This would be one of the best seasons in memory to be a elite goaltender. Between the draft and free agency this has to be the shallowest talent pools I can recall. If James Reimer has a half of brain in his head he's he's going into next season with FU money.

Reimer signed with the Panthers for $3.4 mil. average cap hit for 5 years.

Lol at them.

3.5 mil for a backup goalie that's been injury prone his whole career and never played a full season.

The economic of sports are insane and a joke.

This was shocking, and still hard to believe. Maybe after this season, or during it but now???

https://www.nhl.com/news/patrick-roy...ch/c-281317648

Not surprised, it's Patrick Roy.

Still a legend, though.

That 2013 season was such a fluke. His coaching decisions, specifically in-game, have always reminded me of some mid 20's stoner playing NHL on his PS4.

Roy will get another shot, likely by some GM/Owner who doesn't believe '13 was a fluke.

I'm not unhappy that he's quitting, but I'm unhappy that he took until August to do it.

He really put them in a tough situation. Not sure if there are any good Head Coaches out there. They may have to promote an assistant to interim until some dominoes start falling. I wonder how Torchetti might do, but he was recently hired as an Assistant for Detroit.

For those of you (like me) who have never been to a Winter Classic, here is the pricing - and I've been told the "fees" are around $40 per ticket on top of the listed price.

So yeah, up to $500 a pop for an outdoor hockey game where you likely can't even track the puck.

http://blues.nhl.com/v2/ext/files/20...ingDiagram.pdf

Best seats for the Cardinals game, cheapest seats for the Blues game at Busch.

Damn those prices though.

I ended up going to the alumni game the night before out here for $50 a pop and watched the real game from home. Don't regret it in the least.

I think he did Sakic a huge favor by quitting. It may have been arranged.:hmmm:

3 things...

1) Anyone going to start up a regular season thread?
2) Anyone have a fantasy league that needs a player or 2?

3) Anyone interested in 4 free tickets to tomorrow's Blues game at Sprint Center? (PM me, if so)

1.) If DaFace or Bearcat hasn't by Opening Night, I will.

2.) Nope.

3.) Man, I wish it was worth the drive up, but I was just there for 5 days last week, and to drive up simply for a PS game would be silly. Pretty cool of you to offer your seats, though.

Ended up giving them to someone yesterday afternoon, but I agree with you that it wouldn't be worth the drive for a preseason game.

I'll be there tonight. On the glass across from the Blues bench. Hopefully some of the stars will be there.

Never been to a NHL game thinking about going to the Blues/Caps game won't get off til 8 though. $13 dollar tickets not bad.

Looks like most of the Blues star players will be playing. Not sure about the Caps.

I have class otherwise I'd be going tonight.

Can't wait to see Yandle with the Cats this season. Ekblad, Yandle and Barkov. That's nasty

Yeah, I saw they announced it right after I posted that.

I go to a handful of games in StL each year, but I'm pretty pumped to see Parayko and Vlad from that up close

Is it worth showing up in the 2nd period?

I am oing tonight. Never been to an NHL game so this should be fun, even if it's just a preseason game.

Yes. Unlike NFL preseason games, at this point in the NHL PS, most of the teams are pretty much down to their regular roster. Particularly with the Blues tonight, as they have all of their major players participating in this game. They'll play all 3 periods.

You'll really get an appreciation of just how big and fast these guys are. Even with HDTV being a huge boost to NHL fandom over the past decade, it's tough to get a true idea of just how athletic these guys are. The same is true of the NBA.

I lived in Orlando for most of my twenties and was fortunate to attend around 20 magic games courtside, in fold up chairs right behind the basket. I was normally first or second row right on the hardwood. I am a hair over 6' tall but seeing 7 footers in action 10' away was mind blowing. It was also the years when Dwight Howard wasn't a complete waste of space. He was really fun to watch play that close along with Vince Carter and Grant Hill.

Eh, it's not like these threads have an actively-managed OP. Anyone who is feeling frisky is welcome to go for it.

First NHL game ever and it was bad ****ing ass. I feel like a kid again't the first time I discovered a sport I loved.

Try a regular season game or even better, a playoff game.

Cool. You can root for the Blues and rediscover getting your heart ripped out for the first time!!

**** no it was disgusting hearing "LETS GO BLUES" chants in Kansas City. I think i'll become a Capitals fan since it's the first team i've seen play live and Ovi is a badass.

The Blues have a HUGE following in KC. Not sure why you're surprised or disgusted. Go down to the River Market any night of the week to The Blue Line. Best hockey bar in the midwest.

Hockey is the one sport where TV really doesn't do it justice - it's the best sport to watch live, by far - especially if you have good seats.

Glad you had a good time.

Heh I just despise anything St.Louis.

I've been to the Blue Line once. To watch the Royals/Jays playoff game last year they have great bar food IMO

Kc has the Blues...Stl the Chiefs. Poor bastards on both ends.

Can't really beat front row seats. Crappy game (Blues looked flat) but it was still awesome to watch them up close. Get spoiled whenever I get seats like this.

Ovi is ridiculous. Watching him in person really gives you an appreciation of his size, speed, skills, everything...he'll no doubt retire as a Top 20 of All Time player.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui...&sz=w1920-h915

I get lots of grief for sporting Blues gear...

Probably creepy bandwagon Midwest Penguin fans. Weirdos.

That was a blast lastnight. Already planning a weekend trip to Chicago and STL to catch some games this winter. I am hooked now.

Blues trade a low-level prospect and a conditional pick to Edmonton for Nail Yakupov.

Being a Blues fan is every bit as bad as being a Chiefs fan. Couldn't imagine having to put up with both shit-shows.

Hope you're content with giving up your left nut. ROFL
It's cheaper for Hawks fans to drive to STL, Columbus, Detroit .etc to watch a game and stay a night in a hotel than to go to one Blackhawks home game. It's effing ridiculous, but a good trade-off for watching a winning team.

I was listening to the Edmonton beat writer talk about Yakupov. I guess he's just been entirely disinterested in hockey and really needs a change of scenery. Could be a nice pickup for you guys.

They have a 5 pack got 269 that's a good deal.

I have yet to fully embrace the salary cap era of hockey. I will say, the lockouts really ruined the game for too many fans prior to that, so maybe it'll be a long-term gain.

I've been a Wings fan forever, but I watch a bit more casually than I used to.

Nah. Blues are a disappointing team, but they're at least dominant every year and made the conference finals last year. The Chiefs are average to bad every year and haven't even sniffed the conference finals in decades.

:rolleyes: Blues haven't dominated shit. Half the damn league makes the playoffs so of course they get more chances to choke...and they do that soooo well

Looks like it might be Carter Hutton time in STL for a bit. He is a great 2nd goalie for sure, his main weakness is not being sharp after he has been sitting on the bench for weeks at a time, but if he is playing regularly or semi regularly, he is a damn good goalie. Very underutilized in Nashville, and with Rinne aging, I wish the Preds had tried to keep him and promised him more starts as long as he played well.