NHL noob here

[iowajerms]

I have never really been into NHL after actually attending a minor league Des Moines Buccaneers game a long time ago. I always thought the TV took too much out of it, so I found it boring. I thought half the fun of being there was to figure out where the puck was, where TV takes that away.

I don't have a favorite team. I will just cheer for who I bet on in Bookie. I am going to try to follow it (we'll see how long it will last). What are some of the more exciting rivalries that are fun to watch? Or if there really is no big game to watch, what teams are fun to watch?

 

[Adanac]

Montreal v Boston.


nuff said.



Go Habs!!!

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Montreal v Boston.


nuff said.



Go Habs!!!

He doesn't seem much like the whining diving type.

 

[Harry Crack]

The Calgary Flames are hockey royalty.

 

[Harry Crack]

To really enjoy it , try and watch the players without the puck at least half the time. Lots and lots going on

 

[Adanac]

He doesn't seem much like the whining diving type.

well....nobody is a Brad Marchand fan!

 

[Canuck eh?]

To really enjoy it , try and watch the players without the puck at least half the time. Lots and lots going on

This is why he's a big Flames fan.

 

[Abe Vigoda]

Danny break out your 3D printer and get em a Leafs jersey

 

[Harry Crack]

This is why he's a big Flames fan.

I am merely in awe of their overall magnificence

 

[IndyAndy]

Des Moines Buccaneers, huh? - Back when I lived in Indy I followed the Indiana Ice, so I saw the Bucs come to town a time or two.

Now-a-days I live in Ft. Wayne, so I go to Komets (they're in the ECHL) games.

As for NHL teams, I follow the Wild, who have their AHL affiliate in Des Monies: Do you ever go to their games?

 

[Harry Crack]

Des Moines Buccaneers, huh? - Back when I lived in Indy I followed the Indiana Ice, so I saw the Bucs come to town a time or two.

Now-a-days I live in Ft. Wayne, so I go to Komets (they're in the ECHL) games.

As for NHL teams, I follow the Wild, who have their AHL affiliate in Des Monies: Do you ever go to their games?

ECHL - nice , you still get to see good hockey fights !!

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Danny break out your 3D printer and get em a Leafs jersey

It's busy printing out a Stanley Cup.

 

[iowajerms]

Des Moines Buccaneers, huh? - Back when I lived in Indy I followed the Indiana Ice, so I saw the Bucs come to town a time or two.

Now-a-days I live in Ft. Wayne, so I go to Komets (they're in the ECHL) games.

As for NHL teams, I follow the Wild, who have their AHL affiliate in Des Monies: Do you ever go to their games?

No, a guy from my church took my brother, my cousin, and me to a few Buccaneers games around 20 years ago. I just never got into hockey since because nobody in my family ever got into it. That is the same with NBA and MLB, so we never were able to watch them. Now I can watch them on VIP or similar sites. So, I am trying to get back into them.

I didn't really follow the Buccaneers either. I just went to a few games and enjoyed it. If I could afford it, I would think about going to those minor league sporting events Des Moines or Cedar Rapids have.

 

[iowajerms]

I like a good fight every now and then, but I would rather see a good, quality hockey game where both teams play basic hockey. They pass the puck well, the goalie is impressive, they set up shots good, some great hits.

 

[pixburgher66]

Some of the more potent rivalries to watch these days, by division:

WEST:
Pacific division- Any of the California matchups, honestly. Ducks-Kings-Sharks. There was a time Vancouver would add to the fun of that, and they ARE doing decent in the early goings, so who knows if they're "back".
Central- Blackhawks-Blues is a big one right now. No love lost there, especially after the post-season meet up this past year. Dallas may throw their hat into the ring this season as well, they're pretty annoying.
EAST:
Metropolitan- Pittsburgh-Philly rarely disappoints. The Islanders may push the envelope this year too.
Atlantic- The oldest rivalry in the books: Boston-Montreal. Always heated. Toronto vs either of those two can occasionally be good too, if Toronto feels like competing that night.

 

[Puck082]

I like a good fight every now and then, but I would rather see a good, quality hockey game where both teams play basic hockey. They pass the puck well, the goalie is impressive, they set up shots good, some great hits.

Oh god, then you'll want to avoid the Islanders.

 

[RP-29]

I was in a similar situation to you... I grew up in a state with no NHL hockey team, a family with no hockey background and local hockey enthusiasts were an underground lot. I really knew very little about the sport.

I was about 13 years old when ESPN began televising NHL hockey and EA Sports began making licensed NHL video games. I learned rules of the game by playing the video game and I fell in love with the Red Wings by watching Yzerman, Fedorov, Ciccareli and Probert whoop some ass on TV.

I grew up on football, basketball and baseball, but hockey has trumped all as my favorite sport to watch.

My first recommendation: If you're a hockey novice, the first step to becoming a hockey fan is to learn the rules of the game. Just puck watching will not be engaging enough to maintain your interest. Like football, you gotta know when to yell at the refs for missing a penalty or calling a bogus one.

Of course, after that, you gotta find teams & players to root for and teams & players to hate for that emotional tie to the game.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Historical would definitely be Habs vs. Bruins. Pittsburgh and Philly is a good one too. All those teams are pretty good (or better) right now, so those are pretty active rivalries too.

Right now Chicago vs. LA is pretty hot, just because of the recent success of those teams.

 

[Phantomphan]

Judging by your avatar pic, you'd make a great Flyers fan.

 

[beantownmaniac]

Judging by your avatar pic, you'd make a great Flyers fan.

Saying someone looks like a criminal isn't very nice