New NHL

[Stampede]

Any one who says the cap isn't a good idea just needs to see all the trades going on.
Pronger an Oiler....Aucoin a Hawk.....Amonte in Calgary.
There will be a more balanced NHL that is more enteraining for the fans and if one guy is taking up 10-15% of team pay roll they will be expected to produce like superstars should do.
Things are on the up with out a doubt.

None of that stinking root beer!

[NLane]

But the big payrolls didn't guarantee the Cup. At least on paper things to be a bit more even. It will be exciting to see the "new" lines that mesh and become scoring terrors.

[Brooklynite10]

I agree. Don't forget Forsberg to the Flyers, YEAH BABY !! This preseason is great and this could be one of the most exciting season ever !

[RichardGraham]

Hi Stampede,

It really "freshens up" the league, that's for sure.

A buddy of mine who's a New Jersey Devils fan says that the Flyers' are going for size, but that it will backfire on them. What do you think?

I'm excited that the Los Angeles Kings have acquired Pavol Demitra and Jeremy Roenick, but I'm worried that they'll let Ziggy go. I do like the fact that they re-signed Luc Robitaille, my favorite player. Every team needs at least one player that represents the team's heart and soul, and for me, that player on the Kings is Luc Robitaille.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[DblJ44]

Flyers got stronger in the Defensive end of the rink too! I'm not a big Therrian fan but I'll take Hatcher and Rathje anytime!

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[Brooklynite10]

Big & strong, but with the new system, I would have liked to see them pick up a playmaking D-man like Niedermayer or Leetch. Both guys that match Hatcher's experience and leadership qualities

[Stampede]

Think the big D won't be as useful as it would have been in the old NHL.
No red line like we have in the UK will mean foot speed will be more critical. Hence why the smaller guys played better in the world cup.
Think players like Rafalski, Tarnstrom, Schnieder, mcCabe will be more valuable than your Hatcher type guys. Guys who play good two way hockey. Think the Hawks D is shaping up well for the NHL, Aucoin and the Bulin wall, with all the younger 2 way guys like Barker/Keith/Wisnewski will make an exciting D over the next few years.

[DblJ44]

The guys the Flyers have added are far and away better then what we had here before.

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[RichardGraham]

Hey Stampede,

How often do you think that in games that are tied late, teams will just let time elapse and depend on their goalie to win the shootout? It's a crap shoot, but if you've got a goalie that's great in shootouts, and the other team doesn't have as many snipers as your team...

Or if you've just played three games in three nights and you're tired, so you go through the motions until the shootout?

Just wondering.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[Brooklynite10]

I don't think that would happen any more than before. Any team going through the motions to get to a shootout would be a team that would go through the motions to get a tie. Plus, I don't think any coach in the league will allow a team to let down at the end of a game because it would back fire too many times.

Just my 2 cents

[RichardGraham]

Hi Wolves10,

I hope you're right. You probably are. If the players, teams and the league are smart, they'll make sure the games are wide-open, hard-fought battles all the way through. The clutching and grabbing and play-not-to-lose strategies MUST go.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

Here's the L.A. Kings' roster, minus Valeri Bure, who was just signed. I like our team, but I think there will be more changes before the season starts. (I know very little about our new goalies, which scares me.)

Any insights on the current roster from Kings' fans?

***

Forwards
Tom Kostopoulos 6' 0 205 1/24/1979 Right
7 Derek Armstrong 6' 0 195 4/23/1973 Right
8 Jeff Cowan 6' 2 205 9/27/1976 Left
19 Sean Avery 5' 10 195 4/10/1980 Left
20 Luc Robitaille 6' 1 207 2/17/1966 Left
22 Craig Conroy 6'2 197 9/4/1971 Right
23 Dustin Brown 6' 0 200 11/4/1984 Right
25 Eric Belanger 6' 0 185 12/16/1977 Left
26 Trent Klatt 6' 1 225 1/30/1971 Right
38 Pavol Demitra 6' 0 206 11/29/1974 Left
97 Jeremy Roenick 6' 1 196 1/17/1970 Right

Defensemen
Mike Weaver 5'9 185 5/2/1978 Right
3 Aaron Miller 6' 4 210 8/11/1971 Right
10 Nathan Dempsey 6 190 7/14/1974 Right
14 Mattias Norstrom 6' 2 220 1/2/1972 Left
17 Lubomir Visnovsky 5' 10 188 8/11/1976 Left
27 Joe Corvo 6' 1 213 6/20/1977 Right
42 Tim Gleason 6' 1 214 1/29/1983 Left

Goaltenders
Jason LaBarbera 6'3" 224 1/8/1980 Right
31 Mathieu Garon 6' 2 202 1/9/1978 Right

***

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central