Tompa wrote:
DevotedWalnut wrote:
Tompa wrote:
Bring on the regular season already... I'm fucking watching the Czech Hockey Games just to get some sort of fix.
I have a channel called Leafs TV and all summer they play Leafs games non-stop. They only go back a few seasons, but it's good to re-live some of the more classic moments of seasons past. But, like most things, it gets old and boring.
I did go to an OHL (CHL) pre-season game last night. My Barrie Colts against the visiting Sudbury Wolves (Jared Staal plays for these guys). Was a good game, and was nice to see some new somewhat competitive hockey again. The Colts won 7-2, was a damn good game.
NHL pre-season starts very soon...
Yeah at least we're getting closer. August was brutal. I'm so pumped up for this season.
Perhaps a bit early still but any predictions for next season? I'm thinking Pittsburgh has got a good chance of repeating, though a couple of trips to the finals in a row should catch up with them at some point.
Still way too early for predictions, but I think Pittsburgh is still a very good strong team. They lost Boucher and Sykora, but added Mckee who IMO is better than Boucher. With Boucher off the cap, they may be able to re-sign Sykora and then pretty much be the same team with a better d-man. But they did also lose that one d-man, can't remember his name, to the Kings. So, for the most part, they are the same team that won the cup. But I agree, 2 shorts summers in a row may lead to them being tired early.
Even with losses Detroit has suffered, they are too good not to be a top team in the West yet again. They lost Samuelsson and Hossa added Bertuzzi. They lost more then they gained, but Datsyuk and Zetterberg will lead the way.
Chicago will be very good. They lost Havlat, but got arguably a better player in Hossa. Big question there is, is Huet a good enough number 1 goalie?
The Flyers are much improved with Pronger as their top d-man. But, how will Emery do? They also lost Lupul and Knuble. Lupul is a good 20+ goal man, and Knuble is like having a coach on the ice at all times. But, if Sarah Briere stays healthy, losing both Lupuls and Knubles offense shouldn't be too big of a loss. Not to mention that Carter and Richards will just get better.
Calgary? Now with probably the best d-core in the NHL. Phanuef definitely needs a bounce back year, as last season was pretty bad... you know with the whole coke thing... Kipper needs to show he is truely an elite goalie in the NHL and having a improved d-core I'm sure he will show what he can do. Also having Brett Sutter as the head coach should make the whole team better. But, Iginla and Jokinen are another year older and they did lose 39 goals in Cammi.
Those, IM(very early)O, are the top teams starting the season. Sure some teams will be worse than I think and others will be better. There will be injuries and trades, etc, etc, etc...
But coming into trianing camp, those are my top teams.
Honourable mentions:
San Jose - no captain? Marleau rumors?
Washington - how will Varlamov do?
New Jersey - will age catch up to the best goalie in the NHL?
Anaheim - the best 8th place team ever, but they lost Pronger.
Question marks:
Rangers - will Gaborik stay healthy? if so, how good will he do on a offense oriented team? I say he can easily be a 40+ goal man for the Rags
Toronto - so many d-men, not enough goal scorers... sure we can grind it out and are now a much tougher team to play against, but who will score?
Islanders - how will Tavares do? 3 number 1 goalies?
Montreal - is change a good thing? Koivu, Kovalev, Komisarek, Higgins, Tanguay, and Lang all gone. In Gomez, Cammi, Gionta, Mara, Gill, and Moen.
Tampa Bay - how will Hedman do? their D is much better and they are sturdy in goal now, but how will they do? Stamkos, if he can play like he did for the second half of last season, should put up huge numbers.
Los Angeles - Ryan Smyth? who will be the goalie?
Teams that will be shit:
Colorado - no Sakic, no goaltending, too many old guys. I say 28th-30th place finish.
Florida - they got nothing of worth for Jay-Bo, they have no captain, no true #1 goalie, and they lost the defense first coach. Will be a long year in Florida.
every other team I didn't mention, didn't really do anything all that much to improve/be worse.
