After a long and eventful summer filled with many changes and controversy on and off the ice, the focus returns to the action on the ice as the NHL begins a new season tonight with 4 games, including the Leafs and Canadiens kicking off CBC's Hockey Night In Canada's 57th season. Hockey fans will have plenty to look forward to this season, including the annual Winter Classic in Boston's Fenway Park on New Year's Day which will feature the Bruins and Flyers. Other highlights to watch for:

---Sidney Crosby and the Penguins defend their 2009 Stanley Cup title

---Alexander Ovechkin will look to win a title of his own while defending his status as the game's unofficial #1 player

---Dany Heatley leaves behind a messy exit from Ottawa and looks to revive his career with the San Jose Sharks

---Most importantly, the season will pause in February while the league's best players will go to Vancouver to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

So, are you as excited about the new season as I am? Let's face it, folks, it was a LONG summer! Now it's time to get serious again. Feel free to contribute any predictions, comments, or whatever's on your mind and let your voices be heard. I'm sure there's more hockey fans on this site than in the entire city of Phoenix---but I wouldn't bet too much on that! :lol:

I am definitely excited about Hockey. A number of pundits have even picked my favorite team, the Vancouver Canucks, to go to the Stanley Cup Fianals this year! Also professional hockey has arrived in my hometown for the first time as the Calgary Flames have moved their AHL farm team here to Abbotsford where they will be known as the Abbotsford Heat. It's shaping up to be a great season!

Go FLYERS!!!!!!!

Chris Pronger baby.

winter classic baby- flyers vs. boston. they chose us!

let's go....

Go Sabres!

Get back to the playoffs.... please.

Prediction Time. I know it's early :lol:. Real early.

But who do you think will be in the Stanley Cup Finals- the 2 teams, and who will win it, and in how many games? Try not to be bias and not pick your team, but if you feel that way, go ahead :).

I've got the Sharks and Bruins in the Finals.

Sharks seem to get their, but can never win it. They are the Cowboys, but better in that sense because they have won in the playoffs, but not enough to win it all. Flyers are like that as well. I don't think Boston will come out of the East. I think they are a great team but might not make it all the way to the top, idk. I say Pittsburgh, Flyers, Boston, Carolina or Washington could all win and get to the Stanley Cup Finals out of the East. Personally, I think Washington, Pitt and the Flyers are the top 3 teams in the East, when healthy.

If anything, the East is a crapshoot.

Everyone has a chance...... except the Islanders, Lightning, Thrashers, and Leafs.

If anything, the East is a crapshoot.

Everyone has a chance...... except the Islanders, Lightning, Thrashers, and Leafs.

Yeah true, but their are also 4/5 elite teams. I think the standings might be like this.

1. Washington
2. Philly
3. Pitt
4. Boston
5. Montreal
6. New Jersey
7. Buffalo
8. New York Rangers/ Ottawa

I question Washington's goaltending though.

My favorite team is the Everett Silvertips. Not 'big league' but they are still pretty good. I should really go to a Seattle Thunderbirds game sometime. I love going to the games, even though I don't really follow hockey all that much!

Flyers win 2-0 over the Habs

Good game Chris Pronger, Ray Emery ;)

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091003/capt.5cfc4d471cc4429bbc948d69841c4db0.flyers_hurricanes_hockey_ncgb105.jpg

Flyers win 2-0 over the Habs

Good game Chris Pronger, Ray Emery ;)

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091003/capt.5cfc4d471cc4429bbc948d69841c4db0.flyers_hurricanes_hockey_ncgb105.jpg


It was the Hurricanes they beat and I'm wondering which Ray Emery we'll get. Could be the 2007, borderline Conn Smythe one or the loose cannon.

Yeah true, but their are also 4/5 elite teams. I think the standings might be like this.

1. Washington
2. Philly
3. Pitt
4. Boston
5. Montreal
6. New Jersey
7. Buffalo
8. New York Rangers/ Ottawa

I question Washington's goaltending though.


Caps and Flyers are too high. Devils are too low.

The one thing that intrigues me about this season is the situation surrounding the Phoenix Coyotes, Commissioner Gary Bettman, and BlackBerry owner Jim Balsillie who wants to buy the team and move it to Canada--southern Ontario to be exact.

Caps and Flyers are too high. Devils are too low.

No, I think Philly will be their. NJ is exactly where I think they will be. They have an average team. Just goaltending makes people think they are a better team then shown. Washington might be 2nd or 3rd then, but they will still be good. their goaltending is an iffy.

Caps and Flyers are too high. Devils are too low.

What do you see the top 8 Standings in the East as then? It's early, but it's fun to do this :) ;).

Does the Flyers/Rangers rivalry resonate the same way as Giants/Eagles?

Go Habs Go! http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/290/hockeyno7.gif

What do you see the top 8 Standings in the East as then? It's early, but it's fun to do this :) ;).



Pittsburgh
Montreal
Washington
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Boston
Ottawa
Florida

Does the Flyers/Rangers rivalry resonate the same way as Giants/Eagles?

Not even close. The Flyers biggest rivals are the Penguins and Devils anyway.

Btw, Flyers beat Devils tonight 5-2 in NJ. We got Marty on his 1000th game ;). 2-0 to start the season. Good Job guys.

Pittsburgh
Montreal
Washington
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Boston
Ottawa
Florida


I wish the NHL implemented the NBA division rule, where 2 teams in the same division can be in the top 3. But no division winner out of the 3 conferences wouldn't have a seed lower then the 4th one, which makes perfect sense. Bettman, get to it!

I'm sorry, but I think Boston and Philly are up higher then Montreal, and New Jersey isn't better then the 2 teams. We kicked NJ's ass tonight. I think people give them too much credit because they have Brodeur. They really play a defensive and goalie scheme of hockey. No offensive threats whatsoever for them. Montreal is going to be good, but I don't see them as high as a 2nd seed, and better then Washington. Washington is going to be underrated- mark my words. And of course people are going to predict Pittsburgh to be the # 1 team lol. you have to go through pittsburgh to win the cup, or to get their at least, from the East, but I don't think they are the only great team. I don't even think they are a # 1 seed, but I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up with a # 1 seed anyway and won the conference this year. we shall see.