2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[defense]

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.

[OregonDuck1989]

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.

[defense]

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.

[defense]

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.

[OregonDuck1989]

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)

[defense]

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[OregonDuck1989]

I said the team can't score, which is evidenced by their 28th place finish in the goals department.

But it is the playoffs...

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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...

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...

[etothep]

for what it's worth, the hottest team in the league, by far, is the blues

[OregonDuck1989]

for what it's worth, the hottest team in the league, by far, is the blues

Touche.

[defense]

But it is the playoffs...

I didn't realize they were going to get new, better fowards for the playoffs. How silly of me

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?

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.

Oh good, debate like a dick. That always works. 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?

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.

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)

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.

[Jeffy25]

Go Blues!!!! woohooo!

I got a be honest, I don't really care, if they win, awesome! otherwise, eh

BOOBIES!

[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.

[etothep]

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

[Arctic Blast]

i just couldn't pick against ovechkin

Understandable...Ovie's fantastic.

[OregonDuck1989]

i just couldn't pick against ovechkin

It's difficult to pick against the best player in the NHL.