The 95th NHL Season begins! Hockey season is going into full effect tonight and it is jaw dropping how many band wagoner’s have jumped aboard – and we welcome them all! The talk around the water cooler has me more excited than when Puff Daddy created Bad Boy records. If you are interested in getting deeper into the hockey scene, stay away from Sports Center. The NHL Network has everything you need (free in DC w/ FIOS) so get it - watch it - love it. Every morning is jam packed with brutal hits, mind blowing goals, amazing saves and plenty of mullet action. With HD bringing the hockey experience to a whole new level (where you can actually follow the puck and the game without spontaneous seizure) viewers are starting to realize how much fun hockey can be! Remember when Fox Sports tried to put a glowing highlight over the puck? We have come a long way. The 2011-2012 season is going to hold some interesting games this year with the Winter Classic (catch the HBO series), tributes to Lokomotiv (Russian team plane crash) when the Caps play the Pens this month, NHL games in Europe, Hall of Fame game, All-Star game in Ottawa and on April 7th there will be 15 televised games. For those policy driven politico types you can follow the ongoing concussion debate and the bleeding hearts can follow Sid the Kid. One of the best players in history that might not ever get to play again at the young age of 24. Other season highlights will include the ever so strong Eastern Conference which is so sick it’s taken on Notorious B.I.G. status.
You have depth in Pittsburg, the shakeup in Philly, Caps with an amazing offseason, new Jet’s - sorry Thrashers X them out to my left, the Florida overhaul and the Rangers who’s roster scares the hell out of me. Throw in the mighty Sabres, the Lightning and Cup winners in Boston and damn boy-e. Oh and if you have not seen these teams play before don’t worry. With the new NBC contract you get 50+ more games on TV this year and every single playoff game! But hold on tight people, the collective bargaining agreement is up at the end of the season and can take down hockey quicker than a drive by took out Tupac. Remember when hockey took a season off to figure out how much everyone gets paid in 2004-2005? It crippled the sport. Hockey is on the upswing and the popularity is rising fast. Who knows what will happen this time around, especially with no basketball and a "yaaawn" post season for baseball. Expect this to be an amazing season with more drama than your mamma.
If you like drama or just want to research a few interesting players, check out some of my favorites below.
For the patriotic fan - Ryan Miller
Russian Machine - Ovechkin
Concussion controversy - Crosby
The forgotten Pen back in action - Malkin
Czechmate a winning move in Philly? -Jaromir Jagr
Biggest off season contract winner - Brad Richards in NY
Family guys - Sedin Twins really? Brothers both make it in the NHL and on the same team?
The fall of Sean Avery (NY loves drama)
Bible thumper making too much noise - Rocco Grimaldi tells women to put their boobs away.
See you on the ice.
