EHM The Blue Line

So what team takes the cup on next season in NHL.
I say, Calgary Flames. Because they have strong defense, Phaneuf, Bouwmeester etc.
And Keenan is gone, so Miikka can play even better. Flames should maybe get one sniper.

So Flames will take the cup! Miikka deserves it!

I'll tell you in a few months time

I don't see Calgary as a front runner but I do see them as a playoff team. I think it's far too early to have a good idea as to who will win it all this year though.

I'm gonna go like Bruins72 said, it's too earlier to dertermine who can win the cup, during the season there's the injuries, some trades that can change the momentum of any team. Of course i think that Detroit and Pittsburgh will be in the race for the final but Washington and Chicago are not too far away.

I'm going controversial and saying, if Gaborik stay healthy, I see Rangers as a contender, Lundqvist better hold it together all the year but otherwise, Devils

I'd say that Anaheim/Detriot and Washington/Boston can make the PO finals. But who knows these days

As everybody says, its very hard to predict now this early. But if Detroit Will get a new goalie ( because i think osgoods season was a one timer if you understand ) Except Detroit maybe rangers if Lundqvist plays really good and if gaborik does what he need to do ( alot of points ) they can be a threat .

I really don't think Lundqvist has a good enough team surrounding him to make it to very far.

bruins72 wrote:I really don't think Lundqvist has a good enough team surrounding him to make it to very far.

I wished he had

I'm going to say Flyers for the cup this year. I think the addition of Pronger has made them an all round elite team. If Emery can lead them to finals like he did Ottawa in 07... I think it's Phillys!

The Flyers are going to be VERY tough this season!

getzlaf15 wrote:I'm going to say Flyers for the cup this year. I think the addition of Pronger has made them an all round elite team. If Emery can lead them to finals like he did Ottawa in 07... I think it's Phillys!

I dont think Flyers have all the sorts of players. They wont win

What do the lack...? There top 2 scoring lines are absolutley immense... They've got some tough guys in lines 3 & 4... There Defensive has a star and great depth... It's all down to Emery...

Think the Pens will play a big role for the Cup!

I would say: Montreal, they have maybe one or the best goalie duo with 3 great new players!

getzlaf15 wrote:What do the lack...? There top 2 scoring lines are absolutley immense... They've got some tough guys in lines 3 & 4... There Defensive has a star and great depth... It's all down to Emery...

I think they got a good chance too, Jeff Carter just blow up last year and can make more this year! Mike Richards is an outstanding player too and Claude Giroux would continu to develop i'm sure of it. Like you said, it's all down to Emery, just hope he won't do f*** up thing like he did at OTT.

Off the wall prediction:

Washington vs Anaheim in the final. Anaheim in 6.

batdad wrote:Off the wall prediction:

Washington vs Anaheim in the final. Anaheim in 6.

I wouldn't mind that.

I think the Capitals will take it

As a long time canuck fan, I say this year is the best team theyve had since 1994 IMO. This is their best chance to win the cup.

However, I think this is the year that San Jose pulls their rubbish togethor and goes far in the playoffs winning the cup against Boston. It will be Canucks/Sharks in the West final. Boston and Pits in the east.

San Jose Conn Smythe: Joe Thornton
Boston Conn Smythe: Zdeno Chara
Vancouver Conn Smythe: Roberto Luongo
Pittsburgh Conn Smythe: Sidney Crosby

You think that Thornton will broke is image of loser in playoffs? Maybe the Heatley fact will help....if the Sharks really win the cup i will bet on Nabokov or Heatley for the conn smythe.

Drat I forgot about you Getz. I meant that was the battle for 29th and 30th. The Taylor Hall sweepstakes.

And this is the best team Vancouver has had since 1994? Well...no. That still belongs to the West Coast Express Era in spite of their failures. It won't come close to 1994, because they still go out in the 2nd round.

Sorry but Salo, Bieksa, Mitchell are all good d-men but none of them are really top 4 guys. They are all just decent at some things and good at one thing. Edler is the real deal, and I am so far completely unimpressed with the new German guy whose name is eluding me right now....I keep wanting to call him Krapicek. The Canucks still sorely lack a REAL 1-2 dman. As a group they are good, but not good enough. We can talk as Canucks guys all we want, but when you look at Calgary's blue line, Detroit, Chicago, San Jose, Anaheim..they don't stack up in the ability to move the puck up the ice and get things rolling. I used to think that this core group of dmen was solid, and I still do...but not solid enough.

It is funny, because everyone is talking about needing top 6 forwards. They still need top 2 dmen. The Nucks have 5 #3 or #4 dmen....and nothing to put the Nucks over the top.

Coyotes?

I can dream

batdad wrote: And this is the best team Vancouver has had since 1994? Well...no. That still belongs to the West Coast Express Era in spite of their failures. It won't come close to 1994, because they still go out in the 2nd round.

Sorry but Salo, Bieksa, Mitchell are all good d-men but none of them are really top 4 guys. They are all just decent at some things and good at one thing. Edler is the real deal, and I am so far completely unimpressed with the new German guy whose name is eluding me right now....I keep wanting to call him Krapicek. The Canucks still sorely lack a REAL 1-2 dman. As a group they are good, but not good enough. We can talk as Canucks guys all we want, but when you look at Calgary's blue line, Detroit, Chicago, San Jose, Anaheim..they don't stack up in the ability to move the puck up the ice and get things rolling. I used to think that this core group of dmen was solid, and I still do...but not solid enough.

It is funny, because everyone is talking about needing top 6 forwards. They still need top 2 dmen. The Nucks have 5 #3 or #4 dmen....and nothing to put the Nucks over the top.

The WCE era didnt have a Luongo in net or as good as defense. True, they have no "star" d-men, but they have amazing depth. Lawrence Nycholat, who is no Bobby Orr but hes a good 3rd pairing d-man is their 9th defensman...thats intense! The additon of two great offensive defensemen in Mathieu Schneider and that german, Christian Ehrhoff to go with the offensive talent of Salo and Edler...the Canucks have one of the best offensive defense's in the league. Their offense also has no "stars" but 3 very good lines.

Sedin- Sedin - Shirokov
Demitra - Kesler - Burrows
Bernier - Wellwood - Samuelsson
Rypien - Johnson - Hordichuk

Mitchell - Bieksa
Elder - Ehrhoff
Salo- Schnieder

Luongo
Raycroft

Coyote of the Sea wrote:Coyotes?

I can dream

Yes you can dream