End of October Post

Well, the NHL season is about one moth old now and I decided to give my thoughts on what has been an interesting month to say the least.

Right now the top team point wise resides in Western Canada, but it is not the team everyone thinks it was going to be. No, it is the Edmonton Oilers who have came out of the gate strong having had the team play like a team and is actually giving something for their fans to believe in again. However, I don't see this lasting as I still think this team has got a bit of growing up to do but at least we are seeing something out of them that is high, and for once in recent history it is not the GAA (or blood alcohol level) of Nikolai Khabibulin.

Here is another positive Canadian story, the Toronto Maple Leafs are actually doing well so far this year. Once again, I don't expect them to keep this rate up but they actually look like a team this year and Dion Phaneuf looks like he is the guy that everyone was expecting when he came out of Juniors. Not to mention the fact that Phil Kessel seems to be almost able to score at will this season.

According to lots of media, the Boston Bruins are dealing with a Stanley Cup hangover. The Bruins right now are the worst in the Eastern Conference with a 3-7 record, however, I do not think it is a hangover. When you are the champs, people are gunning for you, not to mention that no matter what team wins the cup the year before, they may have slight over confidence and don't live up to their standards that they had the year before. I expect the Bruins to right the ship and make the playoffs easily in the East.

Speaking of the supposed hangover of teams that reach the finals, the Canucks have not had the best start either and are currently 5-5-1. Luongo once again has had what I call a typical Luongo October and I expect his play to pick up and look the goalie he was last year making the big saves and looking to get back to the Stanley Cup. Not to mention the team in front of the Canucks goalies have been so on and off that Canuck fans should look outside the crease first before appointing blame on Bobby Lou.

I continue to think that the Flames are still going ass backwards as these guys continue to go up and down. They either need to take a hard look at themselves and say we suck and start making moves now to improve themselves, or just clean house and start from scratch.

And finally, Sheriff Shanahan still has an incomplete grade for me to analyze yet. Even though in the pre-season Shanahan was throwing out a suspension a day it seemed, he has shown nothing so far that I haven't been able to call unfair, with possibly the exception of the Shea Weber fine.

That is how I saw it, and until next time, keep your stick on the ice.