Oh my, don't know where to start with that. Well let's just try and pick away at it. xd
First off, before AKILLA has to say it, hockey didn't go anywhere, just the NHL was gone. As for the "lock-out / strike". It was a lock-out not a strike. In Canada it is a first-class sport, it will be fine. The league has brought in revenue sharing. That means the top ten richest teams will give money to the top ten poorest teams. There is no way it can go broke anymore they have solved their money problems and then some.
As for fans, they will come back, no one is just gonna stop being a fan because of a lock-out. If your a true fan you'll be back and cheering. As for San Jose, yes they do have a good team, but with the lottery draft and the new CBA every team will be equal. The rich teams can no longer buy their players and the poor teams can now have a good chance at getting good players in the draft.
As for Calgary being good for a long time and the Canucks need to rebound? xd Martin Gelinas is getting old, Iginla can't carry a whole team by himself. Kiprusoff proved he isn't what he was in 2004 after his team got stomped by Canada in the World Cup. Calgary has also made some trades and got rid of a few players. Defence wise they are fine.
As for the Canucks, give me a break, they need to rebound?? Not a chance. Bertuzzi has already said he is coming back and with him will almost 100% surely be Naslund. The Sedin's proved in this last World Championship that they are amazing players, in my mind they were by far some of the best players in that tournament easily. Then you have Morrison coming back and Linden too. The defence is just as amazing as before, Jovo, Ohlund, Sopel, Salo, Malik and many others who were playing for the Moose.
They don't need to rebound, they could have s**t kicked Calgary in the first round of the playoffs last season if Bertuzzi was playing, Cloutier wasn't hurt and Naslund wasn't just getting back from his concussion. It took Calgary seven games, and overtime WITH a powerplay to beat the Canucks. If Cloutier and Bertuzzi would have been there it would have been a WAY different ending. Besides, Calgary had the road to the cup paved for them all the way till the end. A very hurt Canucks team, Detroit (enough said), San Jose (who wasn't much competition at all except for Scott Hannan). Then they reached the finals and T-Bay hit them like a brick wall. They would have never reached the first round if the Canucks had their full team.
Then Detroirt was an easy series win. Canucks could have knocked them off 4 games to none. San Jose, pff. They weren't that tough last season excluding Scott Hannan on defence and a few other players on forward. Then T-Bay, they had a tough time with Vancouver all season long. That was the Canucks year to win it. Too bad Colorado had to draft one of hockey's deepest scars, Steve Moore.
The Ducks are fine. As for ownership Brian Burke (Vancouver's old GM) has taken over in Anaheim. He did amazing things in Vancouver and I don't expect any less in Anaheim.
San Jose and Calgary again!? Maybe in the first round, and Calgary would win that again just to hit the Canucks again. Except I cannot see it getting any worse for the Canucks. Even one player more and the Canucks would have won against Calgary. You need to get your facts straight.
Like Errorcode said, only 7 games. Whoopee. sweatdrop
