Blog Archives

Some Memes To Lighten The Mood

I write this week with a heavy heart, as I’m sure you all can relate to. Week 1 of the lockout has seen no forward progress but rather the cancellation of pre-season games and the firing of our beloved Stanley C. Panther. It is difficult to remain sane in these tough times, especially knowing that there is nothing one can do as fan to bring hockey back. The only way I’ve been able to cope is to find the slightest bit of humor in this mess.

In no way am I suggesting that I am making fun of the game or being insensitive to those who have already suffered true impact from what is a very serious work stoppage. But, at the end of the day, I am a merely a fan who is hurting. A fan who wants to scream at the top of her lungs as the clock ticks on with no relief. Maybe I’ve already started losing mental stability, but I ache for some sense of escape from this nightmare. That said, I present some light-hearted NHL memes that might echo how you are feeling as well: Read the rest of this entry

This NHL Lockout Is No Joke For Many Employees

Stanley C. Panther will have plenty of time for vacation these days.

Yesterday, it was announced by both the Sun-Sentinel and the Miami Herald that the Panthers’ mascot had been laid off earlier in the day by the organization.  Or probably more accurately, the man inside the suit was laid off.  He was among twelve other employees of the team that were shown the door that day.  According to George Richards of the Miami Herald, most of the people let go were from the arena operations and sales departments.

The lockout, of course, is affecting more than just the players and owners.  These recent layoffs are exactly what happens when income stops rolling in from the team.  These scenarios are being faced around the league, especially for the smaller-market teams like the Panthers.  Yesterday the Ottawa Senators also were forced to get rid of employees, while some other teams have cut back salaries as a response to the lockout.  It’s expected that other teams will face the same dilemma involving their employees, and not all teams will be able to pay for salaries without any other income.

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The Top 25 Most Obvious And Best Fantasy Players By Position- Part II: Right Wingers

Part II: Right Wingers

Lets just say for arguments sake the owners and players quit their whining and come up with a new CBA agreement around December, therefore giving us at least half a season. Although this may or may not be the case, lets just make pretend for a moment.

Besides the excitement of going to games, wearing your favorite players jersey, and screaming your heads off, we all look forward to something else come NHL season.  Something that is a little more in our control yet can drive a man mad (or girl).

Yes. I’m talking about Fantasy Hockey.

Whether you’re in a paid league, unpaid league, Yahoo Fantasy, CBS Fantasy, or you’re just in it for the money or love and statistical side of the game, the bottom line is, if you’re a hockey fan, odds are, you’re a Fantasy Hockey fan too.

Unfortunately for us, without a hockey season, there will be no Fantasy Hockey, which means no gaining or losing money, no pulling out your hair when you find out your best player is ruled-out with a concussion, and no draft parties. Total buzz kill.

But just in case the NHL and NHLPA decide to grow up and come to an agreement, here is my list of the top 25 best and OBVIOUS players by position IF and WHEN there is a 2012-2013 season. Yesterday I posted an article giving you my top five best Centers in fantasy. Today I will give you my top five best Right Wingers.

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The Top 25 Most Obvious And Best Fantasy Players By Position- Part I: Centers

Part I: Centers

Lets just say for arguments sake the owners and players quit their whining and come up with a new CBA agreement around December, therefore giving us at least half a season. Although this may or may not be the case, lets just make pretend for a moment.

Besides the excitement of going to games, wearing your favorite players jersey, and screaming your heads off, we all look forward to something else come NHL season.  Something that is a little more in our control yet can drive a man mad (or girl).

Yes. I’m talking about Fantasy Hockey.

Whether you’re in a paid league, unpaid league, Yahoo Fantasy, CBS Fantasy, or you’re just in it for the money or love and statistical side of the game, the bottom line is, if you’re a hockey fan, odds are, you’re a Fantasy Hockey fan too.

Unfortunately for us, without a hockey season, there will be no Fantasy Hockey, which means no gaining or losing money, no pulling out your hair when you find out your best player is ruled-out with a concussion, and no draft parties. Total buzz kill.

But just in case the NHL and NHLPA decide to grow up and come to an agreement, here is my list of the top 25 best and OBVIOUS players by position IF and WHEN there is a 2012-2013 season. Over the course of the next 5 days, I will be posting an article giving you the top 5 best players from each position.

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So What Now? A Guide To A Hockeyless September

An empty BankAtlantic Center. Photo Source: Wikipedia Commons

The hour has come, and there is nothing that the fans can do about it. The threat of a lockout is no longer a threat: it has become a reality. And all that time that both the players and owners said we had has run out. We have reached doomsday for the NHL.

Regardless of who you choose to blame for this 4th work stoppage in 20 years, the fact of the matter is that we the fans need to cope.  Whether you root for the Panthers or, of all teams, the Penguins, there is some solidarity to be found in the situation.  Despite our rivalries on the ice, our love of the game away from it will stick with us.  So while the owners and players continue to grind out details and increase the growing rift between them for years to come, the fans need something to occupy themselves.  I have a few modest suggestions:

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The Affects Of The Lockout

Photo Credit: Hockey Photography by Yuri Peralta

The NHL Lockout, something no hockey fans enjoy seeing, but unfortunately it is going to be the main subject in the NHL until the two sides can come to an agreement. Work stoppages are never a good thing as it affects many people. We already know the affects that the players and owners are going to have to go through, but what about everyone else? When I say everyone else I mean the fans, the people who work their tails off at the stadiums night in and night out to make sure that the fans are safe and enjoying their experience at the arena. For the fans they’re losing the game that they love to watch. Hockey fans are some of the most dedicated fans in the nation and taking away the game that they love to watch and participate in. But how about the people who work at the arenas, the food vendors, the ushers, the clean-up crew, the security guards? These people put in their best effort every night to make sure us fans are making the most out of our hockey experience. The people who work at the arenas are losing a good amount of income for their selves. No events at the arena means there is no need for employees to be there.

For the players, the lockout means no work. While some players such as Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin and Ottawa’s Sergei Gonchar have already decided to go overseas, a lot of the older players are planning on just sticking it out. Some of these older guys who are going to rough it out, Martin Broduer, Jaromir Jagr, and Todd Bertuzzi. These three players are definitely up there in age, with two of them being over 40 years old. The two 40 year olds, Martin Broduer and Jaromir Jagr are both coming off playoff appearances and they are both coming off receiving brand new contracts this past offseason. Martin Broduer decided to sign a two year contract with the New Jersey Devils this past offseason, while Jaromir Jagr left Philadelphia to join the Dallas Stars on a one year deal worth $4.5 million. Todd Bertuzzi, 37, recently signed a two year contract extension with Detroit earlier this year. Read the rest of this entry

Fans Are Not A Doormat

Image

Credit: Hockey Photography by Yuri Peralta

Livid. Frustrated. Concerned. Exhausted. Sick. Helpless.

If you’re like me, the above emotions describe exactly how you’ve been feeling over the last few months. You’re nauseated over the site of Gary Bettman at a podium. You hear the words “wide” and “gap” paired together and you suddenly want to punch the nearest wall. You imagine an October with no hockey and you want to crawl into a hole and not come out until play resumes.

But most of all, you feel completely and utterly helpless. That’s the worst part of this never-ending labor mess for me. I have friends (some hockey fans, some not) come up and ask “so how are things looking, you think?” and all you can do is shrug and muster a “not good.” That response has not changed during any point of the CBA negotiations. Perhaps in some twisted sense, it’s better that way seeing as how we haven’t really had reason to get our hopes up. At the same token, though, enough is enough. When is there going to be a light at the end of the tunnel for the die-hards? Read the rest of this entry

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