On The Eve of the New Season: North of the Border Editio

Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:

Congrats to the Ducks….Ducks!!! It's a pretty sad affair when a team named after a Disney character wins the most coveted sports trophy in N. America

a movie. . .named after a disney movie. . .even if disney no longer owns the team and they dropped the "mighty" two years ago.

Venerable is correct. They are no longer Mighty, they are just good. Stanley Cup Champion good!

Okay Donald!!!!

Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
Okay Donald!!!!

Somebody needs to rent the movie again….

The first two games have already been played across the pond - and day after tomorrow, the season starts for real! Predictions, anyone? I'll kick it off:

Northeast: Ottawa
Southeast: Atlanta
Atlantic: NY Rangers

Central: Detroit
Pacific: San Jose
Northwest: Calgary

Eastern Conference: Ottawa
Western Conference: San Jose

Finals: San Jose (much to my chagrin)

Side notes:
- Ottawa will only get to the finals again if Emery's wrist heals.
- Anaheim will only contend if both Selanne and Niedermayer take the first half of the season off, and then return.
- Toronto will fail to make the playoffs….again
- Johnathan Toves wins the Calder
- Crosby outduels Ovechkin again
- Caps fail to make the playoffs

Originally posted by vansmack:

Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
Okay Donald!!!!

Somebody needs to rent the movie again….

Whatever - Goldberg!

BTW, How bad will the Caps suck this year??

my predictions always suck but:


East:

NY Rangers, Ottawa, Atlanta win the divisions

Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Boston, Tampa and Montreal round out the top 8


I'm taking Pittsburgh over the Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals


West:

Anaheim, Calgary, Detroit win divisions

Los Angeles, Nashville, St. Louis, Colorado and Dallas take the other spots.

Anaheim over Detroit in the finals

I'll give the Pens the cup this year in 7 games.


i dont like it, but it'll happen.

Originally posted by xcanuck:

- Anaheim will only contend if both Selanne and Niedermayer take the first half of the season off, and then return.

Those two will be tough to replace - especially Niedermayer. I thing the kids getting another year under their belt can make up for Teemu, but Niedermayer's presence was the most important cog in last years Stanley Cup Championship.

I don't concern myself with LA, but I am worried about the Sharks in the Division and Detroit in the conference. I will not be as bold as to predict a Stanley Cup Championship this season, because I don't think Anaheim are as good as last season right now, but by April, who knows - they just might be.

pretty excited for the pens this year. have tickets when they come here. i wish i had an extra $200 to blow on center ice, but nah

The Cup goes back to Canada this season with Ottawa.

Rags will choke like last year.
Pens and Caps both out in the 1st round (if they don't play each other).

Atlanta is overrated, look for either young Caps or Panthers team to top the SE.
Sens take the NE.
Rags take the Atlantic.
Red Wings for the Central with the real battle being the basement.
Luongo is the key to the NW. If he stays healthy , Canucks.
Pacific still the best division with the Kings making nice moves in the off season. The Sharks will win it with Ducks not having Teemu and Scott Niedermayer.

Finals: San Jose and Ottawa - Ottawa in 4 games

Crosby will continue to rack up the secondary assists and get another Ross Trophy if the groin injury doesn't become a bother.

Ovey won't be far behind in points and will win both the Richard and Pearson Trophies.

Loungo gets his first and not last Vezina Trophy.

Originally posted by le sonick:
my predictions always suck but:


East:

NY Rangers, Ottawa, Atlanta win the divisions

Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Boston, Tampa and Montreal round out the top 8


I'm taking Pittsburgh over the Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals


West:

Anaheim, Calgary, Detroit win divisions

Los Angeles, Nashville, St. Louis, Colorado and Dallas take the other spots.

Anaheim over Detroit in the finals

I'll give the Pens the cup this year in 7 games.


i dont like it, but it'll happen.

my prediction - ill kick your ass in the fantasy league :D

im liking the rangers and pens. and caps have some potential (goaltending sucks which will haunt them).

on the other side - i have a soft spot for the kings - but sadly labarbera has never been the same since rehab days. wings look solid, and i detest the sharks - but must admit they'll go far.

Originally posted by slappy:

Red Wings for the Central with the real battle being the basement.

actually… I think the Red Wings are still obviously the best, but the Blues and Blackhawks are improved and will keep up with nashville for second, columbus will battle edmonton for the western conference title of "at least we arent bad as the coyotes"

Originally posted by slappy:
The Cup goes back to Canada this season with Ottawa.

*sniff* That's a beautiful sentiment. Beers are on me if we ever see each other at the club. :) But even I, whose family still lives in Ottawa, can't believe the Sens will go that far without a) a wee little more grit and b) some questions answered in the net. The Sens need someone big - huge - on the D (like a Chara or Pronger). And you'll never win a Cup without a Class A goalie. The Sens will get to the top of the NE with Emery and Gerber, but I don't see either of them taking the Sens to the Cup. Bryan Murray is going to have to make a move at the trade deadline to get the Cup (and, personally, I think they should trade Redden for a rent-a-player and then use the money to resign both Heatley and Spezza).

As a matter of fact, I'll give the Canucks a better chance to win the Cup based on Luongo. The Canucks need to score more than 1 goal a game in the playoffs for that to happen but Roberto can take them there.

Other teams that can win the Cup based on their goalies include Calgary, Anaheim, and NYR.

Sonick - the Pens? For God's sake man, the Pens? Really? Did you spend all night knocking back quart bottles of Laurentide and 50? :)

Me? I'll be happy if the Habs just make the freaking playoffs.

Originally posted by xneverwherex:

Originally posted by le sonick:
my predictions always suck but:


East:

NY Rangers, Ottawa, Atlanta win the divisions

Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Boston, Tampa and Montreal round out the top 8


I'm taking Pittsburgh over the Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals


West:

Anaheim, Calgary, Detroit win divisions

Los Angeles, Nashville, St. Louis, Colorado and Dallas take the other spots.

Anaheim over Detroit in the finals

I'll give the Pens the cup this year in 7 games.


i dont like it, but it'll happen.

my prediction - ill kick your ass in the fantasy league :D

im liking the rangers and pens. and caps have some potential (goaltending sucks which will haunt them).

on the other side - i have a soft spot for the kings - but sadly labarbera has never been the same since rehab days. wings look solid, and i detest the sharks - but must admit they'll go far.

yeah, wait..i meant to Sharks not the Kings in the playoffs.

no one kicks sonick's ass in fantasy hockey!!

cept my dad.

Originally posted by xcanuck:
Sonick - the Pens? For God's sake man, the Pens? Really? Did you spend all night knocking back quart bottles of Laurentide and 50? :)

shut up pens rule an at

  Lets bring this exciting thread back, since the playoffs start next week.

  as i look back on my predictions, they are horrible.  but my Bruins are tops in the conference so i'll take being wrong like that, anyday!

I watched Anaheim on Sat and Sun against San Jose, and while getting the road win was nice, not following up with the home win was a bit painful.  If they remain in 7th, they're one and done in the playoffs.  Getting to 6th last night would have given them a fighting chance against Calgary, but Detroit and San Jose will wipe the ice with them.

world juniors: canada vs. usa, tonigt at 7:30 pm.  anyone been watching the tournament so far?

lacking the NHL network i need to find a bar nearby ASAP.  i wonder if hooters will be showing the game…

man this thread is ancient

sweetcell wrote:
world juniors: canada vs. usa, tonigt at 7:30 pm.  anyone been watching the tournament so far?

lacking the NHL network i need to find a bar nearby ASAP.  i wonder if hooters will be showing the game…

I have been and it's been fantastic.  It's been fun to scout Kyle Palmieri…

And who cares if hooters has the NHL Network?  You should go anyway.