Oct 2 2008

2008â€“09 NHL Season Is Upon Us

The NHL’s new season is upon us. NHL.com had a new look and so does Senator.nhl.com as does the team. On Friday, June 13, 2008, the Senators named Craig Hartsburg, coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, the new head coach. We still have most of the core players like Spezza, Alfredsson & Heatley. Neil, Vermette, Fisher, Phillips, McAmmond & Kelly. We have new players like Kuba, Smith, Ruutu & Auld.

I’m a little worried about fire power. I’m more than a little worried about the goalie situation. Auld backing up Gerber. We’ve lost some big names and only got Smith & Ruutu in return. Here’s hoping that we do well. For the first time in the last few years, I’m not sure about gunning for the cup. I think that before the trade deadline in March, we will need to stock pile on a few name players if we want to have a realistic chance at winning the cup. Till then, Go Sens GO!

Notes for the season : This will be the first season since the 2004â€“05 lockout in which every team will play each other at least once during the season, as opposed to the last three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference. It will run from October 4, 2008 through April 12, 2009, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs to follow, ending in June 2009. The Montreal Canadiens will host the 57th NHL All-Star Game at the Bell Centre on January 25, 2009, part of the Canadiens’ 100th Anniversary celebration.

The regular season will start with four games to be played in Europe. The Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins will play each other twice in Stockholm, Sweden and the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning will play each other twice in Prague, Czech Republic. The 2009 NHL Winter Classic will be held in Chicago, Illinois on January 1st, 2009, played between the Chicago Blackhawks and defending champion Detroit Red Wings. It was decided that the game would be played at Wrigley Field, the North Side home of the Chicago Cubs, on New Year’s Day, Jaunary 1st, 2009.