new NHL season: some reflections

It's been a few weeks since the start of a new, post-lockout, hockey season and it's time to make some very premature conclusions (in no particular order):
First of all, fans are mostly back, even in the southern American markets. I always thought the worries were a bit exaggerated.
- new schedule sacks. I know that division rivalries are supposed to attract more attentnion but hey, isn't that what makes a birthday cake so delicious that you eat once a year? Enthusiasm is bound to wear off after the third battle of Alberta in a row, won't it?
- Actually, there's a selfish reason behind my protestations. To my dismay, I found out that there would be no game played against Washington Capitals during the regular season (and odds of them making to the Stanley Cup final are...well, not very good).
I just wanted to see Oleksandr Ovechkin.

- Money can't buy happiness, right? Well, as it's turned out taking money away from your competitors can't buy happiness either. Despite the acquisitions of Chris Pronger and Mike Peca the Oilers are down 6 in a row, including a couple of games in which they got absolutely smashed.


- NY Rangers. They had a good start but still losing games and yet, it doesn't matter in a way. N68, Jaromir Jagr is back, full force. What's that team is all about epitomized their last game against NY Islanders. They lost 5-4 but Jarg scored a hat trick and I'm sure those fat bastards New Yorkers were quite happy.