Don't forget at that time division opponents still played each other 8 times a year and except for Detroit all the teams were bottom feeders in the division. That made for 24 games against weaker competition. I'd venture to say the weak division skewed the stats a bit in both 05-06 and 06-07 in the Preds favor.
Don't forget at that time division opponents still played each other 8 times a year and except for Detroit all the teams were bottom feeders in the division. That made for 24 games against weaker competition. I'd venture to say the weak division skewed the stats a bit in both 05-06 and 06-07 in the Preds favor.
that was the point i was going to make. You can't look at these stats in a vacuum. The Blackhawks were still a terrible team at the time, and everyone joked about it being Nashville, Detroit, and a bunch of punching bags...which it was. Overall, parity hadn't quite taken effect in the West, at that point.
Good points on the division strength/amount of games played versus weaker opponents. That year, 96 points was the cut off for the play offs in the West. St Louis, Columbus, and Chicago had 81, 73, and 71 points, respectively. Quite a drop off from number 9 Colorado who had 95 points.
Schedule has no affect on what the roster is, sure, but does have an affect on how that roster plays. St Louis, Columbus, and Chicago definitely were all terrible teams that year. I don't think there is any denying it. I also think that, along with injuries, playing such weak competition really played a role in that team's lack of play off success.
There is no denying that the 2007 club was a more talented club. Vokoun, Kariya, Timonen. Arnott, Sullivan, and Dumont were still effective. We had Hartnell and Rads on the third line with freakin' Peter Forsberg. Sure he had that foot issue, but still. Legwand and Erat had career years.
I do think as far as the better team, 2012 has the edge. The more talented roster has to go to 2007 easily.
I agree with you TMI. more talented hands down, 2007.. better team and suited for the playoffs, 2012.. lets see revisit this thread in april/may and could be same story.. everything we need for a cup ... but a first round exit to an equally as good team (SJ 07, DET 12)
we still got columbus 6 times this year.. STL a couple of games before they were even in the picture.. and frankly CHI has played us like crap.
those trying to dismiss certain points or facts to make this year look better than 2007 are fooled.
it was with no injuries who would win.. its 2007 and its not that close
Just stating facts here. Sounds like you are the one trying to marginalize them. The division was weak that year and the year before which certainly had an effect on stats. Take the 07 team and put them in this years division their GF/GA difference wouldn't be nearly as gaudy.
07 was more skilled and offensively dangerous I think most agree with that. The problem that year was the same problem with 06. We were a small soft skilled team and those teams don't usually go all the way in the playoffs. Sure we were a little unlucky especially in 07 for having to play such a good team straight off the bat but the Sharks just exposed our weaknesses quickly and that's that.
I'd easily say this team is far more balanced and so was last years. I'd take them to battle in the playoffs any day before I'd take 07's team.
I think 2007 had the potential to be better, but they were just mentally weak and undisciplined.
I agree with this as well...
and as far as this years team, what have they proven exactly? that they can't win a big game? that they can win a bunch in a row?
07 is better. if you want to bring playoffs into it, I think we have to wait till the season is over.. this year's team also has the potential to win a cup so its TBD for me
Stats may say one thing but I'd take this years team over the '07 team. This team is a team. Secondly, this team has the potential to grow as a team if Poile can keep it together. The '07 bunch was at their height that season and was downhill after that. This group is young and hungry. They have proven resilient over the course of the season. I think we all thought we'd struggle but we're basically in the playoffs now and we're starting to play good hockey again. The Arnott led team lacked heart as far as I'm concerned.
I would have loved to see the responses to this poll after losing to Edmonton and Pittsburgh last week.
07 was more talented in the regular season, but ran up against a San Jose group that was built for a playoff run. Big, puck control team that cycled the puck at will against a smaller/softer Preds group. Add a few injuries to key players and the Preds had no answer for the Sharks.
Poile learned from that season and has built a bigger roster with more grit and depth. The 2012 team may not be as talented on the top end, but their talent top to bottom and depth gives this team the edge if and when injuries hit. But don't forget the struggles the past few weeks with injuries to Gausted, Josi, and Klein. There is more depth on offense than defense. With Willy, Erat, and Tootoo out, the team still scored without issue. But the team struggled without Goose, Josi, and Klein.
Last edited by WartracePred: 03-27-2012 at 10:26 AM.
2007 had their chance to go far in the playoffs and didn't. Hoping the 2012 Preds at least get past the second round if nothing else. So the answer to your question....2007 or 2012 who wins?......the answer would be.....who ever gets further down the playoffs. So far both are unproven as the 2007 didn't get past the first round and the 2012 has yet to play a playoff game yet to prove itself one way or another. So I guess that leaves it to the 2011 team then since they won the first round at least.
Something we haven't discussed here is Trotz. I feel like he's definitely improved in the past five seasons. He used to maybe overthink things and strategize too much based on matchups. Now I think he has more trust in his player's talent/ability/instinct and the team has a more consistent approach to each opponent.
Something we haven't discussed here is Trotz. I feel like he's definitely improved in the past five seasons. He used to maybe overthink things and strategize too much based on matchups. Now I think he has more trust in his player's talent/ability/instinct and the team has a more consistent approach to each opponent.
I've always gotten the sense that Trotz is better/more comfortable with trying to squeeze everything out of a team like this one rather than trying to manage a bunch of random talent.
