Hockey worth watching this year?

[Alex Confer]

Looking at the recent transactions, it's occured to me that hockey won't be what it used to be for the fact that so many fan favorites are getting cut or traded, i.e. Jeremy Roenick to LA. They're saying this Flyers team is already a Stanley Cup favorite, but I can't bring myself to enjoy any of it because:

- Jeremy Roenick is gone.
- Tony Amonte is gone.
- John Leclair is gone.

Simply put, those three guys were veteran leaders and held the team together from season-to-season. I'm just using Philadelphia as an example, but it's happening elsewhere.

Really, really bad move for a salary cap now that I think about it.

[Da Rafeter]

Hopefully we don't see teams like the Carolina Hurricanes facing off against, the Chicago Blackhawks now in the Stanley Cup finals, is it a NFL type salary cap or more of the lighter NBA one hockeys got?

[Alex Confer]

It's in the area of $30M, which is pathetic. From what I understand, it's also pretty hard.

[Freak93]

It is definetly hard for them since hockey players want a ton of money. Even though the Flyers did lose those three verterans, it will not hurt them too much. The Flyers had passionate fans, they will watch no matter what. And they brought in exciting guys to watch. Peter Forsberg is simply amazing, Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje are here also. Hatcher is fun to watch will throw down, also fun to watch. Philadelphia fans are getting used to watching veterans leave. Look at the Ealges, remember when they lost Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent? Fans were upset but grew to love Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown.

[JackTheRipper]

the cap is actually like 42 or 43 mil i think...and, as much as I hate all the moves that are getting made with the Avs losing foppa and Foote, I think this is good for the game. People love parity and all the team changing is getting people to pay attention....this is good for the long run, even though its hurting the die-hard fans to see their favorite players leave.

[Freak93]

There is now way it is around 40 million. The Flyers were at 33 million before they started making moves and they wanted room under the cap.

[detroitbasketball]

bsktballr said:

Looking at the recent transactions, it's occured to me that hockey won't be what it used to be

And...this comes as news to you?

Flyers and Red Wings remain Stanley Cup favorites, not like the Wings will be losing a ton of guys. Calgary may make it again as well, but don't expect to see TB back with all the UFAs they won't be able to bring back.

[JackTheRipper]

DB, on a different subject, LOVE the quote.

[Freak93]

Yeah, the Lightning have lost hab, however you spell that. He signed with Chicago.

[JackTheRipper]

Khabibulin for your info...what happens with Jocelyn Thibault now? Its not like he was a bad goalie, he was actually pretty good playing behind a very mediocre Hawks team

[cooljayhu]

I believe the cap is set at 39 mil but I have seen alot of different figures between 37 and 42 million so it is probably in that area

[Terps]

I'm actually more interested in hockey then I usually am....I was always a fan, but I want to see if their attempt to open up scoring works.

[BstnRdSx]

I hope not, I love a 1-0 game more than a 6-5 game in hockey.

[ruff edgz]

I will watch it, if there isn't any other sports on to watch.. I still love my Detroit Red Wings!

|2uff

[Freak93]

Most people don't watch it but I think it is one of the best things.

[JackTheRipper]

I, personally, love dramatic double and triple OT games. I love being on the edge of my seat through all the chances right up until somebody finally ends it.

[skip2mylou]

The Cap is $39 mill, and I still can't belive Colorado lost Forsberg and Foote

[robino2001]

hockey will be difficult to find with OLN having the exclusive rights now

[Freak93]

I get OLN on satelitte but the cable around my house does not get OLN. This is just crazy. The NHL is stupid for not going with ESPN. I know OLN was more money but ESPN is getting your name back out there a lot, getting fans back.

[robino2001]

OLN is cable here, but deep on the list. From what I understood, they offer the rights to ESPN for much less but ESPN stated that no one wants to watch hockey anymore because of the labor dispute. So they finally caved and committed to OLN. Tells me I need to get satellite now to get Fox Sports Rocky Mountain....

also, I think the hype going into this season is much greater than the past because of Crosby, because of all of the big name player movement among other things