Outside Looking In

[Mike 0]

With all 16 playoff spots filled up, which of the 14 remaining teams was the biggest disappointment this season?

Western Conference

Nashville

Minnesota

Edmonton

Dallas

Phoenix

LA

Colorado

Eastern Conference

Florida

Buffalo

Ottawa

Toronto

Atlanta

Tampa Bay

NY Islanders

[miller76 463]

I would say Dallas. They just never got it going for very long. Turcos crappy play and the Avery situation didn't help, I am sure.

I dont really have any surprises in the east.

[ComradeWasabi 109]

Dallas for sure, although Tampa Bay had some high expectations with their roster overhaul that ended up a complete disaster.

[EuroTwin 240]

Dallas. To go from WCF to not even making the playoffs? Disappointing.

[TheOwl 77]

Dallas completely broke down, but they did have significant injuries along with the Wild. Edmonton has no excuse and should of made the post season. Florida too melted down. Of all the teams who missed out, Ottawa definitely will make the play-offs next season with LeClaire in net, the rest of the teams who missed won't be looking very strong either for next season.

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Yeah, I concur, Dallas

[daniel1 32]

Teams that were supposed to do really well and s*** the bed - Dallas in the West and Ottawa in the East.

Teams that were supposed to do ok and s*** the bed - Edmonton in the West and Tampa in the East.

Flipside.

Teams that were supposed to struggle but made the playoffs - St. Louis in the West and Carolina in the East.

Teams that were supposed to make the playoffs and really excelled - Vancouver in the West and Washington in the East.

Edited April 11, 2009 by daniel1

[KrazyGangsta 79]

I'd like to add Montreal is a disappointment overall this year from hockey to players life's etc.... Finishing from first last year to eight place and barely getting in the playoffs. On top of that the way their playing there lucky to be in the playoffs.

[mjlegend 155]

Somewhere near my desk I have an Edmonton Journal Sun pre-season Oilers supplement that declared them to be the class of the Northwest Division.

Whoops.

Dallas had a ton of injuries and Ottawa was going through their third (now fourth) coach in two years. The Oil just plain sucked for no good reason.

Edit: Terry Jones column subhead: There's too much talent on the Oilers to not get excited about the club's immediate prospects

"It's going to be a ton of fun in Edmonton" ... "...steady growth of Ales Hemsky finally has him on the verge of superstar status" ... "But there's too much young talent here for much of it not to develop, there's too large of a young nucleus here not to be able to fill in around it with free agent players who will want to be here if the Oilers prove to be a top team this year. Get giddy. The next few years are going to be a lot of fun in Edmonton."

Edited April 11, 2009 by mjlegend

[Guest Shoreline]

double post

Edited April 11, 2009 by Shoreline

[Guest Shoreline]

Stars, Avs, Habs. They were tabbed as contenders, and they were all well into the playoffs, and they bombed badly. I kinda feel bad for the Avs with all their injuries, but the other two.. just bad hockey more than anything else. The Habs were very lucky to even make the playoffs while the others are outside.

[shoe 165]

Florida -especially at the end of the season kept hearing how great they were coached and the Jay Bowmeister thing now that its all said and done and what will they have to show for it?

Colorado is another team that has turned into a real mess I know they had injuries but is anything going right over there?

[Real1 2]

I am going to have to say the Avs. I mean 15th place? Injuries really set this team back. This has to be the worst disappointment of the year.

[Red Crazy 201]

I would say Edmonton in the West, they have some great players but can't seem to take the next step. They should have got Smyth back at the deadline for some heart.

I would say Tampa Bay in the East, they stacked there team with some key players in the off season but had problems with coaching, and lack of chemistry.

[#18 the _Hoss_ 2]

Minnesota

'cause they won NW last year and they could be in this year if only Gaborik had that groin-solving operation earlier in the summer.

[Chunkylover 26]

In the west, the biggest surprises were Dallas and Colorado finishing outside this season. I thought Dallas would challenge for their division. Both teams were hampered by injuries though, and that proved too much to handle.

I'm disappointed for Nashville that they couldn't make it in because I love their hard-working style and want some success for them.

I though Phoenix and Edmonton might do better but am not surprised they did worse.

In the East I'm most surprised by Ottawa. Everyone else sucked as usual. I was rooting for Buffalo and Florida to overtake New York and Montreal, but it's not surprising to see them fail.

[VM1138 1,921]

Dallas, for sure. All the other teams are perennial bottom dwellers. To see Dallas, the year after going to the West Finals, fall apart was disappointing.

[HkyTwn 5]

Yeah, I'm going to say Dallas. When I checked up on them partway through the season and saw them near the bottom I was pretty shocked. I thought Buffalo should have done something as well, they have a pretty talented team.

that being said, congrats to the teams that were said to suck this season that made it...and most of all, congrats to the Central! The entire division was beastly this season and now the excuse of the Wings beating up on their conference no longer applies because they were all good!

[pjgj13 30]

Dallas. To go from WCF to not even making the playoffs? Disappointing.

Plus in the predictions before the season, the Stars were one of the favorites for the Cup Finals.

[evilmrt 636]

Phoenix and Minnesota. I thought both of those teams could finally get in the playoffs this year. Phoenix was in decent position before the All-Star Break, and had been for most of the first half. Backstrom was playing pretty well for Minne, and I thought he would roll right into the 1st round.

I am not surprised about Dallas like everyone else....did you guys forget the horrible start that the Stars had in the first part of the season? I think that revealed this year's team.

Biggest surprise is Columbus, and I'm glad that they finally made it.

[Mike 0]

I would say Edmonton in the West, they have some great players but can't seem to take the next step. They should have got Smyth back at the deadline for some heart.

I would say Tampa Bay in the East, they stacked there team with some key players in the off season but had problems with coaching, and lack of chemistry.

I think Edmonton's poor finish means MacTavish will be fired.

[edicius 3,269]

Dallas, without a doubt.

Hell, I find it shocking that two out of the three teams we defeated in the playoffs last year aren't in it this year. I mean, Dallas and Colorado were always safe bets for the postseason just like the Wings were. We're still there and they're just so far away now. Kind of bums me out actually, because it feels...weird to be missing both of them in the playoffs.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

The Colorado divealanche.

I loved looking at the standings the 2nd half of the season, seeing those idiots last in the Western Conference.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Nashville, Colorado and Dallas.

Funny how that works eh?

[Palooka Slapper 1]

I think Edmonton's poor finish means MacTavish will be fired.

Really, I thought he might need another year for acquisition of performance players (talent), because that guy can coach! If he is willing to become an assistant coach, his Defensive schemes are right rock solid!!

Whoo hoo, go Mike!! If in fact he becomes available.