chaps80

Hard for me to pick a favourite in this one. I've wanted to see the Rangers win a Cup for a few years now, mostly for King Henrik. But Ottawa is the only Canadian team I'd be happy with bringing the first Cup in over 20 years back across the border. They do things quietly too, unlike the Oilers hype machine.

Yes the Nords need to make a comeback. The battle of Quebec with the Canadiens was legendary, although not all that hyped. And Vegas can come to Sudbury. We are building a new arena, although it's for OHL crowds of 5-6000. But that's all they should need anyways. Lol

Yeah, with the Senators sharing the Ontario market with the Leafs, it's hard to compete for attendance. The Leafs probably have more fans in Ottawa than the Sens do. Sens tickets are easy and cheap to get, even for the second round of the playoffs. The scalpers have probably lost a good chunk of change so far. If you live in Ontario and want to go see an NHL game, that's the way to go. If you live in Northern Ontario like I do, it's a bit of a drive, but wayyy cheaper than Toronto even with the gas and food cost. Hell, even add one nights hotel to that. The ACC is sold out years in advance, and nosebleeds for regular season games can fetch $200 or more apiece on Stubhub. And trade us Anderson for Howard.

Well, Hasek did get lit up, and Osgood hadn't played in a playoff series since 2004 with St.Louis. I was very optimistic he could get it done, but I can def see how some weren't. But burning jerseys? Lol

Hmm. I just looked it up. From what little bits easily found, it seems that non-playoff and playoff-eliminated teams (and of course, once the playoffs are over, every team) can make trades up until June 17th, which is when the 30 teams protected lists must be submitted. So if the Pens make the Finals and it goes 7, they won't have long to try to ditch Fleury before being forced to protect him.

Jurco sucks. Supposedly "held back" here, but did nothing in Chicago either. Mot surprised if he's out of the league for good soon. Thanks for the third rounder Hawks!

Yeah, he was good for 20 points a season playing around 65 games until his concussion. Then we needed Legwand so he and Jarnkrok were shipped to Nashville. Since he signed in Dallas he's done well. He has 55 points with Dallas and Anaheim this season including playoffs. Helps playing alongside guys like Benn, Seguin, and Getzlaf though. He'd never hit that total in Detroit. If Anaheim wins the Edmonton series, the pick Dallas gets for Eaves gets bumped to a first. Not bad Nill.

Yeah, Rutherford's move to keep Fleury around for the playoffs instead of moving him at the deadline (assuming he'd waive his NMC) has payed off big time. I'm not sure what the rules are on trades in between the end of playoffs and the XDraft, but if Fleury can't be moved, then they'll be forced to expose Murray to Vegas due to Fleury's NMC. Could get messy.

True. I think Vegas shouldn't even be involved in this draft though. They should play a full season first and then be slotted in the 2018 draft. Surely it'll be a high pick anyways. They're already taking 30 players from the other teams. Why give them a top 6 ( I think that's as low as they can drop?) pick just for joining the league? Plus they're guaranteed a high pick in all the other rounds. Guess it's good that this draft is supposedly not very deep.

The kind of half assed play VS the Leafs isn't gonna cut it this series. Yeah, the Leafs took it to 'em, but that series should not have been so close. A bunch of high scoring rookies and youngsters they do have but they also have a half assed defence, and a middle of the pack goaltender. The Caps have a much better team with Ovechkin, Backstrom, Shattenkirk, Orpik, Holtby, etc, etc. But they barely made it out. Gonna have to take it to a whole other level to beat the Pens. I dunno if they have it, but I really hope so.

Holtby needs to step it up. He's been a top 5 goalie in the league for a few years now, playing for a yearly contender. Last seasons Vezina winner and a finalist for it again this year. Being great in the regular season means nothing if you can't keep that level of play up when it really counts. In the playoffs. The Caps' window for a Cup will start to close soon enough. Just get it done Holtby, or let your backup play. Maybe he wants a Cup.

I remember in '08 when Z was shadowing Crosby like mad. He couldn't do anything and it threw him off his game and made him take hissy fits. He was the leagues golden boy and he felt like he was entitled to do anything and be left alone. It's really s***ty that the Wings collapsed and blow the 2-0 lead and the series in '09. Not just for obvious reasons as a Wings fan, but that Cup win pumped Crosby's ego and stardom to intolerable levels. They should have won two more games and shut that f***** and his fans up.

What's weird is, if the WIngs finished 7th worst, then you add Vegas in, how can they get anything lower than the 8th overall pick? Choosing 9th or 10th would just be...wrong.

Ahh ok. I'll take 21% for top 3 though!

Disagree. They might have the Wings regular season number, but in the 2015 playoffs the Wings took them to 7. A lot of that had to do with Mrazek keeping them in a series they had no business going that far in ( 3-4, 2.11 gaa, .925 sv%, 14 ga, 2 shutouts). The Wings have them a huge scare. Tampa only won Game 7 2-0. 2016 playoffs, which they BACKED INTO, Blash started Howard, who was replaced after two losses ( 3.59 gaa, 891 sv%, 7 ga) Mrazek went 1-2 with a 1.36 gaa, .945 sv%, 4 ga, and 1 shutout after that. Had Mrazek started that series, who knows what the outcome may have been.

I read somewhere that the Wings have a 23.5% chance at the first overall. Not bad chances. For some reason Colorado and one other team I forget were given extra "tickets" due to some problem with having Vegas in the top 4. Vegas actually gets better odds than Arizona, who played a full season and ended up third last. This draft system is so flawed.

How many times around the league has this happened where a team signs a player to a big long term contract based on their performance from seasons prior,(some players best seasons are curiously the ones in which they are upcoming UFAs) and then the very next season they give a half ass effort and stop doing the things that earned them that contract in the first place. The Wings have a few of them. All contracts should be somewhat performance based. You get a guaranteed amount for just playing, but you can earn a huge bonus every season if you accomplish a certain goal set out by management. Would stop a lot of the players from becoming lazy floaters after they get their contract.

I can see it. They have the roster to be yearly contenders, but maybe some just aren't working hard enough to win. There is a common misconception that all any NHLer really wants deep down is to win the Stanley Cup. Some could care less and are only playing for the money.

Wow Ducks. I hate you, but come on!!

Hahahaha

I agree the Wings did fine in net, but Osgood was the only goalie the Wings drafted that contributed to Cup wins. They traded for Vernon and Hasek, and both were only around for three seasons each. Who knows, had Brodeur been in Detroit for his entire career, having him around to build behind, they may have won more Cups. Marty probably did benefit from the system in NJ, but people say the same for Ozzie in DET. Both were great goaltenders either way though.

Gotcha.

How did the Oilers go from crappy to dispatching the damn Sharks in 6 and making the Conference Semis in one season? I know they were due to break out, but that is one massive jump. Not like they improved their roster much besides Lucic. And Maroon's first full season with the team. Maybe those two have them what they needed though?. Power forwards who can score and protect teammates?

Yeah Tim and Mark Hunter both played on that team. No relation to Mark and his two brothers who also played in the league. His nose is still messed up like that. Haha

Blues in 6 if Allen keeps playing lights out. He had struggles mid season and was given time off and didn't even travel with the team. Doing great now. Must be that bright blue and yellow Winter Classic gear, blanked out Sher-Wood stick, and white mask. Blues have a Cup draught as long as the Leafs. Like to see them get to the Finals.