especially playing on their home ice and having won the last 2 tournaments.

 

 

[ShadowKing]

I wish the world junior teams went to the Olympics over the NHL players.

During non Olympic years, NHL could do four nations cup, but they would include Russia and Czechs

[spacemunky]

Third straight year we've been done in by the Czechs.

 

I guess hockey isn't our sport anymore!

[The boy Linacre]

1 hour ago, spacemunky said:

Third straight year we've been done in by the Czechs.

 

I guess hockey isn't our sport anymore!

But we were Olympic champions in 1936

[spacemunky]

28 minutes ago, The boy Linacre said:

But we were Olympic champions in 1936

You were. What went wrong after that?

 

[VinceNoir]

Recently, my wife became obsessed with San Jose Sharks and their young stars. Coupled with the fact that I’m feeling more and more out of touch with LCFC, I couldn’t help but gain affection for them as well. 
 

Just watched what was probably my first ever live ice hockey game this morning. I know extremely little about the history of the Sharks or the sport in general, so happy to be educated, but the kid Celebrini seems like an absolute superstar. That goal in the 3rd was special.

Edited 8 January by VinceNoir

[MC Prussian]

On 11/10/2025 at 17:15, spacemunky said:

Sad though that the Pens haven't done anything to make them a Cup contender, or even a playoff team again. 

It's been a rocky start, tons of debates surrounding their D, and lots of complaints after that goalie trade.

 

Six wins in a row now. And Crosby's on an eight-game scoring streak.

 

Hot.

[spacemunky]

6 hours ago, MC Prussian said:

It's been a rocky start, tons of debates surrounding their D, and lots of complaints after that goalie trade.

 

Six wins in a row now. And Crosby's on an eight-game scoring streak.

 

Hot.

Would love to see them back in the playoffs.

 

I don't think I still have my Lemieux jersey to put on though and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't fit me now anyway 

[ShadowKing]

On 08/01/2026 at 16:12, VinceNoir said:

Recently, my wife became obsessed with San Jose Sharks and their young stars. Coupled with the fact that I’m feeling more and more out of touch with LCFC, I couldn’t help but gain affection for them as well. 
 

Just watched what was probably my first ever live ice hockey game this morning. I know extremely little about the history of the Sharks or the sport in general, so happy to be educated, but the kid Celebrini seems like an absolute superstar. That goal in the 3rd was special.

If the sharks make the playoffs, I wouldn’t be shocked if celebrini wins the Hart trophy.

[spacemunky]

2 hours ago, ShadowKing said:

If the sharks make the playoffs, I wouldn’t be shocked if celebrini wins the Hart trophy.

He could be a finalist, but it's between MacKinnon and McDavid.

[sharpylcfc]

Nottingham Panthers won the Continental Cup last night. Still debating who to follow in UK hockey. Following a Nottingham based team doesn't feel right but Sheffield is a trek when you don't drive. This is why Leicester are desperate for an ice hockey team.