Which Team Has a Better Chance of Making it Back to the Finals?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

It's been almost 25 years since a team went to the Finals three years in a row, and obviously this year both the Wings and Pens have a chance of accomplishing that difficult feat. So I was wondering which team you guys think has a better chance of doing it?

I think the Pens have a tougher road in a tougher conference, with Boston, Philly, Carolina, Washington and New Jersey all being possible contenders. In the West, I think Chicago is by far the biggest challenge to the Wings. I think the Pens have a more complete team, but I think the Wings are more likely to make it again with less competition.

Also, I couldn't help get pissed again about last year's Finals while typing this thread, because it'd be one hell of a thing if we were going after a 3-peat next season. Ah, what could have been.

Edited August 22, 2009 by GMRwings1983

[thegerkin 189]

Both teams have elite talent and playoff experience. I believe that Detroit will have a better chance to return to the Finals because the Pens have big targets on their backs and their regular season won't be nearly as easy this season as last.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Both teams have elite talent and playoff experience. I believe that Detroit will have a better chance to return to the Finals because the Pens have big targets on their backs and their regular season won't be nearly as easy this season as last.

I don't think that ever matters with the Wings, because they always have a target on their backs being the most popular and hated team in the league now for well over a decade. The Wings will still have huge targets on their backs.

Also, I think the Pens are a team that's always going to have targets on their backs with Crosby and Malkin on their team, whether they are the champions at that time or not. It'll probably be a little different for them next year, but they were already the NHL's media darlings to begin with, so I don't know how much extra pressure they'll face.

[Broken 16 381]

It's been almost 25 years since a team went to the Finals three years in a row, and obviously this year both the Wings and Pens have a chance of accomplishing that difficult feat. So I was wondering which team you guys think has a better chance of doing it?

I think the Pens have a tougher road in a tougher conference, with Boston, Philly, Carolina, Washington and New Jersey all being possible contenders. In the West, I think Chicago is by far the biggest challenge to the Wings. I think the Pens have a more complete team, but I think the Wings are more likely to make it again with less competition.

Also, I couldn't help get pissed again about last year's Finals while typing this thread, because it'd be one hell of a thing if we were going after a 3-peat next season. Ah, what could have been.

I worry more about Calgary than I do Chicago. Chicago is the sexy choice right now to come out of the West... the media says so.

Pens are screwed. Assuming they even make it back into the playoffs, the East is gonna be a meat grinder in the post season. If Malkin or Crosby have a single injury that keeps them out for any extended period, the Pens are done. I don't think that Blysma (whatever) is quite ready to navigate a tired Pens team through what will surely be their most difficult season.

Wings will be back before the Pens are.

Edited August 22, 2009 by Broken 16

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I worry more about Calgary than I do Chicago. Chicago is the sexy choice right now to come out of the West... the media says so.

Pens are screwed. Assuming they even make it back into the playoffs, the East is gonna be a meat grinder in the post season. If Malkin or Crosby have a single injury that keeps them out for any extended period, the Pens are done. I don't think that Blysma (whatever) is quite ready to navigate a tired Pens team through what will surely be their most difficult season.

Calgary has been eliminated in the first round 4 years in a row. They're all grit and no skill. Having a bunch of slow defensemen who can't skate doesn't help them either.

Also, Kiprusoff has had some inconsistency in prior playoff appearances. They're not going anywhere again this year with their overrated roster.

[Broken 16 381]

Calgary has been eliminated in the first round 4 years in a row. They're all grit and no skill. Having a bunch of slow defensemen who can't skate doesn't help them either.

Also, Kiprusoff has had some inconsistency in prior playoff appearances. They're not going anywhere again this year with their overrated roster.

I didn't say they were going anywhere, I said that they scare me much more than Chicago does. I'm not convinced that Bouwmeester counts as one of those slow defensemen that can't skate. I feel like the Flames would be a bigger hurdle for the Wings than Chicago.

Edited August 22, 2009 by Broken 16

[Rice 42]

I think Calgary, San Jose, and Chicago are the biggest threats to the Wings in the west. One of these years San Jose is going to get over the hump. People called the Wings and Yzerman chokers for years, too.

[Broken 16 381]

I think Calgary, San Jose, and Chicago are the biggest threats to the Wings in the west. One of these years San Jose is going to get over the hump. People called the Wings and Yzerman chokers for years, too.

I don't know if a direct comparison between the Wings and San Jose is really warranted. The Wings have been there and back a hundred times. In that same time frame, San Jose has done NOTHING.

I agree that San Jose is definately due though. Seems like the law of averages will get them to the SCF at some point. Hopefully not any time too soon though.

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

The Wings have a really good chance at making it back for these reasons:

Factor in the hunger. After we lost the way we did in 2007 they got down to business for the 08 season and playoffs. The 09 playoffs was another heartbreaker so I expect them to get hungry again.

Also the chance of having injuries as bad as we did in the 09 playoffs is soooo small. If we got that far on a plague of injuries, we can go much farther next year.

Competition in the West. I don't see any western teams really giving the Wings a hard time in the playoffs, even though this is before the trade deadline. San Jose is a great team but they are not as good this year as they were last year. Last year was the year for them to win it all. They are a mess right now. The Ducks will be difficult but they lost Pronger who was always a big problem for the Wings. Calgary has some great players but they lack skill overall. They are mostly a bunch of tough slow guys. Chicago will be the biggest challenge. But let's remember that they lost Khabibulin and Huet is inconsistent. Hossa is out for the first part of the season so that will put them behind in the race to win the conference. They will be so tired from playing catch up all year. Those teams are what I consider to be the "great" teams of the West. The other teams that I didn't mention aren't even worth discussing at this point.

The only thing I'm worried about is goaltending since Howard hasn't really proven that he can be solid and reliable. But whether he sucks or does a great job doesn't matter in the playoffs since we (hopefully) will have no need to use him.

[beepbeep 3]

The flightless birds are doomed to mediocracy this season because they will spend all summer reading their press clippings... Like Osgood did last summer...................

[Chunkylover 26]

I think the Pens have a tougher road in a tougher conference, with Boston, Philly, Carolina, Washington and New Jersey all being possible contenders. In the West, I think Chicago is by far the biggest challenge to the Wings. I think the Pens have a more complete team, but I think the Wings are more likely to make it again with less competition.

ould have been.

Are we really to the point where now the East is the tougher conference? I mean Philly has always been Anaheim east. But yes, the more competitive Eastern Conference teams did get better.

Unfortunately for the Flyers, Bylsma is a better coach than Stevens (ask Flyers fans), Pittsburgh plays better defense than Washington, has better goaltending than Montreal and Philly, they have the best offense in their division (edit: in the conference only Washington can match their high-caliber depth) and aren't real far behind anyone, if they indeed are inferior in any category.

Carolina will have to overcome their perennial injury and mental problems before they are even considered a lock for the playoffs. Boston is the only true competition for Pittsburgh in the East.

San Jose and Calgary have problems to deal with before the regular season even starts and then again once it ends but there's no reason to disqualify their competitiveness: they're good teams. Chicago hung in real well last season without Hossa and I think they'll challenge for the division again. St. Louis will be better although they lack experience and have questionable goaltending. Vancouver will be tough because of Luongo, but probably won't make it past the second round.

If the Wings play with desire and can avoid injuries they'll make it back to the Final. I just don't see them playing anyone but Pittsburgh.

Edited August 22, 2009 by Chunkylover

[Booster313 138]

I think Osgood is the X-factor, if you can even call him that. If we get the same Ozzie this year as we did the last two post seasons, this team has the rest of the pieces to win a cup.

[chrisdetroit 189]

IMO the Pens are not the best team in their conference. Boston is a much deeper team and I don't think that it is close.

The Best teams in the West are Detroit and San Jose with Chicago a distant 3rd. Unless San Jose suddenly learns how to play playoff Hockey, I think we are looking at an original 6 match-up with Detroit and Boston.

I don't see Chicago as a big challenge especially with Huet in goal, a loss of their #1 scorer in Havlat and Hossa being out for 1/3 of the season. Plus we all know how Hossa performs in the playoff unless he's on Wing with Crosby....

[dat's sick 1,002]

The Pens had almost no injuries during this year's playoffs. Will that happen two years in a row? Doubtful.

Will the Wings be as injured as they were this year two years in a row? Also doubtful.

And the Stanley Cup hangover IS real. The Wings started focusing on the upcoming season right after the Game 7 loss. The Pens are still partying with the cup. They're young and they don't have leaders like Lidstrom or Yzerman, the kind of guys that make everyone come down off that high and put in the work required to keep winning. The Wings were up and down during the regular season, but experience made them able to get it together in the playoffs. I doubt the Pens would be able to do that.

[Guest lnvincible]

I think the pens have a better chance only IF there "team", Crosby and Malkin dont get injuried. I think most people are overlooking Detroit this year, they could go back. If Bertuzzi starts playing like he used to all i got to say is ohh noo~! I can't stand the Pen's but I'd have to lean over to them, but like i like to say. Time will tell.

[Dimaline312000 51]

I would have to go with the Wings. The have more experience and I think they can handle the pressure of something like that better than the Pens could. The East is getting stronger and the Pens won't be able to handle some teams like they did this past season. There are so many great teams in the league and so many just in the East. I look for Tampa to do well this season as well as the obvious teams like Boston, Washington, New Jersey, Philly, and a few other teams that are going to be hungry this season to take a bite out of the Champs.

Wings, although have lost a lot of good talented/skilled players have done a pretty good job at replacing them. Not saying any of those guys that we've signed are that great but 2 out of the three are former Wings and know the system and can hopefully jump back into the system and compete in it well. Wing just have a better stronger core of players that know how to win and can get back deep into the playoffs.

[titanium2 867]

I seriously hope that the Pens best players get speared in their testicles. Philly, Toronto, get on that! Don't care if that makes others think I'm a bad person.

[55fan 5,133]

I seriously hope that the Pens best players who have testicles get speared in them. Philly, Toronto, get on that! Don't care if that makes others think I'm a bad person.

Fixed it for ya.

[Cern 0]

Calgary has been eliminated in the first round 4 years in a row. They're all grit and no skill. Having a bunch of slow defensemen who can't skate doesn't help them either.

Also, Kiprusoff has had some inconsistency in prior playoff appearances. They're not going anywhere again this year with their overrated roster.

GMR complaining about grit?!

*head asplode*

[titanium2 867]

Fixed it for ya.

Thanks.

[FunkedUp 29]

The Penguins are in for a rude awakening this season. As some mentioned before they most certainly have a target on their back. In addition to some of their division rivals getting stronger, the eastern conference in general has gotten stronger.

Does anyone think that those NHL commercials with Crosby in it get on other players nerves? Cause I have a feeling that we will be reminded all season who won the cup...

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

GMR complaining about grit?!

*head asplode*

I've always said that a balance of grit and skill is the most ideal.

Calgary has had no balance in the past, which was evident in their defensive core more than anywhere else. Also, for many years every line for them was a checking line, other than the 1st line, which was the only line that could score.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I just realized that I omitted San Jose in my OP.

I think the best thing for them is to finish like 4th or 5th in the West, so that they'll be under the radar with low expectations, kind of like the Wings in '97. Then they'll have less pressure and may surprise everybody.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I've always said that a balance of grit and skill is the most ideal.

Calgary has had no balance in the past, which was evident in their defensive core more than anywhere else. Also, for many years every line for them was a checking line, other than the 1st line, which was the only line that could score.

agreed..the teams that have success in this league are the ones with the perfect balance of skill and grit

[gcom007 1,465]

You know, I think it's about even for both because I think they both have all the tools to make it, though statistically I'd say it might be easier for the Pens. That's not to say the Pens are a better team so much as I don't think they're going to have to overcome as many teams capable of going the distance in the East but we'll see. I still think that if Washington can pull off a couple of moves they have what it takes to beat the Pens. They lost in overtime of game 7 last year in the 2nd round to the Pens who eventually won the Cup. They would've beaten Carolina and gone to the Finals and probably lost to us.

But anyways, I think the Caps are a better team than people give them credit for. People around here want to write off the Blackhawks because they didn't put up much of a fight against us but go on to say the same about the Washington Capitals who took the eventual Stanley Cup champion to overtime in game 7 before the series was decided. Sure, they lost some guys, but so did the Pens. I don't think we can say that any team at this point is a lock for the finals or even the conference finals, but as I said before in an original thread, I would not be shocked to see a Blackhawks vs. Caps Stanley Cup Final.

(I'm about to get long-winded because I'm really fascinated and super-excited for the Western Conference battle this season more than any before it!!!)

As for the West and the Wings, the reason I say the Pens have a better chance is that I think there are going to be 8 teams in the West that go into the playoffs strong. I think the point difference between 1st and 8th place in the West will be 10 or less. 90-100 points, 95-105? Who knows, but I don't think 1 or 2 teams will run away with the West like the Wings and Sharks last year. Detroit, Chicago, Calgary, San Jose and St. Louis will most likely be top 5. San Jose still will benefit from a weaker division and thus I think they'll probably take 1st in the conference but with a more competitive conference in general, they won't put up as many points as last year. Calgary will be in somewhat of a similar boat and take the 2nd seed.

But in the Central you've got Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis who will see a lot of each other and those games will be battles. Plus you've got Columbus and Nashville who aren't elite teams but Columbus was a playoff team with 92 points last year and Nashville had 88 points, 3 points out of tying Anaheim in points for the 8th seed. So really, there's 3 elite teams and two teams that are plenty capable of winning games. Columbus and Nashville may end up having better overall teams than the 7 and 8 seeded teams at the end of the season but they probably will be edged out because of how strong the Central is. Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis will probably be 5, 4, 3 in some order and look worse points wise than they are simply because the Central's going to be tough.

That's where it'll be rough...I think 1st and 2nd seeds are a lock to San Jose and Calgary so whoever takes 1st in our division is going to have a huge advantage over whoever hits 4 and 5, and again, I think 3, 4 and 5 go to Wings, Blues and Hawks in some order. If Anaheim keeps their goaltending going they'll be a not too distant and potentially 6th elite team. Then you've got the Canucks, Blue Jackets, Oilers, Stars, Wild, Predators and even the Kings maybe who all have a shot at having descent years. Canucks and Oilers should round out the top 8 but who knows.

There are just a lot of great teams in the West. Five teams will be really great and they'll beat the hell out of each other, 2-3 other teams won't be far behind them though and will win their fair share of games and then you've got 4-5 other teams that probably won't make the playoffs but they'll give you a run for your money and definitely take some games from the big teams. So basically, the West is going to be a battle and the 8 teams that go into the playoffs won't be far apart. If Detroit ends up with a 4th seed which is entirely possible, it'll be a tough series even if they win which will make it a bit more likely for them to struggle later on. Even if they get 3rd, there's a good chance that could be Anaheim which won't be easy if Hiller doesn't lose a step.

So really, the big struggle in the West isn't going to be about who the best team is. As I've said, it's a fairly evenly matched conference in many ways but I think there's a very strong potential for the best teams to still not win. Hell, maybe this will be San Jose's year solely because they hold on to that 1st seed and get the easiest 1st round matchup while the other elite teams beat the crap out of each other. Maybe St. Louis will surprisingly smoke the Hawks and Wings this year as they're going to be more confident, more steady from the start, solid goaltending from the starter and backup (Conks) and plus they'll have Kariya back for the full year barring another injury.

Basically, I'm super pumped. I could go on and on but it's time to head to the bar. It's going to be a GREAT year in the West. Just about every regular season game that's not against Phoenix or the Avs will be a big one. Lots of questions, but that'll just make it all the more exciting. It can't start soon enough!!!!!!!!