New to Hockey

[AlexHorvath]

Being that I am in college, I see A LOT of hockey fans, more notably Bruins and Rangers fans since I go to CT. I've watched a couple hockey games and I am interested in it. Where should the hockey noob start? And in boston/ny and anything in between, how do the teams rank?

[Review]

My recommendation would be to watch a lot of hockey. I grew up playing and watching hockey in the 90's so it's easy for me. What do you want to know? The bruins won the cup a few yrs ago and have kept their core group, save Tim Thomas. The Rangers have a solid team. YouTube has some good stuff if you`re looking for player highlights.

[AlexHorvath]

Re: New to Hockey

My recommendation would be to watch a lot of hockey. I grew up playing and watching hockey in the 90's so it's easy for me. What do you want to know? The bruins won the cup a few yrs ago and have kept their core group, save Tim Thomas. The Rangers have a solid team. YouTube has some good stuff if you`re looking for player highlights.

I just want to know basically where the boundaries are, like if I want to be a Rangers fan, I don't want people saying I'm a bandwagoner or anything, but I also don't want to root for a team thats doing not so good

[Review]

Re: New to Hockey

I just want to know basically where the boundaries are, like if I want to be a Rangers fan, I don't want people saying I'm a bandwagoner or anything, but I also don't want to root for a team thats doing not so good

It shouldn`t really matter if you just started watching hockey and are from NY. It`s a no brainer really as the Rangers are "the team" there. The Islanders have the best player (Tavares) in the area though.

[NYwRiter94]

Re: New to Hockey

It shouldn`t really matter if you just started watching hockey and are from NY. It`s a no brainer really as the Rangers are "the team" there. The Islanders have the best player (Tavares) in the area though.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Getting the chance to actually watch Rick Nash play night in and night out, he's utterly dominant. Honestly, it almost seems like he's "slumping" scoring-wise and he still has 3 goals. He makes something happen every time he's on the ice and is very visible at all times.

In terms of being a Rangers fan, I don't think anyone will call you a bandwagoner. They haven't won anything yet, so there's no bandwagon for you to jump on. I think they're the best team in the league, though, so there's that.

[MelBosco]

Re: New to Hockey

Who cares what other people say or think. Unless they were born into liking a team, then every single fan is a 'bandwagon' fan at one point or another.

No one starts to like a team in a new sport that is terrible.

I would suggest you just start watching any time you get the chance. You will begin to notice patterns, ie some teams play a slicker more puck control game; some play a dump and chase, more physical game.

See what styles you like better, and that will make those games more exciting for you.

Plus start actually watching single players, watch them when they are with the puck and without. You will again start to notice player traits that you may or may not like in a player.

Maybe certain players always shy away from contact, or complain to the ref to much. Some players will be hard nosed aggressive players, some will be softer slick skating players who glide through the defence rather than plow through them.

Find what styles you like, then that may help you start to enjoy this great game more.

I find this one aspect that the NHL has over the other sports.
"You say an NFL guy is tough and loves to hit, really"
"you say an NBA guy is a good athlete, and can jump, really"

Hockey provides many different types of players, and all different styles.
From fighter, to hard nosed 4th line character guys, to brusing power forwards to slick hands of skilled players.

You can like them all, or pick and choose.

I know people who's favorite player on the team is the guy who gets 5min a game.

[Review]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Getting the chance to actually watch Rick Nash play night in and night out, he's utterly dominant. Honestly, it almost seems like he's "slumping" scoring-wise and he still has 3 goals. He makes something happen every time he's on the ice and is very visible at all times.

.

Nash is a beast. It's rare that someone so big and strong can dangle and control the puck at high speed. Keep in mind that Nash has the advantage of playing with better line mates. I would still go with Tavares as the better talent right now. The fact that he's younger and plays center makes him more valuable. Who knows what his numbers would be like if he had some solid wingers.

[NYwRiter94]

Re: New to Hockey

Nash is a beast. It's rare that someone so big and strong can dangle and control the puck at high speed. Keep in mind that Nash has the advantage of playing with better line mates. I would still go with Tavares as the better talent right now. The fact that he's younger and plays center makes him more valuable. Who knows what his numbers would be like if he had some solid wingers.

I've read some discussions recently that actually lead me to believe that the better linemates don't necessarily lead to more success for Nash. Keep in mind that he had this scoring pace back in Columbus too, and if you watch him you see that he really drives a line on his own (hence why Tortorella has taken him off of Richards' line). Honestly, I don't watch Tavares enough to definitively say one is better than the other, I'm just saying it's a definite discussion.

In terms of value though, you're definitely right in that Tavares is more valuable, if only because of his age.

[biglami]

Re: New to Hockey

I just want to know basically where the boundaries are, like if I want to be a Rangers fan, I don't want people saying I'm a bandwagoner or anything, but I also don't want to root for a team thats doing not so good

If you want to become a NYR fan, then here are the Cliffsnotes:

1940- last Stanley Cup that the NYR had won, until 1994

1994- broke the 1940 curse. Mike Keenan was the Coach, and this was the only year that he had ever coached. As he approached the trade deadline, he forced a blockbuster trade that landed the NYR: Stephane Matteau, Brian Noonan, Steve Larmer, Glenn Anderson, and a player or 2 that I am forgetting. He unloaded popular players Mike Gartner, James Patrick, and a guy who was not doing much at the time, Ed Olcyzk. Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Segei Zubov, and Alexei Kovalev lead the way for the team. Mike Richter got hot in goal. It was a pretty epic run, at least for an NYR fan.

1995- Keenan left, and went to the Blues. The NYR brought in Wayne Gretzky in 95 or 96, but he was a bit old, slow and soft. Despite his decent #s and a 100 point season, he was not able to keep up with younger, bigger, faster 1st and 2nd line Center.

Becoming a Devil fan would be more bandwagonish than becoming a NYR fan. Becoming a Bruin fan is just a disgusting thought. Becoming an Islander fan would seem depressing. A nice added bonus of becoming a NYR fan would be listening to John Davidson, if he still calls the games on MSG. I have been away from the East Coast for 15 years now, so I do not know.

With hockey, unless the player is just outstanding and makes everyone around him better (like Gretzky when he was on EDM and LAK), then players do not generally win games. It is not like basketball, when you can just get on the shoulders of someone who becomes unstoppable. Groups of players win games (lines, defensive pairings, a great D on the point with a bruising forward knocking in deflections, etc.)

Cheers.

[beantownbruins]

Re: New to Hockey

I'm from CT. It's a 50/50 split. You either go Boston or New York. I went Boston and have never looked back. Gotta make up your own mind tho, no one else can do it for you.

[canesfins]

Re: New to Hockey

Don't worry bout "bandwagoning". I honestly don't care how or when a person begins to like a team as long as they stick to that team through the good AND bad years.