The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

I feel like the goaltending in the NHL has gotten worse in recent years, would not surprise if me multiple guys hit 130+ points this year

I'm fine with that.

Hockey is at its best when we see more goals. Nobody comes to games to see 40 save performances.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

I see McDavid making his teammates come in two weeks early for training camp paid off

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

Tonight will undoubtedly be the pinnacle of the Canucks' season.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

I wonder if Vancouver is going to join Toronto in finally exiting the 80s. It's been "Don't You Forget About Me" for a couple years now, which I guess fits, since there are no shortage of Simple Minds in Canucks management.

For those curious, the Canucks are still going full Breakfast Club.

Looks like they've retired Elton John's "I'm Still Standing" as their victory song, though.

[southernmetalhead]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

That had to be one of the worst opening night losses ever, right?

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

NHL loves going backwards.

Apparently they want to abandon their current draft setup where you have GMs, scouts and other personnel at the drafts and just make it like other sports where its just the players and that's it.

Does the league not realize the draft is one of the things they're BETTER at than all other leagues? From having all these trades announced on the spot (and seeing GMs talking and guys on phones and walking over to other draft tables) to having a guy go up there and put on his new jersey while having the team staff there is the highlights of it.

If you want to remove one thing from the draft, just ban people from giving speeches before making their picks. We don't need 31 GMs or scouts coming up and getting a cheap pop from the local fans and then congratulating the Stanley Cup winners.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

I think Auston Matthews is a goal scorer.



Just read that Brian Burke said he'll pay anyone's fines if they use pride tape.

I'm sure fines aren't anywhere close to the reason someone won't be using pride tape, but Burke is one of the more surprising people you constantly hear good stories about as time goes on. Obviously he's been a big supporter of pride for a while now, but just in general, for a guy who is from the "old school" hockey culture mindset, he is definitely not like most of the old school hockey personalities.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

Will probably age badly but I don't think TB makes the playoffs this year, they look very sloppy and don't have Vasy bailing them out.

[southernmetalhead]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

Lots of empty seats in Buffalo for that Lightning game.

[pietasterp]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

I have basically the highest-tier of my cable package, with almost all of the dedicated sports channels, and the only major sports network I don't get is NHL Network. I have to pay more for that, a-la cart.

This makes no sense to me whatsoever. The last thing the NHL needs is more barriers to their product...

[bhurst99]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

That 2-1 loss resembled a Leafs playoff game.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

That 2-1 loss resembled a Leafs playoff game.

Speaking of Leafs playoff game...they followed up winning 3 straight in TB in the playoffs in OT by winning their first meeting since with an OTW.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

What a weird week in the NHL.

Monday was just 1 game.

Today everyone plays.

Tomorrow is just 1 game.

And today you have games as early as 6pm local time and as late as 8pm local time on the west coast (but the road teams fans it will be 11pm on tv. I guess it makes sense since the Phillies play tonight and who would watch Flyers vs Knights when Phillies game 7 NLCS is on, but not sure why they even scheduled every team for today anyways)

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

NHL reversing decision on banning pride tape, but won't back down on specialty jerseys.

I don't get what the point is on jerseys. Maybe don't have speciality nights and just let guys wear whatever they want pregame/in practice or whatever. If a guy isn't wearing it he won't be singled out (at least in the moment) because not everyone will be wearing it at the same time.

Same with the pride tape. If a guy feels like taping his stick in the middle of October just because, there's nothing wrong with that. If someone doesn't want to, that's their choice. But having a specific night for it where the spotlight gets put on who does/doesn't is probably one of the issues.

It sucks teams not having them because lots just auctioned them with money going to a charity relating to that theme. If they could've still done jerseys but guys just autographed it and that's it, that would still help out these charities. I don't think fans cared as much if the jersey was worn for the pregame or not, if it's a specific player they want, or just wanted any team one, they would buy it regardless.

[pietasterp]

Re: The Official 2023-24 Season Talk Thread

Hey, how about those Red Wings? May be relevant again (for a month or two)!