We're a day away from the start of the NHL season so we're going to be like every other sports blogger out there and give a preview. We're original like that.
All four of us had different ways we wanted to present the season, so please excuse us if we bounce all over the place.
Jeff's Preview
What teams can you honestly say got better this offseason? The Washington Capitals did nothing to remedy their goaltending and defense issues, the Chicago Blackhawks dumped a third of their championship team, the Detroit Red Wings signed Mike Modano's corpse, the San Jose Sharks still have playoff goat Joe Thornton, the Philadelphia Flyers still have no goalie and the New Jersey Devils signed a 37-year-old goalie to back up the 38-year-old goalie who breaks down when the playoffs get here.
That leaves the Pens, who shored up a questionable defense, and the Vancouver Canucks, who did likewise. But that would be too simple to pick them. Well, the Pens will still get to the Stanley Cup Finals, but the Canucks are going to fall short again.The Pens don't have elite wingers. Everyone knows this and cries it from the mountain tops like it means something. They didn't have elite wingers when they won the Cup in 2009 and were in the top five for scoring last season. Offense was not the problem. Marc-Andre Fleury's sub par season and a soft defense is the reason the team failed. By addressing the defense with Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek, Pens GM Ray Shero also addressed Fleury. A good defense will always make a goalie better. Unless that goalie sucks, which Fleury does not. Are you following?
The Pens also did a great job in signing players for depth. Aaron Asham and Mike Comrie allow the Pens to move Jordan Staal up to the second line without losing toughness or skill on the third line. I'm not saying Comrie is tough or Asham is skilled, I'm saying Comrie can fill in as a third-line center and provide an offensive touch, while Asham will annoy people like he always does. Comrie is also showing chemistry with Evgeni Malkin, so he can center the second line as well.
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| He's pretty good. |
Oh, and the Pens still have Sidney Crosby (What? No mention of Crosby until the fifth paragraph? My bad) and Malkin. Crosby probably got better at something summer, and Malkin will return to the 100-point mark. All of this is bad news for the rest of the NHL.
As for the rest of the contenders, there will be some good ones, but they aren't better than the Pens. Here's why they won't win. None of the other teams in the league really matter, so I won't waste any one's time.
Capitals - They are going to be great in the regular season. They will choke in the playoffs.
Devils - Uncle Daddy and the gang haven't made it past the second round in almost a decade. They won't do it this year. Yeah, they have Ilya Kovalchuk and Anton Volchenkov, but this team wears down by the time the playoffs come around. The franchise is also responsible for the recent lockout and the hockey gods are punishing them for doing so.
Flyers - Last year's Cup run was a fluke. They will go through another eight goalies this year and miss the playoffs.
Blackhawks - Look at some of the past Stanley Cup champs and you'll find they all had major contributions from role players. The Blackhawks got rid of all their role players because of cap issues. They don't win this year.
Sharks - Are they Washington West or is Washington San Jose East? You pick.
Red Wings - Other than the Modano signing, I really like them this year. They'll represent the West, lose and then cry because Crosby didn't shake all their hands.
Canucks - They are the popular pick to represent the West in the Cup Finals this year. Last I checked, Roberto Luongo still hasn't proved he can win when it counts. Until he does, I say they choke in the conference semis again.
Greg's Preview
My take on the season in a nutshell is the Caps will be the same story as always (no goalie, no defense, this team actually might be worse than they have been the last few years); Islanders have secured a top three pick before the season starts thanks to Matt Moulson (I think Mark Eaton is going to run their powerplay...not kidding); the Rangers needed more scoring so they signed long time goon Derek Boogard for 4 years, 1.625 million; Vancouver is for real and is finally going to be in the Stanley Cup Finals (adding Hamhuis is going to make Bobby Luo play better); and of course the Pens win the cup.
Mike' Preview
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| Is it really that much of a stretch? |
Mike was too busy tearing hearts out of cadavers "Temple of Doom" style, so he didn't really give a preview. He thinks the Pens will win, Dylan Reese will score 60 goals and Bruce Boundreau will actually eat himself like Pizza the Hut in "Spaceballs". Two of the three will probably come to fruition. He also picked the Maple Leafs to get the No. 3 seed in the East despite Luca Caputi not making the team out of camp.
RJ's Preview
Conference rankings (These rankings reflect how I think the standings will shake out, not necessarily how the playoffs will go)
Eastern
1. Capitals
Not playing defense doesn’t hurt you in the first 82 games, but it will in the playoffs.
2. Penguins
Concerns about some of the wingers, but defensive upgrades will help them in long run.
3. Bruins
Not sold on Seguin making an impact immediately, but Rask will show he is a top goalie in this league.
4. Devils
The ZIP line will be one of the best in the league, and the addition of Anton Volchenkov gives them a physical presence their blue line has lacked for since Scott Stevens’ retirement.
5. Sabres
They are the Twins of hockey. Lose some pieces but always come back better than you think. Ryan Miller is one of the best net minders in hockey period.
6. Flyers
Too much talent to not make the playoffs but shaky goaltending will cost them in the spring.
7. Hurricanes
New Captain Eric Staal will lead a young team back to the playoffs. Look for Brandon Sutter to take another step forward this season.
8. Thrashers
Importing one-third of the Blackhawks Cup winning squad has to help, right?
9. Canadiens
Montreal made the wrong net minder chose in Price over Halak.
10. Lightning
New GM Steve Yzerman has this ship righted but it will take some time for it to be completely fixed. Vinny Lecavalier returning to form would help.
11. Maple Leafs
Slowly but surely the Leafs are returning to respectability.
12. Rangers
Having Marian Gaborik and Henrik Lundqvist can only do so much.
13. Senators
Congrats Sergei Gonchar, you went from battling for a Cup every year to bottom of the Northeast division, nice job.
14. Islanders
John Tavares is good, but he can’t play all six spots on the ice for 60 minutes every night.
15. Panthers
A long year in Miami, good thing they have the Heat.
Western
1. Canucks
Hamhuis strengthens the blue line and Luongo is the best goalie.
2. Sharks
Nitti could be the difference maker in getting this team over the final hump.
3. Red Wings
Never count out Nic Lindstrom, even if he is on his last legs.
4. Blackhawks
Their cap woes may have hurt the supporting cast, but the stars still remain.
5. Kings
One of the up-and-coming teams passed on Kovy to keep flexibility for the future.
6. Avalanche
The young Avalanche gave the Sharks quite a scare last year and will take another step up the standings this year.
7. Blues
The addition of Halak makes this team dangerous.
8. Flames
Can Iginla make any noise in the playoffs? Not without a little help.
9. Predators
Predators keep losing parts but still hang around, this year should continue that trend.
10. Ducks
A porous blue line without the retired Scott Niedermeyer will be exposed.
11. Coyotes
Last year's overachievers will struggle mightly this time around.
12. Blue Jackets
Rick Nash might be the best player no one knows about because Columbus has struggled so much recently.
13. Oilers
No.1 pick Taylor Hall is a nice start but more is needed.
14. Stars
No Modano, no Turco, no firepower=problem in Dallas.
15. Wild
LeMaire leaves, theWild fall apart. See the trap can really help teams stay competitive.
Playoff predictions:
East
Capitals-Thrashers, Caps in 5
Penguins-Hurricanes, Pens in 5
Bruins-Flyers, Bruins in 7
Devils-Sabres, Devils in 6
Capitals-Devils, Devils in 6
Penguins-Bruins, Pens in 7
Penguins-Devils, Devils in 7
West
Canucks-Flames; Canucks in 5
Sharks-Blues; Sharks in 7
Red Wings-Avalanche; Red Wings in 6
Blackhawks-Kings; Blackhawks in 7
Canucks-Blackhawks; Blackhawks in 7
Sharks-Red Wings; Red Wings in 7
Red Wings-Blackhawks; Red Wings in 6
Finals
Devils-Red Wings, Devils in 6
Jeff's Note: I regret to inform readers that RJ will no longer be contributing to the blog. Mike saw RJ's playoff predictions and... well you can just see for yourself.
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| Go Pens. |
Styxx - Renegade
Please forgive the font differences. It's a coding issue and my lunch break is over. I will try and fix it later.
ReplyDeleteNo anti-Penguins allowed, I forgot but I refuse to change the pick. We at least agree on the Wings getting back to the finals and the Caps falling apart in the spring.
ReplyDeleteAnti-Penguins comments are allowed and encouraged. You just have to expect there will be consequences, like having your heart torn from your chest by an angry Greek.
ReplyDelete