Best and worst

There has been a lot of talk, mostly negative, about the new jerseys. Don't get me wrong here, todays post is not about how great they are, because they're not. Before the season kicks off for real I just want to add a few lists of my own to this topic.. once and for all.

Best looking jerseys: Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks

Worst looking jerseys: Carolina Hurricanes and Atlanta Thrashers

Most improved: Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks

Least improved: Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames

A special award goes to the Phoenix Coyotes for being the only of the newer teams to design a clean traditional looking jersey and then sticking with it. One day this will be a classic.

Let's go local!

Fans always like it when local boys return to play for their team, like Michigan-born Brian Rafalski coming back to Detroit or Derian Hatcher, though that one didn't really pan out the way most people had hoped. I also bet there are several people in Vancouver waiting and hoping for Joe Sakic's return to B.C., just like most fans in aforementioned Motor City are still holding their breath for Mike Modano to come back.

These are all high profile names who attract a lot of attention around the league. Although forward David Spina, from Mesa, Ariz., is not a household name by any measure, he does deserve recognition for being the first local player to ever skate for Phoenix. In a 3-4 losing effort against the Colorado Avalanche he logged roughly nine minutes and was called for a holding minor in the first period.

It is not possible for any NHL team to rely solely on local talent, even though that would be really cool (and immensely difficult for some US based teams), but I guess that is what makes it so cool when a local boy makes it, or returns home.

Pressure on in TO

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice started training camp by promising this season would see the Leafs, not only make the playoffs, but also be a real contender for the cup next spring. Statements like that are not only bold, but also very stupid. For Toronto, a team that has missed the last two playoffs (by small margins, but still), it seems especially dumb. Why would you put that kind of pressure on a team that has been underachieving and now has the benefit of playing the underdog?

I still don't think Toronto is where GM Ferguson wants them to be. Sure, they may reach the post season, but anything past the second round would be an upset. Now, is that statement as bold as Maurice's? I don't think so.

Not much longer now

It feels like only yesterday that the Anaheim Ducks became the first California team to take home Lord Stanley's Cup. Still, me and thousands of other fans can't wait for the new season to start. And with training camps on the way, the premiere games are just around the corner.

So, what will the 2007-08 season be like? Which team will surprise us by reaching the play-offs and which will do the same by not clinching a berth in the post season. We will, as always, have to wait and see.

Personally, I would have to agree that the Ducks are looking good enough to repeat (with or without the still undecided Niedermayer), San Jose and Detroit will certainly give them a good run for their money. As for my money, I am putting them on Colorado to be the upset team of the west. Edmonton aren't looking too strong (which only indicates that they may be a surprise team), and Calgary and Mike Keenan could be a match made in heaven (though I doubt Kristian Huselius thinks so).

Out east it looks like Ottawa will go far, being one season wiser after losing the final to Anaheim. They are pretty much intact and except for the performance in that final I still think they played the best hockey of all teams during the post season. The Rangers and the Flyers are looking awesome offensively but the Broadway Blues will, as before, leak defensively. Pittsburgh will definitely be better this time around, with experienced guys like two-time cup winner Darryl Sydor on the team, while Washington has the most exciting line-up with Ovechkin, Nylander, Kozlov, and Backstrom. They will surprise a lot of people this season.

So, get the training camps going and out of the way, so we can start the season already!

News draught

With training camps just around the corner there is nothing much going on in around the league. Most teams have all the players they need and a few players are still question
marks. The TSN.ca poll today asks: What do you think Scott Niedermayer will do this season? Re-join Ducks, re-join later, take year off, or retire?

I would like to add an option to the poll. Who the hell really cares?

Still with the jerseys

Since there isn't much going on right now, and most people are talking about the new jerseys still, I thought I might linger on that subject a little longer.

Having seen a few of the new Rbk Edge jerseys, and the damage their design has done, I am hoping that those not yet revealed haven't been mishandled as much. To the following jerseys any change would be only bad, Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, NY Islander and the NY Rangers. The Coyotes has by far the best looking jersey out of all the newer teams and it would be sad if it was ruined. I mean they really went from ugly (the Lego-looking coyote that made you think you just dropped acid)to cool (the howling coyote on the traditionally clean looking jersey).

It is clear that Reebok has no real sense of what a hockey shirt should look like and I hope that one day CCM will once again provide the NHL with classy uniforms. Until then I urge all fans (even the ones from Beantown) to buy old or replica jerseys.

One thing that really bothers me is that little NHL logo at the front of the neck. What the hell is that for?