2003-04 NHL predictions

[nl5xsk1 0]

Nashville - Not Entertaining? You can change that point of view if Jordin Tootoo manages to stick around all season. I watched him with the OCN Blizzard (Manitoba Junior Hockey League) and the Brandon Wheatkings and he is without a doubt one of the most entertaining players to watch. I think that was evidenced by his performance at last year's WJC. Granted, he might be forced to change his game a bit, but thus far in the preseason he hasn't had to.

I haven't seen Tootoo play yet, but everything that I've heard or read says how amazing he is. I'm looking forward to watching him play.

[Guest hockeytown9321]

Anaheim will be very lucky to get home ice in the 1st round. They're the same as Florida in 96, Washington in 98, Buffalo in 99, and Carolina in 02. They had incredibly hot goaltending and a lot of luck. Teams are gonna prepare for them a whole lot different now. Teams will always be up to play them.

 

Vancouver is nothing. They based an entire season on beating Detroit in 2 first round games in 2002. They have one line and no goaltending. They are not a contender.

 

St. Louis is, was and ever shall be 2nd best to Detroit.

 

Dallas was overrated last year, now they don't have Hatcher, they're not a threat.

 

L.A. could surprise people this year if they stay healthy.

 

Minnesota will be about the same as last year, but again not a contender.

 

It will come down to Detroit or Colorado in the West. detroit has the defense, Colorado ahs the offense. Defense wins in the playoffs.

[the max 0]

I understand that some still want Anaheim to become the underdog that gets buried, but this team is talented, sticks to its system, AND went out and got two defensively responsible, but offensively respectible forwards to complement their system with the Fedorov signing, and the acquisition of Prospal.

 

Giguere, barring injury, is one of the top goaltenders in the league. He is so good at the simple basics of playing an angle, controlling his rebounds, and knowing where he is at all times that if he does give up a rebound, he knows exactly where to go to defend against it. Add into the fact that he has an underrated defense around him (even with Carney missing a bit of time with his foot problem), he still has Ruslan Salei, Niclas Havelid, Kurt Sauer, and Vitaly Vishnevski to compliment Sandis Ozolinsh and Todd Simpson until Carney gets back. So Giguere has a sound defense in front of him, with a perfectly capable offense who can score goals in bunches, with a weakening division (Dallas' star is falling (no pun intended)) around them (with Los Angeles, San Jose and Phoenix, arguably three of the worst teams in the league). Personally, I think you're biased here.

[Guest hockeytown9321]

I have never seen a goalie get as hot and as lucky as Giguere did last year. If half of the goalposts the Red Wings hit last year would've gone in, Anaheim would not have been in any of the games. The reason he could control all those rebounds and cut down all those angles is because of his gigantic pads, especially his belly pad. Lets see what effect the new limits on goalie equipment has on him.

 

Anaheim has average talent at best. I respect the hell out of Fedorov, he made me happy for a lot of years in Detroit. Fact is, the Wings went out in the 1st round 2 of the past 3 years, and Fedorov was a big part of that. In 2001 against L.A. he was god awful. He lost tons of faceoffs, including the one that led to L.A.'s OT goal in game 6. Fedorov scored 1 goal in the first round last year. He lost the faceoff and missed his defensive assignment which led to Kariya's OT goal in game 1. He cannot carry a team himself. He also has a habit of not playing real hard most nights. The Red Wings were good enough to make up for that. I don't think Anaheim is.

 

As far as me being biased, you're probably right. But Anaheim still has a lot to prove to me. I've seen lots of teams like Anaheim get hot and then you never hear from them again. If you have the tape, watch Ric Flair's interview after he lost to Savage at Wrestlemania 8. He said "You did it once, now lets see you do it again. One time means nothing to my career." Anaheim is Randy Savage, Detroit is Ric Flair.

[the max 0]

I don't understand the 'Anaheim has average talent' thing, as they aren't led by anyone on offense, which excludes Fedorov from the get go. They are led by using a 'team first philosophy', rather than an 'individual player = leader philosophy.' That's why they will be successful.

 

Add in that they have grinding, talented forwards, a young, stable, defense with a bright future, and one of the best stables of goaltending in the league (including Martin Gerber, a starter anywhere else). They have Ilja Bryzgalov, a 23 year old RHL veteran waiting in the wings, at #3 on the depth chart. He's probably a starter on a bad team right now.

 

I understand that you are waiting for them to prove themselves as a force. But the other teams that this happened to did not have the depth on the main roster, play in a two team division, and have the talent in the minors that Anaheim has.

 

They will prove it.

[Highland 0]

Forget Ottawa. Forget Detroit. Forget ALL those other teams: It's all about the Bruins, baby!

[Guest hockeytown9321]

We'll see. Everybody said Carolina was a great up and coming team after they made the Finals. They won like 5 games after Christmas last year. It is a helluva lot harder to stay a tthe top than get to the top.

 

Anaheim had the most luck of any team in any sport ever. I'm not just talking about the Detroit series. You cannot go into that many of OT games and expect to win as many as Anaheim did every year. It will catch up to them.

 

Remember their tying goal in game 2 against Dallas? Pure luck, no Duck within 30 feet of the net.

Edited October 7, 2003 by hockeytown9321

[Cartman 0]

Forget Ottawa. Forget Detroit. Forget ALL those other teams: It's all about the Bruins, baby!

Yep.

 

Why? Because EVERYONE is underrating them and their "Lack of Defense". Raycroft is going to show you all what he showed many AHL crowds the past 2 years.

 

Jillson and Morrisson are going to be just fine along with O'donnel and Boynton on defense. Screw Berard!

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

If it was just the playoffs,in regards to Anaheim, then maybe the fluke case would apply. But if my memory is correct, didn't the Ducks as a team have a very good 2 nd half of the regular season last year? Something like 5th best record or so?

 

And screw Berard? The Bruins walked away from HIM. Show the man a little respect from what he came back from.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Columbus won't do squat.

 

They were still in playoff contention last year and they suddenly decide to fire King for a GM who's ego is out of control.

 

What a surprise the team completely sucked after that point. And then he decides he'll just stay on as head coach instead of being an interium coach like he originally said.

[Guest hockeytown9321]

I don't know what Anaheim's 2nd half record was. They were the 7th seed.

[the max 0]

Their seed doesn't matter. It's what they did in the playoffs.

 

And they were the best team in the league in the second half of the season.

[MrRant 0]

Go Phillies~! Company Pride~!

[Cartman 0]

I saw screw Berard because alot of people here are complaining that the Bruins need him, when they clearly don't because he sucks.

[the max 0]

I saw screw Berard because alot of people here are complaining that the Bruins need him, when they clearly don't because he sucks.

Dazzling logic there...

[CanadianChris 0]

Anaheim will be very lucky to get home ice in the 1st round. They're the same as Florida in 96, Washington in 98, Buffalo in 99, and Carolina in 02. They had incredibly hot goaltending and a lot of luck. Teams are gonna prepare for them a whole lot different now. Teams will always be up to play them.

Agree, but only because the West is loaded and cracking the top five will by VERY difficult. I don't think they're like any of those teams you mentioned, all of which came up through a very weak and upset-riddled East. Still, I have difficulty thinking they'll make even the conference final this year.

 

Vancouver is nothing.  They based an entire season on beating Detroit in 2 first round games in 2002.  They have one line and no goaltending.  They are not a contender.

They definitely are a contender. That one line is the best line in hockey (yes, even better than either big line in Colorado, because they've been together the longest), and not enough teams will be able to shut them down night in and night out for them to slip far in the standings. They play in a weak division, which will help them remain near the top. Vancouver should finish fourth, and if Hedberg can rise up and supplant Cloutier and the defense plays as well defensively as offensively, they will be a threat.

 

St. Louis is, was and ever shall be 2nd best to Detroit.

Yep. The Detroit defence looks historic.

 

Dallas was overrated last year, now they don't have Hatcher, they're not a threat.

Eh...who's going to beat them in the Pacific? Not Anaheim, probably not Los Angeles, and certainly not San Jose or Phoenix. If Guerin returns to his old self and Turco steps it up a notch, they'll be tough to beat.

 

L.A. could surprise people this year if they stay healthy.

Definitely could...they also need Roman Cechmanek to prove that all he needed was a change of scenery.

 

Minnesota will be about the same as last year, but again not a contender.

Without Gaborik, they won't even make the playoffs.

 

It will come down to Detroit or Colorado in the West.  detroit has the defense, Colorado ahs the offense.  Defense wins in the playoffs.

I picked Detroit as well. Colorado is going to seriously regret not picking up Curtis Joseph in the waiver draft. They were going to pay an aging Patrick Roy more money than he makes anyway...why not pick him up? Detroit is never going to trade him to the Avalanche, no matter what Ken Holland says. Keeping a top-flight goalie away from your main rivals is definitely worth $8 mil.

[CanadianChris 0]

Yeah, but are they in the Page 2 'Best Uniform' tournament?

Leafs got beat by the BRUINS? That's high comedy.

[Guest Jay Z. Hollywood]

Their seed doesn't matter. It's what they did in the playoffs.

 

And they were the best team in the league in the second half of the season.

Seeding doesn't seem to matter a whole lot in the hockey playoffs. The one thing I love about hockey is that except for a couple of cellar-dwellars, there's always the impression that "anybody can beat anybody on any given night."

 

As for a Cup prediction, I'll have to go with the Senators, I think they've put it all together this year to make the big run.

[Guest hockeytown9321]

CanadianChris, I pretty much agree on everything you said. Dallas probably will win their division, but they are not a serious contender.

 

I agrre that the Canucks big line is great, and you're right that most teams will not be able to shut it down. It will be able to carry them in the regualr season, but not in playoffs.

 

The Red Wings will never trade Cujo to the Av's. They will sit on his contract the entire season if they have to. If he is traded, then theres nothing stopping his new team from tradng him to the Av's, which the Wings are worried about.

[treble 0]

Yeah, but are they in the Page 2 'Best Uniform' tournament?

Leafs got beat by the BRUINS? That's high comedy.

Fuck, I want a re-count, that shit was close. They were up by less than a percent the last time I checked it yesterday.

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

As a Wings fan, I'm really curious to see the Ducks/Stars game tonight. Sergei in a different jersey is gonna be strange.

[Guest hockeytown9321]

I wish it was a home game for Anaheim. I want to see a half hour Disney production on them winning the Western Conference title.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I see no Opening Night Thread...this whole Hawks game is depressing. Nothing happening, no names, red sweaters, empty house...dismal.

[CanadianChris 0]

Eh...the real opening night for me is tomorrow night when the Sens open at home against les Habitants.

 

And who was the genius that had both conference champions opening on the road?

 

And yes, the new uni rule is FUCKING ANNOYING. I keep thinking the B's and Devils are playing in Jersey. I want this stopped, NOW.

[The Czech Republic 0]

And who was the genius that had both conference champions opening on the road?

 

And yes, the new uni rule is FUCKING ANNOYING. I keep thinking the B's and Devils are playing in Jersey. I want this stopped, NOW.

Gary "The Napoleonic Creep (thanks Dennis Miller)" Bettman. He's a real idea man. If *I* was running the NHL, the home team would wear white, the old divisional nomenclature would remain, the WHA teams would prevail, and all would be wine and roses!

 

On the sweaters: I thought the Hawks were in the Twin Cities until I realized that the building was dead silent. I really feel for Toronto fans who have to put up with those wack-ass inverted sweaters at their home games. Blue text on the white leaf just looks wrong.

[the max 0]

Eh...the real opening night for me is tomorrow night when the Sens open at home against les Habitants.

My thoughts exactly.

 

It's kind of hard to get jazzed up about 3 games.

[CanadianChris 0]

Damn, now I'm pissed about not following my hunch and betting on the Stars. They're just pummelling the Ducks.

[the max 0]

I refuse to make bets until I see how everything settles into place. Usually around the 10th game of the year, I am comfortable.

 

Except for Sens v. Habs tomorrow. We all know it's just a tune up.

[Dogbert 0]

And when the Tricolore beats your Senators, we'll see just whom it was a tune-up for.

 

While I'm here:

 

NORTHEAST

 

1) Ottawa (1)

2) Boston (5)

3) Toronto (7)

4) Montreal (10)

5) Buffalo (12)

 

ATLANTIC

 

1) New Jersey (2)

2) Philadelphia (4)

3) NY Islanders (8)

4) NY Rangers (11)

5) Pittsburgh (15)

 

SOUTHEAST

 

1) Tampa Bay (3)

2) Florida (6)

3) Washington (9)

4) Atlanta (13)

5) Carolina (14)

 

CENTRAL

 

1) Detroit (2)

2) St. Louis (5)

3) Chicago (10)

4) Columbus (13)

5) Nashville (15)

 

NORTHWEST

 

1) Vancouver (1)

2) Colorado (4)

3) Calgary (7)

4) Edmonton (9)

5) Minnesota (11)

 

PACIFIC

 

1) Dallas (3)

2) Anaheim (6)

3) Los Angeles (8)

4) San Jose (12)

5) Phoenix (14)

Edited October 9, 2003 by Dogbert

[the max 0]

And when the Tricolore beats your Senators, we'll see just whom it was a tune-up for.

Heh.

 

It was a joke.