Week 1

We're roughly a week into the NHL regular season. I've been watching NHL Network for my daily highlights. And I usually hit Sportsnet and TSN websites daily for scores and stories. I've decided to save the money and not renew my Center Ice package. I'm watching the Kings games on Fox Sports HD, that doesn't require four, extra monthly payments.

Last night was the North American opener for the Kings. They started well, but quickly played down to the Devils. This is similar to what happened against the Sabres. Start well, then go flat. More depressing was that Quick lost in the shootout. Damn. Quick and Stoll were an automatic extra point last season. That's not the way to start a new season.

Excuses are aplenty. Lots of travel, new faces, etc. But the main thing is that Kopitar looks to be back in form after a rather nasty ligament tear. I didn't expect any less, but losing Kopitar's production would have been a major issue. I'm pretty patient at this point. The lines will sort themselves out soon. Chemistry will develop. They just need to be ready for the home opener next Tuesday.

I've read that Jimmy Howard has two consecutive shutouts, Crosby and Malkin are currently out of the lineup, Bruins are 1-4-0.

 

100th Game

A bit of technical issues with the initial part of my last post. I meant to continue with the fact that it explains my various aches and pains. At first, I had chronic wrist pain from slamming into the boards and ice, due to my inability to stop. More recently, I've had low back, knee and ankle pain. While it is hardly an NHL schedule, playing multiple times per week tends to add-up, at least from an injury standpoint. I would like to not have something hurting all the time, but if the consequence is not playing anymore, I'll just play through it as I have been. I figure it's better to be hurting from self inflicted hockey games, than hurting from sitting at a desk and doing practically nothing.

100th game

I have been keeping track of my rec ice hockey "career" more or less. I've come to realize that I'm playing in my 100th game tonight. This is pretty approximate, at best. But a noteworthy accomplishment in my mind. It also makes sense.

Countdown to 2011-12 NHL Season

I'm anxiously awaiting the start of a new NHL season. In general, it's great to be able to anticipate something. Whether it's a long awaited movie, video game, holiday, gofl outing; I love the buildup. Maybe that's why Christmas was always my favorite holiday growing-up, it was all the anticipation.

 

So there are four more days until the regular season. But the LA Kings have already left for Europe and are playing a pre-season game tomorrow against a German pro team. Maybe that's why I'm a little more into the start of the season than normal. Well, that and the new additions to the Kings. There seem to be some hockey pundits, who once again like the Kings potential. That potential has only been met with consecutive first round playoff losses. Time to stop talking and start playing.

Doubty

So I found out late last night that Drew Doughty had a verbal agreement to re-sign a 8 year, $7-million/year, $56-million contract. The timing is ideal since it allows Drew to make the trip to Europe and start the season with the team. There has been a lot of back and forth about who "won" in the deal. Drew gets to be the highest paid LA King and Lombardi gets a long term contract and several of Doughty's UFA years. If the rumors are true, Doughty missed training camp for an additional $200K/year. That's a relatively insignificant amount on top of $6.8-million. But to someone like Westgarth, represents 40% of his annual salary.

The obvious question is how will Doughty perform in the future? Drew's quick success in the NHL has been the base for his contract leverage. I would argue that it takes defensemen 3-4 years to really learn the NHL game. And by that logic, Doughty could only get better. It's this potential that makes his contract a possible bargain. As a cautious fan, I have my doubts.

There is a guy on the Kings who had success early in his career, showed flashes of greatness, & signed a monster contract. There are questions about his work ethic. He didn't play so great at the end of last season. Who am I? Drew Doughty or Dustin Penner?