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Flamesfan 26 09-22-2003, 09:39 AM East
Ottawa (are good in all postions)
Philadelphia (Hackett needs to prove himself)
Washington (weak division allows them to steal the title)
New Jersey (loss of Neiuwendyk hurts depth at center)
Toronto (Need D)
Boston (Top line of Sammy Thornton and Murry will be a *****)
New York I (Depietro needs to prove he can be a #10)
Tampa Bay (No prospal)
New York R (Graveyard for washed up allstars)
Florida (improving but not playoff contenders yet)
Buffalo (Drury and Satan is a good combo)
Atlanta (One of the best coaches in the leauge
Carolina (Improvement over last year)
Pittsburgh (who is going to play in goal)
Montreal (Koivu gone is going to hurt)
West
Colorado (Providing they get a decent Goalie)
Dallas (Turco needs to do it again)
St Louis (a complete season with Pronger)
Vancouver (going to the west final)
Detroit (Great D but who will score)
Anaheim (Federov, Prospol, Sykora. Nuff said)
Calgary (Sutter will pull this team together)
Los Angelos (Need healthy season from stars)
Edmonton (To much distractions from Comrie)
Minnesota (no Gaborik or Dupuis)
Columbus (Much improved but no playoffs)
San Jose (Don't expect much from them)
Nashville ( relying on young Dmen)
Chicago (Need to prove themselves as steady competators)
Phoenix (they may have a new look but they have the same team)
nordique 09-22-2003, 09:48 AM Detroit (Great D but who will score)
Yzerman
Shanahan
Datsyuk
Hull
Zetterberg
Whitney
Holmstrom
McCarty
Lidstrom
Schneider
Chelios
Woolley
That enough?
H-Bear 09-22-2003, 09:57 AM The Habs bellow the Pens and Carolina is a big stretch (the Pens in particular). I could see them losing out to Florida, maybe even Atlanta, but they are a much better club than Pittsburg.
Duff88 09-22-2003, 10:45 AM East
Montreal (Koivu gone is going to hurt)
Koivu will be out for 3-4 weeks and is expected to be in the lineup for the first game of the season... I don't see how could this hurt that much... :p
El_Loco_Avs 09-22-2003, 11:37 AM Yzerman no
Shanahan yes
Datsyuk yes
Hull less than before...
Zetterberg yes
Whitney maybe
Holmstrom a couple
McCarty some
Lidstrom yes
Schneider no
Chelios no
Woolley no
That enough?
nope.. not enough... unless they get a perfect transition game... which is a possibility ofcourse... :dunno:
Ajacied 09-22-2003, 11:50 AM Colorado (Providing they get a decent Goalie)
So let me get this straight, you based their projection on wishful speculation, on a potential trade? "If they get a decent goalie, they are #1", guess what.. they haven't aquired squat in order to improve their netminding situation, and untill they've done so, they can't be ranked at the top. Well they can, but not for the reasoning you gave.
I personally think they have a very good regular season team and I'm sure Aebischer won't have that much pressure with so much fire power in front of him. Though when the seasons turns into the playoffs, they are doomed. Aebischer simply ain't a money goalie, you can't put the pressure on him and expect your team to make noise in the playoffs with him as the most important player. In the playoffs, you can have a stud forward pack or a golden defense, the goalie remains the most important position in hockey and his responsibility and expectations increases when it's getting tight.
Hell, you all compare him with a record setting Marty Turco and he probably had an even better team in front of him last season and nor he could advance past the 2nd. What make you think Aebi, who's not half as skilled and coming of a sub-par season, will?
And let's not forget that a decent netminding requires talent in return, and in all likelyhood will have Tanguay involved, that automaticly makes their first line quite a bit worse. Or other assests such as Morris or Skoula, God know's.. They could upgrade in net eventually, but let's not forget it will downgrade other positions.
Let me eloborate my point:
1) Chicago (Providing a stud #1, and an All-Star center)
Doesn't work like that, you godda project with the statistics and rosters you have..
monster_bertuzzi 09-22-2003, 11:51 AM Yzerman
Shanahan
Datsyuk
Hull
Zetterberg
Whitney
Holmstrom
McCarty
Lidstrom
Schneider
Chelios
Woolley
That enough?
-Yzerman belongs in a trophy case, not on the ice.
-shanahan, although consistent, isnt a top-flight player anymore
-datsyuk needs a sniper to produce
-how old is hull? thats right 40
-zetterberg is on the rise, but dont expect anything special
-whitney will be lost in the shuffle, he needs to be the main main to produce 70+ pts(columbus)
-homstrom and mccarty are 3rd liners.
Ajacied 09-22-2003, 11:53 AM -how old is hull? thats right 40
Bull.. Hull has't showed his age one bit.. he doesn't rely on speed, but mostly on on his shot, which is still pretty darn good and I won't be surprised if he hit between 35/40 goals once again.
rodvinge 09-22-2003, 11:54 AM Detroit (Great D but who will score)
Sometimes I wonder about you people. We lose one productive forward (Fedorov) and we go from first in the league in offense to being questionable in that department? Here's a few that would make much more sense, and still hold the negative attitude that you're going for:
Detroit (Can Hasek regain his old form?)
Detroit (Still a solid core, but will they get the number 1 centre?)
Detroit (Too much distraction from the CuJo situation.)
oilers_guy_eddie 09-22-2003, 11:55 AM So let me get this straight, you based their projection on wishful speculation, on a potential trade? "If they get a decent goalie, they are #1", guess what.. they haven't aquired squat in order to improve their netminding situation, and untill they've done so, they can't be ranked at the top. Well they can, but not for the reasoning you gave.
(...)
1) Chicago (Providing a stud #1, and an All-Star center)
Doesn't work like that, you godda project with the statistics and rosters you have..
Well, there's possibly a few more goalies on the market than stud d-men and all-star centers. I don't think the Avs will have too much trouble acquiring one if it looks like Aebischer can't handle it.
The Frugal Gourmet 09-22-2003, 11:55 AM Bull.. Hull has't showed his age one bit.. he doesn't rely on speed, but mostly on on his shot, which is still pretty darn good and I won't be surprised if he hit between 35/40 goals once again.
I would. Although he got close to 40 goals twice in Detroit, I think a more realistic perojection is between 30-35.
Vlad The Impaler 09-22-2003, 11:57 AM I just don't see the Flames making the playoffs this year. It sucks because it's been a while but there are just too many teams I see ahead of them. Not saying it's impossible and in fact, I hope they make it. I just don't think it will happen.
In fact, I don't even think they'll be close to a spot.
monster_bertuzzi 09-22-2003, 11:59 AM Bull.. Hull has't showed his age one bit.. he doesn't rely on speed, but mostly on on his shot, which is still pretty darn good and I won't be surprised if he hit between 35/40 goals once again.
Hull had 36 goals last year after catching fire in the last 20 games with datsyuk and zetterberg. Can we expect it again? I dont know. He's slower than molasis.
Ajacied 09-22-2003, 12:00 PM I would. Although he got close to 40 goals twice in Detroit, I think a more realistic perojection is between 30-35.
He had 37 last season, playing with linemates who now only have improved. I expect simular numbers, especially when you consider that that line gets an even bigger offensive role with Feds gone..
Burke's Evil Spirit 09-22-2003, 12:01 PM Sometimes I wonder about you people. We lose one productive forward (Fedorov) and we go from first in the league in offense to being questionable in that department? Here's a few that would make much more sense, and still hold the negative attitude that you're going for:
Detroit (Can Hasek regain his old form?)
Detroit (Still a solid core, but will they get the number 1 centre?)
Detroit (Too much distraction from the CuJo situation.)
They lost Fedorov and Larionov - and the loss of Igor is really being understated in Detroit. 30 PP points a season is a significant hit, and Whitney sure as hell isn't going to make up for both of them offensively.
Frankly, I'm not too impressed by the Hatcher acquisition, and find it akin to Dallas signing Pierre Turgeon two years ago - too much depth at a certain position means someone's not going to get the minutes he wants and will stink it up.
The Frugal Gourmet 09-22-2003, 12:15 PM He had 37 last season, playing with linemates who now only have improved. I expect simular numbers, especially when you consider that that line gets an even bigger offensive role with Feds gone..
Again, it's my opinion.. but I think Hull thrives in a stealth role. That's always the kind of player he's been. He likes to play with great skaters (something he is not), and that's probably why he's excelled on a line with those too.
I think he will have a bigger offensive role, but he's not impossible to stop when you can focus on him (at least not these days). So, I think with the greater brunt of defensive focus, he will score a little less. Not much, but a little.
Looger 09-22-2003, 12:47 PM Hell, you all compare him with a record setting Marty Turco and he probably had an even better team in front of him last season and nor he could advance past the 2nd. What make you think Aebi, who's not half as skilled and coming of a sub-par season, will?
JS Giguere, Manny Fernandez / Dwayn Roloson, Turco, all did well in the playoffs, and colorado's high on his abilities... personally i think lots of goalies will flourish when given the chance, despite not putting up stellar numbers. aebisher could look real good in practice and fans wouldn't have a good read on it like the coaches would...
thestonedkoala 09-22-2003, 01:03 PM Let me get this straight...Minnesota looses Gaborik and Dupuis and end up being worse then LA, who has injury problems, Calgary, who has problems scoring...
Yeah, sure right, Gaborik and Dupuis was our whole team...where was Gabby when he was needed at the end of the year?
monster_bertuzzi 09-22-2003, 08:47 PM Let me get this straight...Minnesota looses Gaborik and Dupuis and end up being worse then LA, who has injury problems, Calgary, who has problems scoring...
Yeah, sure right, Gaborik and Dupuis was our whole team...where was Gabby when he was needed at the end of the year?
Checked to death by oposing teams maybe?
Wild fans have to face it..No Gaborik for a long period of time spells trouble.
thestonedkoala 09-22-2003, 09:10 PM While we don't have his firepower, we do have guys that should be able to pick up some slack left off, not that much but it won't be exactly a huge drop, like some people expect.
Also you got to remember Bouchard is playing a full season and that Brunette had a really off year last year. Plus we get Muckalt for a year, lose Hendrickson, Dowd hopefully...we own't be bad off, just might struggle but we certainly won't be beat by Calgary...
Waveburner 09-22-2003, 09:44 PM IMO...
West:
1-Detroit-too much D, experience and scoring...
2-Colorado-Abby should be good enough to get them through the regular season...
3-Dallas-losing Hatcher will hurt more than Dallas fans want to admit...
4-Vancouver-just won't have enough to beat Avs for division...
5-St.Louis-healthy Pronger means another great regular season...
6-Los Angelas-will be healthy enough to challenge the Stars for a while...
7-Anaheim-they upgraded at forward...but don't have enough yet to challenge Stars in regular season
8-Edmonton-no Oilers-Stars this year :D West too tough, would challenge for home ice in East...
9-Minnesota-this is if they sign Gaborik reasonably soon...if not drop them 4 spots or so...
10-Phoenix-will push til the bitter end...Gretzky wishes they played in Eastern Conference...
11-Calgary-should push for a spot most of the season, but will falter down the stretch...
12-San Jose-should play well enough to be near .500 mark...
13-Nashville-young D has some bumps, but show life near end of season...
14-Chicago-D is very questionable...once again Thibeault will be forced to stand on his head...
15-Columbus-just not enough to do anything in the West...maybe a playoff darkhorse if they played in East...
East
1-Ottawa-anything less would be shocking as hell...
2-New Jersey-the steady Devils will do it again...
3-Tampa Bay-IMO this team is on the rise-great young offensive talent, just need a D upgrade...
4-Philadelphia-will barely lose out to Devils...
5-Washington-their offense finally starts to gel, and their D performs adequately in front of Kolzig...
6-Toronto-will struggle all season, but still not bad enough to miss playoffs in this conference...
7-Carolina-will rebound from off-year...solid D-if they get solid goaltending I think they will be back in playoffs...
8-Boston-I think all the teams 5-10 have about the same number of question marks...but I think Thornton/Murray/Samsonov will get the B's in...
9-NY Islanders-inconsistent offense and goaltending will leave them looking in come playoff time...
10-Montreal-Theodore with better season, but not enough to get Habs in playoffs...team on the rise at last though thanks to strong drafting...
11-NY Rangers-need I say it?
12-Florida-Keenan gets canned-next year Panthers make playoffs...
13-Atlanta-spotty goaltending/D keep this team out...
14-Buffalo-young and improving...
15-Pittsburgh-Mario has a rough year ahead of him...
Fish on The Sand 09-23-2003, 12:07 AM Koivu will be out for 3-4 weeks and is expected to be in the lineup for the first game of the season... I don't see how could this hurt that much... :p
Its going to hurt us enough to finish last obviously.
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