I know it's only Yahoo!'s power rankings, but we are 2nd to last to only Atlanta:
29. Florida Panthers – Well, the Panthers have finally rid themselves of Olli Jokinen, but getting Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton won’t solve their problems. They certainly would have to match any offer sheet, but if restricted free-agent defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is lured away, the Panthers might as well fold the franchise.
I know it's only Yahoo!'s power rankings, but we are 2nd to last to only Atlanta:
29. Florida Panthers – Well, the Panthers have finally rid themselves of Olli Jokinen, but getting Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton won’t solve their problems. They certainly would have to match any offer sheet, but if restricted free-agent defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is lured away, the Panthers might as well fold the franchise.
Wow, that's harsh. I think he's ranking us based on the assumption that we trade JayBo for nothing. I'd have us at 24 ahead of Leafs and shift everyone 24-28 back one.
I know it's only Yahoo!'s power rankings, but we are 2nd to last to only Atlanta:
29. Florida Panthers – Well, the Panthers have finally rid themselves of Olli Jokinen, but getting Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton won’t solve their problems. They certainly would have to match any offer sheet, but if restricted free-agent defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is lured away, the Panthers might as well fold the franchise.
Yahoo sucks at everything. Their people had us below 24 when we went on that long winning streak and went like 7-2-1 in the L10....they hate us and them putting us at 29 is the continuation of it.
Yahoo and other sites that arent just hockey sites that rank are bogus, ESPECIALLY pre-season predictions..... I'll admit it, we aren't a "sexy" team on paper, which is what this is really based on. When you look at what we have we are going to have a solid D thats a given, the wild-card is really how good is DeBoer going to be with the young forwards? If he has the ability to get this team to do what his Kitchenor and Plymouth teams did so well then I think we should be in good shape.. I just have a feeling that it may take him a little time to adjust, like Sutter this year. But I think we will definitely be in the hunt for the playoffs and if we get strong finishes to the season by Matthias, Frolik and even Repik with a little time in the AHL,maybe they could perform similar to how edmonton's gagner, cogliano and company did towards the end of the season, they got really hot and almost got edmonton in, but they started off horribly... So as long as we have a good start I think our kids could push us through to the playoffs!!
Last edited by Gudbranson4Prez: 07-08-2008 at 08:27 PM.
I don't know, I have a feeling we're going to be good this year. People are underestimating the fact that Weiss and Horton have been in the league for 4 years now. Booth going into his 3rd. I don't think we're as bad as dead last, and if we hold onto Bouw, our D is top 3 in the conference. Vokoun is also an all-star goalie.
If the kids play like the top line of last season (around Jan-April, Stillman will offer some good even strength and powerplay points, our offense won't be bad.
I think the biggest thing people are forgetting is DeBoer. The media outlets AND fans all around are looking at our roster with JM's system still in mind. We know what this team plays like when they are allowed to take risks offensively. We have speed. There's not a player in our TOP 10 that I can say as even an average skater. Stillman might be the slowest now (but I honestly can't remember if he is a fast skater). And our defense is unbelievably mobile. Ballard and Bouw are two guys who can take the puck up ice. With DeBoer coaching I see them getting more opportunities to rush. Don't forget there's no captain right now. There's a WHOLE new philosophy in the locker room.
It'll be interesting to see how all the players respond this season.
I don't know, I have a feeling we're going to be good this year. People are underestimating the fact that Weiss and Horton have been in the league for 4 years now. Booth going into his 3rd. I don't think we're as bad as dead last, and if we hold onto Bouw, our D is top 3 in the conference. Vokoun is also an all-star goalie.
If the kids play like the top line of last season (around Jan-April, Stillman will offer some good even strength and powerplay points, our offense won't be bad.
I think the biggest thing people are forgetting is DeBoer. The media outlets AND fans all around are looking at our roster with JM's system still in mind. We know what this team plays like when they are allowed to take risks offensively. We have speed. There's not a player in our TOP 10 that I can say as even an average skater. Stillman might be the slowest now (but I honestly can't remember if he is a fast skater). And our defense is unbelievably mobile. Ballard and Bouw are two guys who can take the puck up ice. With DeBoer coaching I see them getting more opportunities to rush. Don't forget there's no captain right now. There's a WHOLE new philosophy in the locker room.
It'll be interesting to see how all the players respond this season.
Good point on DeBoer bringing a new system. I still question how the team and D is going to gel into that system (another new system) & how consistent guys like Weiss, Booth & Horts will be going up against opponents' top defensemen night-in-and-out.
I think the biggest thing people are forgetting is DeBoer. The media outlets AND fans all around are looking at our roster with JM's system still in mind. We know what this team plays like when they are allowed to take risks offensively. We have speed. There's not a player in our TOP 10 that I can say as even an average skater. Stillman might be the slowest now (but I honestly can't remember if he is a fast skater). And our defense is unbelievably mobile. Ballard and Bouw are two guys who can take the puck up ice. With DeBoer coaching I see them getting more opportunities to rush. Don't forget there's no captain right now. There's a WHOLE new philosophy in the locker room.
Great points. Remember, the best we ever looked was when we were down 2 or 3 goals... If a game was scoreless as soon as the opposition would score we'd come right back... As soon as our guys were let loose they showed what they were about! Season is too far away!
who cares, nobody is going to know what hit them...
by the way, who the hell has power rankings in the off-season??
These rankings are on a 6 month delay and are for January 08!!! They are just now starting to catch up on last seasons coverage of Hockey. Just goes to show how crappy Yahoo's coverage is of Hockey!
Still waiting on a reply. I'd love to hear someone try to justify us being worse than Atlanta.
Yes, my comment was sarcsastic, but that doesn't mean we aren't the worst organization in the league. If you go player by player, which I don't have the time or desire to do, maybe we do have a better roster, but whether we are the worst or close to it is pretty much the same thing, we are a bad team. Atlanta at least made the playoffs a year ago and how long has it been for us? They do have one of the best young scorers in the game, so at least they are fun to watch. He might have more goals that our entire top line, if you can even consider anything we have a top line. Martin can make this better with the right trade of Bouw, but based on his history I don't have my hopes up.
... it won't be bad to be among the worst teams next season due to explosive 2009 draft 
They are just now starting to catch up on last seasons coverage of Hockey. Just goes to show how crappy Yahoo's coverage is of Hockey!
