Louisville 112 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 Medicore Defense??? LMAO SEABROOK KEITH!!!! BARKER HJALMARSSON!!!!! CAMPBELL!!!! WOW. I'll give the first two for sure. Barker and Hjalmarsson I like, but I'd rather have our Stuart - Kronwall pairing. But yes, Campbell is mediocre and his 7 million+ is fuuuuuuuuuuny. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Bylsma 27 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 I'll predict the wings to finish with anywhere from 35-45 points and start a sting of 8-10 years out of the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 I'll predict the wings to finish with anywhere from 35-45 points and start a sting of 8-10 years out of the playoffs. You know it's been a while seen I've seen a Pens fan on here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-TownWing 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 Me thinks the chances of us finishing 1st in our division will be a challenge to say the least...Finishing 2nd in the Central is a very likely scenario which would most likely give us the 4th, or 5th seed in the conference. Agree...we won the division by 8 points this past year and were a better team on paper then (as opposed to now), while the Hawks are a better team on paper now (as opposed to then). I went with 4th seed, but with triple-digit points, and Mule, Z, Dats scoring 30. Want to be fair and give the kid a chance, but I'm not tremendously confident in Howard if Ozzie leaves his game in the playoffs again. Where would we have been without Conks last year? The Sweden thing worries me too--pretty much every team who's started overseas to this point has admitted to a hangover afterward, and it's probably supported by the records. All of that said, that tag "best 8 seed in the history of the universe" thing we threw on the Ducks comes to mind. We'll be a tough out in the playoffs just like they were. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Bylsma 27 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 You know it's been a while seen I've seen a Pens fan on here. the wings have got to stop knocking themselves out in the regular season. I've looked at their record for the last 15 years and how they've piled the points up and then get eliminated in the 1st or 2nd rounds sometimes. Which is more important,having something left in the legs deep into the playoffs or playing at home ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HawksFan4Life 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 I'll give the first two for sure. Barker and Hjalmarsson I like, but I'd rather have our Stuart - Kronwall pairing. But yes, Campbell is mediocre and his 7 million+ is fuuuuuuuuuuny. Seeing as how Hjalmarsson has played only 34 career games, I can understand why. However, 2-3 years down the road, I'd like to see if you change your mind, cause he is promising. To be honest, you guys were the only team I feared of facing. I said back in December that if we could avoid facing you guys, we have a good shot of being Western Conference champs. I believe that if we played Anaheim, we would've won that series. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 the wings have got to stop knocking themselves out in the regular season. I've looked at their record for the last 15 years and how they've piled the points up and then get eliminated in the 1st or 2nd rounds sometimes. Which is more important,having something left in the legs deep into the playoffs or playing at home ? Some of those years are after they've won Stanley Cups. Some are simply the maturity process that allowed Yzerman/Fedorov or Datsyuk/Zetterberg with Lidstrom along the ride for both eras to get playoff experience. Also, as implied in the sentence before, some of those years were simply transition years into new eras. On an average team that might look like just missing the playoffs. I wouldn't call it knocking themselves out but just a gradual growth process. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 Seeing as how Hjalmarsson has played only 34 career games, I can understand why. However, 2-3 years down the road, I'd like to see if you change your mind, cause he is promising. To be honest, you guys were the only team I feared of facing. I said back in December that if we could avoid facing you guys, we have a good shot of being Western Conference champs. I believe that if we played Anaheim, we would've won that series. The usual fan on here might succumb to insults to this statement. Please explain that. My head tells me that Toews is a really good defensive player; Zetterberg is a great defensive player. Zetterberg had to really bust his ass and depending on whom you ask on here, some will say he lost the battle against Getzlaf/Pronger. Speaking of that horrible human being called Pronger, I hate to say it but I feel like he would've eaten Kane alive. So I really need to hear your reasons behind that statement. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 the wings have got to stop knocking themselves out in the regular season. I've looked at their record for the last 15 years and how they've piled the points up and then get eliminated in the 1st or 2nd rounds sometimes. Which is more important,having something left in the legs deep into the playoffs or playing at home ? ?? The Wings dont even come close to knocking themselves out in the regular season. In the last 4 years, they've played more playoff games then anyone. And home ice is the most important thing for real playoff team (Yeah, I'm looking at you San Jose, and obvious exceptions being the 1995 Devils, 2009 Penguins, etc etc) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flamezfan 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 (edited) Sadly my choice was not there, 90-100 points. I do think the Wings will have about 3 10+ goal scorers, but what place depends on quite a lot of other factors. The offense, which improved in 2008-9 from the previous year, up about 30 goals was good, but here I do beleive that the loss of Hossa will be a factor. The defense is the largest question mark. It allowed almost 70 more goals and I do not see where the Wings have improved in this area. This season could actually go either way though. If a few players don't show up, the Wings could be fighting for a playoff spot. If they over-acheive it could be 120 points and an easy walk into the playoffs. Overall, I see a fight by Detroit for the top spots (by that I mean 1-4 seeds). Edited July 8, 2009 by Flamezfan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Bylsma 27 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 I know this is a little off topic but I always pay attention to Sports Illustrated power rankings through the course of the season,why in the world would they rank the red wings at only no. 7 (pens ranked 2nd) after the regular season ? I couldn't believe that low of a ranking ! http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nh...ings/index.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WingsCaptain 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 I know this is a little off topic but I always pay attention to Sports Illustrated power rankings through the course of the season,why in the world would they rank the red wings at only no. 7 (pens ranked 2nd) after the regular season ? I couldn't believe that low of a ranking ! http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nh...ings/index.html Seriously? You pay attention to Sports Illustrated power rankings? You're kidding, right? SI's rankings are a joke. Always have been. They are quite possibly the worst source for hockey insight. By the way, reference your comment about the Wings in the past 15 years ... they've won 4 Cups in that span of time. Bad argument there, son. How many did the Pens win in the past 15 seasons? Oh yeah ... one. l2talkhockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Bylsma 27 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 Seriously? You pay attention to Sports Illustrated power rankings? You're kidding, right? SI's rankings are a joke. Always have been. They are quite possibly the worst source for hockey insight. By the way, reference your comment about the Wings in the past 15 years ... they've won 4 Cups in that span of time. Bad argument there, son. How many did the Pens win in the past 15 seasons? Oh yeah ... one. l2talkhockey. Son ? I'am 13 years older then you..... Ok 4 cups,great for you ! but 11 of those other years of being near the top of the points each year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WingsCaptain 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 (edited) Son ? I'am 13 years older then you..... Ok 4 cups,great for you ! but 11 of those other years of being near the top of the points each year. I judge age by the intelligence of the post. So, congratulations to you being 49. It doesn't show. I just don't get your argument. Yes, 4 Cups and a Cup final is great for us! And those 11 other years of being near the top of the points is bad why? Oh, I get it ... you think being a crappy team at the bottom of the points pile, like Pittsburgh has been in recent years, is better? That way the Wings could get higher draft picks while losing fans left and right? No, I'd rather be in the hunt every year with a serious chance at winning the Cup than be a mediocre team like the Pens have been in the past. It's not realistic to think the Wings could have won the Cup every single year. No team is that good. But, ask any "expert" at the beginning of the season, over the past 15 years, who they think has a serious shot at winning the Cup and they'll pick the Wings 9 times out of 10. That, son, is a winner and a dynasty in today's NHL. ~ Z Edited July 9, 2009 by WingsCaptain Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Bylsma 27 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 I judge age by the intelligence of the post. So, congratulations to you being 49. It doesn't show. I just don't get your argument. Yes, 4 Cups and a Cup final is great for us! And those 11 other years of being near the top of the points is bad why? Oh, I get it ... you think being a crappy team at the bottom of the points pile, like Pittsburgh has been in recent years, is better? That way the Wings could get higher draft picks while losing fans left and right? No, I'd rather be in the hunt every year with a serious chance at winning the Cup than be a mediocre team like the Pens have been in the past. It's not realistic to think the Wings could have won the Cup every single year. No team is that good. But, ask any "expert" at the beginning of the season, over the past 15 years, who they think has a serious shot at winning the Cup and they'll pick the Wings 9 times out of 10. That, son, is a winner and a dynasty in today's NHL. ~ Z ok,sonny I'll plead guilty to not being the most knowledgeable hockey fan, I have many ,many other interests that are equal to hockey or more important. I'm just saying if I was a wings fan I would feel not too good about making the most things in the post season over the years and getting eliminated sometimes early in the playoffs after racking up all those impressive point totals during the regular season. 4 cups is great but it should have been more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 ok,sonny I'll plead guilty to not being the most knowledgeable hockey fan, I have many ,many other interests that are equal to hockey or more important. I'm just saying if I was a wings fan I would feel not too good about making the most things in the post season over the years and getting eliminated sometimes early in the playoffs after racking up all those impressive point totals during the regular season. 4 cups is great but it should have been more. Please. They don't hand out trophies (well, meaningful ones anyways) for the regular season. The playoffs, in format and in intensity level, are a whole different ballgame; having ten or twenty more points doesn't count for anything, nor should it. I assure you, there are about 29 other fanbases that would have loved for their team to have the Red Wings' measure of success over the last decade, because it's not common and it's not easy to do. I feel very fortunate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WingsCaptain 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 ok,sonny I'll plead guilty to not being the most knowledgeable hockey fan, I have many ,many other interests that are equal to hockey or more important. I'm just saying if I was a wings fan I would feel not too good about making the most things in the post season over the years and getting eliminated sometimes early in the playoffs after racking up all those impressive point totals during the regular season. 4 cups is great but it should have been more. Obviously. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 Please. They don't hand out trophies (well, meaningful ones anyways) for the regular season. The playoffs, in format and in intensity level, are a whole different ballgame; having ten or twenty more points doesn't count for anything, nor should it. I assure you, there are about 29 other fanbases that would have loved for their team to have the Red Wings' measure of success over the last decade, because it's not common and it's not easy to do. I feel very fortunate. He's just trying to make us feel bad for a supposed lack of success by the Red Wings. Why he's trying to do that I don't know. It's nothing new. When an average team initiates a youth movement or movement in general, they're lucky to make the playoffs. A movement by the Wings involves more or less 50 win seasons. A better way to describe this is perhaps a comparison to Nick Lidstrom. You hear Zetterberg say all the time, "His lowest level is really high," as in, even on his worst day, he's still better than most. The Wings organization has shown that for the past 15 years that their lowest level is still higher than most. The organization has achieved a type of success that's rare in sports in which a team has a legitimate shot to win a championship every single year. The only other organization in the NHL for comparison is New Jersey. Pittsburgh is one of the few that have the potential for that kind of success. We shall see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Bylsma 27 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 He's just trying to make us feel bad for a supposed lack of success by the Red Wings. Why he's trying to do that I don't know. It's nothing new. When an average team initiates a youth movement or movement in general, they're lucky to make the playoffs. A movement by the Wings involves more or less 50 win seasons. A better way to describe this is perhaps a comparison to Nick Lidstrom. You hear Zetterberg say all the time, "His lowest level is really high," as in, even on his worst day, he's still better than most. The Wings organization has shown that for the past 15 years that their lowest level is still higher than most. The organization has achieved a type of success that's rare in sports in which a team has a legitimate shot to win a championship every single year. The only other organization in the NHL for comparison is New Jersey. Pittsburgh is one of the few that have the potential for that kind of success. We shall see. just trying to point out the other side of the coin.I hear about how mighty the wings are here and they are mighty at times and times they don't meet expectations. Thanks for pointing out the potential of the pens,chances are they won't match the success of your red wings over the years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 Just trying to point out the other side of the coin. Hehe. Sure. Don't worry. You're not the first to "point out the other side of the coin" on these boards. It's just part of being a fan of the opponent. But if you're as old as you say you are and have been a longtime Pens fan then I definitely commend someone like you as opposed to the new breed of Crosby fans. I'm sure they do a good job of keeping the economy going around Mellon Arena but I would never take them seriously in a hockey discussion. I hear about how mighty the wings are here and they are mighty at times and times they don't meet expectations. You're going to make me reference Rocky Balboa. They're also human beings and human beings fail time and time again whether it's just getting in their own way or simply not being good enough. The difference is that the Wings have shown the ability to rebound from it as opposed to starting from scratch. I suppose that's what makes them, "mighty." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 The usual fan on here might succumb to insults to this statement. Please explain that. My head tells me that Toews is a really good defensive player; Zetterberg is a great defensive player. Zetterberg had to really bust his ass and depending on whom you ask on here, some will say he lost the battle against Getzlaf/Pronger. Speaking of that horrible human being called Pronger, I hate to say it but I feel like he would've eaten Kane alive. So I really need to hear your reasons behind that statement. In my mind, no team but Detroit could have beaten Anaheim. We are polar opposite teams, moreso than any other team combo in the league. Anaheim simply manhandled anyone who played them, including the Wings at many times. Chicago, all due respect, didn't have the depth or the experience to survive Anaheim, and I'm pretty sure Pittsburgh, considering they barely beat the Wings, would be able to handle Anaheim's style. In fact, I think the only thing that helped the Wings was the rivalry and the experience of playing them in the playoffs before so they knew how to adapt. Chicago would have gotten eaten alive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WingsCaptain 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 just trying to point out the other side of the coin.I hear about how mighty the wings are here and they are mighty at times and times they don't meet expectations. Thanks for pointing out the potential of the pens,chances are they won't match the success of your red wings over the years. I still don't get your point. What is the "other side of the coin" exactly? Yes, at times the Wings disappoint their fans who expect them to win the Cup each and every year!!! You'd have to be dense to not understand how high our expectations are here, every season for, oh, just the past 15 years. It's ridiculous, but we expect it and the Wings ownership, management, and players have delivered far and away better than any other team in the NHL over the same span of time. Again, can the Wings win the Cup every year? No. It's not realistic. If they could, imagine how many other franchises would fail because of players who would say, "oh well ... why play on this team? I should go to the Red Wings," or the fans who would stop going to watch the other teams because they don't win it all. Also don't get why you lurk here. Isn't there a Pens forum somewhere? Seriously, go enjoy your Cup win. It may be another 16 years before you see another one because you just never know when the next one will happen. Unless you're a Wings fan. Our next Cup is this year. We have the perennial Cup contenders and you, well you have a flash in the pan. ~ Z Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcom007 1,465 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 I'm thinking/hoping for a 4th or 5th seed. It's a good position to start in anyways in a lot of ways and I think it's pretty reasonable heading in to this year. 3 30 goal guys: Dats, Z and Mule. Upper end of 70-90 points. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-TownWing 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2009 ?? The Wings dont even come close to knocking themselves out in the regular season. In the last 4 years, they've played more playoff games then anyone. And home ice is the most important thing for real playoff team (Yeah, I'm looking at you San Jose, and obvious exceptions being the 1995 Devils, 2009 Penguins, etc etc) I did a little looking back at regular season vs. playoff finishes since 1995. It actually splits up pretty nicely into 3 eras. While there was a period in the middle where we were disappointing in the playoffs (2002 excepted), it's over now. Regular season is first, playoffs second. 1995: 1st/2md 1996: 1st/3rd-4th 1997: 5th/1st 1998: 3rd/1st 1999: 6th/5th-8th 2000: 2nd/5th-8th 2001: 2nd/9th-16th 2002: 1st/1st 2003: 3rd/9th-16th 2004: 1st/5th-8th 2006: 1st/9th-16th 2007: 2nd/3rd-4th 2008: 1st/1st 2009: 3rd/2nd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites