As the NHL season gets underway, I still have these perceptions of teams and cities that just don't seem to go away. I don't if it is from years of watching hockey or out right fan discrimination. Here is what I think of these franchise:
New Jersey Devils - I hate their style and I've still think about how Gretzky called them a Mickey Mouse Franchise way back when.
New York Islanders - I have a hard time taking this team seriously ever. They are so far gone from their Cup years. Still a NY team, so I have to hate them.
New York Rangers - I've never hated the Rangers. An Original Six team is hard to hate. But I don't like them fully, because again they are NY.
Philadelphia Flyers - As a kid I loved the Broad Street Bullies. Pelle Lindbergh was great. Things haven't been the same since Cooperalls came into fashion.
Pittsburgh Penguins - I never liked them, I never will. Can't stand Crosby. Very good sports town though.
Boston Bruins - I like the bad old Bruins of yesterday...O'Reilly, Park, and Co. Gilles Gilbert and Gerry Cheevers were great back in the day. The Bruins and Patriots are the only Boston teams I'll root for. The Celts and Sox can burn in hell.
Buffalo Sabres - I still feel bad they got ripped of in the Cup with that bad goal. Anyways I miss the AUD. Otherwise, they are just there. Gilbert Perrault was sweet. Small market teams are cool.
Montreal Canadiens - My favorite team aside from the Red Wings. Love the history, the passion, the uniforms. I have a chair from the Old Forum. Guy Lafleur, Rejean Houle, Gaston Gingras, Mario Tremblay, Ken Dryden, ...love these guys.
Ottawa Senators - They do nothing for me. Not fan of anything Ottawa.
Toronto Maple Leafs - This baffles. Great city, great tradition, and their ownership has no clue how to run a team. I'd kill to own this team and turn it around. Miss the Garden.
Atlanta Thrashers - The worst sports town in America does not deserve a hockey team. The NHL needs to get them out of there now. Winnipeg needs a team.
Carolina Hurricanes - They bore me. Again, not a fan of southern teams. I like the south [It's a Lincoln thing], but they don't need hockey. You can't turn just left in hockey.
Florida Panthers - What a waste of time. I think of John Vanbiesbrouk...but that's it.
Tampa Bay Lightning - I like the lightning, but hockey should not be in Florida. It's too fricken hot. Screw the transplants. They should have a choice - weather or hockey..not both!
Washington Capitals - Denis Maruk where have you gone? Rod Langway. They do nothing for me. Their fans try...they are cute, but there's nothing here worth talking about. Yeah even that guy doesn't change things.
Chicago Blackhawks - I respect the jersey. Their white jersey is pretty slick. However their fans? Gimme a break. Borderline evil. When this current team learns to play some defense, watch out. I have a piece of concrete from the old Chicago Stadium. Pretty darn sweet.
Columbus Blue Jackets - The Reds are the only Ohio team I will show any respect for. Everyone else can rot away for all I care. Buckeye scum I say.
Detroit Red Wings - I love how they are hated around the league. Love it! Class envy ala the Yankees.
Nashville Predators - Please move this team to Quebec or Kansas City. They don't need this team.
St. Louis Blues - I like the Blues, always have. I still think about Federko and the Sutter Brothers.
Calgary Flames - I don't care for any players on this team, but I like the franchise. I preferred the jerseys before they put black on them.
Colorado Avalanche - There's a fine line between love and hate. I hate this team, but have always loved some of their players. Much like the Yankees. I love Derek Jeter (no, not a man crush) but hate the Yankees. Same thing here.
Edmonton Oilers - These are the Minnesota Twins of hockey. Not much there, but they play the game like it should be played - fast, hard, and with energy. That goes along. I love the Oilers.
Minnesota Wild - Pretty non descriptive as you can get. Hockey is huge in Minnesota, but the pro game is average. I've never understood why. I wish they would be better.
Vancouver Canucks - I like the Canucks. Their ugly V uniforms were great. Much like the Astros of the late 70's.
Anaheim Ducks - With every ounce of my being I hate the Ducks. I hate their name, their jersey, and every player on that team. This represents what is wrong with hockey. The Ducks remind me of Gary Bettman.
Dallas Stars - I don't like this team. I'm not a fan of southern teams, but it's never bothered me that Texas has a team. Minor league hockey is huge there. I just like everything Texas. Must be a Ron Paul thing.
Los Angeles Kings - They Kings are fine. Not a fan of the purple jerseys. But I do like the black and white and the old queen yellow things. The Triple Crown line and 99 are what I think about. Luc.
Phoenix Coyotes - Not a fan. I do not like their jerseys. Most of my friends like it, I think it's lame. Hockey in the desert?
San Jose Sharks - They've grown on me. I was always against them, but I think they are ok to have around. There's no player or past players I identify with on this team.
