(Photo Courtesy of fittedid.com)Fraser: Welcome to DGNB first Battle of the Bias! Lauren everyone around the league is bringing it with their NHL previews and predictions. We need to hop over the boards and get things kicked off ourselves. I want to start off with who will be swinging the fists this year.
I'll start with the Eastern Conference. It has been a busy off season, and established pests like Ottawa's Chris Neil and Philadelphia's Dan Carcillo are facing a lot of competition out on the ice. Colton Orr is looking like a heavyweight with the Maple Leafs, and the Rangers brought in Derek Boogaard, who already started things off with a spear to Chris Neil's groin on Sunday. Boogaard, who owns the current NHL goalless streak at 222 games last scored a goal on January 7, 2006 (Hockeyfights.com), he isn't here to score, he is here to stir things up, protect the stars and agitate the other team. The Rangers are looking for him to do more than fight, but we all know what he is there for, protection. Ottawa also has Matt Carkner who can step in to protect the team, and even Neil when necessary. Tampa Bay brings back a gruesome twosome of Zenon Knopka and Steve Downie. Toughness on the first line? Check.
What is going on in the West? Who is going to protect the kids in Edmonton?
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Lauren: The Best Coast perhaps doesn’t appear to hold the same “toughness” prestige they once did, compared to the generous contracts some tough guys scored out East this offseason (I personally am of the more-risk-more-reward school of thought, so I favor those moves). The West has traditionally been known for a rougher breed of hockey player, and an emphasis on defensive prowess, and size, where the East favors a more speed and finesse-based game. However the two conferences’ “styles” are bleeding into each other more and more each season.
My boys in LA are minus a Raitis Ivanans, but plus a Kevin Westgarth and a 19 year old Kyle Clifford, two fourth line “energy” players likely to throw some bombs this season (ideally in Corey Perry’s direction). Anaheim’s still got a tough core with Parros, but beefed up even more with the offseason addition of Aaron Voros (as the Rangers cleaned out their enforcer closet); the Ducks have also racked up the most preseason fights thus far. San Jose has been without big hammer Jody Shelley since February of last season, but recently added some grit via wingers Jamal Mayers and Frazer McLaren. I’ve seen McLaren drop ‘em plenty of times vs. my hometown Seattle Thunderbirds back when he was a long-standing tough guy in the WHL; he’s guaranteed to be a fan favorite in San Jose. Hockey in California has been thrilling the past few years, and this season stands to be no exception.
Additionally, look for sparks from old stand bys like Jared Boll (Columbus), Cam Janssen (St. Louis), and Krys Barch (Dallas). On an unrelated note, did you know that Wade Belak had a preseason fight? Neither did I.
My personal favorite saga out West this season, as far as scraps are concerned, is the Battle of Alberta. The whittled down Flames squad aquired a boost of muscle when they signed Raitis Ivanans fresh from the LA Kings during the offseason, and a guy named Tim Jackman (great name), which should guarantee us some gruesome fun (because the best Flames team is a nasty Flames team I say) when they face default tough guy Zack Stortini and the Oilers during the season.
Stortini’s role on the team this season extends beyond the usual cuddle-fest, as the Oilers are especially focused on developing (and therefore protecting the physical well-being of) their copious young talent, as well as their high-priced top-liners. Also on board to take on a body guard role for the Oilers is the young and ballsy Theo Peckham, who has been a frequent call up when the Oilers require his services; look for Peckham to prove himself during one of this season’s Battles. All of which Fraser Matthews has reenacted on NHL11 several times over already.
So Fras, in my broadest opinion, the West isn’t as tough as the East on paper, but it really remains to be seen when teams in the conferences meet during the season. A team’s blood rival, most often, is the team they play most frequently throughout the season. I would like to see more of an East vs. West mentality in this game. I think it would make the vibe going into the playoffs, going into the finals, a little more competitive, and a lot more exciting. What potential East vs. West fisticuffs are you looking forward to seeing go down? What kinds of storylines can the teams build to make the interconference rivalry a dirtier one?
Fraser: It is hard to build up enough bad blood to create an interconference rivalry in the new NHL. With the changes to the schedule, teams are playing each other one to two times a season. These games aren't the same as what they used to be, but the old school Norris division battles are usually the best. The Norris Division had the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North Stars battling with one an other 8 times a year, plus playoffs. Anytime these teams get together (WATCH THIS!) you can guarantee that the stakes are higher. The games have prestige and pride on the line, especially amongst the Original 6 teams.
Some of the best rivalries include The Battle of Pennsylvania, Washington vs. Pittsburgh, and of course one of hockey's oldest and most tribal, Montreal vs. Toronto, which kicks off the Maple Leafs and Canadiens season tonight. While many of the Eastern Conferences rivalries are based on territory (Rangers vs. Islanders) and tradition (Bruins vs. Canadiens) built over a number of years, the expansion of the NHL has led to a number of major rivalries emerging in the Western Conference.
What are the biggest games you are looking forward to this season? Can the Canucks dethrone the Hawks? Can the Kings win SoCal from the Ducks?
Lauren: I'm just saying that the bad blood should be there, if only because of the difference in location, even if it doesn't come from some long-standing rivalry. The new-school hockey fan part of me says 'fuck tradition'. The only time you really see them hype the Eastern Conference and Western Conference as rivals is during the All Star Game (...yeah)- make them exciting. I would just like to see inter-conference games matter to people, rather than just being a novelty- "Oh hey the Maple Leafs are in town, they're like big right?" Ideally, wouldn't it be exciting if at Cup time, fans supported their respective conference, instead of just shrugging off the series because it doesn't involve their team? Like Tupac and Biggie, only no one gets shot. Perhaps this is a West coast fan mentality, but we want to see the Leafs, and the Habs, and the Lightning, and the Capitals, and we want those games to be competitive and important for everyone involved.
That being said, as far as the West goes, I'm looking forward to a Kings and Wings rivalry this season, I think Detroit is going to give the heavily-buzzed-about Los Angeles team the biggest run for their money. Detroit is our golden child out West, I think even the people who despise them kind of end up rooting for them when it comes down to it. But I regress, the Kings and Canucks still have unfinished business after last season's playoff series, and I'm actually really looking forward to seeing Canucks warrior Rick Rypien in full action. Rypien, dubbed "the pitbull", is a 5'11 winger with a wicked smirk and readiness to throw fists. He's battling a preseason injury but is expected to be back on that fourth line by the start of regular season, and causing ruckus all over the Western Conference. Including Chicago. I think people underestimate the cuts that the Blackhawks had to make in the offseason, namely the multi-tasking Dustin Byfuglien and super-talented Kris Versteeg. That's not to say they still won't come out near the top, they probably will. I suppose if I had to tell someone in the Eastern Conference what Western teams are going to give them hell this season it would be the above mentioned teams.
And obviously I look forward to any game in which Todd Bertuzzi gets booed every time he touches the puck. I love having that guy in my Conference.
Let the madness commence.
The East vs. West blog: Rockstar level.
ReplyDeleteLauren, I've heard many pundits out East just absoultely underrate the Nucks defense. I've always been a proponent of having a strong defense. Who cares if the Nucks don't have a Chris Pronger-type, they have a deep defense that will help the Nucks and Luongo...Ehrhoff(the Ex-Shark), Edler, Bieksa(Love him), Hamhuis and Ballard(hitting his own goalies aside..) is a very good defense.
At first, when I looked at the potential of the Hawks dismantling, I thought it'd be bad, but not so much anymore. In a cap-era world, the likes of Skille, Bickell, Beach, etc. have to step up....the Kings learned from last season, urgency is key. I think it's time for Bernier to carry some of the work load. Quick stumbled late, why? Played too much.
Fras, I don't think the East is that great, to be fair. Ryan Miller is such a great goalie, but they made no concerted effort to improve the backups(Lalime's face scares me every time). Of course they could be great again, but who knows. I will be interested to see if WSH decides to play different styles, etc. Many people like the Flyers over the likes of WSH/PIT, because of the mental toughness and the ability to come up clutch...I'm a huge fan of Tampa. I can't believe the Flyers got rid of Simon Gagne, absolute crime. But anyways, with Stamkos, Marty, Vinny, etc. this team is going to be very good.
Anyways, at the end of the day, it's going to be a hell of a Hockey season. My goal is to see the Sharks, Kings and even the Leafs(just to see Versteeg's sick skills and Phaneuf) in Philadelphia...my prediction. Flyers going against any one of the Sharks/Kings/Canucks/Wings.
Continue the great work you two beauts. This was fantastic!