Every year we have at least 1 team that everyone thinks will be good but they wind up crapping the bed. Philly 2 years ago, Buffalo last year ect..
Who is that team this year? I was just looking at lineups and I guarantee everyone will favor Anaheim to make the playoffs next year, but I think otherwise. My pick is Anaheim.
Everyone always picks the Devils to tank every year. But they never do. What do you guys think of the Devils this year?
They'll be an improved offensive team, but not by much. Rolston supplies a little bit of scoring and Parise is always improving, but unless Elias and Gionta are in top form they will still have problems finding the back of the net.
They are coming back with essentially the same weak defense. Marty should keep them competitive.
With the Flyers and Pens improving and the Rangers adding some potentially powerful players, it will be a tough season.
They definitely should finish ahead of the Isles in the Atlantic.
Rangers: I think they're a huge wildcard. Lots of turnover (and loss of veteran leadership) and a lot of youth coming in. It could work out fine for them, or it could be a big failure.
Ottawa: After their abysmal skid down the stretch and into the playoffs I'm not sure if people consider them a "good" team or not, but they're still lacking a goalie (I don't think Gerber is the solution) and are short on defense. They've been a top team for a few years now, but I could see a slide this year. This could change if they make some more moves this offseason.
Anaheim: This is more of a gut feeling, but they needed more scoring last year and haven't addressed that so far this offseason.
[QUOTE=CrossbarSniper;14738004]Every year we have at least 1 team that everyone thinks will be good but they wind up crapping the bed. Philly 2 years ago, Buffalo last year ect..
Who is that team this year? I was just looking at lineups and I guarantee everyone will favor Anaheim to make the playoffs next year, but I think otherwise. My pick is Anaheim.[/QUOTE]
It's gonna be ridiculously hard for them to miss the playoffs with a full season of Niedermayer,Pronger, and Giguere in their own zone. Granted yes, they will struggle to score goals but can't be worse than 3rd worse in the league like last year though and they still finished with like the 4th or 5th most points in the league.
Ottawa: After their abysmal skid down the stretch and into the playoffs I'm not sure if people consider them a "good" team or not, but they're still lacking a goalie (I don't think Gerber is the solution) and are short on defense. They've been a top team for a few years now, but I could see a slide this year. This could change if they make some more moves this offseason.
.
I really don't think they need to make a whole lot of moves.
Foligno - Spezza - Alfredsson
Vermette* - Fisher - Heatley
McAmmond - Kelly - Neil
Ruutu - Bass - Donovan
Phillips - Volchenkov
Lee - Meszaros*
X - Schubert
Gerber
Auld
This still looks like a playoff lineup imo. They have room to sign both Vermette and Meszaros at 4 and get a decent defenceman. I really don't think there are 8 Eastern Conference teams that can match this.
I really don't think they need to make a whole lot of moves.
Foligno - Spezza - Alfredsson
Vermette* - Fisher - Heatley
McAmmond - Kelly - Neil
Ruutu - Bass - Donovan
Phillips - Volchenkov
Lee - Meszaros*
X - Schubert
Gerber
Auld
This still looks like a playoff lineup imo. They have room to sign both Vermette and Meszaros at 4 and get a decent defenceman. I really don't think there are 8 Eastern Conference teams that can match this.
Last season's collapse after a 15-2 start was one for the ages. They were pathetic in the playoffs.
If Backstrom gets less than 70 points i'll be very surprised. This kid will be top 3 in take aways, top 10 in assists and will be Washingtons second leading scorer.
yeah, you guys think you have the fastest team on earth... I am going with Montreal too. Last year, on paper, they were weak...you can say what you want but everyone tought they would not make the playoffs. The only reason why they succeeded is chemistry....now, with all this pression to acquire a "Star", the chemistry may not be there next year (tanguay, maybe Sundin or another center). The PP may suffer a lot because Streit will not be there anymore, he's the one that replaced Souray, but you won't find a PP specialist every year. I'm not saying that Montreal will tank, but among the teams that succeeded last year,this is the team I think that has the more chances to tank.You won't admit that, I know...Habs fans.........
Now this is going to sound like a typical Oiler fan who is biased, but hear me out here.
Iginla, Phaneuf, Langkow, and Regehr are great players. They have the good core but, the 2ndary scoring just isn't there imo.
Cammaleri is good but, can Lombardi elevate his game? Can one of the kids like Chucko step up??
If Iginla isn't on, this team is going to struggle.
yeah, you guys think you have the fastest team on earth... I am going with Montreal too. Last year, on paper, they were weak...you can say what you want but everyone tought they would not make the playoffs. The only reason why they succeeded is chemistry....now, with all this pression to acquire a "Star", the chemistry may not be there next year (tanguay, maybe Sundin or another center). The PP may suffer a lot because Streit will not be there anymore, he's the one that replaced Souray, but you won't find a PP specialist every year. I'm not saying that Montreal will tank, but among the teams that succeeded last year,this is the team I think that has the more chances to tank.You won't admit that, I know...Habs fans.........
There are so many things wrong with this post....
1) Who says Montreal has the fastest team on the Earth? They have a quick team with one of the best transition offenses in the NHL. Watch the clips from last and you'll see this much at least. There are many examples of Plekanec or the Kostitsyns busting down on a breakaway and dishing off an easy goal. Kovalev also scored many off the rush.
2) There is a reason hockey is not played on paper. Young players such as Higgins and Plekanec were not proven and therefore people did not expect much from them. However, they performed admirably and everyone contributed. Contrary to what you say, this team has one of the deepest rosters in the league. Higgins scored 27 last year. Plekanec notched 29. A. Kostitsyn had 26. They also had an all-star Kovalev and should expect better seasons from S. Kostitsyn, Tanguay and Koivu. I don't see how this team is not talented. Did you really think Mike Green would be as good as he was last year? Did you expect the Caps to win their division? The only good thing about pre-season predictions are that they make ***** out of people. Talent is about a player's skills, not their reputation as some would like to believe.
3) Streit was definitely not the motor to the powerplay. What does he do well? He's a triggerman but his shot was never that hard. It was not even that accurate and it's definitely replaceable from within. Otherwise, the Habs would have replaced him with a FA.
4) Chemistry issues are the biggest laugher of all because so far they've acquired two players! The least of any competitive team. Did you think Detroit's moves made them less competitive or San Jose's turnover on the blueline? Give me a break.
Last season's collapse after a 15-2 start was one for the ages. They were pathetic in the playoffs.
