Hockey Season Is Upon Us

Being that I am a huge hockey fan, I felt like that kid on Animal House after the woman flies through his window and onto his bed when I realized hockey season was on the horizon - 'Thank You God!'

Today the NHL regular season kicks off with a pair of games in Europe. First, the New York Rangers take on the Tampa Bay Lightning (aka Penguins South) and later the Pittsburgh Penguins face off against the Ottawa Senators. Personally, I could do without the whole regular-season-games-in-other-countries-to-attract-a-worldwide-audience gimmick, but I guess the NHL has its reasons.



I'm going to admit that I am a huge Penguins fan. I can enjoy fantasy hockey again this season because I drafted Crosby, Gonchar, and Fleury and traded for Malkin. I know Sarge is out for most of the regular season, but I just can't bring myself to drop him and pick up some crap defenseman from the Sabres. Hopefully it works out and he comes back closer to 4 months than 6.



Anyway, it seems a lot of people are underestimating the Pens this year. Before the trade deadline last season, regulars in their lineup were: Crosby (Injured), Malkin, Staal, Talbot, Kennedy, Malone, Christensen, Ruutu, Armstrong, Sykora, Laraque, Taffe, Hall, Scuderi, Sydor, Gonchar, Whitney, Orpik, Letang, Fleury (I), Conklin, and Sabourin. That team was in first place. This years lineup regulars look to be Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Talbot, Kennedy, Sykora, Fedotenko, Satan, Cooke, Godard, Dupuis, Taffe, Gill, Gonchar (I), Whitney (I), Eaton, Sydor, Scuderi, Letang, Goligoski, Fleury, and Sabourin. So a first place team essentially got back its best player (Crosby) and #1 goalie (Fleury), lost its top two defensemen to injury, swapped Malone, Ruutu, Laraque, Armstrong, and Hall for Fedotenko, Satan, Cooke, Godard, and Dupuis. I guess I forgot to add Gary Roberts in there somewhere. Whatever. And don't forget that Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, and Staal are still getting better every single day. So....how is this team supposed to be worse than last year? Go Pens.