Author Archives: ThatDamnDoubleC

General

Bored Hockey Fan Fantasy League

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Welcome to the Bored Hockey Fan Fantasy League, brought to you by Yahoo! Sports. The first week of matchups are now over, so here is a summary of what happened:

Thanks to the combined 36 points scored by San Jose trio Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski. DarkSideOfTheMoen defeated St. Mucus Ooze by a total of 8-3-2.
Even though @GoftheInternet was beaten in points by Hamilton Tigers, @GoftheInternet still managed a 9-2-2 victory thanks to Goalies Craig Anderson, Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak.
It’s The Flying V! only lost in PIM in their 11-1-1 demolition of FistCity CaPs.
Powers Rangers got 25 points from the Powerplay in an 8-4-1 victory over the Quebec Nordiques.
Legs got a massive 102 PIM in an 8-3-3 defeat of GreatNessPerSonified.

After the first week of matchups, this is what the table looks like:

Rank Team W-L-T Pct Pts Last Week Waiver Moves
1. It’s the Flying V! 11-1-1 .885 23 11-1-1 4 1
2. @GoftheInternet 9-2-2 .769 20 9-2-2 5 –
3. DarkSideOfTheMoen 8-3-2 .692 18 8-3-2 8 11
4. Legs 8-3-2 .692 18 8-3-2 2 –
5. Powers Rangers 8-4-1 .654 17 8-4-1 6 1
6. Quebec Nordiques 4-8-1 .346 9 4-8-1 1 1
7. St. Mucus Ooze 3-8-2 .308 8 3-8-2 9 2
8. GreatNessPerSonified 3-8-2 .308 8 3-8-2 7 –
9. Hamilton Tigers 2-9-2 .231 6 2-9-2 10 4
10. FistCity CaPs 1-11-1 .115 3 1-11-1 3 –

This week’s matchups:

DarkSideOfTheMoen vs. Legs
@GoftheInternet vs. It’s The Flying V!
St. Mucus Ooze vs. Hamilton Tigers
Powers Rangers vs. FistCity CaPs
GreatNessPerSonified vs. Quebec Nordiques

The UHF Tournament

The Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament – First Round – Double Header

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Welcome one and all. It is finally here, the beginning of the Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament. 32 of hockey’s best fighters square off in a single-elimination tournament to determine just who is the Ultimate Hockey Fighter.

This is the second part of a double header for this week. The first part can be found here.

This matchup sees a 7-team veteran, and resident drunk driver, against a skater with 250+ fights in his resume.

(WC) Matthew Barnaby
RW CAN
Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars
6′ 188 lbs
3×20 NHL Fights in a season
6×15 NHL Fights in a season
206 NHL Fights 14.7 FPY

Chris Nilan
LW USA
Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins
6′ 205 lbs
4×20 NHL Fights in a season
9×15 NHL Fights in a season
251 NHL Fights 19.3 FPY

Why you should vote for Matthew Barnaby:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHOgSgDV_u0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN3B1dl2TVU[/youtube]

Why you should vote for Chris Nilan:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyJzAV0lFLg[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1GA9L92LdQ[/youtube]

[poll id=”12″]

The UHF Tournament

The Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament – First Round – Double Header

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Welcome one and all. It is finally here, the beginning of the Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament. 32 of hockey’s best fighters square off in a single-elimination tournament to determine just who is the Ultimate Hockey Fighter.

This is the first fight in a double header. The second part can be found here.

The winner of the previous matchup was… Kelly Chase! He’ll go onto Round Two, whereas Dave Schultz has been eliminated.

The beginning of the third quarter of the draw sees a current Maple Leaf draw fists a near 250-fight veteran.

Colton Orr
RW CAN
Boston Bruins, New York Rangers. Toronto Maple Leafs
6’3″ 222 lbs
1×20 NHL Fights in a season
4×15 NHL Fights in a season
111 NHL Fights 15.9 FPY

Jeff Odgers
RW CAN
San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Atlanta Thrashers
6′ 200 lbs
6×20 NHL Fights in a season
11×15 NHL Fights in a season
247 NHL Fights 20.6 FPY

Why you should vote for Colton Orr:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlG8qjbKAiA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS2EA95iaC8[/youtube]

Why you should vote for Jeff Odgers:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R10ecmgV7w8[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idZVw1xgMu0[/youtube]

[poll id=”11″]

The UHF Tournament

The Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament – First Round

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Welcome one and all. It is finally here, the beginning of the Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament. 32 of hockey’s best fighters square off in a single-elimination tournament to determine just who is the Ultimate Hockey Fighter.

The winner of the previous week’s matchup was.. Ian Laperriere! He’ll go on to Round Two to face the winner of this matchup.

About even in size and amount of fights, which one of these two will advance.

Dave Schultz
LW CAN
Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres
6’1″ 185 lbs
2×20 NHL Fights in a season
7×15 NHL Fights in a season
158 NHL Fights 19.8 FPY

Kelly Chase
RW CAN
St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs
6′ 2oo lbs
4×20 NHL Fights in a season
7×15 NHL Fights in a season
174 NHL Fights 15.8 FPY

Why you should vote for Dave Schultz:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i5krW2h7xs[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O01tFgfx0k[/youtube]

Why you should vote for Kelly Chase:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smZ5LJKhwJE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uituUis_lSA[/youtube]

[poll id=”10″]

General

The Bored Hockey Fan Fantasy Draft Analysis

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The BHF fantasy draft over at Yahoo! fantasy is done and dusted. In fact, if you scroll down, you’ll find the results in a recent column.

I asked everyone who entered the draft, if they had any opinion on how the draft went down. If they were happy with their picks. What they thought of the draft in general? Why did they choose certain players? Here are the thoughts of those who chose to make them.

(Team Name-Owner-Thoughts)

Legs – J

As one who has barely even been a casual fan, I figured that I’d be going into this with a severe disadvantage.As such, I decided to further my handicap myself by oversleeping the draft. I was, however, able to pop in for two picks. Brad Richards, and Carey Price.
Richards was mostly a ‘Her, I know that guy’s name’ pick, and I have a soft spot for the Canadiens, so I took their goalie.
Outside of that, I’m pretty okay with the autodraft. I’m a Blackhawks fan, so I’m happy to get Keith. I know he had an off last year, so I’m hoping for a rebound.
Even in my limited knowledge, I know Rinne is awesome. So, along those lines, I’m very happy with my Goaltending.

I’m looking forward to the season.

It’s The Flying V – ArmchairMVP

My first 6 forwards have multi-position eligibility. I like having that flexibility.

St. Mucus Ooze – ThinkSoJoe

I don’t want to analyze my picks.  It was all downhill after you (ThatDamnDoubleC) took Malkin first, lol
I took Byfuglien a second straight year.  Being listed as a forward and defenseman comes in handy.
I wound up taking Semin in round 16, wanted a multi-position player.
I grabbed Shattenkirk and Del Zotto each for their +/- rating.  I got burned on those last year.
I’m telling you, career year coming up from that kid (on drafting Derek Roy)

@GoftheInternet – GoftheInternet

I hope Ott plays nice and dirty on the Sabres for me.  Need the PIMs
Ugghh…. he’s like the DiPietro of skaters, but I am still taking him (on drafting Marian Gaborik)

DarkSideOfTheMoen – ThatDamnDoubleC

Malkin playing two positions made it easy in the end (on choosing who went first overall)
Having the first overall pick does have it’s perks. I mean, I’m able to have someone with the point grabbing ability of Evgeni Malkin in my team, as well as using my second pick to draft the best defensemen in Erik Karlsson. But other than that, it’s pretty much the same players I usually go for. Howard and Lehtonen in net, Thornton, Pavelski and Marleau from San Jose. Jamie Benn is another guy I usually go for, and it was a bit silly of me to draft him in, when as of this moment, he is yet to re-sign with the Dallas Stars (and has since been replaced by fellow Star Jaromir Jagr). I did manage to draft Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall from Detroit though, which surprised me that I was able to nab them both.

What really hurts though is that due to having the first overall pick, I am now the last option to receive waived players. I like to chop and change the lineup a lot, and in the end, the difference could be the player I tried to sign off waivers, but because I am last in whether or not I want a specific waived player, I could very well lose that chance if someone else has the same mindset.

Follow yours truly on Twitter @ThatDamnDoubleC. I suppose you’d better follow our wrestling site Bored Wrestling Fan @BrdWrstlngFn as well. Also, don’t forget to vote in the Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament on this very page! Just scroll down to find the latest matchup.

General

The Bored Hockey Fan Fantasy Draft Spectacular Event Festival

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Welcome to the Bored Hockey Fan Fantasy Draft Spectacular. This season, Bored Hockey Fan celebrates it’s debut season, by competing in a ten-team Fantasy League over at Yahoo! Fantasy, between it’s columnists, and it’s fans.

The draft order went as follows:
(Draft Order-Team Name-Owner)

1: DarkSideOfTheMoen – ThatDamnDoubleC
2. St. Mucus Ooze – ThinkSoJoe
3. GreatNessPerSonified – GreatNessPerSonified
4. PowersRangers – Powers Rangers
5. @GoftheInternet – GoftheInternet
6. It’s The Flying V – ArmchairMVP
7. Hamilton Tigers – Al Creed
8. FistCity CaPs – Mackey Man
9. Legs – J
10. Quebec Nordiques – Patrick Roy

To view how thew draft went down, then continue on over the jump..

 

Continue reading →

Dallas Stars

The Super Awesome Ultimate Mega Dallas Stars Season Preview Prediction Column Blog

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Ah, Dallas. The team that, like Buffalo, seem to narrowly miss the playoffs every year, and like nobody, seem to lose their star Center to Free Agency because we refuse to accept any trades. But in this, a shortened season, could luck change for the Stars, and give their fans a playoff run?

Dallas weren’t shy in Free Agency, signing veteran wingers Jaromir Jagr and Ray Whitney, as well as signing defensemen Aaron Rome and Tyler Sloan to cover for losing forwards Adam Burish (San Jose), Jake Dowell (Minnesota), and veteran Sheldon Souray (Anaheim). But the big impact was made by Dallas in trading. Their leader of sorts on the ice, Steve Ott, was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, along with D Adam Pardy for C Derek Roy. Roy should help with an offense that was 30th on the PP last season, but losing Ott shows that the Stars may be leaning away from the toughness mentality they’ve developed over the past few seasons.

Also departing was Mike Ribeiro. The 60-point scorer from last season, was sent to the Washington Capitals, in exchange for C Cody Eakin and a 2nd Round pick (Mike Winther). Ribeiro hadn’t scored less than 50 points in the last eight seasons, but was traded in a shake-up that not only affected the Forwards. D Mark Fistric was also traded to the Edmonton Oilers for a Third Round pick in the 2013 Draft. This leaves Dallas with a somewhat inexperienced defensive core, centred around Trevor Daley, Alex Goligoski and the oldest defensive player on the roster at 35, Stephane Robidas. Dallas need upcoming players like Jordie Benn, Philip Larsen and Brendon Dillon to step up and make it to the next level, and aspiring stars like Jamie Oleksiak to be ready in the wings when called upon.

The Goaltending however, is something that the Stars won’t have to worry about for years to come. Kari Lehtonen may be 29, but he is in that group along with Jimmy Howard (Detroit), and Antti Niemi (San Jose) of great Goalies, but not as elite as the likes of Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers) and Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles). Richard Bachman is a more than capable Backup, and with arguably the replacement G for Ryan Miller in Team USA in Jack Campbell applying his trade at the AHL-Affiliate Texas Stars, the Goaltending looks locked in for the next ten to fifteen years.

The big question remains, can the Stars, with all the moves made in the off-season, make the playoffs? The inclusion of Jagr and Whitney should improve the Stars offensively, especially on the Powerplay where they were ranked last overall last season, but can the up and coming defensive unit of the Stars, help them get across the line? The Stars will be one of those teams fighting for that seventh and eighth spot come playoff time, but it all depends on one thing. Re-sign Jamie Benn before the season starts, and they make it. Don’t re-sign Jamie Benn before the season starts, and I’m afraid the Stars may just miss out again.

Follow yours truly on Twitter @ThatDamnDoubleC. I suppose you’d better follow our wrestling site Bored Wrestling Fan @BrdWrstlngFn as well. Also, don’t forget to vote in the Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament on this very page! Just scroll down to find the latest matchup.

The UHF Tournament

The Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament – First Round

By ·

Welcome one and all. It is finally here, the beginning of the Ultimate Hockey Fighter Tournament. 32 of hockey’s best fighters square off in a single-elimination tournament to determine just who is the Ultimate Hockey Fighter.

The winner of the previous week’s matchup was.. Donald Brashear! The wildcard makes it through to Round Two.

Our next matchup pits our  second Wildcard entrant in the tournament, against a Left Wing tough nut from Canada

(WC) Ian Laperriere
C CAN
St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers
6’1″ 197 lbs
3×20 NHL Fights in a season
8×15 NHL Fights in a season
216 NHL Fights 14.4 FPY

Garry Howatt
LW CAN
New York Islanders, Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils
5’9″ 170 lbs
2×20 NHL Fights in a season
7×15 NHL Fights in a season
203 NHL Fights 16.9 FPY

Why you should vote for Ian Laperriere:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHswxGrUU_o[/youtube]

Why you should vote for Garry Howatt:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUBGqpSST0s[/youtube]

[poll id=”9″]

General

Why The Lockout Was A Good Thing

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It was. I assure you. I know it may not seem like it, and that people predict it will kill hockey in the United States. But, the lockout may not have benefited the NHL as much as a full season may have, the lockout allowed players to play elsewhere. Where else would Joe Thornton, Patrick Kane and Loui Eriksson play in the same team, if it wasn’t for the lockout? Speaking of which, here is just a small example of where the lockout was actually beneficial.

SPENGLER CUP

The Spengler Cup is an invitational tournament played in Davos, Switzerland every year, and normally contains European hockey powerhouses, and Team Canada, which is mostly made up of European-based Canadians. However, this year’s edition of the Spengler Cup was a little different. For starters, Team Canada was stacked this year. The biggest name competing for Team Canada in 2011 was former NHL Goaltender Marty Turco, with only three other players currently playing outside of Europe. However, thanks to the NHL Lockout, Team Canada was able to select from those locked out, then playing for teams in Europe, as well as the four outside Europe selections. It wasn’t just Team Canada that benefited, with other teams competing in the Spengler Cup, being able to include NHL-based stars playing in Europe as well, allowing for stronger lineups, and including names familiar to the viewing public, due to them playing in the National Hockey League pre-lockout.

IIHF WORLD U20 CHAMPIONSHIP

Ah yes, the World Juniors. Where the brightest and best up-and-coming stars of the world of hockey come together to compete for their country, usually made up of the best young prospects that will be the names called out in the next NHL draft. This season was different however, this season, the NHL was locked out. Which meant that the best juniors currently applying their trade for an NHL team could compete for their country if they so chose to, allowing the likes of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to be available for Team Canada, and Nail Yakupov for Team Russia as opposed to being on the ice for the Edmonton Oilers. Every country competing had at least one player currently on an NHL roster, and not having those players, quite possibly would’ve led to a completely different result than what actually happened. Who knows, Canada may have actually won a medal!

THE CASUAL VIEWER

No casual viewer of any sport wants to sit down for an entire 82-game season, as chances are they’ll be bored inside the first 20 games and not watch the season out. But, this season is a shortened season, maybe 50 games maximum, and the casual viewer may tune in for the first 20 or so games, but rather than being 60 left.. there’s only going to be 20 or so left, which could very well mean that the casual viewer may be more intrigued as divisions will be tighter, the playoffs will loom, players will be fresher, and hockey will thrive again. Even ESPN are dragging Barry Melrose out of cotton wool, and called it ‘the top story of the day’. When ESPN start caring about hockey, you know it’s getting serious.

There is just a sample of what having a lockout actually improved. The lockout wasn’t all bad, but now that’s it’s back, don’t ever leave again. Lockouts are bad bad things.

General

Finally…

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The NHL and the NHLPA have finally agreed to the framework of a new provisional 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement, thus ending the negotiation at 113 days. Sure the I’s need dotting and the T’s need crossing, but we may just see a shortened NHL season which is something a lot of people did not expect.

The question remains though, what effect will these past 113 days have on the fanbase of hockey? Sure, it’ll stay strong in Canada, and in places like Detroit and Chicago, but what about the smaller markets like Phoenix? Like Nashville? Like Columbus? Only the future will tell..

As for the near future? Well… This becomes a reality.

P.S. Can we pleeeeeease re-sign Jamie Benn now? Please?