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2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Playoffs start on Wednesday. Make predictions, talk about the games, whatever.
My pretty uninformed predictions are:
West
#1 San Jose over #8 Anaheim
#2 Detroit over #7 Columbus
#3 Vancouver over #6 St. Louis
#5 Calgary over #4 Chicago
San Jose over Calgary
Detroit over Vancouver
Detroit over San Jose
East
#1 Boston over #8 Montreal
#2 Washington over #7 New York
#3 New Jersey over #6 Carolina
#4 Pittsburgh over #5 Philadelphia
Boston over Pittsburgh
New Jersey over Washington
New Jersey over Boston
Finals
Detroit over New Jersey in 7
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Ok here is mine
West
#1 San Jose over #8 Anaheim in 4
#7 Columbus over #2 Detriot in 7
#6 St. Louis over #3 Vancouver in 6
#4 Chicago over #5 Calgary in 6
San Jose over Columbus in 5
Chicago over St. Louis in 6
San Jose over Chicago in 6
East
#1 Boston over #8 Montreal in 4
#2 Washington over #7 New York in 5
#6 Carolina over #3 New Jersey in 7
#4 Pittsburgh over #5 Philadelphia in 6
Carolina over Boston in 6
Pittsburgh over Washington in 7
Pittsburgh over Carolina in 5
Finals
San Jose over Pittsburgh in 7
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
West
#1 San Jose over #8 Anaheim
#2 Detroit over #7 Columbus
#6 St. Louis over #3 Vancouver
#5 Calgary over #4 Chicago
East
#1 Boston over #8 Montreal
#2 Washington over #7 New York
#3 New Jersey over #6 Carolina
#5 Philly over #4 Pittsburgh
Finals
Boston over SJ in 6. :cool:
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Calgary-Chicago will be a fun first round matchup.
I personally don't see the Bruins winning the cup, too young. Tim Thomas will have to keep up his magnificent play for Boston to do anything in the playoffs.
My predictions:
San Jose over Anaheim in 5-As good as Giguere is, the Ducks haven't found their defensive identity and the Sharks love to score goals.
Detroit over Columbus in 6-The feel good story of the Blue Jackets comes to an end. They push it to six with sloppy goaltending from Osgood who hasn't played that well all year but the Red Wings are just too strong.
Vancouver over St. Louis in 7-The Blues are another great story for the NHL coming out of no where this season. Luongo is just too good however and the Blues get beat by an experienced, tough squad in Vancouver.
Calgary over Chicago in 6-The Blackhawks are young and fun to watch, they play good team hockey but Calgary just got too hot and too good near the end. With the addition of Jokinen to the offense and Kiprusoff starting to play well watch out for this Flames group.
**********
East:
Boston over Montreal in 4-Previous Canadian demons are exorcised in a quick sweep by the Bruins.
Washington over New York in 5-The Rangers underachieved this year and the Capitals are finally coming into their own. They are one missing piece away from a Stanley Cup ring but this series should be easy as the best player in the world Alexander Ovechkin goes off.
New Jersey over Carolina in 4-Not a lot of people know that this Devil's squad might be one of their best and came close to a franchise record for wins. The Hurricanes are walking into a trap in this one with Brodeur playing some excellent hockey and even without him the Devils have been playing amazing hockey all season long.
Philadelphia over Pittsburgh in 7-Pittsburgh played good hockey to finish the season but the Flyers have been playing well ALL season. The Pens don't have Hossa to spark a magical run to the cup this year and two of the bet in Crosby and Malkin can't hold down the other three lines. Philly is deeper and for this they win game seven.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
sj
det
van
cal
sj
van
van
bos
nyr
nj
pit
bos
nj
nj
nj over van in 6
surely this is bad news for the devils
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Well since everyone else is picking all the way through I'll do the same.
Semis:
San Jose vs. Calgary-San Jose in 7. The Flames are the hottest team in the league while San Jose has been dominant all season. The injury problems San Jose has had are improving which gives me enough confidence to get by Calgary in seven games.
Detroit vs. Vancouver-Detroit in 6. Vancouver is good, but Detroit is the most talented team in the playoffs. If their goaltending can hold up it should be a quick and easy series for Detroit. Vancouver just doesn't have quite enough.
Boston vs. Philadelphia-Philly in 7. The Flyers are a deep, veteran laden squad full of talent. They went to the conference finals last year and there is no reason they shouldn't beat the Bruins this year. Tim Thomas would have to play perfect for the Bruins to win and the Philly dominance gives them another shot at the Eastern conference title.
Washington vs. New Jersey-Jersey in 7. The Devils are deep, stacked and have the best goalie of all time playing for them. Ovechkin is great, one of the greatest ever but the Devils defense and goaltending give them a series win in probably the most entertaining series of the playoffs.
Finals:
San Jose vs. Detroit-San Jose in 6. The Sharks love to score and the Wings goaltending has been mediorce this season. If the age question doesn't catch up to the Sharks they will walk to the western conference championship in a good six game set.
New Jersey vs. Philadelphia-New Jersey in 5. The Flyers are deep enough to surprise a young squad like the Bruins but a veteran squad like the Devils will not be fooled and will trounce Philly in this series. It won't be competitive and the Devils will dominate.
Stanley Cup Finals:
New Jersey vs. San Jose-New Jersey in 7. Finally, a great series for the finals to have. The Devils are a dynasty in this NHL and continue to play well year after year and now against a great San Jose team they get yet another cup on the road in game seven. The Sharks are great and have a number of vets to get them through the ups and downs of a Finals series but it all comes down to an X factor: Martin Broduer. The greatest goalie of all time wins another cup and most likely another Conn Smythe.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
#1 San Jose over #8 Anaheim. Even with the Sharks struggles in the playoffs, this should be an ass kicking.
#2 Detroit over #7 Columbus. Maybe Mason steals a game.
#3 Vancouver over #6 St. Louis. REALLY close...give it to the Canucks for their goalie.
#5 Calgary over #4 Chicago. Just have a feeling about this one. This could be the best series of the first round.
San Jose over Calgary
Detroit over Vancouver
Detroit over San Jose
#1 Boston over #8 Montreal. Habs have been inconsistent all year.
#7 New York over #2 Washington. Henrik Lundqvist > Jose Theodore.
#3 New Jersey over #6 Carolina. Devils are rolling right now.
#4 Pittsburgh over #5 Philadelphia. This one could easily go either way.
Boston over New York
New Jersey over Pittsburgh
New Jersey over Boston
Detroit over New Jersey in 6 to win the Cup.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Pickin against Ovie Arctic?
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
OregonDuck1989
Pickin against Ovie Arctic?
I like to pick one big upset every year. I just don't like Theodore in goal...the guy has completely lost it when it comes to big playoff situations. New York didn't score NEARLY as well as they should have, but they have the talent to.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
Arctic Blast
I like to pick one big upset every year. I just don't like Theodore in goal...the guy has completely lost it when it comes to big playoff situations. New York didn't score NEARLY as well as they should have, but they have the talent to.
Theodore did excellent in the first round last year for Colorado which was the main reason they upset Minnesota.
His play in Detroit was bad because he had the "flu" but who knows.
We'll see, Goalies do make the playoffs like guards make the NCAA tournaments.
Which is why I'm not picking Detroit. Osgood has been so inconsistent this year.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
OregonDuck1989
Theodore did excellent in the first round last year for Colorado which was the main reason they upset Minnesota.
His play in Detroit was bad because he had the "flu" but who knows.
We'll see, Goalies do make the playoffs like guards make the NCAA tournaments.
Which is why I'm not picking Detroit. Osgood has been so inconsistent this year.
True enough on Osgood. I've just seen too many times in the past when Osgood plays like crap all year then turns it on once the postseason starts.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
Jeffy25
The **** is a Canuck?
I believe it's slang for Canadian.
Much like a Canajun.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
Arctic Blast
New York didn't score NEARLY as well as they should have, but they have the talent to.
The Rangers are terrible. They are thoroughly overrated, and that is proven by the fact that they finished 28th in the league in goals, and were only 10 goals back of the last place teams in the goals category, and only were two goals ahead of the 29th placed team. No offense, but if anyone thinks they are talented save Lundqvist, they are daft.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
defense
The Rangers are terrible. They are thoroughly overrated, and that is proven by the fact that they finished 28th in the league in goals, and were only 10 goals back of the last place teams in the goals category, and only were two goals ahead of the 29th placed team. No offense, but if anyone thinks they are talented save Lundqvist, they are daft.
Chris Drury, Wade Redden, Scott Gomez, Markus Naslund, Mark Staal.
This is a team that IS talented, but hasn't played very well at all this season. They have underachieved MIGHTILY this year but they do have the players who can turn it on and somehow upset a series.
I picked against them as well but I wouldn't be incredibly surprised if Theodore laid and egg and we saw the Rangers pull off the upset. They do have weapons, the weapons just haven't played well.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
OregonDuck1989
Chris Drury, Wade Redden, Scott Gomez, Markus Naslund, Mark Staal.
This is a team that IS talented, but hasn't played very well at all this season. They have underachieved MIGHTILY this year but they do have the players who can turn it on and somehow upset a series.
I picked against them as well but I wouldn't be incredibly surprised if Theodore laid and egg and we saw the Rangers pull off the upset. They do have weapons, the weapons just haven't played well.
You do know that Chris Drury, Wade Redden, and Scott Gomez are some of the most overpaid, overrated players in the league, right? Just because Dolan idiotically agreed to pay them big money doesn't mean they are big money players.
The Wade Redden signing is one of the worst signings in the current NHL. He has been on a STEADY decline since 2005, and this season of 26 points, and -5 +/- rating is not the exception, its the "he is declining at the right age of 31" rule. He now plays adequate offense, and couldn't play defense to save his life.
Chris Drury has been on the decline in goals, points, and +/- for three straight years now. He is an adequate second line center, but that's it.
Gomez still is good, and maybe the one of the three that is still a top line player, but is still overpaid.
Naslund is in the same boat as Drury. He has been in the decline in those three categories for THREE YEARS NOW. If you go by name, he is still good because he was good by the past. But if you actually look at them, he is a shell of his former self.
Staal is a defensive defenseman. If you expect him to turn around the offense, you are going to have a reality check soon.
See this isn't a fluke. The reason they "didn't play well" this season is because they signed declining aging players to huge contracts. The only great player they have is Henrik Lundqvist, and Staal and Gomez, while not on Henrik's level, are pretty good. But that's about it. And expecting them all of a sudden to be able to score with these players is about as likely as Paris Hilton not having sex for the next year.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
OregonDuck1989
The Flames are the hottest team in the league
Very mal-informed statement.
Since March 1st, they only have 9 wins. Also let it be noted that they've played 21 games since March 1st. There is a reason why they lost the division in the final weeks of the season, and it wasn't because they were the hottest team in the league.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
But your denying that these players CAN'T score?
That's all I said. I said they WERE talented when you said they weren't. Which is a harsh overexaggeration. All of these guys HAVE NHL talent and CAN score goals.
I never said they HAD good seasons, or ARE great. Did I? I said they are underachieving. And due to their contracts...that statement is so obviously true.
I said they CAN score. And that is not a terrible statement at all...saying they CAN'T score is predicting the future...which I didn't know you can do.
The Capitals are a weaker goaltending team...sure the Rangers haven't played well and aren't the best chance at an upset.
Denying that they CAN score against Jose Theodore is, in your words, daft. They can do it. I don't think they will win the series...the Capitals are too overpowering and if you look at my predictions (which you obviously have) I picked the Caps.
Goalies can take over series and denying that the Rangers have talent is stupid, they obviously have talent...it just hasn't played well. It's not like the Islanders, Lightning, and Avalanche who actually don't have talent (aside from one or two players like Dipietro, Stamkos, and Statsny)
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
OregonDuck1989
But your denying that these players CAN'T score?
I said the team can't score, which is evidenced by their 28th place finish in the goals department.
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That's all I said. I said they WERE talented when you said they weren't. Which is a harsh overexaggeration. All of these guys HAVE NHL talent and CAN score goals.
They aren't talented. Atleast not playoff talented. They have one top guy(Lundqvist), and maybe two good players in Staal and Gomez. If every second line center like Drury was "talented," then half of the league's fowards would be considered "talented."
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I said they are underachieving. And due to their contracts...that statement is so obviously true.
How are they underacheiving? They have a 7th/8th place talented team...they finished 7th place. That's not a hard concept to understand. The Redden's, Drury's, and Naslund's are not players that can bring a team over the 7th/8th place line.
And the only thing their contracts prove are that they owned the Rangers' GM into overpaying for average talent.
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I said they CAN score. And that is not a terrible statement at all...saying they CAN'T score is predicting the future...which I didn't know you can do.
You can predict how a team is going to do by looking at how they did over 82 games(also known as the NHL season). The team personal is the same. Are they going to become a more offensive team now that the playoffs are here? Give me a break.
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The Capitals are a weaker goaltending team.
That's the only area of the game where the Rangers have the Capitals number. All other things(offense, defense, and coaching) favor the Capitals.
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Denying that they CAN score against Jose Theodore is, in your words, daft. They can do it. I don't think they will win the series...the Capitals are too overpowering and if you look at my predictions (which you obviously have) I picked the Caps.
Ok, I'll go by their 82 game sample size this season. You go by the overhyping of their players based on names. Let's see who wins in the end.
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Goalies can take over series and denying that the Rangers have talent is stupid, they obviously have talent...it just hasn't played well. It's not like the Islanders, Lightning, and Avalanche who actually don't have talent.
Goalies can take over series'. But teams don't need good goalies to get far(evidenced by the Wings recent championship, the Senators getting to the playoffs with Gerber, etc.).
The Rangers have a few talented pieces, mainly Lundqvist, but please don't act like they have great pieces in Redden, Drury, and Naslund because well...they don't.
The Lightning have some of the best offensive players in the world. Much better than the Rangers offense. After reading that, according to you, the Lightning have no talent, my opinion of your hockey knowledge being mal-informed is only getting stronger.
The Islanders all star goal tender was out this year, and they have one of the most highly rated prospects in Kyle Okposo(any reputiable hockey prospects source had him as a top 10 NHL prospect prior to the year). And after a slow start, he ripped up the second half. They also have all star defense man Mark Streit, who unlike anyone the Rangers have, is a two dimensional defenseman.
Also may I note that both the Lightning and the Islanders are projected to draft Victor Hedman and John Tavares (respectively) this draft. Both players are projected as franchise players.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
defense
I said the team can't score, which is evidenced by their 28th place finish in the goals department.
But it is the playoffs...
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They aren't talented. Atleast not playoff talented. They have one top guy(Lundqvist), and maybe two good players in Staal and Gomez. If every second line center like Drury was "talented," then half of the league's fowards would be considered "talented."
Considering they are a second line center in professional hockey I'm sure they are talented.
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How are they underacheiving? They have a 7th/8th place talented team...they finished 7th place. That's not a hard concept to understand. The Redden's, Drury's, and Naslund's are not players that can bring a team over the 7th/8th place line.
Based off contracts...which was my justification.
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You can predict how a team is going to do by looking at how they did over 82 games(also known as the NHL season). The team personal is the same. Are they going to become a more offensive team now that the playoffs are here? Give me a break.
Oh good, debate like a dick. That always works. :rolleyes: Are they going to become a better offensive team? Probably not. But crazier stuff has happened. Like I said, I PICKED THE CAPITALS IN FIVE.
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Ok, I'll go by their 82 game sample size this season. You go by the overhyping of their players based on names. Let's see who wins in the end.
I think it will be a tie SINCE I PICKED THE CAPITALS.
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Goalies can take over series'. But teams don't need good goalies to get far(evidenced by the Wings recent championship, the Senators getting to the playoffs with Gerber, etc.).
Obviously I never said goalies take over EVERY series. I just said they can.
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The Rangers have a few talented pieces, mainly Lundqvist, but please don't act like they have great pieces in Redden, Drury, and Naslund because well...they don't.
They aren't great. I never said they were. They are talented.
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The Lightning have some of the best offensive players in the world. Much better than the Rangers offense. After reading that, according to you, the Lightning have no talent, my opinion of your hockey knowledge being mal-informed is only getting stronger.
You'll notice I edited TEN seconds later and admitted each team has a couple of talented pieces (Stamkos, St. Louis, Lecavlier included)
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The Islanders all star goal tender was out this year, and they have one of the most highly rated prospects in Kyle Okposo(any reputiable hockey prospects source had him as a top 10 NHL prospect prior to the year). And after a slow start, he ripped up the second half. They also have all star defense man Mark Streit, who unlike anyone the Rangers have, is a two dimensional defenseman
.
The Islanders have young talent that is undeveloped (forgot about Okposo and Streit who are good). Therefore, much according to your logic that second line people aren't talent. They have little to no talent. That's just your logic. Obviously with the number one pick they aren't exactly even close to the most talented team in the league...
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Also may I note that both the Lightning and the Islanders are projected to draft Victor Hedman and John Tavares (respectively) this draft. Both players are projected as franchise players.
But they don't have them yet...
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
for what it's worth, the hottest team in the league, by far, is the blues
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
etothep
for what it's worth, the hottest team in the league, by far, is the blues
Touche.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
OregonDuck1989
But it is the playoffs...
I didn't realize they were going to get new, better fowards for the playoffs. How silly of me
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Considering they are a second line center in professional hockey I'm sure they are talented.
Think of it in Mogul terms. Your team made the playoffs. It is game three, and you are starting your number three starter, who is an 85 overall. That's pretty good, compared to many other starters in the league. But he faces the stacked teams number 3 starter, who is a 91 overall. He isn't so talented anymore, is he?
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Based off contracts...which was my justification.
That's a poor justification. Based off contracts, Mike Hampton was a very good pitcher. Based off contracts, Andruw Jones was an above average outfielder.
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Oh good, debate like a dick. That always works. :rolleyes: Are they going to become a better offensive team? Probably not. But crazier stuff has happened. Like I said, I PICKED THE CAPITALS IN FIVE.
I was never scrutinizing your series prediction.
I am not debating like a dick. I am using facts. Fact is that they were horribly offensively in 82 games, which is a fair sample size. And it is the same team going into the playoffs which played the 82 games. So chances are their offensive talents are not going to change in the playoffs?
Could they become an offensive power house in the playoffs? Could the Cubs win the World Series this year? Could a convicted rapist become a principal in an elementary school? Could I win the lottery?
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Obviously I never said goalies take over EVERY series. I just said they can.
Ok we are on the same page on this one. I agree.
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They aren't great. I never said they were. They are talented.
They are talented in the roles they can handle, which is basically on the second or third line. I am not one to say player X is talented that often. Because if you give it to a Naslund, who is at best a second line foward now, then basically nearly half the leagues fowards are talented(because there are 4 lines per team, so every top two player would = half the league)
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Therefore, much according to your logic that second line people aren't talent. They have little to no talent. That's just your logic. Obviously with the number one pick they aren't exactly even close to the most talented team in the league...
But they don't have them yet...
There is a difference between a developing 20 year old foward with first line potential, and declining 30+ old second liners.
For one, they had their ALL STAR goalie out the entire season. But even with that, I wouldn't argue that they are close to the most talented team. I am not a homer. I can admit things like that. But I don't see why you said that...I never argued that they were
No team is going to trade out of franchise potential prospects like John Tavares and Victor Hedman, so they are as good as ours. It just depends on which one the Isles choose, but I can basically gurantee the Isles will have one of them.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Go Blues!!!! woohooo!
I got a be honest, I don't really care, if they win, awesome! otherwise, eh
BOOBIES!
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
I actually don't think Washington's defense is any better than New York's. Mike Green's phenomenal with the puck, I like Morrison's game...and everyone else is the epitome of thoroughly average at best. Couple that with Theodore, who tends to be up and down (and has been down this year) and I just don't like their chances. They need to build up on D before next year.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Arctic Blast
I actually don't think Washington's defense is any better than New York's. Mike Green's phenomenal with the puck, I like Morrison's game...and everyone else is the epitome of thoroughly average at best. Couple that with Theodore, who tends to be up and down (and has been down this year) and I just don't like their chances. They need to build up on D before next year.
i just couldn't pick against ovechkin
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
etothep
i just couldn't pick against ovechkin
Understandable...Ovie's fantastic.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
etothep
i just couldn't pick against ovechkin
It's difficult to pick against the best player in the NHL.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
defense
I didn't realize they were going to get new, better fowards for the playoffs. How silly of me
:rolleyes:
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Think of it in Mogul terms. Your team made the playoffs. It is game three, and you are starting your number three starter, who is an 85 overall. That's pretty good, compared to many other starters in the league. But he faces the stacked teams number 3 starter, who is a 91 overall. He isn't so talented anymore, is he?
He's still very talented though isn't he?
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That's a poor justification. Based off contracts, Mike Hampton was a very good pitcher. Based off contracts, Andruw Jones was an above average outfielder.
Those analogies actually work in favor of my argument. Andruw Jones underachieved didn't he? As did Mike Hampton?
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I am not debating like a dick. I am using facts. Fact is that they were horribly offensively in 82 games, which is a fair sample size. And it is the same team going into the playoffs which played the 82 games. So chances are their offensive talents are not going to change in the playoffs?
Saying (also known as the NHL season) and I know nothing about hockey....well, that's dickish. Sorry.
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Could they become an offensive power house in the playoffs? Could the Cubs win the World Series this year? Could a convicted rapist become a principal in an elementary school? Could I win the lottery?
Yes except for the third one. Sexual offenders aren't allowed to work around children. But otherwise, yes.
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They are talented in the roles they can handle, which is basically on the second or third line. I am not one to say player X is talented that often. Because if you give it to a Naslund, who is at best a second line foward now, then basically nearly half the leagues fowards are talented(because there are 4 lines per team, so every top two player would = half the league)
I would say half the leagues forwards are at least decently talented (barring the lower half teams with no legitimate forwards (Colorado, for instance, past Statsny)
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There is a difference between a developing 20 year old foward with first line potential, and declining 30+ old second liners.
Agreed.
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For one, they had their ALL STAR goalie out the entire season. But even with that, I wouldn't argue that they are close to the most talented team. I am not a homer. I can admit things like that. But I don't see why you said that...I never argued that they were
I said that because you attacked me for saying they had practically no talent. Which is basically true. Right?
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No team is going to trade out of franchise potential prospects like John Tavares and Victor Hedman, so they are as good as ours. It just depends on which one the Isles choose, but I can basically gurantee the Isles will have one of them.
Never said they were. What I meant from that was that the Islanders and Lightning don't have Tavares and Hedman yet do they? So it's a moot point to discuss them in a team talent discussion. Will Tavares and Hedman instantly make their teams better? Definitely. Hedman will add young defense to a Lightning squad needing it and the Islanders need a kid like Tavares to score goals.
But they didn't have them this season or right now so they are a moot point in a discussion on current talent.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
OregonDuck1989
:rolleyes:
Besides the "chance" they score more, what logical evidence is there that they will be able to score in the playoffs? They are icing the SAME team that was 28th in the league in goals for
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He's still very talented though isn't he?
No he is not. He is an average player.
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Those analogies actually work in favor of my argument. Andruw Jones underachieved didn't he? As did Mike Hampton?
You don't get it. They didn't underacheive. They sucked, plain and simply. To underacheive, they actually have to have the talent to play better. They just happened to suck while making the big bucks. Same thing with the Ranger players, except they play average to above average for a big pay day.
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Yes except for the third one. Sexual offenders aren't allowed to work around children. But otherwise, yes.
Yes, but point is they are highly unlikely. More often then not, the 82 game sample size is a better predictor of how a team will do.
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I would say half the leagues forwards are at least decently talented (barring the lower half teams with no legitimate forwards (Colorado, for instance, past Statsny)
Well that's where we differ. If we call 50% of the players "talented," then being talented isn't anything very special, is it?
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I said that because you attacked me for saying they had practically no talent. Which is basically true. Right?
I never said they had no talent. I've been saying that they have three good players, and one of them being amazing. But I am not one who wears Rangers' goggles, and think that every name on their team is good, even though more than half of them are declining rapidly the lat three years.
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Never said they were. What I meant from that was that the Islanders and Lightning don't have Tavares and Hedman yet do they? So it's a moot point to discuss them in a team talent discussion. Will Tavares and Hedman instantly make their teams better? Definitely. Hedman will add young defense to a Lightning squad needing it and the Islanders need a kid like Tavares to score goals.
But they didn't have them this season or right now so they are a moot point in a discussion on current talent.
They basically have them now. They didn't have last year, yes. But now, they basically unofficially have them.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
My predictions
Boston over Montreal in 6
I still think Montreal has a good team. They'll have no problem getting up for the games in the Bell Centre, but I still think Boston comes out in front. Montreal won't go down without a fight though.
Washington over New York in 6
Washington's offense is potent, but their shaky d complemented by Lundqvist's netminding will cost them a couple games. Don't be surprised if New York wins this series.
New Jersey over Carolina in 5
I'm just not feeling it with Carolina. Brodeur will lead a veteren team to an easy series win.
Pittsburgh over Philadelphia in 7
Everything you could expect from a 4-5 series. Two equally matched teams with a heated rivalry to boot. Tensions will be boiling over by game 7, but Pittsburgh will come out on top.
San Jose over Anaheim in 6
This will be another hard fought series but San Jose will come out in the end.
Detroit over Columbus in 6
Mason's terriffic play in net coupled with Detroit's shaky goaltending will let the Blue Jackets squeek out a few wins, but I don't think it will be enough to put them over the top of the Detroit team which is far superiour outside of the net.
Vancouver over St. Louis in 4
I haven't jumped on the Blues' bandwagon yet, and I'm not about to pick a young team to win a series against a team with such a great goalie.
Calgary over Chicago in 7
The Hawks' youth will be their downfall. Kipper may not be outstanding, but he'll steal atleast one game in this series.
Stanley Cup Final
San Jose over Boston in 6
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
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Originally Posted by
defense
Besides the "chance" they score more, what logical evidence is there that they will be able to score in the playoffs? They are icing the SAME team that was 28th in the league in goals for
I guess theres not. But I'm not picking them, either. Arctic did.
I just thought saying there was no way they had any talent to win was kind of dumb.
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No he is not. He is an average player.
85 is ABOVE average.
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You don't get it. They didn't underacheive. They sucked, plain and simply. To underacheive, they actually have to have the talent to play better. They just happened to suck while making the big bucks. Same thing with the Ranger players, except they play average to above average for a big pay day.
No, you don't get it. Andruw Jones underacheived last year. He hadn't sucked before did he? Except for 2007, which some thought was a major down year Andruw never "sucked".
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Yes, but point is they are highly unlikely. More often then not, the 82 game sample size is a better predictor of how a team will do.
Which is why I picked the Caps, I just thought you calling Arctic daft for saying they have talent was well...daft.
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Well that's where we differ. If we call 50% of the players "talented," then being talented isn't anything very special, is it?
Then I guess that is where we differ...
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I never said they had no talent. I've been saying that they have three good players, and one of them being amazing. But I am not one who wears Rangers' goggles, and think that every name on their team is good, even though more than half of them are declining rapidly the lat three years.
Rangers goggles? Yes, I have Rangers goggles. I picked against them lol :rolleyes:
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They basically have them now. They didn't have last year, yes. But now, they basically unofficially have them.
Then, it's a moot point...
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
OregonDuck1989
No, you don't get it. Andruw Jones underacheived last year. He hadn't sucked before did he? Except for 2007, which some thought was a major down year.
Jones declined in a ton of categories in the past three years. Jones doesn't have a starting job. If you still have good talent, you underacheived. When you continually decline in 3 years and lost a starting job, you don't underacheive. You now suck. Robinson Cano underacheived last year. Andruw Jones was a good player. But now he isn't a good player.
Same basic thing for the Rangers players, although they are nowhere near Andruw Jones' talent level.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
defense
Jones declined in a ton of categories in the past three years. Jones doesn't have a starting job. If you still have good talent, you underacheived. When you continually decline in 3 years and lost a starting job, you don't underacheive. You now suck. Robinson Cano underacheived last year. Andruw Jones was a good player. But now he isn't a good player.
Same basic thing for the Rangers players, although they are nowhere near Andruw Jones' talent level.
Now, he sucks. And we know that. In 2008 he underachieved heavily and this year he's reached "sucking".
Cano is a different story, he's young.
It's like if Daisuke had done bad in 2007. He underacheived right? If Andruw Jones had bounced back in 2009 we would have called it still underachieving in 2008. Now, we just know he sucks. Plain and simple. But in 2008 all we knew was that he was having some bad years.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
The Penguins and Flyers are just punishing each other. This is gonna be a fun series to watch.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Of course NHL gamecenter isn't working.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
After the first three games of the NHL playoffs we got the Rangers winning 4-3 off a good show by Lundquist, Pens dominated Philly 4-1, and the Devils worked Carolina 4-1.
I think all three of those will be good series though. Vancouver St. Louis just got going.
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Re: 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
Good thing I actually get Versus here at college so I can watch some playoff games.
