NHL Is Back!

But So Is Bitterness

This column comes the day after my return from the MCI Center. After a long lockout that cancelled all of last year's season, the NHL is back with every team playing on opening night. I was in attendance to see the Caps beat the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 3-2 victory.

Still, even with the NHL back, I still am feeling sour grapes after what happened last year. Again greed took shape and in the end, the fans were screwed out of a whole season. I'm surprised we didn't see this happen with baseball a few years back, and in my opinion, baseball needs a salary cap a lot more than the NHL. (After all, compare a near $200 million payroll for the Yankees as opposed to the Pirates' approximate $40 million. Doesn't anyone notice a trend here?)

Yes, I will admit the Caps were one of the higher payroll teams before the lockout (mostly because of Jaromir Jagr and his $77 million deal; at least the Rangers were able to cover a bit of it). As a result, the team is now doing something I hate hearing about, that the word gives me chills: rebuilding.

Even with the dreaded rebuilding process, there is still a gleam of hope. His name: Alexander Ovechkin. When he was drafted first overall in 2004, I started to collect more information on him, and when seeing him play in the 2005 World Championships, I liked what I saw. That couldn't even compare to the performances during the end of preseason, as well as the two goals he scored last night to open the season.

Still, despite all the accolades that Ovechkin has done lately, it seems that all the NHL, ESPN, and now OLN care about is Sidney Crosby, this year's draft pick for the Penguins. I have always accused ESPN about being Penguin biased, and last night was definite proof. After all, Ovechkin scores two goals, and what does Crosby get? A single assist as part of a 5-1 loss to the Devils! I'm sure we'll be seeing this bias all year, especially from Scott Burnside and Bill Clement, but once Ovechkin gets the Calder Trophy (awarded for rookie of the year), he will get the last laugh.

Even with the rise of Ovechkin and the start of a new season, I am still bitter about all that occurred last year. It seems however the NHL and the NHLPA are doing whatever they can to make it up to the fans. All the arenas have the words "Thank You Fans!" engraved along the blue lines, and at the Caps game, every fan in attendance was given a 1:7 scale model of the Stanley Cup. On the box says the following:

"Dear Fan, The Stanley Cup is the best trophy in the world, so the NHL believes it makes sense to award it to the best fans in the world. Please accept this limited edition Stanley Cup as our gift to thank you for your patience and faith in us.

"NHL Hockey is back! We are thrilled that you are, too.

Sincerely,

The NHL and the NHL Players"

Translation: "We feel guilty about all the crap you fans had to put up with last year, and we are so sorry. As a result, we are giving you this plastic Cup replica in a vain attempt to make up for our players' greed. Please do not leave our fanbase."

Sorry, Mr. Bettman. I will still watch hockey on DIRECTV, I will still play NHL 2K6 on my Xbox, and I will still attend games at MCI Center, but I am still jaded about everything that happened last year. It will take a long time for me to forgive you and the ex-president of the NHLPA, Bob Goodenow, for what you have taken away from us.

And what about the way the lockout screwed over NHL 2K6? Since there were no true rosters set in stone by the time the game went gold; the rosters are from the previous year. Obvious roster changes (Peter Forsberg still in Colorado instead of Philly, Jeremy Roenick still in Philly when he should be in Los Angeles, Nikolai Khabibulin in Tampa Bay despite moving the Chicago) have not taken place, and none of the standout rookies (Ovechkin, Crosby, etc.) are even listed as Free Agents.

A roster update dated September 15th fixed most of the roster moves, but Ovechkin and Crosby are not listed. At the time of writing this, no other roster updates have been made, but I really hope this gets taken care of real soon.

I guess I can make my own Ovechkin and Crosby, but I am a realism purist, and want my stats as authentic as possible. C'mon 2K, get me an update already!

CURRENTLY PLAYING: NHL 2K6 (Xbox)

WAITING FOR: SIRIUS S50, Xbox 360, GTA: Liberty City Stories (PSP)

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