25-26 NHL Season

[Neveragain]

...This could also go into the 2026 celebrity deaths thread.

Hockey legend Glenn Hall passed away Wednesday at the age of 94 years old.

Hall was an original Blue and was the club's first pick in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He played a critical role in establishing the Blues' identity in the early years and helped guide an expansion franchise to three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances (1968, 1969, 1970).

Dubbed "Mr. Goalie," Hall once played in more than 500 consecutive games — all without a mask.
-Scraped from St. Louis Blues page.
RIP Glenn Hall.

Also this week, RIP Bob Pulford.

It's been a bad week for Chicago Hockey legends.

 

[sharky99]

Checked hockey standings,my brother is going to the Carolina hockey game today. Guess Colorodo's record:Who knew they are 30-2 with 7 overtime pts. winners of 9 straight

Quite the start to the season for the Avs in a league with lots of parity.

 

[sharky99]

...This could also go into the 2026 celebrity deaths thread.

Hockey legend Glenn Hall passed away Wednesday at the age of 94 years old.

Hall was an original Blue and was the club's first pick in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He played a critical role in establishing the Blues' identity in the early years and helped guide an expansion franchise to three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances (1968, 1969, 1970).

Dubbed "Mr. Goalie," Hall once played in more than 500 consecutive games — all without a mask.
-Scraped from St. Louis Blues page.
RIP Glenn Hall.

Also this week, RIP Bob Pulford.

It's been a bad week for Chicago Hockey legends.

2 long time Blackhawks connections, Pulford played over 1000 games with the Leafs and Kings and worked in the Blackhawks head office in different positions for 30+ years. How the heck do you play in goal with no mask like Glenn Hall did and make it through 500 consecutive games without missing a game?

 

[Bushay]

Legendary Red Wing goalie Terry Sawchuck, before masks became a thing.

 

[Bushay]

Colorado
Detroit (They finally found some NHL-worthy goaltending
Buffalo's play of late
Philly (Vladar, Zegras, and Tocchet]
Pittsburgh
Patrick Roy's Islanders
Minnesota's trades and signings
Winnipeg's turnaround (1st to worst)
The young, talented SJ Sharks
League parity, IE, Bettman's NHL
No teams in the East have a losing record
Bedard's injury in Chicago.
The Coyotes are out of Arizona and are not in dead last. They actually have a winning record!
Anaheim's coming back to reality
The NY Rangers are 5-11-4 at home

These are the storylines of the 1st half of the 25-26 season.
We've never seen this much parity in this or any league. It should make for a fantastic playoff race.

I don't want to jinx my Red Wings. They go into Montreal Saturday night and play for sole possession of 1st place in the Atlantic. TB plays at Philly and could have a say come Sunday morning. They are due for a dud game after winning 8 in a row that included beating the Red Hot Avs. Hagel and Raddysh are playing like HOFers. TB and Fla seem to pull these types of guys out of their system, as no one else can.
The trade deadline is right around the corner will only make things more exciting.

Comments?

 

[Bushay]

2 long time Blackhawks connections, Pulford played over 1000 games with the Leafs and Kings and worked in the Blackhawks head office in different positions for 30+ years. How the heck do you play in goal with no mask like Glenn Hall did and make it through 500 consecutive games without missing a game?

Fearless. NHLers are a whole different breed of athlete. They will sacrifice their bodies for the good of the team like no other athlete anywhere! Imagine your job, in order for your team to have a chance at winning, is to get in front of a 90+ mph slapshot. Often diving headfirst in front of one of these shots. Putting the team in front of your injury.

 

[Patrick McIrish]

My Internet has been out.....

Are the Lightning doing anything?

 

[boston massacre]

2 long time Blackhawks connections, Pulford played over 1000 games with the Leafs and Kings and worked in the Blackhawks head office in different positions for 30+ years. How the heck do you play in goal with no mask like Glenn Hall did and make it through 500 consecutive games without missing a game?

Was the Slapshot allowed when Hall played Goal

 

[Neveragain]

Was the Slapshot allowed when Hall played Goal

Yes.
Funny story told by Dennis Hull many years ago.
Long story short, he said Glenn Hall knew nothing about the speed or accuracy of his slap shot, (or Bobby's) because when the Hull boys practised their slap shots
Glenn Hall wouldn't stay in the net.

Another story goes back to the days when Bobby Hull played as a teenager (1953) in Hespeler Ontario.
It's been said that Bobby would be practising his slap shot for hours after practice each day against his team mate and goalie Bill Bartels in Hespeler.

Fast forward to his days with the Black Hawks, Bobby was the best in the league with his slap shot, scoring over 600 goals with the Hawks, and 300 more in the WHA.
Special note must be made to the curved stick innovation first created by Stan Mikita that he shared with his team mate Bobby Hull.

Every NHL player worked to develop their slap shot but Bobby Hull's was maybe the best ever.

 

[sharky99]

Fearless. NHLers are a whole different breed of athlete. They will sacrifice their bodies for the good of the team like no other athlete anywhere! Imagine your job, in order for your team to have a chance at winning, is to get in front of a 90+ mph slapshot. Often diving headfirst in front of one of these shots. Putting the team in front of your injury.

Very true, lots of sacifices Bushay!

 

[sharky99]

Yes.
Funny story told by Dennis Hull many years ago.
Long story short, he said Glenn Hall knew nothing about the speed or accuracy of his slap shot, (or Bobby's) because when the Hull boys practised their slap shots
Glenn Hall wouldn't stay in the net.

Another story goes back to the days when Bobby Hull played as a teenager (1953) in Hespeler Ontario.
It's been said that Bobby would be practising his slap shot for hours after practice each day against his team mate and goalie Bill Bartels in Hespeler.

Fast forward to his days with the Black Hawks, Bobby was the best in the league with his slap shot, scoring over 600 goals with the Hawks, and 300 more in the WHA.
Special note must be made to the curved stick innovation first created by Stan Mikita that he shared with his team mate Bobby Hull.

Every NHL player worked to develop their slap shot but Bobby Hull's was maybe the best ever.

Like the story Neveragain, thanks!

 

[boston massacre]

Yes.
Funny story told by Dennis Hull many years ago.
Long story short, he said Glenn Hall knew nothing about the speed or accuracy of his slap shot, (or Bobby's) because when the Hull boys practised their slap shots
Glenn Hall wouldn't stay in the net.

Another story goes back to the days when Bobby Hull played as a teenager (1953) in Hespeler Ontario.
It's been said that Bobby would be practising his slap shot for hours after practice each day against his team mate and goalie Bill Bartels in Hespeler.

Fast forward to his days with the Black Hawks, Bobby was the best in the league with his slap shot, scoring over 600 goals with the Hawks, and 300 more in the WHA.
Special note must be made to the curved stick innovation first created by Stan Mikita that he shared with his team mate Bobby Hull.

Every NHL player worked to develop their slap shot but Bobby Hull's was maybe the best ever.

To this Day , I've never heard about any player having a Slap Shot that is comparable , to the one Bobby Hull had.

 

[sharky99]

His son had a decent one too.

 

[Neveragain]

Stars were a rocking chair road winner last night in Vancouver.
Final 6-1 Stars .
They were -172 around noon and closed at about -195.
This game was also a good opportunity to take the 3 way line where the Stars were about -115.
There will be plenty more of these lopsided contests after the trade deadline coming up soon on Friday Mar 6.

After a team sees their good players traded away, sometimes they can totally lose interest.

 

[Wade]

After a team sees their good players traded away, sometimes they can totally lose interest.

opposite happened in the Nashville/Boston game. Nashville traded a bunch of players and other players stepped up because they’re playing for jobs next season.

 

[Neveragain]

opposite happened in the Nashville/Boston game. Nashville traded a bunch of players and other players stepped up because they’re playing for jobs next season.

Hi Wade, and thanks for checking in.

That Nashville/Boston game to which you are referring was not a good example of a lop sided opportunity.
Boston is a very mediocre team in a rebuilding mode this year, just 11th overall, but most striking is their abysmal road record, just 11-14-4 away from home.

There was no clear edge to play in this game.

With regards to the trade deadline, to me, there were no blockbuster deals this year.
IMO, the highest value-elite player to be moved was Artemi Panarin, but I can't see any western conference team stopping the Avalanche this year.
In fact, the Kings are doubtful to even make it to the post season.

It's been a year of many surprises and disappointments.
And the Olympics were awesome!

 

[Valuist]

Watching the Lightning/Sabres game. Maybe a hockey game will break out….after they stop the fighting.

 

[Bushay]

Watching the Lightning/Sabres game. Maybe a hockey game will break out….after they stop the fighting.

Probably thee best game of the season. Maybe a couple of seasons. They got back to old school hockey in that one. That building was rocking. There hasn't been that much excitement in that building since the French Connection fired the place up regularly. I was just discussing the Sabres with a friend today. How in the hell did that team come together so quickly? Only hope they are not peaking too early. They will likely go as far as their goaltending takes them. Their 2 trade deadline acquisitions have yet to play a game yet either.

 

[Bushay]

Hi Wade, and thanks for checking in.

That Nashville/Boston game to which you are referring was not a good example of a lop sided opportunity.
Boston is a very mediocre team in a rebuilding mode this year, just 11th overall, but most striking is their abysmal road record, just 11-14-4 away from home.

There was no clear edge to play in this game.

With regards to the trade deadline, to me, there were no blockbuster deals this year.
IMO, the highest value-elite player to be moved was Artemi Panarin, but I can't see any western conference team stopping the Avalanche this year.
In fact, the Kings are doubtful to even make it to the post season.

It's been a year of many surprises and disappointments.
And the Olympics were awesome!

Hmmmmm. I would think most teams in a "rebuilding" year would be pretty happy to be the 11th ranked team in the league. As well as 11-14-4 on the road.

Seems a bit nitpicking to me.

Give me Kadri for the win, Alex!

 

[Patrick McIrish]

Probably thee best game of the season. Maybe a couple of seasons. They got back to old school hockey in that one. That building was rocking. There hasn't been that much excitement in that building since the French Connection fired the place up regularly. I was just discussing the Sabres with a friend today. How in the hell did that team come together so quickly? Only hope they are not peaking too early. They will likely go as far as their goaltending takes them. Their 2 trade deadline acquisitions have yet to play a game yet either.

We lost but no doubt a great game.

I don't understand why Cooper wouldn't use 2nd string against Toronto on Saturday and save Vassy for Buffalo?

You know he's not playing B2B games. Clearly Sunday was the biggest match-up. Johansen sucks, 8 goals on 27 shots or so?

Lost the game but got the best of the fist-a-cuffs. Love Sab #46, he usually doesn't stay up long but he throws with the best of them.

Hagel is a tough SOB for a smaller guy too.

Lots of home cooking in this one, 7-2 PP advantage for Buffalo. That and Johansen the reason we lost.

 

[Patrick McIrish]

With regards to the trade deadline, to me, there were no blockbuster deals this year.

Corey Perry line #2 for you.

A goal in each game so far and a Gordie Howe hat trick last night.

Kidding about him being a blockbuster but like the pick-up for Tampa.

Unrelated note - the best DMen are not the old guys. Come on Cooper!

Raddyss and Moser better than Hedman and McD right now and it's not close.

Thank you Hedman, you've done a lot but we need to get out of that contract next year.

We move on.

 

[Valuist]

Probably thee best game of the season. Maybe a couple of seasons. They got back to old school hockey in that one. That building was rocking. There hasn't been that much excitement in that building since the French Connection fired the place up regularly. I was just discussing the Sabres with a friend today. How in the hell did that team come together so quickly? Only hope they are not peaking too early. They will likely go as far as their goaltending takes them. Their 2 trade deadline acquisitions have yet to play a game yet either.

Incredible game. 4-1 Buffalo, 5 unanswered Lightning goals, then Buffalo fights back to win. Letdown spot for Tampa tomorrow vs Columbus?

 

[Bushay]

Incredible game. 4-1 Buffalo, 5 unanswered Lightning goals, then Buffalo fights back to win. Letdown spot for Tampa tomorrow vs Columbus?

I'm just seeing this now. Under normal circumstances, likely yes. But Columbus will be in the back end of a B2B as they play the Kings this afternoon in a makeup game from earlier in the year. And it's in OT now. TB and Coach Cooper are one team I certainly don't like betting against. Columbus has already beaten TB twice this season. Both games in Tampa. They are 6-7 weeks in, but Columbus seems to still be riding that new coach bump as Bowness has them playing close to .700 hockey since he took over the team the end of January. Plus lots of intangibles to consider.

 

[Valuist]

I'm just seeing this now. Under normal circumstances, likely yes. But Columbus will be in the back end of a B2B as they play the Kings this afternoon in a makeup game from earlier in the year. And it's in OT now. TB and Coach Cooper are one team I certainly don't like betting against. Columbus has already beaten TB twice this season. Both games in Tampa. They are 6-7 weeks in, but Columbus seems to still be riding that new coach bump as Bowness has them playing close to .700 hockey since he took over the team the end of January. Plus lots of intangibles to consider.

Fair points. I don't normally wager on the NHL so I will defer. Any opinion on the total?

 

[Patrick McIrish]

Tampa now as healthy as they've been all year and lost 5 of last 6.

They were really thriving when the old guys were hurt.

Probably a message in there somewhere for Coach Coop.

I'm limited in pucks but no chance I'd lay that big number tonight.

 

[Neveragain]

My pick tonight is Montreal -106 vs. Leafs (in regulation. Pinny).

Montreal comes off a surprising late game comeback win over the Kings.
Montreal always loves an opportunity to give Toronto a beat down.

Montreal is 6-1-3 in their last 10 and they're still fighting to make the playoffs.
For the Leafs, that ship has sailed.

This is possibly one of the oldest rivalries in all of sports.

 

[Neveragain]

Give me Kadri for the win, Alex!

Looking at the recent history, I can see the many factors making it a perfect fit between Kadri and the Av's.

But Panarin has been a much more valuable player over the past 3-4 years, especially including this year.

 

[Bushay]

Fair points. I don't normally wager on the NHL so I will defer. Any opinion on the total?

No, I stay away from totals like the plague!

I played Detroit +108 and the Islanders -125 late last night. ..

Both moved the wrong way since I got down.