Is East just as good or better than West this year?

[toby91_ca 620]

Since trades are at a bit of a lull right now...

The top 6 teams in the East are all over 80 points and only 3 teams in the West are at that level. Is this mostly due to more high end and low end teams in East vs. more parity in the West?

For what it's worth, East vs. West games have been almost a dead heat....with the West having a very slightly better win percentage (175-130-42 for East vs. West and 181-140-35 for West vs. East).

Maybe it's just me....but I haven't really noticed any big and scary, consistently dominating West teams yet this year. Nashville is the obvious team to point to (1st overall), but for some reason I just don't see them as dominating....maybe that's just history and I'll just need to get used to it...we'll see.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

The West is a grind from the get go it's physical hard nosed hockey.

I sure sure as hell wouldn't want to face the Kings, Blues, Predators or Ducks in a 7 game series.

The gap in the east is a lot bigger but the top teams would have a real hard time against anybody in the west.

Rangers did load up nicely but they lack truculence, Pens will only go as far as the best player in the game can take them, Boston will need some serious magic in the next two hours...only team that could really give the west a run for it's money is Tampa and I hope they do because it would finally put that stupid notion that the captain hasn't won anything as GM to bed

[Euro_Twins 4,476]

The West is a grind from the get go it's physical hard nosed hockey. I sure sure as hell wouldn't want to face the Kings, Blues, Predators or Ducks in a 7 game series.The gap in the east is a lot bigger but the top teams would have a real hard time against anybody in the west.Rangers did load up nicely but they lack truculence, Pens will only go as far as the best player in the game can take them, Boston will need some serious magic in the next two hours...only team that could really give the west a run for it's money is Tampa and I hope they do because it would finally put that stupid notion that the captain hasn't won anything as GM to bed

How is it stupid if it's true? Have you seen the wings record against the west this year? I think we could go toe to toe against any team in the playoffs this year

[frankgrimes 1,836]

The West is a grind from the get go it's physical hard nosed hockey. I sure sure as hell wouldn't want to face the Kings, Blues, Predators or Ducks in a 7 game series.The gap in the east is a lot bigger but the top teams would have a real hard time against anybody in the west.Rangers did load up nicely but they lack truculence, Pens will only go as far as the best player in the game can take them, Boston will need some serious magic in the next two hours...only team that could really give the west a run for it's money is Tampa and I hope they do because it would finally put that stupid notion that the captain hasn't won anything as GM to bed

How is it stupid if it's true? Have you seen the wings record against the west this year? I think we could go toe to toe against any team in the playoffs this year

It's stupid because it isn't true the guy has 2 back-to-back gold medals with Canada (yup stacked as hell but still) and rebuilt a small budget team in less than 4 years.

I've seen it but I've also seen how easy this team can be intimidated and looking lost against teams with a heavy forcheck.

Edited March 2, 2015 by frankgrimes

[toby91_ca 620]

Wings are 16-3-3 against the West, Rangers are 13-3-5 and Pens are 12-4-2.

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

I think the top of the West is better than the top of the East, but I think there are more quality teams in the East this year.

[toby91_ca 620]

Not sure how Tampa could be considered a "small budget" team.

[Nightfall 871]

Wings are 16-3-3 against the West, Rangers are 13-3-5 and Pens are 12-4-2.

The simple fact of the matter is that when the playoffs start, regular season stats go out the window. I believe any team can win come playoff time. Upsets are more common in the new NHL. Look at last years top regular season teams in the east and west. Boston was out in the 2nd round. Colorado went out in the first round. When the playoffs hit, I think you are going to see some teams do very well and others do poorly.

Nashville is going to make some noise, but I don't see them advancing past the 2nd round. I see the Hawks and Kings squaring off in the conference finals again. Playoffs are all about experience and seasoning. In the east, I see Tampa and Detroit taking another step while Boston and Pittsburgh are taking a step backwards. Detroit's young core got a taste of that last year and I believe this year they will do much better. I think a conference finals appearance is in the cards for this year for the Wings.

In the new NHL, getting into the playoffs really is the first step. I believe any one of the sixteen teams that make it in can win the cup.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Random guy notice I was wearing a Red Wings hat over the weekend and came up to me. He was telling me the Wings are lucky to be in a "Cake Walk East". He then went on to say he was a Hawks fan.. What you gonna do?

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Random guy notice I was wearing a Red Wings hat over the weekend and came up to me. He was telling me the Wings are lucky to be in a "Cake Walk East". He then went on to say he was a Hawks fan.. What you gonna do?

Buy a cake, then walk on said confection before kicking him in the groin with your frosting covered foot.

[Barrie 900]

How is it stupid if it's true? Have you seen the wings record against the west this year? I think we could go toe to toe against any team in the playoffs this year

I agree, I think this recent road trip proved we can beat every team. The West teams were trying to beat us up physically, but they couldn't keep up with us on the scoreboard. Teams are going to have to stop trying to intimidate us, because it's not working.

[kipwinger 8,524]

Seems like a good enough place to put this. Ovechkin had two more goals last night. Bringing him up to 43. With 17 games left to play, what's the over/under on him getting to 55?

[kliq 3,755]

It's stupid because it isn't true the guy has 2 back-to-back gold medals with Canada (yup stacked as hell but still) and rebuilt a small budget team in less than 4 years. I've seen it but I've also seen how easy this team can be intimidated and looking lost against teams with a heavy forcheck.

I love Yzerman and I do think he is a good GM, and I think he deserves some credit for the gold medals. But lets be realistic, its basically a 7 team tournament where he has by a mile the most talent to choose from. Most GM's could produce a winner with that talent pool, especially when you have Babcock as your coach (admittedly credit to him for picking Babs). Either way, not the same as winning a cup as a GM.

The only reason a person would be mad that people aren't giving him credit, is if they are trying argue that he is a better GM then Holland, and when faced with "3 cups" along with everything else on Holland's resume, they have nothing logical to say.