2023-'24 NHL Season

[white lightning]

ESPN/ABC has black sportscasters for the NHL all-star game. So ridiculous. It never ends.

It's the never ending color revolution in the country that used to be called America. How far we have fallen. Hope for a good game.

 

[NikoDuke]

ESPN/ABC has black sportscasters for the NHL all-star game. So ridiculous. It never ends.

That's been the case for at least 3 season since the great St Floyd left us.. and it's quite worse in Canada. When I'm back in NY watching the Rangers on MSG, it's quite refreshing as it's mostly ex players. On Canada it's heavily Blacks and female sportcasters.

 

[Don Wassall]

The defending Stanley Cup champions Golden Knights beat Edmonton in the first game after the All Star break to snap the Oilers' 16 game win streak, so the '93 Penguins still hold the record with 17 straight.

 

[SneakyQuick]

The defending Stanley Cup champions Golden Knights beat Edmonton in the first game after the All Star break to snap the Oilers' 16 game win streak, so the '93 Penguins still hold the record with 17 straight.

Take off hoser!

 

[Don Wassall]

The Pittsburgh Penguins are finally righting a long-standing wrong and will retire Jaromir Jagr's number 68 during a ceremony before a home game in February.

Jagr is one of the most amazing athletes ever. He played nearly 30 years in the NHL and is the second leading all-time scorer behind only Wayne Gretzky. He won five scoring titles while with the Penguins and during his first and second seasons the team won the Stanley Cup while Jagr was aged 19 and 20.

He was born and raised in Czechoslovakia and wore number 68 in honor of the Czech uprising against the occupying Soviets in that country in 1968. He loved coming to America and was filled with joy and had a lot of charisma. He even had a "room brightening smile."

When the Penguins became a bottom feeder after Mario Lemieux retired for the first time in 1997, Jagr made some noises about being unhappy and he eventually was traded to Washington in a very lopsided deal in Washington's favor. The DWFs in Pittsburgh, instead of showing appreciation for what Jagr had accomplished for the organization as one of the best hockey players ever and certainly the second best in team history behind only Lemieux, began relentlessly booing him every time he played a road game in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. Without exception, every time he touched the puck they booed. This went on until the end of his career, as Jagr played 17 more years in the NHL for a number of teams after leaving Pittsburgh. All because he made a couple of awkward statements in his broken English about being unhappy. These of course are the same DWFs that cheer for prima donna football players, buffoons, and players with lengthy rap sheets.

So I'm glad his uniform number is finally being retired. Hopefully it will be an emotional ceremony and the DWFs will finally "forgive" Jaromir Jagr and accord him the accolades and appreciation he deserves.

The day is finally here and Jagr's 68 will be retired this afternoon before the Penguins face off against the Kings at 6:00. Jagr participated in the team's practice yesterday in full uniform. At 52 years old he still plays in the Czech League for the team he owns. The second greatest scorer in NHL history, his professional hockey journey began at age 18 in 1990 when he joined the Penguins and continues to this day. A unique and most remarkable athlete, I'm glad the long overdue retiring of his jersey number is finally here and will be watching the ceremony.

Here's a nice highlight reel of Jagr for those who appreciate the beauty of the world's fastest sport when played at the highest level:

 

[NikoDuke]

Jagr is an all time great player and in the 96 playoffs I had the chance to see him live and just dominate the rangers. Even as a young kid, I could recognize how elite his skill and intelligence were.

Of note, it is said that if he grew up in America he could've been an excellent wife receiver as he combined fast twitch fibers, body coordination and intelligence.

 

[SneakyQuick]

Jagr is an all time great player and in the 96 playoffs I had the chance to see him live and just dominate the rangers. Even as a young kid, I could recognize how elite his skill and intelligence were.

Of note, it is said that if he grew up in America he could've been an excellent wife receiver as he combined fast twitch fibers, body coordination and intelligence.

Thank God he didn’t grow up in America. He might not have discovered hockey and no one would have witnessed his excellence!

 

[Don Wassall]

The ceremony retiring Jagr's jersey number was tremendous. I didn't expect anything of this magnitude. And Jagr was great too, funny, insightful and still as charismatic as ever. Here's the video of it for those who liked Jagr and/or have fond memories of the Penguins of the 1990s. It's worth watching for the many Jagr highlights alone:

 

[Don Wassall]

Maybe this should go in the Joe Biden's America thread:

18,500 missing Jagr bobbleheads plunged Penguins into crisis mode​

'You're talking to the victim here': 18,500 missing Jagr bobbleheads plunged Penguins into crisis mode

On Tuesday, two days before a giveaway of Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads, the Pittsburgh Penguins learned that the toys had been stolen, plunging the front office into a whirlwind of activity. The 18,500 tiny likenesses of No. 68, complete with hand raised in a salute, had disappeared after being...

triblive.com

 

[NikoDuke]

Maybe this should go in the Joe Biden's America thread:

18,500 missing Jagr bobbleheads plunged Penguins into crisis mode​

'You're talking to the victim here': 18,500 missing Jagr bobbleheads plunged Penguins into crisis mode

On Tuesday, two days before a giveaway of Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads, the Pittsburgh Penguins learned that the toys had been stolen, plunging the front office into a whirlwind of activity. The 18,500 tiny likenesses of No. 68, complete with hand raised in a salute, had disappeared after being...

triblive.com

View attachment 4390

I read about this and immediately thought it was a joke but, nah it's real..

 

[Don Wassall]

Auston Matthews scored his 65th goal of the season tonight, the second time in his career he's potted at least 60. No one has scored more than 65 goals in a season since Mario Lemieux scored 69 back in 1995-'96.

 

[SneakyQuick]

I just hope he disappears in the playoffs like usual.

 

[Don Wassall]

I just hope he disappears in the playoffs like usual.

True that, as I didn't watch the Leafs much in their longtime run of first round playoff flops, but it would be surprising if last year wasn't the first time Matthews came up a dud, as he looked shockingly bad against the Panthers in the second round last year after Toronto finally won a first round matchup.

 

[SneakyQuick]

True that, as I didn't watch the Leafs much in their longtime run of first round playoff flops, but it would be surprising if last year wasn't the first time Matthews came up a dud, as he looked shockingly bad against the Panthers in the second round last year after Toronto finally won a first round matchup.

I say this as a cats fan, but the leafs are so underwhelming in the playoffs I just hope we get a chance to play them

 

[white lightning]

Sources: Coyotes players told of relocation to Utah

Arizona Coyotes players were informed Friday that the team is relocating to Utah, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by PHNX Sports.

www.espn.com

 

[Tannehill17]

I say this as a cats fan, but the leafs are so underwhelming in the playoffs I just hope we get a chance to play them

I was wanting the Leafs too, but we got Tampa instead. I really want to beat Tampa though. I am just sick to death of that team.

 

[Tannehill17]

Sources: Coyotes players told of relocation to Utah

Arizona Coyotes players were informed Friday that the team is relocating to Utah, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by PHNX Sports.

www.espn.com

It's too bad BYU got rid of their hockey program. Not a good move with the NHL coming to Utah.

 

[white lightning]

It's too bad BYU got rid of their hockey program. Not a good move with the NHL coming to Utah.

Yes I agree however I think this will convince BYU to bring back Ice Hockey! It should have never left a winter wonderland like Utah!

 

[SneakyQuick]

I was wanting the Leafs too, but we got Tampa instead. I really want to beat Tampa though. I am just sick to death of that team.

John cooper is a class act as a coach and I while I don’t like the bolts since they are our rivals, I admit I’d love having Stamkos on our team. The guy knows how to win and plays really hard.

That said, I hope we crush them in 4 straight. Haha

 

[Don Wassall]

Just read an article about center Macklin Celebrini, who's going to be the first overall pick by San Jose in the NHL draft later this week. His uncle is none other than basketball great Steve Nash, so he certainly has topnotch athletic genes in his family.

Celebrini was only a freshman this past season at Boston University, so he may choose to continue playing there rather than making an immediate jump to the NHL, but the likely outcome is that playing right away in the NHL will be too hard to resist. He grew up in North Vancouver BC, so like his uncle he's a Canadian.

 

[Bucky]

Just read an article about center Macklin Celebrini, who's going to be the first overall pick by San Jose in the NHL draft later this week. His uncle is none other than basketball great Steve Nash, so he certainly has topnotch athletic genes in his family.

Celebrini was only a freshman this past season at Boston University, so he may choose to continue playing there rather than making an immediate jump to the NHL, but the likely outcome is that playing right away in the NHL will be too hard to resist. He grew up in North Vancouver BC, so like his uncle he's a Canadian.

Macklin Celebrini! Quite a name, about as Irish/Italian as it gets lol. Good genes,no doubt. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Don Wassall]

Johnny Gaudreau, nicknamed Johnny Hockey and who was one of the league's stars, and his brother were struck and killed by a drunk driver in New Jersey as they were bicycling. He was just 31 years old. Very sad, RIP Johnny Gaudreau.

NJ man charged in deaths of NHL star and brother who were in town for family wedding

The 43-year-old New Jersey man charged with vehicular homicide in the deaths of National Hockey League star Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother, Matthew, allegedly caused the crash because he had been, and still was, drinking, and that made him both reckless and impatient, according to a...

www.nbcnewyork.com

 

[Freethinker]

Johnny Gaudreau, nicknamed Johnny Hockey and who was one of the league's stars, and his brother were struck and killed by a drunk driver in New Jersey as they were bicycling. He was just 31 years old. Very sad, RIP Johnny Gaudreau.

NJ man charged in deaths of NHL star and brother who were in town for family wedding

The 43-year-old New Jersey man charged with vehicular homicide in the deaths of National Hockey League star Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother, Matthew, allegedly caused the crash because he had been, and still was, drinking, and that made him both reckless and impatient, according to a...

www.nbcnewyork.com

Horrible tragedy for so many reasons. Johnny with 2 very young children. The Gaudreau family losing 2 sons / brothers at once right before the sister’s wedding. I hope the killer spends the rest of his life behind bars.

RIP