OCRegScribe07 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 The feeling out here on the West Coast is that Teemu Selanne's return makes the Ducks the favorites again, no matter what the standings say right now. Agree? Disagree? Cast your vote by clicking here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 They would be contenders without him too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GordieSid&Ted Report post Posted January 29, 2008 They would be contenders without him too. QFT! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsfan75 2 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 (edited) It says favorites, not contenders. I don't think they are the favorites but that might make me a homer I guess. Edited January 29, 2008 by wingsfan75 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GordieSid&Ted Report post Posted January 29, 2008 It says favorites, not contenders. I don't think they are the favorites but that might make me a homer I guess. Nope, I checked my "are you a homer" rulebook and no, that belief does not make you a homer. I voted "no" by the way as I think we have better depth than them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,794 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 I know the homers here will disagree with me, but the Ducks forwards and defense is better than ours. We have 2 capable goalies instead of 1, but Giguere has shown that he's a great clutch goalie when he needs to be. Obviously you can't win a series on paper, but looking at it on paper is all we can do at this point, and they're simply more talented than us. Of course as Wings fans have learned in the past, talent isn't everything, but time will tell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsfan75 2 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 (edited) Nope, I checked my "are you a homer" rulebook and no, that belief does not make you a homer. I voted "no" by the way as I think we have better depth than them. I thought the same thing as far as depth goes. Add the fact that our team has played well all season and has gelled for the most part. We lost some dead weight from last season in Bertuzzi (I realize he's been much better this year) and Lang. We have a ton more desire, I feel, because we lost last year. I remember the two seasons before we finally won it all in 97. It took a little adversity to finally put us over the top. We have yet to make any sort of deadline moves and that could bring us any missing pieces we might need. (We have a ton more cap space it seems too.) All in all, I still tink we are the favorites. Don't count out the Sens either. Edited January 29, 2008 by wingsfan75 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicada 4 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 they're favourites... they've got a better team than last year on paper... they've got a stronger defense, and are deeper offensively... funnily enough, they really remind me of the '97/'98 Wings....and i really see a repeat on the cards Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tazzer82 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 I don't think so. Selanne returned to the team, so what? If they think that makes them the favorite to win the Cup again, then I say let them have their fun with it. Winning the Stanley Cup back to back is the hardest in sports for a reason, and I see them being taken down this year in the 1st or 2nd round. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duck Guy 86 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 It will certainly be way harder for them to win it this year then last . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rick zombo 3,739 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 (edited) Anyone that watches playoff hockey (especially Red Wings' fans) knows that a stacked roster does not = the Stanley Cup. Edited January 29, 2008 by rick zombo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jaytan Report post Posted January 29, 2008 I don't really think Selanne coming back means much. With that said, they're still the favorites. I don't think we have the physicality or the mental toughness to contend with them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 (edited) It makes them one of the favorites for sure. *The* favorite......I'm not sure, but they look even scarier on paper. It will certainly be way harder for them to win it this year then last . Do you mean that statement in regards to teams gunning for them or as a backhanded knock on the Wings. Edited January 29, 2008 by Never Forget Mac #25 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calfan 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 Is there really such a thing as a favourite to win in today's NHL? One lesson Wings fans should have learned is that good in the regular season doesn't translate to the playoffs and that the game is played on ice, not on paper. Without putting much thought to it, I would say there are probably 10 teams with a decent chance to win and I wouldn't want to rank them (I'm sure the sports books in Vegas have). There are probably 5 others with an outside shot and there are 15 with no hope. The Wings and Ducks would be in my top 10. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 You can't get lucky against the Wings and the Sens two years in a row, and the Sens will be making it to the finals. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duck Guy 86 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 (edited) It makes them one of the favorites for sure. *The* favorite......I'm not sure, but they look even scarier on paper. Do you mean that statement in regards to teams gunning for them or as a backhanded knock on the Wings. teams will be gunning for them way more like they usually do to the previous season winners. I would never knock the wings . Edited January 29, 2008 by Duck Guy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsfan75 2 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 I think it's Mickey Redmond that says something like "The defending SC champions are always the favorites until someone else takes their place". I suppose that's good logic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 I say yes they are favorites and here is why think that: Last year he was their best offensive weapon and there is no denying his offensive abilities. This year their defense is stingier and their offense suck goat balls, now they bring in a guy who is offensively gifted and is only missing two guys from last years roster, Penner and MacDonald, so chemistry should not be an issue. The only issue is how long it takes Teemu to be in game shape. The one way that I see this as a plus for the wings, is that now one goon will have to ride the pine with Teemu in the building. And he is not going to wreck people out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 Guess we will see... we have been favorites for a while now... only seen 1 cup in going on 10 years now.... hardly think being favorites on paper constitues a back2back hand 'em the cup run... While their games are gaining interest for me... Knock out fights... i still don't see them winning again. But i do forsee another run of 1-game at a time suspensions for pronger.... so we might as well get those threads ready. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GordieSid&Ted Report post Posted January 29, 2008 I say yes they are favorites and here is why think that: Last year he was their best offensive weapon and there is no denying his offensive abilities. This year their defense is stingier and their offense suck goat balls, now they bring in a guy who is offensively gifted and is only missing two guys from last years roster, Penner and MacDonald, so chemistry should not be an issue. The only issue is how long it takes Teemu to be in game shape. The one way that I see this as a plus for the wings, is that now one goon will have to ride the pine with Teemu in the building. And he is not going to wreck people out there. Opie, its interesting if you look at the pre niedermayer Ducks this year. They were still scoring about the same pace as last year, which people seem to forget. That or they think they were world beaters or something on offense which isn't true. it's their defense that was giving up 1/2 a goal more per game than last year. Then you look at them after Nieds return. He has already gotten their GAA back down to what it was last season and in the playoffs and their offense is up just slightly. The Ducks didn't win the Cup by having a more potent offense (Wings actually outscored the Ducks in that series) rather they won it with D. Now they're D looks stacked and they're getting an integral cog back on the Wing. The only reason I didn't pick them as the favorites is because statistically, repeating is very long odds. So from a purely gambling standpoint, I'm putting my dough in another basket. But they look pretty damn good to me the past 20 games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dicksmack 33 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 Is there really such a thing as a favourite to win in today's NHL? One lesson Wings fans should have learned is that good in the regular season doesn't (necessarily) translate to the playoffs and that the game is played on ice, not on paper. Without putting much thought to it, I would say there are probably 10 teams with a decent chance to win and I wouldn't want to rank them (I'm sure the sports books in Vegas have). There are probably 5 others with an outside shot and there are 15 with no hope. The Wings and Ducks would be in my top 10. ooooooooooooo... ya really went out on a limb there... Ducks would be favourites, yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lfd250 1 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 Sounds good to me. Let them be the favorites. We will continue to what we do best. Oh, and right now, they are in 6th place over all in the confrence, FIGHTING for a playoff spot with 11 teams 10 points apart. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stormboy 47 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 were and are contenders. maybe they have a bit more of an edge now. obviously he's a world-class player, but it'll be interesting to see how an older guy does after not playing for half the season. it's been, what, nine months since he last played a game? that seems a pretty long time ago. then again, it might just be like riding a bike for him. i hope we get to play them in the playoffs this year after all the anehiem vs. detroit hype. i wonder if the other teams they knocked out of the playoffs last year are all talking about this on their boards, too... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,207 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 Ducks, Wings -- take your pick. One of these two teams will make it to the SCF. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted January 29, 2008 Voted Ducks, but couldn't see the results. The game last week was really close. Selanne tips the scales in the other direction now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
