Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Montreal
Posts: 2984

Tonight the season begins. I've waited all summer for this.

This season gets a kick start with Wayne Gretzky's jersey being retired in Los Angeles tonite, not like he needs more things done in his name.

Here's some boys to watch this year.

Edmonton Oilers -- Mike York. Obtained late last season from the New York Rangers in a trade that sent Tom Poti and Rem Murray to Broadway, York had little chance to show the Edmonton faithful what he could do. In 12 games with the Oilers, York scored two goals and added two assists, but he also showed signs that he could mesh well with Edmonton's young and quick team. A smallish center, York has scored 20 or more goals in two of his three NHL seasons, earning All-Rookie honors just three seasons ago. If he can find chemistry with some wingers, Edmonton will add greatly to its scoring depth up the middle, especially after trading for Czech center Jiri Dopita this summer.

St. Louis Blues -- Doug Weight. Imported last summer as a savior for the Blues, Weight struggled in his first year in St. Louis. The dynamic center scored just 15 goals and 34 assists in an injury-plagued campaign. Not bad numbers, but not near the 25-goal, 65-assist campaign he produced a year earlier for the Edmonton Oilers. So, now Weight has something to prove to himself and disappointed Blues fans. A return to health, as well as a broader familiarity with his teammates, should help Weight return to the ranks of the game's elite centers -- which is good news for St. Louis and bad news for the rest of the Western Conference.

Toronto Maple Leafs -- Ed Belfour. Many believed Belfour was on his way down after struggling last season with the Dallas Stars, posting a 21-27-11 mark with a 2.65 goals-against average. His GAA in the 2001-02 campaign was higher than both his career average and the mark he set just a year earlier. Toronto, however, was not among those who believed Belfour has seen his best days. The team eagerly signed him as a free agent, believing a change of scenery and a new challenge would put him in the perfect frame of mind to star as the replacement for popular goalie Curtis Joseph, who signed a free-agent deal with Detroit.

New York Rangers -- Bobby Holik. All eyes will be on Holik when the 2002-03 season opens. As one of the highest-paid free agents this summer, Holik will be under the microscope at every turn. It will be interesting to see how the veteran player handles the change. The bright lights of Broadway provide a far different atmosphere than the relative anonymity of the New Jersey Devils. It will be interesting to see how Holik's in-your-face accountability will play to a locker-room of established veterans. But, if Holik can fit into the Rangers' universe seamlessly, he could put up career numbers while giving the Blueshirts a physical forward presence that has been lacking for so long.

I also say keep your eyes on the Minnesota Wild this year as they had a fantastic pre-season of 7-0-1.

Should be a good year, a few new rules (more penalties will be called), faster game play (hurry to face off) and of coarse the new end rink netting.

Anyone got picks for a winner this year?
(I say Oilers, but I always sa Oilers.)

OILERS!

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"Please pardon my levity, I don't see how to take death seriously. It seems absurd." R A Wilson (R.I.P)

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Montreal
Posts: 2984

More news: Blackhawks' Fleury suspended indefinitely

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: toronto
Posts: 1612

Trevor Kidd will be starting by January.

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