The NHL 2011-12 Season Is Under Way

Puckheads, you know what you've all been waiting for. Those long summer days of just waiting for a pond to freeze up or taking a whack at the goal in that backyard. But now that it's started, we can all get back to our usual daily lives...the ones with HOCKEY.

Sorry, football fans, move over for the fans who the teams love best. And that means it's time to share my new opinions and matters for the upcoming season. Ready? Well, let's get started.

So, as you know, it's not exactly the regular hockey season yet, but it is the preseason and it IS hockey, so there's that component. I know, I know. The preseason doesn't really matter. I understand it. But people love seeing the players they'll eventually find in regular season games one day and that's one of the good things about the preseason. These players need to test themselves against some real hard-working teams like Boston, Detroit, or San Jose. Getting these players some actual time with the big teams helps them prepare for their future and you know what? It actually allows the team to see the future of the team and I think that's what important about sharing the preseason with a bunch of other players.

There's more to a preseason than just the game. One thing I like about the NHL preseason, and actually preseasons in particular, is that it gives cities that don't have hockey markets, like Las Vegas or Orlando, a chance to host an NHL game for the fans of the teams in their cities. I will be taking another trip up to Vegas to see the Avalanche vs. Kings game. (sorry Galaxy fans) And every year, it turns out to be one of the best things that hockey can give. Out-of-market cities give themselves a chance to bring in more revenue and allow the city to one day become part of the great expansion of the NHL. Perhaps if the Coyotes can't stay in Phoenix, how about Las Vegas or Quebec City? Ha ha.

This is how I like to enjoy my preseason. Sitting up on the terrace levels of arenas like Honda Center, HP Pavilion, Jobing.com Arena, and Staples Center and really enjoying the view from up there as well as munching down on some chicken tenders, onion rings, or POTATO SKINS!!! (my favorite) There's also just seeing fans enjoy the sport like they should. These people manage to get out of their social and family lives and enjoy a little bit of time of watching their favorite game. Sure, it may not be the regular season but it gives them a chance to relax and see some hockey, even though it might not be competitive hockey, and I think that gives hockey the thumbs-up all year round.

The preseason is here. Hockey is back. Puckheads, get ready. Tie up your skates, grab those sticks, and start wacking the pucks away at the net. Hockey is back...and puckheads love it!!

Galaxy Take a Bite Out of the Whitecaps

Mike Magee is turning himself from a man who played in goal in San Jose to a man the Galaxy can't do anything without.

Magee scored two goals, Robbie Keane added another, and the Galaxy avenged their loss on Wednesday by beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 and allowing the Galaxy to remain unbeaten at home in 15 games this season. This win also helps them keep one step ahead of Seattle for the all-important Supporters' Shield.

Robbie Keane is certainly coming on strong since he got picked up from Ireland, and so far it's been working out the way the Galaxy wanted him to. Not only that but Magee is showing that he is an essential player to the Galaxys' core roster. And this means big time if the Galaxy want to keep Seattle, Dallas, and Real Salt Lake behind them in the Supporters' Shield race.

Seattle won against DC 3-0 to move to 51 points, but with the Galaxys' win, they got another three points to stay on top of the MLS with 58. In order to keep Seattle behind them, they'll need at least a tie or a win in Columbus next weekend, and take care of business at home October 1st against Real Salt Lake. This will not be easy, considering that Columbus is one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference along with Philadelphia and New York. The Galaxy have work in front of them and it seems like they're on the right track to earn yet another Supporters' Shield for this season.

Now moving on to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. They have been outscored by the Galaxy 7-0 this season. 3-0 tonight and then 4-0 back on July 30th. Not only that, but this team is clearly not playoff potential and it's kinda sad too, considering that they are my second favorite soccer team behind the Galaxy. I don't know why this team can't seem to find their offensive units. Eric Hassli and Jay DeMerit seem to be the only bright spots for this team, but it's not helping this team get any further. I don't know what else to say for this team, but it won't be going anywhere for the rest of this season. Whether or not they win the next few games, it'll be nothing if the other teams manage to get into the playoffs before them. My only advice is: At least try to best Chivas USA in the points. Other than that, I can't help but say that this team needs to get it together if they want to get anywhere for the rest of the season.

Great work, Galaxy fans (including LA Riot Squad and LA Brigade), it certainly shows that we're all serious MLS Cup contenders at this point. Fellow Whitecaps fans, do not feel ashamed about what this team can and can't do. They're only in their first season and it takes time for a team to really put the pieces together and become a contender in the West. So far, we'll see what happens to these teams down the stretch. Go Galaxy!! And Go Caps Go!!

Teemu Selanne Is Coming Back!!

Teemu Selanne is back in the NHL...and he's liking it!

The 41-year-old veteran right winger will return for a 19th season, agreeing to a one-year, $4 million deal.

Teemu had arthroscopic surgery in June on his left knee, but allowed additional time for it to heal before deciding to go for an 19th season on the job.

And why not? The veteran right winger is 27th in NHL history in scoring, accumulating 1,340 points and 14th in goals with 637 of them. With 80 points last season in the eighth-leading scorer that season, the Finnish Flash is long from slowing down his game.

"As he showed again last season, Teemu still has the drive, determination, and skill to play at an elite level," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said to ESPN.com and the Associated Press. "Most importantly for us, his passion comes from not just playing, but playing for the Ducks."

"You guys knew I can't stop playing yet, so I'm back, at least one more season," Selanne told fans in a video message posted on the Ducks' website. "We start the season in Helsinki, so see you there."

And what better way to start off a great season than going overseas, back home to Helsinki, and playing in front of fans that love you best? I think Teemu knows exactly what he's doing, and Ducks fans like myself can not be prouder. He's shown exactly what kind of damage he can do on the ice, and having him on the Ducks for another season just makes him that much more valuable.

He is the scoring engine and he continues to play at a very exciting level. I think teams around the league will be happy to see Teemu back on the ice, because it means that a challenge is waiting for them this season.

I expect the Ducks to be very competitive and reach a playoff spot because of Teemu. His dedication, hard work, and his commitment to playing hockey shows us that Teemu, above all others, is ready and willing to do what the Ducks are shown to do: be challengers for the Stanley Cup and show other teams what they're made for. Certainly, this season, it will be another great one. The NHL will be another exciting season to watch, thanks in part to this guy.

Information from ESPNLA.com's Dan Arritt (http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nhl/story/_/id/6974073/teemu-selanne-returning-anaheim-ducks-19th-nhl-season) and the Associated Press (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HKN_DUCKS_SELANNE?SITE=CTNHR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) was used in this opinion article.

The Recent Offseason Could Affect This Season

Well, what can you say about what's going on this offseason? I mean, of course you got big signings like Brad Richards going to the New York Rangers, Ilya Bryzgalov being traded to Philadelphia, and Mike Richards going to LA. But there's more stories than that, and it occurs with more deaths.

A plane carrying KHL team Lokomotiv to the city of Minsk crashed into the rivers and took all but 2 people who were on the plane, including crewmen and players. A lot of players who played in the NHL, such as Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, and Josef Vasicek, as well as former Red Wings assistant coach Brad McCrimmon, were lost. This surely is the biggest loss of the summer and it puts more of the grim in the grim offseason that has been circling the NHL.

Most of the players I don't know statistically and such, but I do like Brad McCrimmon because he has been part of the great Red Wings teams in the 2000s. He helped carry them to great playoff victories as an assistant coach and honestly, I thought he was still in the NHL but now he's no longer on this Earth.

This season will definitely be an interesting one considering how many deaths, and this one in particular, will affect what the season will bring to us. Players and coaches are definitely affected already by the coming deaths, like this crash as well as the three players that have recently died. Can they put aside this and be able to produce on the ice like they always have done? Or will this be a hangover that lasts throughout the entire season? And honestly, we don't know. Combine that with the fact that Sidney Crosby is still having post-concussion symptoms and it feels like the season has little relevance so far.

I hope the season will go right on schedule and that players honor their fallen comrades by playing the same style of hockey that they have always known (except no head-hitting, we don't want another high player like Crosby to go out for months) to do. In the meantime, let's get prepared for another hockey season, puckheads. Almost time to drop that first puck.

Major Issues for US Team

While the Jurgen Klinsmann ERA seemed to get off with a hitch by gaining a tie in a friendly against Mexico, his current losses to both Costa Rica and Belgium seem to be turning reporters' heads the other way. And while Klinsmann shouldn't be taking the blame yet, down the road there will be some times in which the US might be looking for another coach to turn this somewhat-sorry franchise around.

Now while the Costa Rica result might not be that surprising, fans didn't expect them to lose to Belgium, whom they expected to get a win from. There was no doubt some aggressiveness from the US side early on in the match but somehow they managed to eliminate that and let Belgium get away with a win.

Yet another lesson has be learned in the Klinsmann ERA and that he needs to find the players he needs to ultimately allow this team to be qualifiers for the World Cup in 2014. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot going on right now in terms of getting the right players and it seems the plays aren't really helping the US team get anywhere, at least for right now.

Jurgen Klinsmann will stay on the seat for now. The question is: How long will it be before the US National Team President decides that Klinsmann is just not cut out to be the coach for the team. I'm not saying Klinsmann is a bad coach. I'm just saying that Klinsmann might have walked into a situation he wasn't necessarily ready for.

For now, it all seems done and done. The US team has got their work cut out for them and in time, we'll see if it really helps this team down the stretch towards the World Cup. So far, questions but only most of them have been answered.