NHL Thread

[Thom Yorke]

It's very tempting to get into my 255th d-men debate in this thread but I'll refrain.

General thoughts from around the league going into next season? Most things are pretty much shored up right now. Thought I'd make an easy template for people to fill in answers to random questions. Answer any ones you want or add new ones in.

Teams

Cup Winner:
Cup Finalist:
Atlantic Champ:
Metro Champ:
Pacific Champ:
Central Champ:
One team that misses the playoffs who made it last year:
One team that makes the playoffs who missed it last year:
Greatest increase in points:
Greatest decrease in points:


Players

Hart:
Art Ross:
Richard:
Norris:
Selke:
Vezina:
Adams:
Greatest increase in points (significantly injured players last year don't count):
Greatest decrease in points:




Teams

Cup Winner: Kings
Cup Finalist: Bruins
Atlantic Champ: Bruins
Metro Champ: Penguins
Pacific Champ: Sharks
Central Champ: Blues
One team that misses the playoffs who made it last year: Flyers
One team that makes the playoffs who missed it last year: Devils
Greatest increase in points: Panthers
Greatest decrease in points: Avalanche


Players

Hart: Crosby
Art Ross: Crosby
Richard: Stamkos
Norris: Doughty
Selke: Bergeron
Vezina: Lundqvist
Adams: DeBoer
Greatest increase in points (significantly injured players last year don't count): Nichushkin (34 --> 65)
Greatest decrease in points (assuming they play close to a full season): Pavelski (79 --> 55)

[The Ascension]

lol anyone who thinks Vlasic is better than Subban is out to lunch, sorry

But I'll do this:

Teams

Cup Winner: Blackhawks (ugh, hate the carousel)
Cup Finalist: Devils
Atlantic Champ: Tampa Bay
Metro Champ: Penguins
Pacific Champ: Anaheim
Central Champ: Chicago
One team that misses the playoffs who made it last year: Detroit
One team that makes the playoffs who missed it last year: Devils
Greatest increase in points: Stars
Greatest decrease in points: Colorado


Players

Hart: Stamkos
Art Ross: Malkin
Richard: Stamkos
Norris: McDonagh (homer, how much I care: )
Selke: Kopitar
Vezina: Schneider
Adams: Cooper
Greatest increase in points (significantly injured players last year don't count): Guess I'll go with Nash
Greatest decrease in points: Pavelski

[Ninetales]

Heh didnt think saying Vlasic is an amazing defensemen was that controversial. I think the case can be made that Subban is better, but the difference between the two isnt that wide.. except in playing styles haha.

and ok heres by bit

Teams

Cup Winner: San Jose
Cup Finalist: Tampa Bay
Atlantic Champ: Boston
Metro Champ: Pittsburgh
Pacific Champ: LA
Central Champ: Chicago
One team that misses the playoffs who made it last year: Colorado
One team that makes the playoffs who missed it last year: New York Islanders
Greatest increase in points: New York Islanders
Greatest decrease in points: Colorado


Players

Hart: Tavares
Art Ross: Crosby
Richard: Ovechkin
Norris: Keith
Selke: Bergeron
Vezina: Price
Adams: Jack Capuano
Greatest increase in points (significantly injured players last year don't count): Jarome Iginla
Greatest decrease in points: Tomas Fleischmann

[Paul Smeenus]

[Ninetales]

welcome back dude!!!! Hope youre feeling better man

and the "summer of analytics" continues with the Maple Leafs hiring 2 more hockey bloggers, and Darryl Metcalf who ran the very awesome site Extra Skater (RIP). Looks like TO wants it private for their team. Good for him, sucks for me haha, used that site a ton as did everyone that was into stats. It was by far the easiest hockey stats site to use.

[Paul Smeenus]

The new season is upon us

[Ninetales]

you guys also lost Pouliot (whooooo for oilers fans like me ) and Stralman. Both big losses. Im actually not sure NY makes the playoffs, unless it's the Islanders.

[Ninetales]

Originally Posted by Embryo

So San Jose breaks the curse finally? I find that hard to believe. They never make it past the Conference Finals. The Patrick Marleau days are over. He's banged up and older, still a GREAT player and leader, would love to have him on my team, but I can't see them getting to he Finals. They had the best chance when Nabokov was at the top of his game, Cheechoo was putting up crazy numbers, Thornton was playing like they expected him to play while in Boston, but all that has changed now. Honestly, I really only follow very closely the Atlantic Div....errr...the Metropolitan Division now. Always just followed the local teams - Rangers, Devils, Flyers, Penguins, Islanders. I would watch as many of their games as possible, and catch up with the rest of the league reading articles and watching highlights. It's too much to keep up with EVERY SINGLE TEAM. I'm a hard working musician and have a day job, all my energy goes into making my music and producing, and then my hockey and my Rangers are there to help me unwind.

well I think im just sort of hoping at this point for SJ haha. Pretty sure ive picked them for the finals the last couple of years. Im not really a fan per se, but I really hate the ridiculous flak that Thornton and Marleau take and just want them to win so everyone can shut about Joe not making the hall or bening a bad captain and that nonsense.

Oh and Niemi > Nabokov in his prime and Couture, Pavelski, Hertl, etc >>> Cheechoo

I wouldn't be surprised if NYR made playoffs, but the Metro is a close one and I think Pitt, NJ, NYI and CBJ are better so im not betting on them

[Paul Smeenus]

Going to the Silvertips home opener this Friday

[Thom Yorke]

^ Good to see you back, man. Nice little shutout victory to kick the season off.

I really like the Sharks this year as well. I immediately think of the post-Flyers collapse Bruins when I look at them this year. They've hit rock bottom for playoff performance so there's nowhere else to go but up. I really think Couture will be huge this year and emerge as a real leader for them. I still wouldn't be able to give them the edge in a series vs. the Kings or Hawks, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they went on a Cup run.