Hockey is coming...

Just a few random things on my mind right now (since I actually have extra time)

I hope to get tickets to the Sabres season opener this year. I've never been to an opening game.

I was thinking today about how in less than a week there will be NHL games. Yes, they're pre-season games that don't count for anything, but it does mean that the season is right around the corner.

Speaking of games I hope to see the Portland Pirates a few times this season. They're coming to Scranton a couple times and playing in Hartford, CT twice. Since my sister goes to college near there now I'm hoping to see one of those games with her. It will probably be the second one since it's right before one of her breaks.

I was about to post a comment on a friend's facebook wall about hockey almost being here when I saw she posted a new status update a few hours before. My friend has an interview with the Sabres on Monday! Working for the Sabres would definitely fit her well. (Even if she does like Detroit as well.)

-- Sharpie

I've managed to stump one of the greats...

First of all I am NOT dead or missing! Life got busy here in Iraq for quite a while. (getting up very early and being up relatively late will do that, but someone had to make breakfast and dinner). My job has since changed, and I hope that by the time the hockey season starts I'll be back to updating regularly!

As some have reported Direct TV is dropping the VS network at the end of the month. (barring a last minute negotiation) I decided to e-mail one of the hockey blogosphere's greatest minds in an attempt to find out how this will affect us fans. The following is from me:

"James,
With Direct TV dropping the VS network at the end of the month (barring last minute contract negotiations) what would it take for the NHL to opt out of their current contract with the network? Is there any chance that those of us who have Direct TV will be able to see more of the NHL than just our local teams without buying the Center Ice package?

-- Sharpie"

I figured that with his vast knowledge of the hockey world and how he keeps track of everything from salary cap figures and trade possibilites to the lastest on the Jim Balsillie saga he would have some light to shed on the matter. Imagine my shock when I received teh following e-mail in response:

"Jeez, Justin I really don't know. We don't have all these stupid television issues with the NHL here in Canada fortunately and there are tons of games on basic cable

Lemme see if I can get an answer to that from the league.

James"

At least as a well respected hockey journalist he knows who to talk to in the league to get the info. As much as I hate the Versus announcers I just don't have the money for the Center Ice package. (Assuming I do get satellite or cable when I get back.) I am trying to expand my hockey knowledge, especially in the Western conference.

We can still blame Gary Bettman for this one, right?

Advice for Lindy Ruff and other random thoughts

I watched my last Sabres game I'll see for a while on Thursday night. My brothers and their families were at my parents for a good-bye dinner for me. (We had ham, sweet potato pie, [My mom makes and AMAZING sweet potato pie] pumpkin and apple pies, and some other assorted junk food. I put on the Sabres game and got to see them show up and play, and what do you know, they won. From what I've read about them this season I'm expecting them to start to slack off again soon, but I'm hoping that they shock us all and show they still care about hockey after all.

Changing the locker assignments, is that the best you can do, Lindy? I've got some ideas for you to pull out next time the Sabres play like crap.

• After the game have them wait until everyone leaves then have them do skating drills for about a half hour. If they ask why tell them that if they didn't want to work during the game they can work now.
• Have a long practice where for the first half they spend time changing into their uniforms, getting to the ice, then send them back to change. Once again you can feel free to remind them that it's because they didn't want to work during the game. Remind them that they have to earn those contracts and the people of Buffalo deserve to get their money's worth out of them. (Yes, technically it's Tom Golisano getting his money, but telling them the people of Buffalo will make them feel like they're helping more than just one really rich guy, plus the people of Buffalo do buy the tickets and merchandise, so it is true from a certain point of view.)
• Run the next practice like they are a high school travel team. (or younger) Have them do pointless drills that are far below what they would use in an NHL game. Don't let them wear official practice jerseys during this either. As the practice begins tell them that since they don't feel like playing at the NHL level you are going to treat them like the high school (or younger) team they act like. (I would love to see them practicing with the cages on their helmets with over-sized Timbits jerseys.)
• Have a day of practice where you have them show up for 20 minutes, then release them but have them report back an hour later. Do this all day. I'm sure they'll remember this and will try to avoid it again.

These are just a few quick ideas. If you want some more just try and contact any Army or Marine drill sergeants. You'll learn plenty of creative ideas.

While watching the game the other night my 2 1/2 year old nice climbed up next to me on the couch to watch. That's right, Uncle Sharpie is getting them hooked young. I'd post the picture, but it's on my sister-in-law's camera, not mine. I also got my older nephew to watch with me. He's lived in SC for most of his life, so he's new to hockey.

I watched about half of the Winter Classic. I don't feel bad about calling it the Winter Classic when it's not in Buffalo. Here's a few quick thoughts on the game.

• Man, this is nice -- a real hockey game.
  
• Did the announcer just say Ty Conklin's in goal? Wow, that guys's been in every outdoor NHL game! I bet he tries to get traded to a team that plays in next year's Winter Classic. It's probably part of his contract.
• Wow, the seating really sucks at this game. Unless you're at the corner you're pretty far from ice even in the front row. What was the NHL thinking? Please let them stick with a football stadium in the future.
• Ah, pond hockey. I remember going out and skating on the frozen yard out back, but lets be honest, how do people who live any farther south that the Mason-Dixon line identify iwth that? Apparently the NHL plans on attracting new fans by not identifying with them.
• How do you make and outdoor rink at home anyway? I always thought it was a 3 step process. 1) Find a lake or pond or something that can be skated on when frozen. 2) Pray for freezing weather 3) Skate on it until it gets warm and melts. Now I find out that people's dads made outdoor rinks in the back yard. Do they have the power to conjure up subzero temperatures or something?

Here's some pictures I took before (and I think a couple during) that horrible excuse for a game on Tuesday night. At least the seats were good.

NHL on Hulu

So recently a friend of mine sent me to a website where one can enjoy TV shows with limited commercials for free (basically 4 commercial breaks in what would be an hour show, each with only 1 commercial). I was able to enjoy a show from when I was younger. (It got the ax in 2000) Recently on that site I found that the NHL posts some full games on there! Unfortunately when I went to watch the Derek Roy highlight (he was the only Sabres player I saw on there with a highlight) there was no audio. The website is hulu.com, and you can also watch some games on there, include a game from the '60s! Or perhaps you'd like to watch the Nordiques play the Candadiens from 1985. For those masochists out there you can also watch the agonizing shoot-out from the Ice Bowl! (I was there, and these pictures prove it!)







Oh yeah, one more thing -- Shootouts suck and should be eliminated.
(And since Ryan Miller must have enough time to read every Sabres blog out there and he's a member of the competition committee I'm officially tasking him with eliminating it from games.