Joe Pasquali and Eddie Theisen are two die hard hockey fans.
Even in the midst of football starting and baseball gearing up for the postseason, these two idiots find time to talk about a sport that only Canadians and alcoholics care about, hockey. They now live together, but still find time each morning to catch up and sort of discuss the NHL.
This is their conversation. Continue reading
Two hockey guys talking hockey.
Joe Pasquali and Eddie Theisen are two die-hard NHL fans. They both watch every hockey game, every night (almost).
The guys talk about the NHL trade deadline and which teams are the winners and losers.
My Columbus Blue Jackets were really active, but the pieces they traded in exchange for Marian Gaborik could leave diehard fans a bit sad. They traded away three homegrown talents for only 1.5 guaranteed seasons of Gaborik.
This is their email conversation this afternoon.
Continue reading
Two hockey guys talking hockey.
Joe Pasquali and Eddie Theisen are two die-hard NHL fans. They both watch every hockey game, every night (almost).
The guys talk about what you can get at an NHL online auction, why Columbus fans get extra excited when they hear a specific goal horn, hockey fights and various other happenings from this weekend’s NHL action.
I believe this is the third time in two weeks the guys have a lengthy conversation about chili. I’m completely fine with it. Excuse me while I go buy some chili.
This is their email conversation the following morning. Continue reading
Two hockey guys talking hockey.
Joe Pasquali and Eddie Theisen are two die-hard NHL fans. They both watch every hockey game, every night (almost).
The guys talk about Pavel Datsyuk’s nominee for “Goal of the Year” against Nashville, the Pierre McGuire drinking game, teaching pets to react to hockey and if Toronto should trade for a veteran goaltender.
As a fan of the Columbus Blue Jackets, I’m just glad the guys didn’t pick on them in this afternoon’s conversation.
By the way, neither of these guys have a girlfriend.
This is their email conversation the following morning. Continue reading
Are you a hockey fan who loves to collect autographs and/or trading cards?
Well, this weekend is ‘Hockey Weekend Across America’ and it is not a coincidence that ‘National Hockey Card Day’ falls this weekend. Hockey fans within the U.S. borders can net a free pack of Upper Deck NHL cards. Upper Deck is working with participating hobby and retail shops, NHL and the NHLPA to give fans a free 5-card pack on February 16th.
In these pack, Upper Deck has also randomly inserted a limited amount of autograph cards. The odds of pulling these cards are very difficult, so those who are lucky enough to score one really have a special collectible. The three players who have autographs inserted in these packs are Detroit Red Wings’ Brendan Smith, New York Rangers’ Chris Kreider and Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin.
Keep reading for instruction on how to obtain a free pack of Upper Deck NHL cards this weekend. Continue reading
Our NHL fanatic friend, Joe Pasquali, has written an Atlantic Division preview for the 2009-10 season. He is a Red Wings fan, so you would think that he has some stinging hatred for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Where does he think the Penguins will finish this season? Who makes the playoffs out of the Atlantic? Can the Rangers contend for the division crown? Pasquali discusses these questions and much more.
The Penguins have owned the Eastern Conference the last two seasons with the production of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. If those players can stay healthy, you have to think that they will go deep into the playoffs once again.
Predicted Finish
Pittsburgh Penguins*
New Jersey Devils*
New York Rangers*
Philadelphia Flyers
New York Islanders
(* denotes playoff birth)
1. Pittsburgh Penguins – The defending champs return a team that is in their prime at all the right positions. Your captain, your leading scorer, and your goalie have all made strides through their early seasons and are now seasoned all-stars. The only question for Pittsburgh is how big of a Cup hangover will they have? This has not been a “great” regular season team, still with the talent they have they should win the Atlantic. Barely.
2. New Jersey Devils – They don’t have the star power as the rest of the big boys in the Atlantic, but the Devils play great defense and still have one of the best goalies around in Brodeur. Rob Niedermayer will bring a grit to a team that desperately needed it late in the season. Also, coach Jacques Lemair is back in New Jersey after being away for 11 years. When he was in town New Jersey played the best defense in the league.
3. New York Rangers – Every year, this is the toughest team to predict in the NHL. On paper, the Rangers can hang with everyone. But, inconsistency from their 2nd and 3rd lines, injuries, and spotty goaltending has kept them from breaking into real Cup contention. The addition of Marian Gaborik should have hockey fans in the Big Apple excited this year. If he is healthy, he is still one of the best goal scorers in the league.
4. Philadelphia Flyers – Chris Pronger will make an immediate impact in the Eastern Conference. Besides Zdeno Chara, Pronger now becomes the best defenseman in the East and the best in the Atlantic Division. He brings grit and a mean streak that has really embraced that style of hockey the last few seasons. With less physical teams like the Penguins and the Rangers in the division, Philly could really make some noise by being the perennial bad boys of the Atlantic.
5. New York Islanders – One of the worst run franchise in the NHL, the New York Islanders have few bright spots heading into the 2009/10 season. If Rick DiPietro can return for the Islanders, he’ll make a big impact. Dwayne Roloson is a decent back up, but can’t be an everyday goalie if the Islanders want to get out of the cellar. John Taveres and Kyle Okposo should put up good numbers playing on the first line. These two youngsters should give Isles fans some hope for the future.
On a side note, for news on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to Fanball’s Stingers On Ice, where America’s White Boy’s sweetbob updates regularly.
