Who will challenge the Wings for Central title?

[superstarsingh 23]

I think the Blues will be behind, not that close behind us, but they will finish second in the division and I think that they will make the playoffs.

[JayUp88 1]

I think the Blues will be behind, not that close behind us, but they will finish second in the division and I think that they will make the playoffs.

That would be good for them but

[VM1138 1,921]

The last half of last year saw St. Louis and Columbus both have great halves. Now, they have virtually the sam eteams but with some better players added to the mix. We've lost 3 forwards who may not have scored a lot who left, but who are we going to get to replace them. There's hardly anyone better than them available. And if we trade, well, I really don't think we're in a position to. We need our players now.

How do you figure this will be a cake walk?

Chicago could be decent, depending on if their players perform as well as they could.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

The Blues will be better, who's in net for them - didn't they get one of the Wild's players? If it's still Legace, enough said.

I think this will work out well for the wings - we still have 4 games each vs teams like SJ, Anaheim, Dallas, etc.

We will win the division and be able to pick up what's needed again at the trade deadline. I'm not worried. But the intra-division schedule is a joke - it MUST go. Who wants to buy tickets to see Columbus or the Hawks 4 times each - yuk!

[stlbluz 0]

Haven't posted here in a while, but wanted to stop by & pass along a 'good luck' going into the season. Should be some good games between the 2 teams and I'm looking forward to a tight Central race. Glad you got Drake too - great character guy who's gone full circle in his career. I'll pop in for the GDT during the season to talk a little trash too.

[Winged Scooter 0]

Hurricane Ditka can beat the Wings

or Mini Ditka

or Ditka while reclining in a Barko-Lounger.....

Edited July 12, 2007 by Winged Scooter

[rick zombo 3,739]

The Wings may have been in a weak division last year, but they had the hardest run of any of the conference finalists in the playoffs.

They beat Calgary and then San Jose, and barely lost to the Ducks.

So the "competion" arguement as well as "the Wings only win bla bla becasue they are in the central" arguement doesn't work.

That being said, I still think Nashville will be a team to contend with.

St.Louis improved to the point where they can ice an NHL team (as opposed to the AHL hockey they played last year) but they won't scare anyone.

Chicago are Chicago

Columbus are a long way off.

[Covenant 0]

My oh my.. HOW MANY TIMES was that "myth" debunked last year during the playoffs. The one where we'll puss out because we're never challenged during the regular season! The answer to the post though is: Nobody, as usual. Preds won't suck, but I expect the Blues to do pretty well. Hawks/BJ's, fuggeddaboutit!!

[vandypred 0]

I find it quite interesting to see how many of y'all think we'll be OK next season in Nashville. Seems that not everybody thinks that we've totally dismantled the thing. Our sucess will depend on d and steady goaltending much like y'all did last season and... hope the Vokoun trade doesn't blow up in our face!! I'm figuring we'll get a hard fought 6-7 seed for the playoffs and hit our attendance mark. But we have to play the games and who knows what the injury bug minions will bring us.

The Blues should be better and make the division stronger overall and Columbus may figure it out or they'll be in Balsillie/del Biaggio trouble like us next in the near future.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Not like it already did. But with Nashville having lost several guys, if I were to make a prediction I'd say the Central will be a cake walk for the Wings. St. Louis added a plethora of guys including Paul Kariya but it's not going to make a difference. Forget Chicago or Columbus. This is going to be a terrible division with meaningless divisional games the Wings will have to play. What season ticketholder wants to see the Wings play the Blackhawks 8 times? Or anyone else in the division for that matter?

I predict right now that the Blackhawks will finish 2nd in the Central AND will qualify for the playoffs.

Ridiculous you say? Perhaps. But here's what I like about them.

1. A healthy Martin Havlat could be top 5 in scoring in the NHL.

2. Robert Lang playing top line minutes with Havlat, maybe????

3. Sergei Samsonov and Havlat???

4. Yanic Perrault. Guy does alot of things well.

5. Brent Seabrook and Cam Barker. 2 pretty good young dmen.

6. Khabibulin

7. Jonathan Toews. If he makes the squad he could make some noise a la Jordan Staal

2 biggest problems they have is staying healthy. Too many of their best players are prone to injury, including Tuuomo Ruttu. The other is the lack of quality, veteran defenseman.

However, they get 24 games against St.Louis, Nashville and Columbus. If they can win all those season series I wouldn't doubt it if they made the playoffs.

Plus, I love their group of prospects. Maybe 1 or 2 of these guys can crack the lineup

Toews

Patrick Kane

Jack Skille

Bill Sweatt

Pavel Vorobiev

Maxim Tanguay

Akim Aliu

most of these guys are years away but you never know. Seems like there's a couple teenagers in the NHL every year so just maybe?

ooops, forgot to mention that they do have a little bit of scoring depth:

Patty Sharp scored 20 goals last year and Lapointe, J.Will and Vrbata are 10-15 goal guys as well.

And they have Vandermeer, Lapointe and Koci for toughness.

Edited July 12, 2007 by GordieSid&Ted

[Guest DetroitIan]

Yeah the Kansas City Preds wont be s***. So the only possible contender against us has got to be the Blues. And thats not saying much. I expect us to manhandle them.

[Henkka 0]

Wings will be the secure 1st seed.

Then Nashville, chicago and St. Louis are the next, hard to say in which order.

Columbus is the secure jumbo of the Central and the Western conf.

[Airborn 0]

St.louis will be alot stronger this year.....

I keep hearing this and it makes me wonder: Why? The only possible reason I can think of is they'll have a full year of Andy Murray, which I don't think is enough to make a difference.

I see only 2 upgrades over last years team, which wasn't horrible, but still missed the playoff by 15 points.

1. Kariya is a slight upgrade over Guerin (debatable)

2. Erik Johnson

For my money, I wouldn't bet on Johnson being that great this year. Rookie defensemen rarely are, no matter how much hype they get. Also, their 2 best returning players (Weight and Tkachuk) will be 37 and 36 respectively next year.

I guess you can tell, I'm not sold.

Edited July 12, 2007 by Airborn

[Kp-Wings 3]

St. Louis will be a lot better this year. They made some key signings, and have a lot of good, young prospects coming up too.

[captainsubtext 0]

I guess you can tell, I'm not sold.

Don't forget about guys like Stempniak, Backes, Jackman and Boyes. They will only get better. A really nice mix of talent and veterans that the Blues have got there.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I think people are gonna be shocked by the Central this year. Columbus likely wont see the barage of injuries that they saw last year, and guys like Klesla, Nash, Hainsey, Brule, Zherdeve, Leclaire with another year under their belts. Chicago didnt make huge changes, but they still had a 9 game undefeated streak (or something) last year and were really making headway with the new coaching staff, not to mention Havlat is a game changer that could see 80 games next year. Nashville, regardless of their losses, still has some talent (Sully, Legwand, Arnott, Dumont, Radulov), Mason was as strong as Vokoun last year. Their defense is a little weak, but they have some great young guns back there. Finally, St. Louis was making a run at the end of the season if you remember. Basically, on offense, they lost Guerin but gained Kariya - big improvement. Their offensive core of Kariya, Stempniak, Tkachuk, and Weight is currently more balanced than the Wings.

Edit: Forgot about Boyes for St. Louis as well as the rookie Johnson

Edited July 13, 2007 by YoungGuns1340

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I keep hearing this and it makes me wonder: Why? The only possible reason I can think of is they'll have a full year of Andy Murray, which I don't think is enough to make a difference.

I see only 2 upgrades over last years team, which wasn't horrible, but still missed the playoff by 15 points.

1. Kariya is a slight upgrade over Guerin (debatable)

2. Erik Johnson

For my money, I wouldn't bet on Johnson being that great this year. Rookie defensemen rarely are, no matter how much hype they get. Also, their 2 best returning players (Weight and Tkachuk) will be 37 and 36 respectively next year.

I guess you can tell, I'm not sold.

Brad Boyes - only 19 games with the Blues, a full season this year

Kariya - not an improvement over Guerin? Not as big, but younger, faster, more skilled and just put up 20 more points than Guerin this past year

Stempniak and Mcclement - another year improved

Rucinsky - out for 30 games last season

Mckee - out almost 60 games last season

Added Erik Johnson

Legace injured last season

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Wings (Make playoffs)

Blues (Make playoffs)

Preds

Chicago

Jackets.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

The Blackhawks

The Blackhawks will surprise - but not because of Robert Lang, not because of Jason Williams, and not Sergei Samsonov if he feels the slightest bit of pressure. If Havlat and Ruutu stay healthy and are able to cement their forward corps - the leeches like Samsonov, Williams, and Lang will benefit.

The Hawks defense is severely lacking in experience though. Theyve got some of the best young Dmen, IMO, but Andrei Zyuzin is likely going to be counted on more than he can handle.

Wings (Make playoffs)

Blues (Make playoffs)

Preds

Chicago

Jackets.

I could see that.

Edited July 13, 2007 by YoungGuns1340

[#19=Legend 29]

The Blackhawks

youve gotta have an explanation as to why you think they will challenge. this is a "discussion board". key word is discuss. dont just come in here and say two words like your last posts.

[Kp-Wings 3]

I think people are gonna be shocked by the Central this year. Columbus likely wont see the barage of injuries that they saw last year, and guys like Klesla, Nash, Hainsey, Brule, Zherdeve, Leclaire with another year under their belts. Chicago didnt make huge changes, but they still had a 9 game undefeated streak (or something) last year and were really making headway with the new coaching staff, not to mention Havlat is a game changer that could see 80 games next year. Nashville, regardless of their losses, still has some talent (Sully, Legwand, Arnott, Dumont, Radulov), Mason was as strong as Vokoun last year. Their defense is a little weak, but they have some great young guns back there. Finally, St. Louis was making a run at the end of the season if you remember. Basically, on offense, they lost Guerin but gained Kariya - big improvement. Their offensive core of Kariya, Stempniak, Tkachuk, and Weight is currently more balanced than the Wings.

Edit: Forgot about Boyes for St. Louis as well as the rookie Johnson

Agreed to an extent.

St. Louis I totally agree with. I expect them to be a very good team next year. Kariya is a major upgrade over Guerin, and the rest of the team has a good core around it.

Columbus I do not agree with. They just don't have enough to make it through a whole season. I really don't expect them to do much.

Chicago is a soft team (with the exception of Vandermeer and Duncan Keith) and has a lot of dead weight on it. Guys like Lang and Williams are not top line players, which is what they will be in Chicago.

Nashville is a tough call. Honestly, I do hope they completely fall of the map next year, but I just don't see it happening. Arnott is a great #1 center, and Legwand was doing a fine job as the #2 center before Forsberg came. They still go guys like Radulov too, who have a lot of potential.

So, it's hard to say right now. I see either St. Louis or Nashville being the ones who will give us trouble. St. Louis is putting together a great core, and Nashville still has a few decent players left. Columbus and Chicago will not be much of a factor. They either have really young, underachieving players (Columbus), or over-the-hill, overpaid players (Chicago). I just don't see them making too much of an impact.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I still think the Preds will be able to contend. Radulov is going to be great next season. Mason should/could hold his own as a starter. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are going to be dynamite as the top D. Sure Nashville lost some guys, but I don't know, they still look pretty good, and with Shea Weber and Radulov being two of the future elite in the NHL, it's pretty hard to rule Nashville out, IMO.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Agreed to an extent.

St. Louis I totally agree with. I expect them to be a very good team next year. Kariya is a major upgrade over Guerin, and the rest of the team has a good core around it.

Columbus I do not agree with. They just don't have enough to make it through a whole season. I really don't expect them to do much.

Chicago is a soft team (with the exception of Vandermeer and Duncan Keith) and has a lot of dead weight on it. Guys like Lang and Williams are not top line players, which is what they will be in Chicago.

Nashville is a tough call. Honestly, I do hope they completely fall of the map next year, but I just don't see it happening. Arnott is a great #1 center, and Legwand was doing a fine job as the #2 center before Forsberg came. They still go guys like Radulov too, who have a lot of potential.

So, it's hard to say right now. I see either St. Louis or Nashville being the ones who will give us trouble. St. Louis is putting together a great core, and Nashville still has a few decent players left. Columbus and Chicago will not be much of a factor. They either have really young, underachieving players (Columbus), or over-the-hill, overpaid players (Chicago). I just don't see them making too much of an impact.

How are the Hawks "soft" Besides Vandermeer they also have Marty Lapointe. Brent Seabrook (who I think is going to be awesome) can actually fight a little bit too. He won't hesitate to drop the gloves if need be and they have David Koci who is the craziest player i've seen lace 'em up since Enrico Chiccone.

Havlat when healthy can be one of the top 10 offensive players in the league. Ruttu, Patrick Sharp, etc... they have about 5 guys on their team that can score in the 12-20 goal range. Jonathan Toews might make the squad and he's an offensive dynamo. Maybe Jake Skille or Bill Sweatt might make the roster as well.

I can't prove one way or the other and by no means am I trying to discredit anybody. I just feel that in looking at the rosters, and taking into account that the Hawks have the best goalie outside of Hasek with Khabibulin that they're going to be in the running as long as they don't get plagued by injuries.

For me, Columbus would probably be next. I'm going to go against the grain and Pick St.Louis to finish last again and for Nashville to miss the playoffs entirely.

Detroit

Chicago

Nashville

Columbus

St.Louis

[donfishmaster 62]

The Blackhawks

....continue to suck rancid monkey nuts.

[Kp-Wings 3]

How are the Hawks "soft" Besides Vandermeer they also have Marty Lapointe. Brent Seabrook (who I think is going to be awesome) can actually fight a little bit too. He won't hesitate to drop the gloves if need be and they have David Koci who is the craziest player i've seen lace 'em up since Enrico Chiccone.

Lapointe doesn't disgress me as tough anymore. He didn't fair well in any of his fights last year. I think maybe he did win one, if I can remember properly.

I know what you mean with David Koci, who is absolutly insane. Will he make the roster though? I highly doubt it. Unless Denis Savard wants a full time enforcer in the lineup.

I didn't include Seabrook because I've never seen him fight. Koci I didn't include because I don't think he'll make the team. We'll wait and see I guess.