Hockey fans... WAKE UP! Put the golf clubs away. Forget about baseball for a minute. Football fans—you can check your fantasy team later. Because this week... HOCKEY IS BACK! The 2026–27 NHL season is here, and you know what that means. It's time to pull that jersey out of the closet. It's time to start yelling at referees who can't hear you through the television. And most importantly... It's time to convince yourself that THIS is finally your team's year. Even though your general manager spent the entire summer making decisions that had you screaming: WHAT THE PUCK?! --- Maybe your team made a brilliant trade. Maybe they signed exactly the player they needed. Maybe they finally fixed the power play. Or... Maybe your GM spent the summer doing things that made absolutely NO SENSE. Doesn't matter anymore. Because right now everybody starts over. ZERO WINS. ZERO LOSSES. And every fanbase in the NHL has exactly the same thought: “We got a shot!” Well... Most of you do. Some of your teams are terrible. I'm trying to be encouraging here, but I'm not going to lie to you. This is Hockey Smack Talk. --- And that's what makes opening week so great. Toronto fans are already planning the Stanley Cup parade. Edmonton fans are already explaining why THIS is finally the year. Montreal fans think every prospect is the next superstar. Detroit fans are trying to figure out what the puck happened to Hockeytown. Vegas fans are probably waiting to see which superstar mysteriously becomes available next. And somewhere... There's a Buffalo Sabres fan saying: “You know what? I actually feel pretty good about this year.” God bless you. I admire the optimism. --- But seriously... This is what we've been waiting for. The sound of skates cutting into fresh ice. That first big hit. The first fight. The first ridiculous goal. The first goalie standing on his head. And, of course... The first referee making a call that has an entire city screaming:

Makar's record 8-year, $163.2 million contract was necessity for Avalanche. You can't win without superstars,' Sakic says after deal with elite defenseman. I think it's great for hockey and we're still the long way from where the baseball, basketball and football salaries are. What do you think Connor McDavid's going to make? Let the smack talk begin! 🤬💰💸💲

So the great Steve Yzerman played 13 years for the Detroit Redwings before he won a Stanley Cup. Never complained. Never stopped working hard! Never demanded a trade. Showed up everyday to be a great leader and work hard! He was the best! Wtp what the puck! What do you think about Dylan Larkin? I think his BS attitude is what caused Yzerman to step down? Your thoughts? Bring your a game and no filter! #LGRW 🏒🤬😡