BlakKy 58 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 (edited) I first had this as a note on my facebook and encouraged my friends to comment. Got some interesting replies. In the spirit of Trevor's NHL rankings related note I have compiled one myself and am interested in some feedback as well.After a long offseason of making due with pension plan puppets, letsgowings.com and hfboards as my only source of hockey discussion (it is surprisingly lack in Toronto) I have been toying with quite a few thoughts for this season. Not only will I rank teams with as little bias as possible but I will make some BOLD predictions as well. Hopefully you guys will chime in with some of your own. To start, the rankings: * EAST * Washington - 114 (Ovi, Backstrom, Green all due for bounceback seasons. Added Vokoun. On paper they are the best) * Buffalo - 106 (Maybe a little BOLD here... Not the 2006 Sabres but this team is fast and has the defense corp. that most teams in the east wish they had) * Pittsburgh - 101 (No reason why Malkin can't take home an Art Ross. Sid plays well but I don't expect 60 pts at 40 games) * Boston - 101 (After an early hangover the team is righted down the stretch. A system like that makes wins happen out of nothing) * Rangers - 99 (Richards, Gaborik, Dubinsky? could be a tough line at times) * Toronto - 97 (Isn't the 7th or 8th seed a perennial choice for these guys? Well damn that to hell, this is a BOLD prediction. Phaneuf plays a season w/o injury, Kessel scores 40 and Komisarek plays in the A) * New Jersey - 96 (Provided the coach plays a style Kovalchuk can cope with and Parise hasn't lost a step) * Philadelphia - 95 (I don't think the team will deal well with the shakeup. Bryz is more fragile than most think. The Shanahan NHL will make it tough on goonery=P) * -------------------- * Islanders - Streit back and less injuries make for an exciting season * Tampa Bay - Suspect goaltending, (Roloson is 41?) and some stink on the blueline * Montreal - Too small, yep the same problem as always * West * * Vancouver - 115 (The regular season domination will seem less apparent but this team is deeep) * Los Angeles - 110 (Feel like this team has a great talent pool with a lot of players on the upswing. Quick is the real deal) * Detroit - 105 (A system that wins. The young guns improve with Helm drawing attention. As long as Dats, Lidstrom and Zetterberg are on the team it will win the division) * San Jose - 104 (Hard to say if SJ got better this offseason. Burns is enigmatic and despite Heatley's rep he probably didn't make the team worse) * Chicago - 99 (On the cusp of elite. A lot sits on Crawford's shoulders. Toews' intangibles will determine the playoff position for this team) * Anaheim - 96 (Getzlaf and Perry, a wicked duo. Ryan is always consistent and Selanne ages in reverse) * Nashville - 95 (Losing Franson in the offseason in what looks like a total fleecing by the Leafs looks odd to me. Lebda is good for -6 pts in the standings) * Colombus - 94 (Nash and Carter? Maybe. Wiz shores up the D nicely, although the price is steep) * ------------- * Edmonton - Omark dazzles w/ 60 pts (BOLD you say?), a potential Calder winner in Nugent-Hopkins * St. Louis - Looks too talented at times to miss the playoffs every year but this team just can't get it done * Minnesota - Not getting over the hump, but the competition in the West's basement stinks * Some fun yet BOLD predictions: * * Malkin wins the Art Ross after a year off. * Ovechkin takes back the Richard * Malkin nabs the Hart * Tyler Myers wins the Norris in a very tight selection, now that's BOLD * Datsyuk gets the Selke * Lidstrom wins the Lady Byng as a career achievement award of sorts * Shea Weber receives a 10+ game suspension * Matt Cooke is not suspended this year, a BOLD one I know * Datsyuk scores 100+ points for the first time in his career (a little spicy) * Kessel gets 40 goals (as I mentioned before) * Ottawa is last in the east (coincidentally my second most hated team) * Colorado is last in the west (coincidentally my most hated team) * The Winter Classic will be boring, the HBO 24/7 show leading up to it will be good (Tortorella, Pronger, Jagr, Avery...) * * ECF * Buffalo > Toronto (s*** is that ever BOLD on two levels) * WCF * Vancouver > Detroit (The Wings will be beat up after a series with the Ducks in the first round) * SCF * Buffalo > Vancouver (Miller for Conn Smythe. The Sedins are the new Hossa) * Hope you Enjoy. (I apologize for the wonky formatting. Cut and Paste from facebook and all) Edited September 28, 2011 by BlakKy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
number9 3,297 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 montreal will make the playoffs. max pac, price, and subban r only getting better. gomez and cammi will have better seasons than last as well. no way they dont make it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 montreal will make the playoffs. max pac, price, and subban r only getting better. gomez and cammi will have better seasons than last as well. no way they dont make it. Chara is planning on smashing Pacioretty's head into the goal post this season. So don't get your hopes up. 1 redwings4life reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Donaldjr2448 43 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 Ilike the predictions and yes, they are BOLD!! In the east I think Tampa is going to make it and possibly knock Washington out from the division! Rolli doesn't have to be great just good and I think he can get it done! Waaaaayy to much fire power in Tampa for them not to make it. I see both Toronto and Montreal making it as well, so we may see a team that has done well in the past not make it this year from the east! In the west I think Nashville gets left out and Calgary makes it! I'm not impressed with Nashville and I think the lack of signing roll players from last year is finally going to break them! Not usre about Columbus either, sure they have the talent, but goaltending is suspect! I personally see Minnesota making the show as well. Other than that, I agree with everything else. It will be nice to see Toronto back in the show! Here is my playoff pics: ECF: Tampa Bay > Pittsburgh WCF: Detroit > San Jose SCF: Detroit > Tampa Bay Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 (edited) Ilike the predictions and yes, they are BOLD!! In the east I think Tampa is going to make it and possibly knock Washington out from the division! Rolli doesn't have to be great just good and I think he can get it done! Waaaaayy to much fire power in Tampa for them not to make it. I see both Toronto and Montreal making it as well, so we may see a team that has done well in the past not make it this year from the east! In the west I think Nashville gets left out and Calgary makes it! I'm not impressed with Nashville and I think the lack of signing roll players from last year is finally going to break them! Not usre about Columbus either, sure they have the talent, but goaltending is suspect! I personally see Minnesota making the show as well. Other than that, I agree with everything else. It will be nice to see Toronto back in the show! Here is my playoff pics: ECF: Tampa Bay > Pittsburgh WCF: Detroit > San Jose SCF: Detroit > Tampa Bay Roloson is a good goalie. And Tampa does have some firepower in Stamkos, St. Louis, Lecavalier, Downie, Malone, Purcell, Clark, Hedman, Kubina. But Washington counters that with Vokoun, Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, Brouwer, Laich, Knuble, Green, Wideman, Carlson. I say Washington comes out ahead. But ultimately it will be the young kids like Hedman and Carlson, and team defense in general, which determines this matchup. Edited September 28, 2011 by eva unit zero Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IllinoisRedWingsFan 49 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 I like most of these minus Tampa Bay not getting in. I really think they will get in because they have enough weapons. Roloson just needs to be decent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
number9 3,297 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 Roloson is a good goalie. And Tampa does have some firepower in Stamkos, St. Louis, Lecavalier, Gagne, Malone, Purcell, Clark, Hedman, Kubina. But Washington counters that with Vokoun, Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, Brouwer, Laich, Knuble, Green, Wideman, Carlson. I say Washington comes out ahead. But ultimately it will be the young kids like Hedman and Carlson, and team defense in general, which determines this matchup. i agree. roloson is an underrated vet. gagnes gone now, but its not like he did much in tampa anyway. still a TON of firepower thou. washington will come out ahead thou as long as vokoun lives up to his potential and ovi and backstrom bounce back (even if they all play like s*** theyll still be good). and i think carlson will turn out to be better than hedman. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DatsyukianDekes 2,428 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 St Louis makes the playoffs before Columbus does. West: Vancouver - 112 pts San Jose - 107 pts Detroit - 105 pts LA - 101 pts Chicago - 100 pts St Louis - 98 pts Nashville - 97 pts Anaheim - 96 pts East: Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Crosby Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 i agree. roloson is an underrated vet. gagnes gone now, but its not like he did much in tampa anyway. still a TON of firepower thou. washington will come out ahead thou as long as vokoun lives up to his potential and ovi and backstrom bounce back (even if they all play like s*** theyll still be good). and i think carlson will turn out to be better than hedman. Yeah, I was thinking about who each team had and for some reason Gagne popped into my head instead of Downie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakKy 58 Report post Posted September 28, 2011 I'm happy everyone predicts Tampa to be in the mix. Breaks my heart a little to leave them on the outside. I'm glad everyone likes the predictions for the most part. I actually thought about them a little. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted September 29, 2011 Bold Prediction: Detroit pummels Nashville into the ground, knocking them outta playoffs. Wings steal Weber for the playoffs and re-signs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakKy 58 Report post Posted September 29, 2011 Bold Prediction: Detroit pummels Nashville into the ground, knocking them outta playoffs. Wings steal Weber for the playoffs and re-signs. I almost predicted that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
