Well if college football has a thread we need a hockey thread for us Canadians.

My predictions
-Tampa and Pittsburgh will have an Eastern final rematch
-Subban will confirm how stupid it was for MTL to trade him
-Toronto will finish in the bottom 5 again
-Edmonton will be a playoff bubble team being carried by McDavid who is going to be in the running the for the Art Ross
-Evander Kane will be traded before Christmas
-Laine will win the Calder regardless of the biased Eastern media
-Eric Staal rejuvenates his career

Quote: (09-03-2016 10:13 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

-Toronto will finish in the bottom 5 again

What a shame, they are the New York Knicks of the NHL. Largest city in it's respective country, Top 5 in value, passionate fanbase as well as a huge breeding ground for the sport, but horrible management and results in the win/loss column.

I'm a Rangers fan, and I think our window is closed. I'm happy we got younger and faster, but I'm not optimistic.

I'm a Flyers fan, probably another year we sneak into the playoffs. Only to lose to a much better team. But, at least our farm system is looking good and the future is bright. Just can't take seeing the Penquins win the cup again.

^ I thought the Penguins would have dumped MAF already, I was thinking it was going to be him or Bishop to Calgary. As long as Letang is healthy this year there is no reason why they can't be the top team in the East.

Darkhorse teams: Washington (they got to figure it out one day right?), Nashville (Subban makes that team the fastest in the NHL after the Pens), Chicago (west is weaker than its been in years past, full 5 months off and they know how to win), maybe NJ with Taylor Hall and Corey Schneider, Sharks (do they have enough left in the tank for one more run?), maybe St. Louis.

Teams with high expectations: Pens, Lightning (my pick to win it this year, would have done it last year if Stamkos had been there and Bishop didn't get injured).

Canadian teams are going to suck ass again but the Oilers should be better with McDavid hopefully playing a full year and the Pacific being weaker than before.

Quote: (09-04-2016 03:18 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Darkhorse teams: Washington (they got to figure it out one day right?), Nashville (Subban makes that team the fastest in the NHL after the Pens), Chicago (west is weaker than its been in years past, full 5 months off and they know how to win), maybe NJ with Taylor Hall and Corey Schneider, Sharks (do they have enough left in the tank for one more run?), maybe St. Louis.

Teams with high expectations: Pens, Lightning (my pick to win it this year, would have done it last year if Stamkos had been there and Bishop didn't get injured).

Canadian teams are going to suck ass again but the Oilers should be better with McDavid hopefully playing a full year and the Pacific being weaker than before.

The Devils won't make the playoffs. I don't care how good your goalie is, when your best defender is a true #4, you're not going anywhere.

Calgary is a lot better, and I expect the Jets to be as well. One of those teams will squeeze into the playoffs - Calgary has better goaltending, which was the only thing stopping them from making the playoffs last year, and the Jets with another full season of Ehlers etc...It's going to be a competitive year in the West again.

When the Rangers acquired Mika Zebanijad from Ottawa, commentators on a popular team blog instantly nicknamed him "Zika".

Quote: (09-03-2016 10:13 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

Well if college football has a thread we need a hockey thread for us Canadians.

My predictions
-Tampa and Pittsburgh will have an Eastern final rematch
-Subban will confirm how stupid it was for MTL to trade him
-Toronto will finish in the bottom 5 again
-Edmonton will be a playoff bubble team being carried by McDavid who is going to be in the running the for the Art Ross
-Evander Kane will be traded before Christmas
-Laine will win the Calder regardless of the biased Eastern media
-Eric Staal rejuvenates his career

1. Realistic assessment, especially when Tampa Bay has done wonders to carry the NHL in the American Southeast in all aspects.

2. At most, I do see the Predators going deep with Subban's on-ice contributions.

3. It's now a contest whose team gets run worse between the Knicks and Maple Leafs. Brutal. When sports fans from both the NBA and the NHL mutually agree with this assessment, it's not a proud achievement.

4. I see both the Oilers and the LA Kings as the 2017 Wild Cards, especially when McDavid gets portrayed as "End all, be all", while the Kings have a potent team with D and C as holes. Word in L.A. is that Dowd gets projected to receive a call-up. Sigh. Both Coach Sutter and GM Lombardi should trust the youth more, especially when both gentlemen are learning the hard way about that late Steinbrenner tactic of "trade the youth for now".

5. He's ain't Rick James.

6. Jets fans are already praising Patrik Laine as Selänne 2.0.

7. Objectively speaking, that is credible to claim.

2017 NHL Standings Projection:

Pacific
1. Ducks
2. Sharks
3. Flames
WC: Oilers
WC: Kings

Central
1. Predators
2. Blackhawks
3. Jets

Atlantic
1. Tampa Bay
2. Ottawa
3. Detroit

Metropolitan
1. Penguins
2. Islanders
3. Flyers

WC: Two of the following
--Capitals
--Bruins
--Rangers
--Panthers

Quote: (09-04-2016 03:43 PM)WeekendCasanova Wrote:  

Quote: (09-04-2016 03:18 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Darkhorse teams: Washington (they got to figure it out one day right?), Nashville (Subban makes that team the fastest in the NHL after the Pens), Chicago (west is weaker than its been in years past, full 5 months off and they know how to win), maybe NJ with Taylor Hall and Corey Schneider, Sharks (do they have enough left in the tank for one more run?), maybe St. Louis.

Teams with high expectations: Pens, Lightning (my pick to win it this year, would have done it last year if Stamkos had been there and Bishop didn't get injured).

Canadian teams are going to suck ass again but the Oilers should be better with McDavid hopefully playing a full year and the Pacific being weaker than before.

The Devils won't make the playoffs. I don't care how good your goalie is, when your best defender is a true #4, you're not going anywhere.

Calgary is a lot better, and I expect the Jets to be as well. One of those teams will squeeze into the playoffs - Calgary has better goaltending, which was the only thing stopping them from making the playoffs last year, and the Jets with another full season of Ehlers etc...It's going to be a competitive year in the West again.

I think Calgary will be the best Canadian team next year. They've improved not only with UFA signings but their young players should be better, they finally have a goalie like you said and Tkachuk MAY be ready to make a small impact if he makes the team.

I hate fucking Johnny Hockey so much though, he's such a little faggot.

Quote: (09-04-2016 07:07 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

Quote: (09-04-2016 03:43 PM)WeekendCasanova Wrote:  

Quote: (09-04-2016 03:18 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Darkhorse teams: Washington (they got to figure it out one day right?), Nashville (Subban makes that team the fastest in the NHL after the Pens), Chicago (west is weaker than its been in years past, full 5 months off and they know how to win), maybe NJ with Taylor Hall and Corey Schneider, Sharks (do they have enough left in the tank for one more run?), maybe St. Louis.

Teams with high expectations: Pens, Lightning (my pick to win it this year, would have done it last year if Stamkos had been there and Bishop didn't get injured).

Canadian teams are going to suck ass again but the Oilers should be better with McDavid hopefully playing a full year and the Pacific being weaker than before.

The Devils won't make the playoffs. I don't care how good your goalie is, when your best defender is a true #4, you're not going anywhere.

Calgary is a lot better, and I expect the Jets to be as well. One of those teams will squeeze into the playoffs - Calgary has better goaltending, which was the only thing stopping them from making the playoffs last year, and the Jets with another full season of Ehlers etc...It's going to be a competitive year in the West again.

I think Calgary will be the best Canadian team next year. They've improved not only with UFA signings but their young players should be better, they finally have a goalie like you said and Tkachuk MAY be ready to make a small impact if he makes the team.

I hate fucking Johnny Hockey so much though, he's such a little faggot.

Because he's awesome? (Full disclosure - Flames fan).

I don't know what to make of Calgary or Winnipeg. With Ladd being gone and their goaltending situation being what it is, Winnipeg is a bit of a mystery despite their young talent. Calgary too, who knows but they likely will be better. Well we know the Leafs and Vancouver will suck for sure (but in 5 years with Auston Matthews etc the Leafs will be a contender), Ottawa will probably suck and Montreal will make the playoffs is Price stays healthy. I happen to think Weber is an upgrade for the Habs. Subban can't play D and was a locker room prima donna but he will do well with Nashville and Laviolette coaching him.

Well at least Johnny Hockey is better than Johnny Football.

Islanders and Florida too in the east should have been on my darkhorse list.

The Canucks (my team) could challenge for a wildcard spot if Loui Erickson has a similar season as ast year with Boston and Brandon Sutter is healthy this year.

Soft lineup though, no one in the top 9 forwards is tough or physical outside of Virtanen. I was kind of excited about the idea of getting Lucic but I wouldn't pay what Edmonton did especially with that term, but for their purpose of protecting McDavid it made sense.

But really the team should have done a scorched earth rebuild 3 seasons ago and traded everyone of value like Toronto did but the owners are too stubborn.

I was so fucking pissed when we missed out on Dubois at the draft and got stuck with the soft Finn.

Jim Benning is pretty useless, I don't agree with any of his big decisions outside of drafting Virtanen. My main complaints are trading Hunter Shinkaruk and Nick Jensen for two waiver wire type players. Granlund sucks and will never be anything more than a mediocre 3rd liner, the same with Etem. Jensen showed he had the offensive skills when playing with good players when we had AV and Shinkaruk has shown he can score at least at the AHL level, I would have at least let his development play out and if he turns out to be a bust so what.

Quote: (09-04-2016 09:22 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

The Canucks (my team) could challenge for a wildcard spot if Loui Erickson has a similar season as ast year with Boston and Brandon Sutter is healthy this year.

Soft lineup though, no one in the top 9 forwards is tough or physical outside of Virtanen. I was kind of excited about the idea of getting Lucic but I wouldn't pay what Edmonton did especially with that term, but for their purpose of protecting McDavid it made sense.

But really the team should have done a scorched earth rebuild 3 seasons ago and traded everyone of value like Toronto did but the owners are too stubborn.

I was so fucking pissed when we missed out on Dubois at the draft and got stuck with the soft Finn.

Jim Benning is pretty useless, I don't agree with any of his big decisions outside of drafting Virtanen. My main complaints are trading Hunter Shinkaruk and Nick Jensen for two waiver wire type players. Granlund sucks and will never be anything more than a mediocre 3rd liner, the same with Etem. Jensen showed he had the offensive skills when playing with good players when we had AV and Shinkaruk has shown he can score at least at the AHL level, I would have at least let his development play out and if he turns out to be a bust so what.

Man the Canucks are such a train wreck. I knew when they lost that game 7 against the Bruins in 2011 that they were done for a long time. Being a Blackhawks fan and season ticket holder, those wars against Van were so much fun. Torturing Luongo, Dave Bolland driving the Sisters insane, Duncan Keith becoming public enemy no. 1 out there along with nearly coming back from down 3-0 in 2011 was all so much fun. They were the two best teams in the NHL for about 3-4 years and it was so nasty.

It seems like Benning hasn't done much to rebuild the Canucks but they really need to tank like the Leafs (as you said) to start afresh. Man it would be hard to be a fan of your team.

^ I don't know much about Vancouver. But, It sounds like you just described the Flyers. I also was hoping to get Lucic. But, the price was to steep.

When I look at our lineup there is nothing to really get excited about. Giroux is a good center but, not a Captain or top line center. Our top 9 is average at best.

Really miss the old days with Lindross, Leclair, Recci , Gagne and Renberg. The Legion of doom. Watching the Flyers now just isn't the same. I know alot of you guys will disagree but, in my opinion Eric Lindross was the perfect center and ideal team captain. To bad we couldn't win the cup.

Quote: (09-04-2016 09:22 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

The Canucks (my team) could challenge for a wildcard spot if Loui Erickson has a similar season as ast year with Boston and Brandon Sutter is healthy this year.

Soft lineup though, no one in the top 9 forwards is tough or physical outside of Virtanen. I was kind of excited about the idea of getting Lucic but I wouldn't pay what Edmonton did especially with that term, but for their purpose of protecting McDavid it made sense.

But really the team should have done a scorched earth rebuild 3 seasons ago and traded everyone of value like Toronto did but the owners are too stubborn.

I was so fucking pissed when we missed out on Dubois at the draft and got stuck with the soft Finn.

Jim Benning is pretty useless, I don't agree with any of his big decisions outside of drafting Virtanen. My main complaints are trading Hunter Shinkaruk and Nick Jensen for two waiver wire type players. Granlund sucks and will never be anything more than a mediocre 3rd liner, the same with Etem. Jensen showed he had the offensive skills when playing with good players when we had AV and Shinkaruk has shown he can score at least at the AHL level, I would have at least let his development play out and if he turns out to be a bust so what.

Canucks are lost. No way they make the playoffs, even in a wildcard spot, unless Horvat/Virtanen have incredible seasons. Canucks are a team that lack direction, JB is a useless twat - Jay Feaster-esque.

Quote: (09-04-2016 11:04 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Quote: (09-04-2016 09:22 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

The Canucks (my team) could challenge for a wildcard spot if Loui Erickson has a similar season as ast year with Boston and Brandon Sutter is healthy this year.

Soft lineup though, no one in the top 9 forwards is tough or physical outside of Virtanen. I was kind of excited about the idea of getting Lucic but I wouldn't pay what Edmonton did especially with that term, but for their purpose of protecting McDavid it made sense.

But really the team should have done a scorched earth rebuild 3 seasons ago and traded everyone of value like Toronto did but the owners are too stubborn.

I was so fucking pissed when we missed out on Dubois at the draft and got stuck with the soft Finn.

Jim Benning is pretty useless, I don't agree with any of his big decisions outside of drafting Virtanen. My main complaints are trading Hunter Shinkaruk and Nick Jensen for two waiver wire type players. Granlund sucks and will never be anything more than a mediocre 3rd liner, the same with Etem. Jensen showed he had the offensive skills when playing with good players when we had AV and Shinkaruk has shown he can score at least at the AHL level, I would have at least let his development play out and if he turns out to be a bust so what.

Man the Canucks are such a train wreck. I knew when they lost that game 7 against the Bruins in 2011 that they were done for a long time. Being a Blackhawks fan and season ticket holder, those wars against Van were so much fun. Torturing Luongo, Dave Bolland driving the Sisters insane, Duncan Keith becoming public enemy no. 1 out there along with nearly coming back from down 3-0 in 2011 was all so much fun. They were the two best teams in the NHL for about 3-4 years and it was so nasty.

It seems like Benning hasn't done much to rebuild the Canucks but they really need to tank like the Leafs (as you said) to start afresh. Man it would be hard to be a fan of your team.

Even though I don't think Benning is that smart he's being handcuffed by the owners who don't want to rebuild. Him and Linden both have kind of said we need to rebuild.

Gillis was a good GM but a lot of other GM's hated him from his agent days and he was a bit too concerned about always "winning trades" instead of sometimes just getting things done, like what Benning did with Kesler and McCann.

One of the problems with the Canucks is that we were a contender for about 5 years and the best team by far in 2 of those 5 years, our fan base isn't as used to sucking as Edmonton and Toronto.

We would have easily beat Boston if most of our best players weren't hurt, the turning point was when Rome KO'ed Horton and Thornton slotted in the next game.

Quote: (09-04-2016 11:07 PM)Schlep Wrote:  

^ I don't know much about Vancouver. But, It sounds like you just described the Flyers. I also was hoping to get Lucic. But, the price was to steep.

When I look at our lineup there is nothing to really get excited about. Giroux is a good center but, not a Captain or top line center. Our top 9 is average at best.

Really miss the old days with Lindross, Leclair, Recci , Gagne and Renberg. The Legion of doom. Watching the Flyers now just isn't the same. I know alot of you guys will disagree but, in my opinion Eric Lindross was the perfect center and ideal team captain. To bad we couldn't win the cup.

Man being a Flyers fan would be rough too, especially seeing the Penguins win it all this year. They were close when they lost to the Hawks in 2010. If they had gotten better goaltending in the final, they would have very likely beaten Chicago (the goaltending for both teams that year was probably one of the worst in Finals history). Between trading Richards and Carter and deciding to side with Pronger who then lost his mind with concussions, the Flyers set themselves back big time. How good would Jeff Carter look with Giroux now? And of course, the Flyers haven't had a proper goalie since Pelle Lindberg died. Those Flyers teams in the 90s were great except the goaltending. Oh well, there's always the memories of Bobby Clarke, Reggie Leach and Bernie Parent with the rest of the "Broad Street Bullies". And yeah Lindros was awesome. But was he better than Peter Forsberg who Quebec drafted in the pick that they got for Lindros?

Quote: (09-05-2016 12:05 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

Quote: (09-04-2016 11:04 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Quote: (09-04-2016 09:22 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

The Canucks (my team) could challenge for a wildcard spot if Loui Erickson has a similar season as ast year with Boston and Brandon Sutter is healthy this year.

Soft lineup though, no one in the top 9 forwards is tough or physical outside of Virtanen. I was kind of excited about the idea of getting Lucic but I wouldn't pay what Edmonton did especially with that term, but for their purpose of protecting McDavid it made sense.

But really the team should have done a scorched earth rebuild 3 seasons ago and traded everyone of value like Toronto did but the owners are too stubborn.

I was so fucking pissed when we missed out on Dubois at the draft and got stuck with the soft Finn.

Jim Benning is pretty useless, I don't agree with any of his big decisions outside of drafting Virtanen. My main complaints are trading Hunter Shinkaruk and Nick Jensen for two waiver wire type players. Granlund sucks and will never be anything more than a mediocre 3rd liner, the same with Etem. Jensen showed he had the offensive skills when playing with good players when we had AV and Shinkaruk has shown he can score at least at the AHL level, I would have at least let his development play out and if he turns out to be a bust so what.

Man the Canucks are such a train wreck. I knew when they lost that game 7 against the Bruins in 2011 that they were done for a long time. Being a Blackhawks fan and season ticket holder, those wars against Van were so much fun. Torturing Luongo, Dave Bolland driving the Sisters insane, Duncan Keith becoming public enemy no. 1 out there along with nearly coming back from down 3-0 in 2011 was all so much fun. They were the two best teams in the NHL for about 3-4 years and it was so nasty.

It seems like Benning hasn't done much to rebuild the Canucks but they really need to tank like the Leafs (as you said) to start afresh. Man it would be hard to be a fan of your team.

Even though I don't think Benning is that smart he's being handcuffed by the owners who don't want to rebuild. Him and Linden both have kind of said we need to rebuild.

Gillis was a good GM but a lot of other GM's hated him from his agent days and he was a bit too concerned about always "winning trades" instead of sometimes just getting things done, like what Benning did with Kesler and McCann.

One of the problems with the Canucks is that we were a contender for about 5 years and the best team by far in 2 of those 5 years, our fan base isn't as used to sucking as Edmonton and Toronto.

We would have easily beat Boston if most of our best players weren't hurt, the turning point was when Rome KO'ed Horton and Thornton slotted in the next game.

That was definitely the turning point in that series but yeah the Canucks were battered by the time game 7 came. Gillis really screwed up the Luongo situation though. Having Luongo come back that year was a disaster along with that whole Tortorella mess.

Curious, which year other than 2011 do you think the 'Nucks were the best team? I know they won the President's Trophy in '12 but LA swamped them that year in the playoffs.

^ I think a healthy Lindros in his prime beats out Forsberg. Lindros never learned how to keep his head up though.

Philly is always too cheap to go and trade for a top goalie. They always seem to take on projects or 1B goalies.

Quote: (09-05-2016 12:26 AM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Curious, which year other than 2011 do you think the 'Nucks were the best team? I know they won the President's Trophy in '12 but LA swamped them that year in the playoffs.

The second year we won the president trophy Daniel was injured just before the playoffs started and we went into the playoffs coasting, playing meaningless games and not having to try for the whole second half of the season.

LA was inspired by a new coach and were playing playoff style hockey from probably Christmas on because they had such a bad start to that season.

Quote: (09-05-2016 12:36 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

Quote: (09-05-2016 12:26 AM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Curious, which year other than 2011 do you think the 'Nucks were the best team? I know they won the President's Trophy in '12 but LA swamped them that year in the playoffs.

The second year we won the president trophy Daniel was injured just before the playoffs started and we went into the playoffs coasting, playing meaningless games and not having to try for the whole second half of the season.

LA was inspired by a new coach and were playing playoff style hockey from probably Christmas on because they had such a bad start to that season.

That's right, that was the Duncan Keith hit on Daniel late in the season. I don't think the Canucks would have beaten LA even with Daniel though but it would have been closer. Man I loved those Hawks-Canucks games. Being at the United Center and seeing everyone screaming LOOUUU every time Luongo would get lit up was so classic. Fucking Burrows pulling Duncan Keith's hair during that one fight. I Miss you guys being good.

Quote: (09-05-2016 12:58 AM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Quote: (09-05-2016 12:36 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

Quote: (09-05-2016 12:26 AM)doc holliday Wrote:  

Curious, which year other than 2011 do you think the 'Nucks were the best team? I know they won the President's Trophy in '12 but LA swamped them that year in the playoffs.

The second year we won the president trophy Daniel was injured just before the playoffs started and we went into the playoffs coasting, playing meaningless games and not having to try for the whole second half of the season.

LA was inspired by a new coach and were playing playoff style hockey from probably Christmas on because they had such a bad start to that season.

That's right, that was the Duncan Keith hit on Daniel late in the season. I don't think the Canucks would have beaten LA even with Daniel though but it would have been closer. Man I loved those Hawks-Canucks games. Being at the United Center and seeing everyone screaming LOOUUU every time Luongo would get lit up was so classic. Fucking Burrows pulling Duncan Keith's hair during that one fight. I Miss you guys being good.

Me too man, me too.....

The Canucks will be good in 2-3 seasons but I wonder what Chicago will look like then. They always seem to find cap space and there system of developing players, trading them when they need to be re-signed and repeating that. I was surprised when they traded Saad and they got a poor return for Sharp.

Toews, Kane and Keith can carry a team though. Toews,Kane and Keith are pretty equal to Crosby,Malkin and Letang. I don't think Crawford is that great but he reminds me of Chris Osgood, just good enough to get it done.

Quote: (09-05-2016 11:49 AM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:  

The Canucks will be good in 2-3 seasons but I wonder what Chicago will look like then. They always seem to find cap space and there system of developing players, trading them when they need to be re-signed and repeating that. I was surprised when they traded Saad and they got a poor return for Sharp.

Toews, Kane and Keith can carry a team though. Toews,Kane and Keith are pretty equal to Crosby,Malkin and Letang. I don't think Crawford is that great but he reminds me of Chris Osgood, just good enough to get it done.

I think the Hawks will be good for a few years to come. Its amazing, you could field a second team with guys who used to play for the Hawks but were traded due to the cap and they would be a cup contender. They should be good this year, getting Campbell back for a song is huge for their D. The top four D are now the same top four they had back in 2010. They need another left winger and likely another veteran depth player and they could make another run this year. Can't wait for the home opener.