NHL 09 simulation has the Stars winning the Stanley Cup

Sure, this is a pathetic thing to post. But strangely enough, I think the Stars are going to win it this year as well. I'm not on that Wings repeat bandwagon.
Watch what Richards does after a full year in Dallas. Mike Modano is more possessed than he has been in years. Anyway, for the simulation:
-No trades
-No injuries
-No Sundin
-No Forsberg
-No Shanahan

Canucks finished in 8th spot but lost to the Sharks in Round 1.
The Stars defeated the Penguins in 5 games in the Finals. Satan, the Lord of all things evil actually put up a bunch of points during the season and the playoffs. But it was Brendan Morrow who won the playoff scoring race and the Conn Smythe Trophy.

-I'm not posting personal predictions until late September.

Oh, and NHL 09's "Be a Pro" mode is damned cool, but it has its issues. I was getting demoted in Manitoba and told by the coach that I was just "going through the motions". So I was delegated to 3rd line duty. Only thing is, I was leading the team and the AHL in scoring. Lame. However, with 2 weeks left in the season, the Canucks called me up to play on their 3rd line. I excelled there and was eventually promoted to top line center with Demitra and Dan Sedin. The Nucks went right to the Finals and Dank won the Conn Smythe. Good times.
Any of you own NHL 09 yet? It still blows my mind how good it is.

That's enough useless info for you. Then again, there isn't much going on in the NHL right now anyway. However:

- Glen Sather may be giving Mats Sundin a deadline to make up his mind. That could be this Tuesday, according to one NY reporter. Look for Shanahan to be re-signed this week. Sundin ain't doing or saying squat.

-Hayley Wickenheiser is complaining that she has to wear a visor playing in Sweden. The guys don't have to, so why does she? I guess there are some stinky rules in Sweden about females in hockey. Apparently she didn't have to wear one playing in Finland. Run that article through a translator. Just once I'd like to watch her play with the guys in Europe. I hope nobody is going easy on her. Not to be cruel, but she is playing in a men's league after all.

T Tags: NHL 09 +Simulation Stars+win+Stanley+Cup Rangers+give+Mats Sundin+deadline Hayley+Wickenheiser+Sweden+visor

NHL 09 is top notch

Yeah, baby. That's a picture of me scoring as a member of the Manitoba Moose! NHL 09 really has delivered this time. The graphics are even smoother, the hits are massive and finally look different, the fighting engine has finally changed, and the game has never been a more authentic NHL experience.
I just bought it for the PS3 yesterday and have already spent a great deal of time with the new "Be A Pro" mode. Awesome stuff. You create yourself as a player and the mode puts you on an NHL teams' affiliate of choice. You have to work your way up from the 3rd line on the affiliate team and hope to get a chance to play for an NHL team. I've only made it to the top line of the Moose but have not been called up to Vancouver yet. The mode has it's quirks, but it will only get better every year. (Why does the coach give you hell for taking a bad penalty when you've just won a fight and got the crowd going?) But the first-person camera mode is great as an option. It feels like you are actually sitting in the bench and being one with your team. That is....until you triple-shift, trying to get some points up to make your player better! Then it's me first team second.
So much new stuff. EA Sports is to be commended. If you have not bought this game yet, you're missing out. It leaves NHL 08 in the dust...and NHL 08 was pretty damned good!

A full list of game reviews can be found here.
Personally, I think this is the best hockey game in a long time.

T Tags: NHL 09 Playstation+3 Wicked

NHL 09 anticipation

From the official NHL 09 site:

An All-new physics-based checking and fighting engine featuring more than 300 new animations brings a higher-level of intensity to the game. Watch players reach for the ice to soften their fall or simply get laid out on their back when you catch them with their head down in open ice. Circle your opponent, grab his jersey and settle a mid-game score.

Alright! One of my wishes has finally ben granted. The hits and fights are going to have way more dynamics!
I see the crowd responses will still be just as unresponsive though. That's maybe the only bummer.
Looks to be available in stores on September 9.
The cover of the game is seen below. (Thanks Flyers Goal Scored By..)






T Tags: NHL+09 game hitting fighting