|
NHL Playoff predictions (pg. 3)
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Damo |
| quote: | Originally posted by zarathustra
Wow,
5 pts seperating 2nd and 7th in the East and 4 pts seperating 4th and 8th in the West.
Dare I say that the NHL is the most competitive elite league in North America? |
natch. hands down it's gotta be the NFL. And I'm a big time NHL fan.
but the eastern playoff race and 1st round series are going to be exciting ass hell. there's tremendous parity in the east this year. the west is going to be boring, u just know teams like LA and PHO and even San Jose aren't going to give the big two any kind of competition. Boston and Philly are not power houses, the east is wide open, can hardly wait. |
|
|
| M.A.R.K |
| quote: | Originally posted by Damo
natch. hands down it's gotta be the NFL. And I'm a big time NHL fan.
but the eastern playoff race and 1st round series are going to be exciting ass hell. there's tremendous parity in the east this year. the west is going to be boring, u just know teams like LA and PHO and even San Jose aren't going to give the big two any kind of competition. Boston and Philly are not power houses, the east is wide open, can hardly wait. |
i disagree. i think the west is equally as wide open as the east. the teams hovering around the 8th playoff seed are 8+ games above .500 and are playing EXTREMELY well at the moment. all those bottom teams are riding a very big momentum and if i'm detroit and colorado, i would be pissed scared to play teams like vancouver, edmonton or dallas.
oilers lost to the kings tonight. the canucks better kick phoenix's ass tomorrow. |
|
|
| zarathustra |
Still though, the NHL playoffs are IMO by far the most exciting.
The NFL playoffs have been pretty good recently but the Super Bowl used to be a blowout every year.
MLB playoffs are also pretty good but the eventual winner is never really in doubt.
NBA playoffs are just a joke. |
|
|
| Damo |
| quote: | Originally posted by zarathustra
Still though, the NHL playoffs are IMO by far the most exciting.
The NFL playoffs have been pretty good recently but the Super Bowl used to be a blowout every year.
MLB playoffs are also pretty good but the eventual winner is never really in doubt.
NBA playoffs are just a joke. |
I agree, if you're talking about playoffs, nothing beats the Stanley Cup tourney. it allows any team that's willing to put it all on the line a chance at the finalsa and it's always exciting with hard assed competition in all rounds. LA beat Detroit last year, Edmonton gave Dallas a whole heap of to deal with for how many years. Look at what teams like Florida and Buffalo have done. I was speaking in terms of overall parity. The NFL's collective bargaining agreement is setup in a much more fair and even way than any other league. The NHL, NBA and MLB (especially) have perrenial powerhouses with big ass budgets that can't be topped. The NBA is taking steps in the right direction but MLB is ludicrous. I'd rank it:
1. NFL
2. NHL
3. NBA
4. MLB
Gotta love New England winning the Bowl. |
|
|
| sebby |
Who would've thought the Sharks would be in 2nd right now and
the Stars out of the playoff picture.
What sucks in the east is that you have a very weak division,
with Carolina getting first place with 80-some points and they
get the number 3 position in the east. Washington is 9th and
still has a chance to get home-ice advantage in the first round.
Does anyone see anything wrong with this?
While six teams in the east are already in the playoffs, you
have number 3 seed Carolina who only needs to win one more game
to guarantee that spot. Meanwhile, The Canadiens look like
they're going to get the number 8 seed. Whoever gets the number
6 seed will be so lucky.
Don't even ask me how the west will end up. One thing for sure
is that many people may consider the number 8 seed a no-no, but
with Detroit being number 1 and slumping recently, anythings possible.
What's funny is that out here in the West, we look at the east
as boring. You guys in the east think vice-versa. I'm pretty
sure if I liked a team from the east, I might consider the west boring.
Nevertheless, come playoff time, both the east and west will be overwhelmingly exciting to watch. You wanna know why? Cuz we're
cup crazy. You don't have that in any other sport. (Ok, I admit
the World Cup may be crazier.) :D |
|
|
| zarathustra |
| quote: | Originally posted by Damo
I agree, if you're talking about playoffs, nothing beats the Stanley Cup tourney. it allows any team that's willing to put it all on the line a chance at the finalsa and it's always exciting with hard assed competition in all rounds. LA beat Detroit last year, Edmonton gave Dallas a whole heap of to deal with for how many years. Look at what teams like Florida and Buffalo have done. I was speaking in terms of overall parity. The NFL's collective bargaining agreement is setup in a much more fair and even way than any other league. The NHL, NBA and MLB (especially) have perrenial powerhouses with big ass budgets that can't be topped. The NBA is taking steps in the right direction but MLB is ludicrous. I'd rank it:
1. NFL
2. NHL
3. NBA
4. MLB
Gotta love New England winning the Bowl. |
:) I agree with you there.
Taking this point further, I would say that the NHL is one of the only sports in which you can't buy a championship. Detroit may have a high payroll but they built their team and have the cash to keep it together. On the other hand, the Rangers have had the highest payroll for a while and haven't even made the playoffs in 5 years. For this reason, I think that hockey is the ultimate team sport. |
|
|
| Damo |
| quote: |
Taking this point further, I would say that the NHL is one of the only sports in which you can't buy a championship. Detroit may have a high payroll but they built their team and have the cash to keep it together. |
hmmm, if the Wings DO win the cup this year, would it not seem close to buying a championship? Dominator...Hull....Robitaille.... all in one off season. I guess we'll have to wait and see how things shake down.
| quote: | | On the other hand, the Rangers have had the highest payroll for a while and haven't even made the playoffs in 5 years. For this reason, I think that hockey is the ultimate team sport. |
very true, look at the Rangers in Baseball too. but on the other hand, New York is improving and putting together some high priced talent.... give them time to get the right chemistry and add some more pricy talent and they'll buy themselves into a deep playoff round soon enough. look at what they did in '94....
the NHL better make some changes to it's CBA come 2004 because unlike the NBA, it hasn't been moving in the right direction and prices are starting to get out of hand. 5 Mil for Marty Lapointe? He's a glorified grinder, give me a break. The NHL isn't that bad... but it's getting there. |
|
|
| sebby |
I recently posted that the Bruins may face the Devils
in the eastern conference finals. Seeing that the Devils
are a low seeded team, these two teams might square off
in the second round.
Since there are about 3 games left, I say we all should
make our predictions again after the regular season is over.
That way, we'll know who will play who in the first round.
I just have a strong feeling that the Red Wings will win.
All I ask for is a new champion. By new champion, I mean
teams who haven't won a cup within the last 10 years. I
don't care if it's the Canucks, Leafs, Sharks, Kings (my team),
or any other team who's been suffering from a Stanley Cup
drought. Over the last few years it's been the Wings, Avs,
Devils, and Stars. Time for something new. :rolleyes::rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: |
|
|
| M.A.R.K |
| quote: | Originally posted by sebby All I ask for is a new champion. By new champion, I mean
teams who haven't won a cup within the last 10 years. I
don't care if it's the Canucks, Leafs, Sharks, Kings (my team),
or any other team who's been suffering from a Stanley Cup
drought. Over the last few years it's been the Wings, Avs,
Devils, and Stars. Time for something new. :rolleyes::rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: |
no problem. the canucks will gladly take the 8th seed and destroy those old hags from detroit. we're young and getting better every game. they're old and getting older. :) |
|
|
| sebby |
I'm suprised to see that potential 8th seeded teams
in the east and west are playing their "A+++" game.
The Canucks look really hot. This guy Bertuzzi is
unbreakable, and Naslund is the import of the year.
Let's take a look at goaltending, Cloutier, looking good.
The Oilers got Salo, with some great young forwards.
Stars don't stand a chance.
Meanwhile, in the east you've got the team who came from
nowhere, the Canadiens. Superb goaltending, Jose Theodore
has been named NHL player of the week, with a less than
1.00 GAA in his last 4 outings.
Surprise Surprise, Saku Koivu will be back in action
tommorow. I wish him all the best. You've gotta give it
to the guy. He just did a Lance Armstrong. I don't know
if it will help or affect the Habs. I sure would like to
see them get past the first round.
Of course that would ruin my original prediction,
the Bruins making it to the finals. Can't happen if they
lose to the Habs.
The Playoffs has always been about having experience,
being injury-free, along with superb goaltending. These
three tools mainly support the Wings, Avs and Devils, who
I've said time and time again, do not want to see lift
hockey's holy grail.
I'm a loyal Kings fan who hated the Canucks, Leafs,
and Canadiens because of the 1992 Stanley Cup playoff
run we had. That's over now. Division changes was
probably the reason why. As for the Canadiens, I kinda
don't want to see them win cuz they already won like 24
times. Better them than the Wings, Avs, or Devils.
Ok my hands are about to fall off. Ca n t ty pe an y more..
:eyes: |
|
|
| sebby |
Looks like some teams will end up tied with one another.
How is it determined who is seeded higher?
1)Wins
2)Goal Differential
3)Head-to-head match-ups
Is this right? :conf: Please let me know ASAP. Thanks :) |
|
|
| zarathustra |
| quote: | Originally posted by sebby
Looks like some teams will end up tied with one another.
How is it determined who is seeded higher?
1)Wins
2)Goal Differential
3)Head-to-head match-ups
Is this right? :conf: Please let me know ASAP. Thanks :) |
It's 1,3, 2. |
|
|
|
|
