sureWhyNot 19 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Here is a new article per The Hockey News website. From The Point: Top 10 Stanley Cup contenders With four-fifths of the regular season schedule in the rearview mirror (Hey! I think I see the Thrashers back there, too!) it’s time to take a serious look at the top Stanley Cup contenders. San Jose, Detroit and Calgary are the class of the West, while Boston, New Jersey and Washington are the lead pack in a wide-open East. Right here, right now, the smart money is on a Boston-San Jose final. Here’s why: 1. SAN JOSE SHARKS They’ve been one of the best teams in the NHL for several years and they’re all too familiar with the pain of losing in the post-season. The blueline has been studded with experience and there’s more grit than ever before among the forwards (and still a lot of talent, too). And this is it for old guys like Claude Lemieux, Rob Blake and Jeremy Roenick. This team is motivated, skilled, experienced and deep. Is it now or never? No. But it’ll sure feel like it if the Sharks fall short once again. 2. DETROIT RED WINGS Despite a recent propensity for getting pummeled – the Wings lost 8-0 to Nashville in late February and 8-2 to Columbus in early March – and serious goaltending issues, they’re still the defending champions. The Wings are basically the same team that captured the Stanley Cup last season – plus Marian Hossa (and that’s a pretty big plus). Detroit hit some mid-season bumps last year, especially when the defense corps was racked by injury and came through it in one piece. This is a veteran championship team, one that knows how to win and won’t beat itself. The Wings might be wobbling right now, but they’ll be ready for the playoffs. 3. BOSTON BRUINS Speaking of wobbling, the Bruins are human after all. After dominating the Eastern Conference from the start of the season through to the All-Star Game in late January, Boston struggled through February and early March. But they’ve earned their place atop the East and with Zdeno Chara on the blueline and a wealth of young forwards up front, the B’s have as good a shot at getting to the final as any team in the league. 4. CALGARY FLAMES Give Calgary credit for getting Olli Jokinen at the deadline and jump-starting a team that was already a contender. There may be some questions about the Flames’ scoring depth up front and defensive-zone coverage, but they have the top-end talent to play with anyone. And you know Mike Keenan is going to squeeze every last drop of effort out of these guys; if the Flames don’t reach at least the conference final, there’ll be crying in Calgary. 5. NEW JERSEY DEVILS Usually, there’d be trepidation in putting a team this high after it lost to the lowly Islanders 7-3 on the weekend. But the Devils survived virtually all season without Martin Brodeur; they can survive a stinker of a game against the league’s last-place team. Really, there should be more trepidation over the fact the Devils have a no-name blueline and a bunch of forwards from their 1994-95 team. But, surprisingly, there isn’t. Because all this team does is win. 6. WASHINGTON CAPITALS The Caps snuck into the playoffs last season; this year, they’re trying to get in as a legitimate top seed. Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green have blossomed under coach Bruce Boudreau’s free-flowing system. Like several supposed contenders, though, Washington is struggling right now. The Capitals might still be a bit green to make a Cup run, but they should win a round or two. 7. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS How times have changed. The Hawks haven’t been in the playoffs since 2002 and haven’t been a legitimate contender since the early 1990s. But now they’re among the second tier of playoff hopefuls in the West; behind the Sharks, Wings and Flames, but not by much. If Nikolai Khabibulin gets hot – and he hasn’t played this well since leading Tampa Bay to the Cup in 2004 – the Hawks have all the potential to go deep. 8. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS An exciting group of forwards in front of an up-and-down defense and inconsistent goaltending. That might be a recipe for regular season success, but it’s rarely a winning formula in the playoffs. Eventually, you see, you run into a hot goalie – and if you don’t have one yourself, well…see you in October. That’s what happened when Martin Biron and the Flyers dispatched Montreal in the second round last year – and again when Marc-Andre Fleury and the Penguins waved farewell to Biron and the Flyers in Round 3. If Biron – or Antero Niittymaki – gets on a roll and the blueline holds up, the Flyers have a good shot at capturing the East. Failing that, they’d be satisfied with knocking off state-rival Pittsburgh. 9. VANCOUVER CANUCKS The Canucks, at best, are among the middle tier of Stanley Cup hopefuls, but they can win any game, any series, with Roberto Luongo in net. There appears to be enough scoring and the defense corps has talent and toughness if not an over-abundance of depth. A nice pick as an upset team. 10. MONTREAL CANADIENS A centennial season that started with so much promise and hope has steadily deteriorated as the campaign unfolded. Just ask Guy Carbonneau. If he was naming names, he’d surely mention Alex Kovalev and Carey Price in the first breath and Tomas Plekanec in the second. Injuries have been a constant theme, too, but GM-turned-coach Bob Gainey will be more vested in getting all 20 Habs on the same page so they can at least make a respectable run in their 100th NHL season. Wow, the West sure looks (as usual) like the odds on favorite this year. Barring a catastrophic turn events (aka goal tending & defense not showing up for the playoffs) how epic would a Wings/Sharks Western Conference Final be? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Habs a top10 SC contender Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sureWhyNot 19 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Habs a top10 SC contender Ha ha I know, my exact thoughts when I read that. Gotta sum it up as nothing more then "wishful thinking" I suppose. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 I'd bump Montreal for Pittsburgh. They're looking pretty good after the coaching change and could probably make a decent playoff run if they don't fall apart again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,232 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 The Sharks have been the best team in the NHL for several years? Could've fooled me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
I Red Wings I 40 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 The Sharks have been the best team in the NHL for several years? Could've fooled me. It says, "one" of the best teams Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lovin Jiri Fischer 147 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 Habs a top10 SC contender Dude! My brother thinks it's going to be a Habs-Wings final this year. He's already in the process of planning a road trip to Montreal this summer for us saying that we should go for the finals. I keep telling him that the Habs are not going to the finals and he insists that they are. He's crazy. (But on the other hand, he just turned 18 and he can legally drink in Montreal so I think that has something to do with him wanting us to go there for the summer, and that by telling me that the Habs will make the finals, he will convince me to want to go.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HOCKEY MATTERS 167 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 Here is a new article per The Hockey News website. From The Point: Top 10 Stanley Cup contenders Wow, the West sure looks (as usual) like the odds on favorite this year. Barring a catastrophic turn events (aka goal tending & defense not showing up for the playoffs) how epic would a Wings/Sharks Western Conference Final be? Even though it's really stupid, that commercial just cracks me up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,232 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 It says, "one" of the best teams Good call. You have to understand, I'm going to school in Northern Cali. So I'm used to having the Sharks shoved down my throat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 A Wings Canadians final would just warm my heart Sweeeeppppp! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vincanni 1 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 That is easily the most obnoxiously annoying commercial I have ever heard and yet I can't help but describe it as brilliant, truly this generation's greatest dichotomy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shaman 713 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 I'd bump Montreal for Pittsburgh. They're looking pretty good after the coaching change and could probably make a decent playoff run if they don't fall apart again. I would too except I can tell you exactly how it would sound if they did 10. Pittsburgh Penguins Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Malkin Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby lost Hossa Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby no more whiny frenchmen Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby goaltending and defense Crosby Crosby Crosby. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yzersyukstromberg 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 Who cares what THN thinks...just kidding. My pick for this year's Stanley Cup Final: Detroit Red Wings vs. New Jersey Devils.....a rematch of the 1995 Cup Final. This time, the Wings will get their revenge...14 years later. Wings in 5. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sureWhyNot 19 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 A Wings Canadians final would just warm my heart Sweeeeppppp! Ya I hear you about the Wings/Habs. I also wouldn't mind a Wings/Bruins final -- Maybe it's because we don't see them often nowadays with the new scheduling. But even that wouldn't touch a original 6 match up in the finals between Detroit and Montreal. Good god though, can you imagine the "riot" references that would be tossed around other hockey forums if it was us and Montreal given the history of both cities and all? It would get obnoxious fast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Captain_Yzerman19 1 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 I could careless what anyone says, but just to weigh-in... I think that until the Sharks prove they can play ball in the playoffs, the Wings should be #1 Favourite. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ilmickeyli 40 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 i'm here for the fish Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lovin Jiri Fischer 147 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 But even that wouldn't touch a original 6 match up in the finals between Detroit and Montreal. What do you think Wings/Boston would be? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vladifan 680 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 What do you think Wings/Boston would be? I like that matchup. Meanwhile, I know it's been said here before by some and I agree. I don't think the Wings would have too much problem against most of the East teams. They're gonna have more than enough to contend with teams in their own conference - Columbus, San Jose, Chicago, Calgary, and even Minnesota and Colorado. The scary thing is it doesn't seem to matter where some of those teams are in the standings. They're finding ways to beat us. My other 'prediction' is that unless the D picks up their game, McCrimmon might be gone after this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DMAC 25 18 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 "This team is motivated, skilled, experienced and deep. Is it now or never? No. But it’ll sure feel like it if the Sharks fall short once again" look at it, Once Again. they have choked before under pressure, theres a good chance it could happen again when they see the wings in the conference finals. haha maybe we'll see another goalie trip during introductions Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 "This team is motivated, skilled, experienced and deep. Is it now or never? No. But it’ll sure feel like it if the Sharks fall short once again" look at it, Once Again. they have choked before under pressure, theres a good chance it could happen again when they see the wings in the conference finals. haha maybe we'll see another goalie trip during introductions I see similarities in the Sharks situation this year and what the Wings had last year. Everyone saying they don't have what it takes in the playoffs, that they will just "choke" again etc.. I think the Sharks actually are the front-runner this year. Right now they're facing some of that adversity that is so important to have experienced before the playoffs, which will probably make them stronger than what they would have been if they had just continued to cruise through the regular season without ever losing more than 2 in a row. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Statiklullaby87 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 So is it just me or does the dude with the drill look like hossa with a beard haha...(12 sec.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjlegend 155 Report post Posted March 11, 2009 Who cares what THN thinks...just kidding. My pick for this year's Stanley Cup Final: Detroit Red Wings vs. New Jersey Devils.....a rematch of the 1995 Cup Final. This time, the Wings will get their revenge...14 years later. Wings in 5. Wings in four. Kronwall steams over Parise a la Stevens on Kozlov. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
