Is this the most uneventful NHL season you've witnessed?

[Big Phil]

There is no Olympics, there won't even be a 100 point man and maybe not even a 50 goal man. There are no good storylines. Fights have been the same level as last year but no classic brawls, not a heavyweight tilt you'll remember. Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin are unable to outscore Jakub Voracek. There is no dominant team and a couple of really horrendous teams worse than everyone else.

This is the first time in my life I ever turned off the skills competition at the all-star game (the shootout competition was getting silly). The All-Star game means less now than it ever has in history. They announced the plan to basically change the World Cup from what used to be a serious tournament to a joke with the under 23 idea and "rest of Europe" team.

The Cup winning team probably won't even make the playoffs. The Norris race will be one of those years where "someone" has to win it rather than a year where someone is having a great year. I guess Weber might be the front runner, good for him but this might be the worst competition ever.

There is less creativity this season than any I've ever seen.

On a good note someone is getting Connor McDavid and as long as the NHL doesn't ruin him maybe teams will start to play by trying to score again.

Anyway, just a bad year. Maybe a good postseason can save it.

Click to read more...

 

[Derfel*]

Aside from the All-Star game, there have been great "storylines" and some very good games. The fact that Cup-winning team might not make the playoffs is a positive, not a negative. I've seen some fantastic creative goals and defensive plays, and some outstanding performances by goaltenders.

When a fan's team isn't playing well, they assume the whole league has gone down the drain, perhaps?

 

[Mulletman]

Yeah this year has really sucked. It's just like 2003-04 all over again...

Funny how Rick Nash might win the Rocket trophy again this year just like he did back in 03-04. Maybe that has something to do with it?

 

[jigglysquishy]

Next to the 03-04 season this is probably the worst season I've ever seen. No star has stepped up. Scoring is too low. Crosby is having an off season.

 

[Machinehead]

Meanwhile the tightest playoff race ever is happening in the West with all of two teams realistically eliminated, and there's 8 Cup contenders in the East, all of whom will be killing each other in April.

Sure, there's complaints to be had, but there's plenty of good stuff going on.

 

[Hockeyleberry Finn]

There is no Olympics, there won't even be a 100 point man and maybe not even a 50 goal man. There are no good storylines. Fights have been the same level as last year but no classic brawls, not a heavyweight tilt you'll remember. Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin are unable to outscore Jakub Voracek. There is no dominant team and a couple of really horrendous teams worse than everyone else.

Why does it matter if someone scores 100 points or 50 goals. Serious question. Just enjoy the game

The Cup winning team probably won't even make the playoffs. The Norris race will be one of those years where "someone" has to win it rather than a year where someone is having a great year. I guess Weber might be the front runner, good for him but this might be the worst competition ever.

What's so bad about the first? If anything it gives hope to bubble teams they can win it all even though they're not Chicago, Tampa Bay, Ducks, Wings or whatever. And yes, Giordano and Weber have truly been unworthy this year

Anyway, just a bad year. Maybe a good postseason can save it.

It's all hyperbole, I'm sorry to say.

 

[FinRuutu]

Opinions man, opinions.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

There is no Olympics, there won't even be a 100 point man and maybe not even a 50 goal man. There are no good storylines. Fights have been the same level as last year but no classic brawls, not a heavyweight tilt you'll remember. Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin are unable to outscore Jakub Voracek. There is no dominant team and a couple of really horrendous teams worse than everyone else.

This is the first time in my life I ever turned off the skills competition at the all-star game (the shootout competition was getting silly). The All-Star game means less now than it ever has in history. They announced the plan to basically change the World Cup from what used to be a serious tournament to a joke with the under 23 idea and "rest of Europe" team.

The Cup winning team probably won't even make the playoffs. The Norris race will be one of those years where "someone" has to win it rather than a year where someone is having a great year. I guess Weber might be the front runner, good for him but this might be the worst competition ever.

There is less creativity this season than any I've ever seen.

On a good note someone is getting Connor McDavid and as long as the NHL doesn't ruin him maybe teams will start to play by trying to score again.

Anyway, just a bad year. Maybe a good postseason can save it.

You may believe the bolded is a joke. But I believe your in a minority.

The World Cup is going to be a fantastic tournament.

 

[613Leafer]

Calder race is better than normal IMO.

There's a decent chance we'll see a 65+ point player (Forsberg), a 19 year old well rounded 40+ point dman (Ekblad), and a few other interesting names like Gaudreau, etc. Hutchinson unfortunately wont have played enough games, but he's having a very strong rookie season.

Also the Art Ross race is wide open, maybe no major superstar numbers, but the fact that this late in the season, there are 5+ legitimate contenders makes it interesting to follow.

Ultimately it looks like the depth of the league is just getting better and better. Its becoming harder for star players to break away from the rest of the pack, harder to score, and minutes are reduced as 3rd/4th lines become higher and higher calibre.

 

[Orfieus]

Get GameCenter or Center Ice and watch some out of market hockey!

Vancouver just destroyed Pittsburgh 5-0 last night. Carolina (27th in the league) just beat SJ 5-4.

I think there are great games every night and personally I don't give a **** about awards. Every night there is a great game on and that's all that matters to me.

 

[Habssince89]

I agree with the statements in general about the regular season, but I think this playoffs will be fantastic. Lots of surprises are coming our way

 

[jacks*]

There is no Olympics, there won't even be a 100 point man and maybe not even a 50 goal man. There are no good storylines. Fights have been the same level as last year but no classic brawls, not a heavyweight tilt you'll remember. Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin are unable to outscore Jakub Voracek. There is no dominant team and a couple of really horrendous teams worse than everyone else.

This is the first time in my life I ever turned off the skills competition at the all-star game (the shootout competition was getting silly). The All-Star game means less now than it ever has in history. They announced the plan to basically change the World Cup from what used to be a serious tournament to a joke with the under 23 idea and "rest of Europe" team.

The Cup winning team probably won't even make the playoffs. The Norris race will be one of those years where "someone" has to win it rather than a year where someone is having a great year. I guess Weber might be the front runner, good for him but this might be the worst competition ever.

There is less creativity this season than any I've ever seen.

On a good note someone is getting Connor McDavid and as long as the NHL doesn't ruin him maybe teams will start to play by trying to score again.

Anyway, just a bad year. Maybe a good postseason can save it.

No good storyline
How about a player,Ekblad having one of the best seasons ever as an 18 yr old rookie D-man.
4-5 rookies chasing the Calder.
Two players who never won the Vez ,Price /Rinne both having a fantastic season fighting it out.
Tarasenko comming out party.
Seguin, Kane and Voracek all tied in first for the Art Ross Trophy.
The 1st overall pick in his 3rd season doing a disappearing act.
Last yrs Winners in threat of not making playoffs.
Nashville in the standings.
These are all great storylines.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

No good storyline
How about a player,Ekblad having one of the best seasons ever as an 18 yr old rookie D-man.
Two players who never won the Vez ,Price /Rinne fighting it out.
Tarasenko comming out party.
Seguin, Kane and Voracek laeding and tied for the Art Ross Trophy.
These are all great storylines.

This. You also have the Jets and Flames fighting for a playoff spot out west and you have the Islanders doing what they have done this season.

It has been a pretty amazing season.

 

[Banana Sandwiches]

I'm definitely not into this season as much as previous seasons.

Hopefully the playoffs are good since that's what matters most. I just wish we could get there now. Seriously, the East is basically set except for the seeding.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Isn't that just, like, your opinion, man?

I personally find this to be a very fun season. Lots of new teams and stars on the rise, much more uncertainty going into the playoffs than there's been in a long time. The next-generation of stars seem to be arriving which is always great to witness (moreso than tired Crosby vs. Ovechkin vs. Malkin debates).

Norris race kinda sucks though, I agree. And so far I have to say the battle for Goal of the Year is lame. Reilly had a nice one yesterday and Tarasenko's was good, but I still hope to see some better ones in the games remaining.

 

[hisgirlfriday]

This sounds like a thread from somebody upset the players/teams they already like are having a down year or just somebody having a bad day.

Maybe the particular stars that are having good years or the storylines that have happened aren't the ones you want to see, but they are there.

Tyler Seguin emerging the way he has is a huge story given the way Boston gave up on him.

Ovechkin and the Caps being reborn as a tough team that looks like it could do damage in the playoffs when just a year ago it seemed like Ovechkin's cup window may have closed is a huge story. And him being in the thick of the Richard race at the same time he and his team has improved its commitment to defense is a big deal.

To a lesser degree, last year left some with the sense that things may be over for Datsyuk and Zetterberg and Babcock getting more done in Detroit yet their young players have taken huge leaps forward to put them in the thick of things.

Nashville coming from out of the playoffs last year to dominate the most competitive division in the NHL the way they have is a big story.

The Mumps Crisis this year was unlike anything the NHL has seen in our lifetimes.

 

[Philadelphia Ducks]

In general, no. With regards to my team, yes. I've never seen a more lazy bunch of bums with a meathead coach in my life.

 

[hardcorehabs]

Price and Rinne carrying their teams stands out as a good storyline and trophy race.

 

[Devil Dancer]

As a fan of an Eastern Conference team that is likely playoff bound, this season has been really fun so far, and the playoffs are going to be wild.

 

[Bending and Tending]

I guess if you want one guy/team to be a lock for everything, you'll be disappointed, but if you want a good battle for everything, then this year is good.

The top 10 scorers are within 7 points of each other and the to 16 are within 10.

You also have the Kings fighting for a playoff spot, Calgary and Winnipeg sitting in one. Nashville is now a top team. In the East, Montreal, TB, and Detroit are all fighting for the top spot. In other words, no team is safe in either conference.

In my opinion, it's a great year where you have no idea what to expect next.

 

[Jeti]

As a Jets fan... no. They've had a relatively successful season but also an eventful one: a rookie goalie took over the starting position; they held on to a playoff spot while down their top-5 defenders for about a month; Byfuglien switched to D and went on an incredibly dominant run; something about a tracksuit.

The playoff race in the West is going to be great down the stretch.

I don't give a **** if there's no 100-point or 50-goal players. The games have been good.

 

[MoreOrr]

There is no Olympics, there won't even be a 100 point man and maybe not even a 50 goal man. There are no good storylines. Fights have been the same level as last year but no classic brawls, not a heavyweight tilt you'll remember. Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin are unable to outscore Jakub Voracek. There is no dominant team and a couple of really horrendous teams worse than everyone else.

This is the first time in my life I ever turned off the skills competition at the all-star game (the shootout competition was getting silly). The All-Star game means less now than it ever has in history. They announced the plan to basically change the World Cup from what used to be a serious tournament to a joke with the under 23 idea and "rest of Europe" team.

The Cup winning team probably won't even make the playoffs. The Norris race will be one of those years where "someone" has to win it rather than a year where someone is having a great year. I guess Weber might be the front runner, good for him but this might be the worst competition ever.

There is less creativity this season than any I've ever seen.

On a good note someone is getting Connor McDavid and as long as the NHL doesn't ruin him maybe teams will start to play by trying to score again.

Anyway, just a bad year. Maybe a good postseason can save it.

What do the Olympics have to do with the NHL?

There's still certainly a chance that there could be one or even two 50-goal scorers.

Oh yea, the NHL needs "classic brawls". But regardless, there's still time.

No one dominant team. I'm , it makes it more interesting.

The All-star game is little more than slap-stick entertainment to begin with. Who cares?

Same as with the Olympics, what does a World Cup, and any considerations about it, have to do with the NHL?

IF LA doesn't make the Playoffs, that will be a bit odd not to have them face some team in at least one Round of the Playoffs. But it's not as though it's never happened before.

Hey, generally there's always 2 or 3 strong candidates for the Norris. Rarely is it cut and dry as to who will win it. Sometimes yes, but these days it's usually a close competition.

"Less creativity"... Sounds like an opinion statement. Perhaps the majority here will agree with you, perhaps not.

Even on your "good note", what does the June Draft have to do with this NHL Season, other than the Season determining the Draft positions?

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Starting to sound like an old fart here, Big Phil, griping about whatever. Haven't seen reason to debate you on the Main Board before.

Adding in this: Of course there will be other sad sacks here who will join with you to take the opportunity to gripe about the NHL.

 

[cassius]

I agree - entertainment value of the NHL continues to decline. Watching any game involving the Devils is the equivalent of watching paint dry in a corner.

It's to the point where I enjoy watching a random NFL game more than I actually enjoy watching my own NHL team play. So much obstruction these days..

Until the NHL cracks down on obstruction, like they did post-lockout, entertainment value will continue to decline.

Hooking/obstruction trumps individual talent these days.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

This. You also have the Jets and Flames fighting for a playoff spot out west and you have the Islanders doing what they have done this season.

It has been a pretty amazing season.

You must have very low standards.

 

[Ghost of Kyiv]

There's a few good and unexpected stories,
Seguin potentially winning the scoring title so soon after the trade.
Ekblads incredible 18 yr old rookie year.
The Kings potentially missing the playoffs.