“I Might Just Be A Hockey Fan In California” is a feature that will be posted every Saturday here at the View From My Seats. There are plenty of things going on in the hockey world (and even the sports world); and you know everyone has an opinion. This is a place for some quick hits of the week that was.
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I might just be a hockey fan in California, but:
- Daniel Sedin missed 18 games with a broken foot. His first game back—a 1-0 loss to the Blackhawks. That couldn’t be the kind of offensive production they expected.
- Right about now, Anze Kopitar could use some of that space that Ryan Smyth was creating.
How many Oilers fans would have predicted that Dustin Penner would be their most productive player?
- Isn’t it funny how Dustin Penner is the only guy on the Oilers that actually has size, yet has been a scapegoat for the last couple of years—and is the only one producing this season?
- Have you Seen Stamkos?
- With all the hype surrounding the two rookie centers in Colorado, I think people need to be reminded that Paul Stastny is still the best center in the Mile High City. Talk about an embarrassment of riches.
- Sometimes I forget how passionate fans in Toronto and Montreal are. And I mean that as a compliment this time.
- I’ve watched 1 quarter of basketball this season. And even that was because there was no hockey on.
- The Sharks should have taken the “C” away from Patrick Marleau YEARS ago!
- If you were starting a team, how quickly would you pick up Ryan Malone?
- The Toronto media making a big deal out of John Tavares’ return was about as predictable as Martin Havlat getting hurt this season.
- It sucks when there’s only one game in the NHL. It’s even worse when the game starts an hour before I get home.
- Fantasy hockey is a commitment that I’m not willing to make at this point in my life. Once a week fantasy football is tough enough—but something that’s DAILY? That would cause a divorce.
- It’s truly amazing how far and away Phil Kessel is the best player on the Leafs. I can’t even think of the 2nd best player behind him.
- Brad Richards is currently tied for 3rd in the league in scoring. When are people going to realize that the Richards/Neal/Eriksson line is more than a Conn Smythe winner, a guy that threw a check from behind and a man named Youi?
"My name is Youi. Youi Eriksson."
- I think some Kings fans have unrealistic expectations of Andrei Loktionov—but not me. Can he be put on the All-Star ballot yet? Too soon?
- If Chris Chelios was one of the biggest problems with the NHLPA and he’s put in charge, do all of the problems and conflict of interests magically go away?
- The Devils won 9 straight on the road to start the season, then have followed that up with 3 straight losses. Devil fans: I apologize for writing that article last week.
- Tuukka Rask is 6-2-1 with a .919 save percentage and a 2.27 goals against average. Not too bad for a back-up. How is Justin Pogge doing for the Bakersfield Condors?
- Daniel Briere’s hit on Scott Hannan only makes me think of one thing: Imagine the damage that would have been done if it was a hockey player delivering that hit and not the chick from Reality Bites.
- I actually almost forgot that the Blackhawks still had Marian Hossa waiting in the wings. Damn, that’s a lot of talent for one team.
- Gary Bettman is a pompous little person that needs to be fired for the good of the game.
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So what were your thoughts from the NHL week that was?
