Your team has been officially eliminated

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

OK, it is that time of year again when team's either clinch or are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. In the spirit of the season I will be providing a write-up as to the reasons why I think that team failed. I hope to keep them fun and entertaining Disclaimer: These are my opinions, you may not hold the same opinion and although you are wrong are free to debate the reasons why I think the team was destined for failure this year.

Coming soon to a forum near you.....

The LA Kings!!

[arnoldbuck 0]

OK, it is that time of year again when team's either clinch or are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. In the spirit of the season I will be providing a write-up as to the reasons why I think that team failed. I hope to keep them fun and entertaining Disclaimer: These are my opinions, you may not hold the same opinion and although you are wrong are free to debate the reasons why I think the team was destined for failure this year.

Coming soon to a forum near you.....

The LA Kings!!

I'm stoked to see some of this rational. Bring on the cuts.

[JayUp88 1]

Oh thats a good idea... can't wait.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Oh man this should be stickied and be continued throughout the playoffs until a champion is crowned

[toby91_ca 620]

Tampa Bay almost there as well. 1 more loss by LA or win by Vancouver pretty much eliminates them.

[Cicada 4]

i can give an answer for the Kings already...

crappy team defense

[wingslogo19 281]

Forsure the Kings

[Nero 20]

i can give an answer for the Kings already...

crappy team defense

My guess would have been.. not keeping Jonathan Bernier as one of your goalies.

[imisssergei 0]

Tampa Bay almost there as well. 1 more loss by LA or win by Vancouver pretty much eliminates them.

Wait a minute. How could a loss by L.A. or a Vancouver win effect Tampa Bay at all?

Not only does neither team play TB, neither L.A. nor Vancouver plays an EC team.

Did you mean L.A.? In such case, L.A. could be out tonight if the lose to Vancouver.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

My guess would have been.. not keeping Jonathan Bernier as one of your goalies.

I remember him playing great in the opener in England vs the Quacks but then pretty much sucking it up the rest of the way....correct me if I'm wrong

[puckbags 863]

My guess would have been.. not keeping Jonathan Bernier as one of your goalies.

There was no way they were going to throw that kid under the bus this year. He's a great goalie and they have absolutely no defence. They weren't going to take the chance on him losing any confidence by getting shelled every night.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

The LA Kings:

Congratulations, you are the first team to be officially eliminated from the playoffs. A lot of fans will often say that "xxxx sucks" about their rival teams and usually do it out of anger and can not be justified. However, when people say "LA sucks" you guys have no right to argue with them.... you do suck. Now, your problems started right from the opening game. Your opening day started was Jonathan Bernier, did you really think that was a good sign that your team would make a run this year? Also the league sent you to Europe to try and send you a message. Unfortunately the league realized that would be too drastic so they sent another team over there to play you guys. Your biggest problem was definitely goaltending. Any team that has Dan Cloutier on their roster is immediately at a disadvantage compared to the other 29 games. I mean the guy can't stop a beach ball! Sure it was photoshopped but still it was a beach ball! Come on Cloutier, I saw them try to do that with Luongo but he stopped the ball. Now your fans can look forward to the "Who is the greatest LA Kings player of all-time" contest that you are running on your website, hopefully this will get your minds off the fact that your team is no longer playing in the playoffs. You guys have some young and exciting players, get a goalie and you probably won't finish in last next year.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

The LA Kings:

Congratulations, you are the first team to be officially eliminated from the playoffs. A lot of fans will often say that "xxxx sucks" about their rival teams and usually do it out of anger and can not be justified. However, when people say "LA sucks" you guys have no right to argue with them.... you do suck. Now, your problems started right from the opening game. Your opening day started was Jonathan Bernier, did you really think that was a good sign that your team would make a run this year? Also the league sent you to Europe to try and send you a message. Unfortunately the league realized that would be too drastic so they sent another team over there to play you guys. Your biggest problem was definitely goaltending. Any team that has Dan Cloutier on their roster is immediately at a disadvantage compared to the other 29 games. I mean the guy can't stop a beach ball! Sure it was photoshopped but still it was a beach ball! Come on Cloutier, I saw them try to do that with Luongo but he stopped the ball. Now your fans can look forward to the "Who is the greatest LA Kings player of all-time" contest that you are running on your website, hopefully this will get your minds off the fact that your team is no longer playing in the playoffs. You guys have some young and exciting players, get a goalie and you probably won't finish in last next year.

I think LaBarbera can be a capable number one if he stays healthy...Erik Ersberg can stay in as backup; he's done pretty well so far in relief, he's got pretty respectable numbers (1.99 GAA, .939 sv. %, 1 SO in 7 games). GET RID OF CLOUTIER. Granted, no team's gonna want him, but keep him in the minors. Some additional help on defense wouldn't hurt, either. Blake isn't gonna be around forever.

[IceMunkee 15]

The LA Kings:

Congratulations, you are the first team to be officially eliminated from the playoffs. A lot of fans will often say that "xxxx sucks" about their rival teams and usually do it out of anger and can not be justified. However, when people say "LA sucks" you guys have no right to argue with them.... you do suck. Now, your problems started right from the opening game. Your opening day started was Jonathan Bernier, did you really think that was a good sign that your team would make a run this year? Also the league sent you to Europe to try and send you a message. Unfortunately the league realized that would be too drastic so they sent another team over there to play you guys. Your biggest problem was definitely goaltending. Any team that has Dan Cloutier on their roster is immediately at a disadvantage compared to the other 29 games. I mean the guy can't stop a beach ball! Sure it was photoshopped but still it was a beach ball! Come on Cloutier, I saw them try to do that with Luongo but he stopped the ball. Now your fans can look forward to the "Who is the greatest LA Kings player of all-time" contest that you are running on your website, hopefully this will get your minds off the fact that your team is no longer playing in the playoffs. You guys have some young and exciting players, get a goalie and you probably won't finish in last next year.

The great thing about the Kings is that they have a talented group in the club. Goaltending is definitly the main issue to overcome this off-season. How they could or did not pick up Bryz off the wire is amazing. Also i don't feel they did all they could at the deadline. I predict no playoff's next year either, barring major improvements.

[Opie 308]

The monarch's went to Europe and brought back two goalies and I haven't seen Clouts in a long long time.

BTW Manchester Monarchs are LA's Farm team!

[awingsincebirth 0]

Well, this elimination marks the first of my terrible pre-season prediction for this year. I definitely had these guys pegged as a team that was gonna surprise some people and make a nice little run at the post-season (maybe getting in, maybe not). I must have somehow mixed up the Kings and Coyotes logos when I gazed into my magic looking-ball at the beginning of the year.

I was thinking that with Blake, who was getting older but still a "capable" defenseman, along with Stuart and Visnovsky (who I think I entirely overrated) they would have a decent blue line. Then with Kopitar, Cammaleri, Brown et al they would have a good, explosive, young offense. Although, to an extent, this may have been true, the fact is that they don't have a goalie. Jason LaBarbera isn't a starter in this league IMO, never will be. Bernier is the (very bright) future, but not the present. I guess I just though that they'd be a bit better with the O and the D to make up for their lack of G.

Whatever, s*** happens.

[BlackhawksFan 4]

The LA Kings:

Any team that has Dan Cloutier on their roster is immediately at a disadvantage compared to the other 29 games.

Dan Cloutier is god awful. When his head is knocked out of the game, it stays out. He sucks, plain and simple.

But you Red Wings fans, of all people, should know that, courtesy of a half rink shot.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

Tampa Bay Lightning:

How quickly they fall..... Only a few years ago, your team was sipping from the Stanley Cup. Now you guys are fighting over Steve Stamkos. Well, let's look at what's different from your Stanley Cup team: you managed to lock up your big three players, Richards, St.Louis, and Lecavalier. So what was the problem? You kept three of the best players on your team.... only one thing, in the salary cap era, you weren't able to afford any type of supporting cast whatsoever. Khabibulin had an amazing season and left for Chicago and left you with a big question mark in goal. Even your coach knows what your problem is as he is constantly complaining about how bad his goaltending is. Maybe you guys should listen to your coach and get a goalie that can keep a 3 goal lead in the third period. I mean come on! You had a 4-1 lead over Buffalo a few nights ago and ended up losing 7-4 with 15 minutes left in the game! If I could describe your season in one game, that would be the one. Even though having guys like Vinny put asses in the seats, it's goaltenders that can steal/lose you games, remember that next time you lock up half your team's salary in three forwards!

Coming later today..........

The Atlanta Thrashers!!

[Kp-Wings 3]

Was Mike Smith or Karri Ramo in net for Tampa when they blew the 4-1 lead to Buffalo?

Edited March 23, 2008 by Kp-Wings

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Ramo. Since I was in Florida, I just happened to tune in at the start of the third to get some hockey fix. It was astonishing.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

The Atlanta Thrashers:

OK I am a little surprised at this one. I honestly thought that you guys may have a chance at winning the division again, looking back at the pre-season predictions from some of the media, it would appear that they thought the same thing. Kovalchuk is absolutely amazing and when you combine him with Hossa you possibly have 2 of the top 10 offensive threats in the game..... after that...... well there's not much up front at all. Lehtonen should blossom into one of the best goalies in the league IMO, it would be a huge mistake to let that guy go. One thing that has been common with the first three teams to be eliminated is that they are also the three teams with the highest GAA. Although I think Atlanta's problem stems more from their lack of defence rather than their goaltending.

[arnoldbuck 0]

I wish Atlanta would do better. Kovalchuk is awesome to watch. And even though they got swept by that Rangers last year, Kovy was still wicked.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

I wish Atlanta would do better. Kovalchuk is awesome to watch. And even though they got swept by that Rangers last year, Kovy was still wicked.

Until sean avery poked him and Kovalchuk was more intrested in killing him than scoring goals.

[Doggy 130]

When this game is over the Isles will be eliminated from contention.

Edit: Goodnight Islanders... 4-1 loss to Philly.

Edited March 24, 2008 by Doggy

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I wish Atlanta would do better. Kovalchuk is awesome to watch. And even though they got swept by that Rangers last year, Kovy was still wicked.

Agreed.

Atlanta's one of my favourite teams simply because I love watching Kovalchuk and I still love Kozlov Add in some decent young kids and you'd have a good team were it not for the inept management.