Post: #26

(09-05-2016 12:35 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

(09-05-2016 11:49 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  The Canucks will be good in 2-3 seasons but I wonder what Chicago will look like then. They always seem to find cap space and there system of developing players, trading them when they need to be re-signed and repeating that. I was surprised when they traded Saad and they got a poor return for Sharp.

Toews, Kane and Keith can carry a team though. Toews,Kane and Keith are pretty equal to Crosby,Malkin and Letang. I don't think Crawford is that great but he reminds me of Chris Osgood, just good enough to get it done.

I think the Hawks will be good for a few years to come. Its amazing, you could field a second team with guys who used to play for the Hawks but were traded due to the cap and they would be a cup contender. They should be good this year, getting Campbell back for a song is huge for their D. The top four D are now the same top four they had back in 2010. They need another left winger and likely another veteran depth player and they could make another run this year. Can't wait for the home opener.

Go Stars!!

doc we have to hit up a Stars/Hawks game this season, no questions asked. Busy seasons be damned!!

Post: #27

I'd be excited if I was a Dallas fan, Benn and Seguin make up one of the best lines in the league. The D looks kind of shitty, same with the goalies. Hamhuis is still a serviceable 2nd pairing guy, good contract.

Is Nichushkin still threatening to go back to Russia? That's one reason why no one likes drafting Russians.

Post: #28

Yeah forgot about Dallas, they should be good this year but again, no goaltending but man they are fast and score a shitload of goals. Yes Diop, we'll go to a game this year provided you behave yourself when the Stars lose.

Post: #29

Montreal should be good this year: Price is healthy, Weber is a stud an a top 5 D in the league, Subban was also a beast and running the offense from the back-end but switching the 2 D is only a lateral move. The biggest upgrade is up-front with Radulov signing. He's already our best forward and the best forward we had since 1995. He's probably a top 5 russian forward (with only Ovechkin, Malkin, Kuznetsov, Tarasenko and Kucherov maybe being better right now). We will see how fast he adjusts to the NHL but he clearly likes that Weber and Price are on the team.

Galchenyuk should still improve with Pacioretty and Radulov, hopefully one of Lekohnen, Andrighetto or Hudon can step in and jump in the top 6 and contribute big-time.

Our third line will regress with the departure of Lars Eller (how underrated he was by the fanbase and medias). But for me he was one of the best third line center and the perfect shut down center with his size. Hopefully De La Rose, Danault or Mccaron should be just as good.

Last wild card are Beaulieu and Sergachev. If Sergachev is ready to step in the NHL he will be the one replacing Subban speed and puck carrying at D. If not let's hope Beaulieu can improve but I think we have seen the best of him.

Post: #30

Radulov played with Weber in Nash so he should fit right in. I agree, as long as Price stays healthy the Habs will get in. Other than TB and maybe FL, that division is weak sauce. Weber is a serious upgrade in the D zone from Subban and his shot on the PP is just as hard. Plus he's a leader while Subban is an attention whore. Andrew Shaw is a nice addition too (another Hawk salary cap casualty). Galchenyuk really needs to break out this year though.

Post: #31

@ Sidney Crosby

Yes, you are correct in your statement about Lindross couldn't keep his head up. Do you remember that hit he suffered from Scott Steven's of the Devils. I remember seeing him laying on the ice after that hit. As a big hockey and Flyers fan. That was absolutely devastating. Seeing your hero laying on the ice like that and realizing that our run was over. Till this day it still hurts.

Post: #32

The biggest irony I would spell out is how Martin Jones would objectively make the Canucks better, despite the fact when he has gone on record how he prefers to make a name for himself outside of British Columbia, because of the fact his father is Arena Operations President within the Canucks organization. I previously learned of this during a Kings Weekly segment. Who knows? Once his contract expires, his best career move would be pulling off a LeBron and a delivering a homecoming promise.

Specifically about the Kings, I observed firsthand during their 2014 Stanley Cup run how a youth movement would actually rejuvenate and fill up holes on their lineup. Voynov in 2012? Yeah. Toffoli and Pearson since 2014? Yeah.

Post: #33

Jones isn't really needed, obviously Miller will be gone after this season and maybe even during, but we Markstrom and Thatcher Demko is projected to be an elite goalie in the future, he's starting this year in the AHL.

I know LA desperately wants to dump Brown and his contract but I heard that some people think he could actually get claimed in the expansion draft? I doubt that. LA will probably have to package him with a decent player and basically give him away like what Chicago did with the Bickell contract, buying him out would be too much of a cap hit.

Post: #34

I'm predicting a big season from Kassian, after getting basically given away by the Canucks and then Montreal he seems to have dedicated himself finally with Edmonton.

It won't be a permanent line but I'd love to see Lucic - McDavid - Kassian if anyone started hassling McDavid they'd get fucking pounded.

He was always kind of Phil Kessel-ish before but he's in shape now.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGz-4USAyaV/...by=zkass09

Post: #35

(09-04-2016 03:18 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  Darkhorse teams: Washington (they got to figure it out one day right?), Nashville (Subban makes that team the fastest in the NHL after the Pens), Chicago (west is weaker than its been in years past, full 5 months off and they know how to win), maybe NJ with Taylor Hall and Corey Schneider, Sharks (do they have enough left in the tank for one more run?), maybe St. Louis.

Teams with high expectations: Pens, Lightning (my pick to win it this year, would have done it last year if Stamkos had been there and Bishop didn't get injured).

Canadian teams are going to suck ass again but the Oilers should be better with McDavid hopefully playing a full year and the Pacific being weaker than before.

Bumping this thread as we're about a month from the start of the playoffs. Canadian teams doing much better than I thought they would with Calgary and Ottawa looking good, Habs going to get in, Edmonton struggling right now but should make it and the Leafs(!) on the cusp.

Did not expect the Lightning to struggle as they have and my darkhorse picks of Washington and Chicago looking strong. Pens well positioned to make a run at the repeat.

Surprises: Calgary, Columbus, Minnesota
Disappointments: TB, Dallas, LA, Winnipeg
Not surprised they suck: Carolina, Colorado, Vancouver

Post: #36

Edmonton has been fun to watch this year, things are finally starting to gel.

Even though I was born in Edmonton, I still like to watch Calgary, and when both Alberta teams make the playoffs they motivate each other to a frenzy.

The Oil will slip in and do some damage to someones cup dreams out west here. Ha! I love the playoffs!

*Edit - You are Sikh? I spent a lot of Saturdays up here getting shitfaced on Crown Royal and watching hockey in Punjab with three generations of friends.

Post: #37

(03-13-2017 12:03 PM)Laner Wrote:  Edmonton has been fun to watch this year, things are finally starting to gel.

Even though I was born in Edmonton, I still like to watch Calgary, and when both Alberta teams make the playoffs they motivate each other to a frenzy.

The Oil will slip in and do some damage to someones cup dreams out west here. Ha! I love the playoffs!

*Edit - You are Sikh? I spent a lot of Saturdays up here getting shitfaced on Crown Royal and watching hockey in Punjab with three generations of friends.

Yeah as a Hawks fan, Edmonton is always a thorn in our side. I'm Indian but not Sikh but the HNIC in Punjabi is pretty hilarious. You're right though, the NHL playoffs are the best of all 4 sports I think, always so random.

Post: #38

I think Pittsburgh has it if Letang is healthy. They really don't have any weaknesses plus the Eastern conference is so much easier to get through.

Post: #39

How crazy is it that, thanks to the current playoff structure, one team out of Washington, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and the Rangers is guaranteed to be knocked out of the first round? They're the four best teams in the NHL.

Post: #40

(03-13-2017 03:35 PM)MMX2010 Wrote:  How crazy is it that, thanks to the current playoff structure, one team out of Washington, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and the Rangers is guaranteed to be knocked out of the first round? They're the four best teams in the NHL.

Yep, gotta love the Stanley Cup! When the best teams of the league beat the shit out of each other in round 1 is just what it is all about.

Post: #41

(03-13-2017 03:25 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  I think Pittsburgh has it if Letang is healthy. They really don't have any weaknesses plus the Eastern conference is so much easier to get through.

Man the East is a bitch this year. Washington will definitely make noise this year and even though Columbus is young and inexperienced, they will be tough. You can't count NY Rangers out and even the Habs, if Price gets really hot, could make a run.

In the West, it really boils down to the Hawks, Minny and the Sharks. Maybe its the homer in me but I see the Hawks coming out of the West. Whether they can beat the Pens or Wash, either of whom I see out of the East though is a whole other thing. Pens- Hawks final would be epic though