Finally.

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Pre season predictions, in general, are complete garbage. They help out with some preseason story lines and deciding what teams are disappointing and which are surprises. I mean, they are fun, certainly, and we have been known to produce a few of them around here, but the only way to determine the best teams in the league is to go out and play the games. Still, there is enough information there, usually, to be able to know what to look for as the season unfolds.

Yeah, not so much this year. Things that would be minor blips during a regular 82 game, stretched out schedule are going to be complete catastrophes in a cramped 48 game schedule. Consider, a key player gets injured and is expected to miss 2 weeks. That would be about 5 games, we'll call it. That would be about 6% of the schedule. Not really a major dent. 

Now, take a look at that same player getting nicked up and missing 2 weeks this season. Teams are playing about 8 games every 2 weeks, and are playing only 48 games. Missing two weeks would mean missing almost 17% of the season. Using those metrics, an injury is nearly 3 times more influential on the overall season this year as it is during a normal season.

Not only that, but teams have only had a week to get to know each other and the systems, not to mention the additional fatigue of playing a more cramped schedule. What I'm saying is, with the way this season sets up, we can make assumptions about talent levels based on a normal season, but there is so much luck involved that those assumptions are going to be blown out of the water. 

Anything could happen this year, because luck is going to be an even bigger factor than usual. 

What the hell, one prediction. Blue Jackets in the playoffs!

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Brent Burns has finally reported to Sharks camp after spending the lockout at Burning Man. He also restructured his contract with the Sharks to include a no trade clause, because he "totes loves it in the Bay Area, man". The clause isn't complete, allowing for trades to Vancouver, Colorado or "the moon, because that would be frickin' rad"

*h/t to Puck Daddy

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Board Member 1: Unbelievable! It's the middle of January, and we still have 0 points!

Board Member 2: Terrible! We have just as many points as Columbus!

Board Member 3: Even worse, look at the standings! 

In unison: Last place!

Board Member 1: And what have we done about it?

Board Member 2: Check the transaction page!

In unison: gasp. Nothing! 

Board Member 3: We need to prove to our fan base that we won't put up with this anymore?

Board Member 1: You're right! The Maple Leafs should be at the top! 

Board Member 2: We should fire the coach!

Board Member 3: It's not his fault that he has lousy players who haven't even scored a goal all season!

Board Member 1: You're right! Down with Burke!

Board Member 2: Fire Burke!

Board Member 3: It is decided! Fire Burke!

Board Member 1: Now that that's decided.... can someone help me tie my shoes?

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Weasely prick Comissioner Gary Bettman issued an apology today for the NHL Lockout. The text from Puck Daddy:

We know that no words of apology or explanation will soften the disappointment. I read the letters. I followed the tweets. I read the blogs. We have a lot of work to do. The National Hockey League has a responsibility to win back your trust and support, whether you watch one game or every game.

 

Oh, good, Bettman is up on Social Media! Do you think my Twitter feed is among those he was up on? Do you think that this is one of the blogs that he followed? Could he tell that the overwhelming sentiment wasn't frustration or anger, but rather defeatism? Is he aware that this second lockout hasn't pissed me off (I don't want to include everyone in this) so much as it has led me to give up on the league?

You won't win my trust or support back this season. Or next season. Or probably the season after that. Not until another CBA is agreed upon. Not until we know you aren't going to do this again. Oh, I will still watch games, and write at this blog, because I still love hockey, and I want to watch the best players in the world. Just know, though, some of the money that would have been invested in your product is now being designated for other things.

It's not much, I know, but I write for a hockey blog, so I'm not your typical enthusiast. I hope the less passionate are more disenfranchised so you can learn a lesson. The lesson, by the way, is to assure us that your league has a long term future without any more lock outs.

In case you hadn't heard, the NHL season is back on! The season is going to start on the 19th and last for an all too brief 48 games. I am on record as saying that I don't really care for a shortened season. Well, I care, but not as much as I would for a full season. When we are done after 48 games, we will still have that unpleasant reminder that we were totally screwed over as fans. 

Oh, and there is the point that the proposed schedule is completely bogus. It sort of sucks (really sucks, actually) that my season's viewing of the NHL season will not once include the Maple Leafs, Islanders or Lightning, the three teams associated with the other writers here. Of course, there's these assholes who seem to be OK with the shorter schedule. 

I admit, I had sort of moved on from hockey during the lockout, but the Albanian Superliga is on its winter break, so the timing of the lockout's cessation came at exactly the right time. Well, I mean, it would have been better if it never happened, but you know. Actually, it's been so long that I forgot exactly what happened in the off-season before the lockout started. This helps. 

OH, shoot, dapper francophone Guillaume Latendresse has left? And he went to Ottawa? That means I'm not going to see him again until next season!

But at least there WILL be a next season.

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We were recently sent along a video, which is good news. Even with the lockout, our e-mail works! The NOC recently put together a video that lampoons every fan of every team in the NHL. Lampoons, I say! 

 

How does that BURN, NHL fans? I especially liked the Panthers, Islanders, and Jets. I have to thank Tom Reed, who sent this along, because I think I had forgotten what at least a third of the league's logos look like.

Thank you for sticking with us all year (even when I can't figure out how to publish things and end up with three posts showing up at once). There hasn't been much hockey, but there have been the laffs. Loser Domi and I will be back again in 2013 for more good times. Tonight, though, it's time for the BMR New Years party, which will probably look something like this:

[UPDATE] Someone cleverly switched videos on us....

 

Happy New Year, everyone.

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The World Hockey Juniors are presently ongoing in Russia (which, note, is an area where hockey is actually being played professionally at the top level this year). Canada, Russia and Sweden are doing quite well. The US isn't. Nor are Germany or Latvia. Or is that Finland?

Uh huh. Well, SBN, I understand. It's tough to find pictures of Sweden vs Latvia. Whatever, Latvia, Finland, it's all the same, right? 

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What have the Sedins been doing during the lockout, you ask? I'm sure you asked it.

Well, Henrik has taken the time to get away from hockey and his brother Daniel for a bit. He has enjoyed his time in British Columbia helping his sons with their school work. He and his wife took a vacation to Bali before Christmas, and enjoyed the first Christmas in Sweden in longer than he can remember.

Daniel, unbound by the contractual obligations of the NHL, has taken up some more adventurous activities, like skiing and hiking. Cooped up indoors all winter, even if he is skating, Daniel wanted to take the opportunity to get some fresh air. Daniel has also enjoyed helping out around his wife's office, which both he and his wife's coworkers get quite the kick out of. 

Without hockey, the Sedins are so BORING. Hopefully we can get weird again, since they are signing with Modo in the Swedish Eliteserien.

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