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Jersey Wing

Hockey News: Detroit has the easiest schedule

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Last year we were hyped for a big comeback season. Then injuries beyond devastated us. Now we're a dark horse. I think that's good for this team. We are more than capable of proving were still contenders

The big thing, at least from where I stand, is the conference. I asked this recently and I'll ask it again: How many teams in the East would be a really bad matchup for the Wings in a best-of-seven? If you point to our "five year drought," look at how it's actually gone for us. Two very good Sharks teams. A decent Preds team. A very good Ducks team, which we beat. The eventual Cup champs in the Blackhawks, who we came so soul-crushingly close to defeating. And, finally, the Boston frickin' Bruins, who we had to face without Ericsson, mostly without Zetterberg, with a hurting Datsyuk, with a banged up Alfredsson, with a bunch of rookies, and with the ghost of Jimmy Howard.

(Penguins)

Sharks

Sharks

Predators

Blackhawks

Bruins

The East appears to be wide open. The Bruins, Penguins, Rangers, Canadiens, and Lightning are considered the teams to beat, and, of those teams, there's only one I'd pray the Wings avoid in the postseason. If our core can stay healthy and our youth is for real, I think the Cup Finals are in reach, as crazy as that sounds.

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The big thing, at least from where I stand, is the conference. I asked this recently and I'll ask it again: How many teams in the East would be a really bad matchup for the Wings in a best-of-seven? If you point to our "five year drought," look at how it's actually gone for us. Two very good Sharks teams. A decent Preds team. A very good Ducks team, which we beat. The eventual Cup champs in the Blackhawks, who we came so soul-crushingly close to defeating. And, finally, the Boston frickin' Bruins, who we had to face without Ericsson, mostly without Zetterberg, with a hurting Datsyuk, with a banged up Alfredsson, with a bunch of rookies, and with the ghost of Jimmy Howard.

(Penguins)

Sharks

Sharks

Predators

Blackhawks

Bruins

The East appears to be wide open. The Bruins, Penguins, Rangers, Canadiens, and Lightning are considered the teams to beat, and, of those teams, there's only one I'd pray the Wings avoid in the postseason. If our core can stay healthy and our youth is for real, I think the Cup Finals are in reach, as crazy as that sounds.

I honestly don't disagree. I think we can be very very dangerous up front. If we get rid of kindl and maybe Quincey goes down with injury we can they call up some rookies on the back end

Z- datsyuk- alfy

Mule- Weiss- nyquist

Tatar- sheahan- jurco

Abby- helm- glenny

Kronwall- smith

Dekeyser- sproul

Big E- oullette

I think with time the D can become very good and dynamic, combined that with two elite superstars in pav and z, a few good veteran complimentary scoters in mule, alfy, and Weiss along with a few emerging young stars in nyquist, Tatar, sheahan, jurco, to go along with a great shutdown energy line with helm, Abby, glenny.

This could actually be a dangerous team if we can stay healthy.

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Guest DeGraa55

The big thing, at least from where I stand, is the conference. I asked this recently and I'll ask it again: How many teams in the East would be a really bad matchup for the Wings in a best-of-seven? If you point to our "five year drought," look at how it's actually gone for us. Two very good Sharks teams. A decent Preds team. A very good Ducks team, which we beat. The eventual Cup champs in the Blackhawks, who we came so soul-crushingly close to defeating. And, finally, the Boston frickin' Bruins, who we had to face without Ericsson, mostly without Zetterberg, with a hurting Datsyuk, with a banged up Alfredsson, with a bunch of rookies, and with the ghost of Jimmy Howard.

(Penguins)

Sharks

Sharks

Predators

Blackhawks

Bruins

The East appears to be wide open. The Bruins, Penguins, Rangers, Canadiens, and Lightning are considered the teams to beat, and, of those teams, there's only one I'd pray the Wings avoid in the postseason. If our core can stay healthy and our youth is for real, I think the Cup Finals are in reach, as crazy as that sounds.

You're also forgetting let's see the caps should be much better now and def ahead of us.

Then we got teams like us, Carolina, islanders, Toronto, and Columbus to compete for the last two spots... Several of those teams are younger and also had injury issues. And if I had to bet money I'd say they have a better chance I avoiding them then we do just because of the age of players.

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The big thing, at least from where I stand, is the conference. I asked this recently and I'll ask it again: How many teams in the East would be a really bad matchup for the Wings in a best-of-seven? If you point to our "five year drought," look at how it's actually gone for us. Two very good Sharks teams. A decent Preds team. A very good Ducks team, which we beat. The eventual Cup champs in the Blackhawks, who we came so soul-crushingly close to defeating. And, finally, the Boston frickin' Bruins, who we had to face without Ericsson, mostly without Zetterberg, with a hurting Datsyuk, with a banged up Alfredsson, with a bunch of rookies, and with the ghost of Jimmy Howard.

(Penguins)

Sharks

Sharks

Predators

Blackhawks

Bruins

The East appears to be wide open. The Bruins, Penguins, Rangers, Canadiens, and Lightning are considered the teams to beat, and, of those teams, there's only one I'd pray the Wings avoid in the postseason. If our core can stay healthy and our youth is for real, I think the Cup Finals are in reach, as crazy as that sounds.

Agreed.

Also, I like how you have 2009 (Penguins) in parentheses, like it never happened. Because, you know.

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With the exception of Detroit, Tampa Bay and possibly Columbus, every other Eastern team who made the playoffs has taken a serious step back or are in cap hell.

Washington looks good on paper but they have always looked pretty good on paper. (aside from their goaltending)

Carolina did nothing to improve. Islander's defence is a joke and who knows with the Leafs.

Personally, I like our chances....

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You're also forgetting let's see the caps should be much better now and def ahead of us.

Then we got teams like us, Carolina, islanders, Toronto, and Columbus to compete for the last two spots... Several of those teams are younger and also had injury issues. And if I had to bet money I'd say they have a better chance I avoiding them then we do just because of the age of players.

You think the Caps are "def ahead of us" and the Isles will be competing for a wild card spot?

Also, I like how you have 2009 (Penguins) in parentheses, like it never happened. Because, you know.

Actually, I just meant that it falls outside the "five year drought." But I do question that it ever really happened. I mean, where's the proof?

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You think the Caps are "def ahead of us" and the Isles will be competing for a wild card spot?

Normally I'd agree about the overrated Capitals but it'll be interesting to see how they'll do this year with a stronger defense and the evil Dr. Trotz masterminding their whole operation.

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I think the Caps will be an improved team. Certainly they had our number this past season. I'm just not buying that they're "definitely better" than the Wings. They've got a solid blue line on paper (though, Orpik is hugely overrated and will be a buyout candidate soon enough), but they lack depth up front (e.g. no second-line center) and their goaltending is questionable.

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With the exception of Detroit, Tampa Bay and possibly Columbus, every other Eastern team who made the playoffs has taken a serious step back or are in cap hell.

Washington looks good on paper but they have always looked pretty good on paper. (aside from their goaltending)

Carolina did nothing to improve. Islander's defence is a joke and who knows with the Leafs.

Personally, I like our chances....

The difference now is the Caps hired a world class coach, someone who will teach and expect defensive responsibilities from everyone. Add to that that Niskanen signing and although overpaid Orpik is a hitting machine so their defense is extremely improved. Caps are going to make the playoffs.

The Wings barely made the playoffs last season so with the caps in I think the chances of the same roster making it this year are...very slim. Yeah Boston lost their best scorer but they are still a top team.

Isles did nothing to improve their defense they will be a better team but I don't think they are playoff bound. Toronto, Carolina, New York, Ottawa and Detroit have to hope that some of the 8 better teams will have a subpar season.

Edited by frankgrimes

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The difference now is the Caps hired a world class coach, someone who will teach and expect defensive responsibilities from everyone. Add to that that Niskanen signing and although overpaid Orpik is a hitting machine so their defense is extremely improved. Caps are going to make the playoffs. The Wings barely made the playoffs last season so with the caps in I think the chances of the same roster making it this year are...very slim. Yeah Boston lost their best scorer but they are still a top team. Isles did nothing to improve their defense they will be a better team but I don't think they are playoff bound. Toronto, Carolina, New York, Ottawa and Detroit have to hope that some of the 8 better teams will have a subpar season.

I'm sorry but I think it's completely ridiculous that you're grouping us in with those teams.

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I'm sorry but I think it's completely ridiculous that you're grouping us in with those teams.

No worries I see three groups:

1. Pens, Bruins, Tampa, Habs, Caps

2. Flyers, Blue Jackets, Rangers

3. Hurricanes, Wings, Leafs, Senators, Isles

And then obvious McDavid candidates Sabres and Panthers. Given the last few (barely playoff bound) seasons I think group fits which is sad but reality :(

Edited by frankgrimes

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Guest DeGraa55

I'm sorry but I think it's completely ridiculous that you're grouping us in with those teams.

It's great to have that opinion but FACT is we are as of right now. Look at the last few years....

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It's great to have that opinion but FACT is we are as of right now. Look at the last few years....

There are 30 teams in the league, and 8 of them make the second round each year. That's just over 25% of teams. The average team should get to the second round once every 4ish years. I would say those other teams mentioned are below average.

Since their last finals appearance, Detroit has made the second round 3 out of 5 years, or 60%. The FACT is that Detroit has been well above average in the last few years

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There is one team in the Eastern Conference that is unequivocally better than the Red Wings. That team is the Bruins. Otherwise, it's wide open; the Wings, if healthy and humming, can go toe-to-toe with any EC team in a playoff series. If you disagree, you are wrong.

Well than I'm rather wrong than delusional. Pens, Bolts, Habs, Blue Jackets, Rangers are clearly better. Flyers may be a toss up but their physicality gives them the edge.

Edited by frankgrimes

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Well than I'm rather wrong than delusional. Pens, Bolts, Habs, Blue Jackets, Rangers are clearly better. Flyers may be a toss up but their physicality gives them the edge.

Blue jackets I would say are pretty comparable. I've always thought the Habs were overrated and they rode a hot streak to the conference finals. The bolts always seem to follow up a good year with a sub-par year.

I think most of those teams are close enough to us skill-wise that either team could get the upper hand. I wouldn't call any team "clearly better than us" except boston

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Well than I'm rather wrong than delusional. Pens, Bolts, Habs, Blue Jackets, Rangers are clearly better. Flyers may be a toss up but their physicality gives them the edge.

Blue jackets I would say are pretty comparable. I've always thought the Habs were overrated and they rode a hot streak to the conference finals. The bolts always seem to follow up a good year with a sub-par year.

I think most of those teams are close enough to us skill-wise that either team could get the upper hand. I wouldn't call any team "clearly better than us" except boston

Well the Habs have elite goaltending, so that's why I've put them above us. Bolts downfall in the playoffs was Lindberg but with the additions, probably Drouin making the team they look dangerous for years to come.

Rangers have elite elite goaltending and a great defense, Caps really pumped up their defense this offseason and Trotz is an outstanding coach and yeah Pittsburgh has Crosby, Napkin, Letang, Ehrhoff plus that Maataa Kido.

Blue Jackets, Flyers are closer yes and we should be better than the Panthers, Sabres, Send and Isles but that's not the type of category the Wings should be finding themselves in.

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