2008 Predictions

[ch_nl]

So the season has started and yet we haven't had a final standings prediction.

So I'll start

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Montreal Canadiens

2. Washington Capitals

3. Pittsburgh Penguins

4. Philadelphia Flyers

5. New Jersey Devils

6. Tampa Bay Lightnings

7. Ottawa Senators

8. New York Rangers

9. New York Islanders

10. Buffalo Sabres

11. Boston Bruins

12. Florida Panthers

13. Atlanta Thrashers

14. Carolina Hurricanes

15. Toronto Maple Leafs

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit Red Wings

2. Vancouver Canucks

3. Chicago Blackhawks

4. Anaheim Ducks

5. Los Angeles Kings

6. Calgary Flames

7. San Jose Sharks

8. Dallas Stars

9. St Louis Blues

10. Colorado Avalanche

11. Edmonton Oilers

12. Minnesota Wild

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

14. Nashville Predators

15. Phoenix Coyotes

Calder Trophy: Steve Stamkos. Runner Up: Patric Hörnqvist

Rocket Richard: Alexander Ovechkin

[Colin]

Prediction: 15 minutes after our first loss there will be calls for some players to be dumped, others to be called up, and for Saku to be traded because he didn't have the leadership to help the team win.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

So the season has started and yet we haven't had a final standings prediction.

So I'll start

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Montreal Canadiens

2. Washington Capitals

3. Pittsburgh Penguins

4. Philadelphia Flyers

5. New Jersey Devils

6. Tampa Bay Lightnings

7. Ottawa Senators

8. New York Rangers

9. New York Islanders

10. Buffalo Sabres

11. Boston Bruins

12. Florida Panthers

13. Atlanta Thrashers

14. Carolina Hurricanes

15. Toronto Maple Leafs

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit Red Wings

2. Vancouver Canucks

3. Chicago Blackhawks

4. Anaheim Ducks

5. Los Angeles Kings

6. Calgary Flames

7. San Jose Sharks

8. Dallas Stars

9. St Louis Blues

10. Colorado Avalanche

11. Edmonton Oilers

12. Minnesota Wild

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

14. Nashville Predators

15. Phoenix Coyotes

Calder Trophy: Steve Stamkos. Runner Up: Patric Hörnqvist

Rocket Richard: Alexander Ovechkin

Well, no list from me, but some comments:

I'd put the Bruins in and the Lightning out, in the East. Tampa has a lot of new elements to integrate, and I'm always skeptical about that - to say nothing of a dodgy blueline. Boston, meanwhile, has Bergeron back, they've added a Ryder who can reasonably be expected to return to form, and Julien's system ensures competitiveness. I also think TO will be more competitive than last place, just because they're young guys playing with absolutely zero pressure. I half-expect them to eke out wins and hang around 10th or 11th place until the final quarter of the season.

I like the fact that you've got the Canucks in the mix (not because I support the team, I just think they're artifically devalued because of patently stupid ownership moves like the firing of the GM, and because their entire D was injured last season). But Calgary might be overrated in your list - I suspect they might drop out of the playoffs in favour of either Phoenix or Edmonton or Minnesota. As for the LA pick, whoo boy, that defies common sense considering the team has lost Visnovsky and has no goaltender. I say they'll be out, Edmonton will be in.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ryan "I'd rather play in Colorado than Montreal because I want to be on a winner" Smyth can enjoy flailing around on a team that *probably* won't make the dance this season. Ah sweet karma.

[markierung]

East:

1. Montreal

2. New York Rangers

3. Washington

4. Pittsburgh

5. Philly

6. Ottawa

7. New Jersey

8. Boston

9. Buffalo

10. Tampa Bay

11. Florida

12. Carolina

13. Atlanta

14. Toronto

15. NYI

West

1. Detroit

2. Dallas

3. Calgary

4. San Jose

5. Anaheim

6. Vancouver

7. Minnesota

8. Chicago

9. EDM

10. PHO

11. Colorado

12. Columbus

13. Nashville

14. St-Louis

15. LA

Presidents Trophy: Detroit

Hart Trophy: Luongo

Vezina: Luongo

Calder: Turris

Norris: Lidstrom

Art Ross: Ovechkin

Richard: Ovechkin

Special Habs Predictions:

Latendresse: 22 goals, 20 assists

[jetsniper]

Meanwhile, Mr. Ryan "I'd rather play in Colorado than Montreal because I want to be on a winner" Smyth can enjoy flailing around on a team that *probably* won't make the dance this season. Ah sweet karma.

He never said that. I mean, He'd just signed on a team that missed the playoffs. He wanted to play with Sakic, hence Sakic personally phoning him. And now they live a couple houses away and carpool together. Seriously. He's a shitty fit for the makeup of the Habs anyway so who cares.

I like how we were a top 10 team last year even though we were 6th in the league in man-games lost. We finished 6th and were still competing for the division with an AHL team, basically. Full seasons out of Smyth, Stastny, Sakic, Svatos should all go a long way. Plus now we're getting Foote and Salei for a full season.

And I know goaltending is the main question but it's just as big of a question now as it was this time last season. Budaj was our projected starter last year while Raycroft has the same question mark now that Theodore had a year ago. Yet last year we were predicted to win the division (some saw us as Cup darkhorse) and now we're one of the worst in the West?

We've got the best group of forwards in the NW and our overall defense corps is probably second only to Vancouver. That more then makes up for what some people say is average goaltending. Budaj though has a 30 win season to his name and a career NHL record of 61-36-16 (mostly behind worse teams on paper). His GAA has come down every year and his save % has consistently stayed around .905. Thats not going to get him a Veznia but it's good enough to get a team a good playoff spot.

Edited October 5, 2008 by jetsniper

[JMMR]

Prediction: 15 minutes after our first loss there will be calls for some players to be dumped, others to be called up, and for Saku to be traded because he didn't have the leadership to help the team win.

And again in Jan. or Feb when he hits his scoring slump.

[BTH]

East:

1. Montreal

2. Pittsburgh

3. Washington

4. Philadelphia

5. New Jersey

6. New York Rangers

7. Boston

8. Tampa Bay

9. Ottawa

10. Carolina

11. Buffalo

12. Toronto

13. Atlanta

14. Florida

15. New York Islanders

West

1. Detroit

2. Dallas

3. Calgary

4. San Jose

5. Colorado

6. Vancouver

7. Anaheim

8. Chicago

9. Edmonton

10. Phoenix

11. Minnesota

12. Nashville

13. Los Angeles

14. Columbus

15. St. Louis

Presidents Trophy: Detroit

Hart Trophy: Iginla

Vezina: Luongo

Calder: Stamkos

Norris: Lidstrom

Art Ross: Ovechkin

Richard: Ovechkin

Special Habs Predictions:

Cup Finals: Habs win over Calgary. (Honestly.)

Edited October 5, 2008 by BTH

[CerebusClone]

Eastern

1.New Jersey

2.Montreal

3.Carolina

4.Philadelphia

5.NY Rangers

6.Pittsburg

7.Boston

8.Ottawa

Washington

Florida

Buffalo

Tampa Bay

Toronto

NY Islanders

Atlanta

Western

1.Detroit

2.San Jose

3.Minnesota

4.Calgary

5.Dallas

6.Anaheim

7.Colorado

8.Phoenix

Chicago

Vancouver

Edmonton

St. Louis

Los Angeles

Nashville

Columbus

Presidents Trophy: Detroit

Hart Trophy: Zetterberg

Vezina: Brodeur

Calder: Boedker

Norris: Lidstrom

Art Ross: Thornton

Richard: Ovechkin

Special Habs Predictions: Saku Koivu leads the team in scoring with his first 80+ point season

Edited October 8, 2008 by CerebusClone

[MAK]

East

1-Philly

2-Montreal

3-Washington

4-Rangers

5-Boston

6-Pittsburgh

7-New jerzey

8-Ottawa

Carolina

Buffalo

Toronto

Florida

Tampa

Islanders

Atlanta

Weat

1-Detoit

2-San Jose

3-Edmonton

4-Anaheim

5-Calgary

6-Dallas

7-Chicago

8-minnesota

Nashville

Phoenix

Columbus

Vancouver

Colorado

L.A.

St-Louis

Norris:Lidstrom

Masterton: Bergeron

HArt: Ovechkin

Vézina: Nabokov

Rocket Richard: Ovechkin

Lady bing: Datsyuk

Selke: Datsyuk

Jack Adams: Mac Tavish

Calder: Brunstrom

Habs prediction: two potential UFAs will be signed by Christmas

Edited October 7, 2008 by marky_and_komi

[MAK]

Prediction: 15 minutes after our first loss there will be calls for some players to be dumped, others to be called up, and for Saku to be traded because he didn't have the leadership to help the team win.

Francophone media/fanswill think that Guillaume is a God

anglophone media/fans will think he's a goat.

I do think he will realise that his bread and butter are garbage goals. Guillaume the Grouch would be a great good nickname if puts his nose in it more often this year!!

[Jean]

East

1- Habs

2 - Philly

3 - Washington

4- Bruins

5 - Pittsburgh

6 - Carolina

7 - New Jersey

8 - Tampa

9 - Buffalo

10 - Ottawa

11- Rangers

12 - Florida

13 - Toronto

14 - Atlanta

15 - Islanders

West

1- Detroit

2 - San Jose

3 - Minny

4 - Dallas

5 - Anaheim

6 - Chicago

7 - Calgary

8 - Phoenix

9 - Edmonton

10 - Vancouver

11 - Nashville

12 - Colorado

13 - St Louis

14 - Columbus

15 - LA

[lazy26]

Eastern Conference

1 - Montreal

2 - Washington

3 - Pittsburgh

4- Philadelphia

5 - Boston

6 - Rangers

7 - New Jersey

8 - Ottawa

9 - Buffalo

10 - Tampa Bay

11- Carolina

12 - Florida

13 - Toronto

14 - Atlanta

15 - Islanders

Western Conference

1 - Detroit

2 - Anaheim

3 - Vancouver

4 - Dallas

5 - Chicago

6 - San Jose

7 - Phoenix

8 - Edmonton

9 - Nashville

10 - Minnesota

11 - Calgary

12 - Colorado

13 - Columbus

14 - St Louis

15 - Los Angeles

Norris: Lidstrom

Masterton: Bergeron

Art Ross: Crosby

Hart: Luongo

Vezina: Luongo

Jennings: Osgood/Conklin

Rocket Richard: Ovechkin

Lady Bing: Datsyuk

Selke: Zetterberg

Jack Adams: Carbonneau

Calder: Stamkos

[CerebusClone]

Norris: Lidstrom

Masterton: Bergeron

Art Ross: Crosby

Hart: Luongo

Vezina: Luongo

Jennings: Osgood/Conklin

Rocket Richard: Ovechkin

Lady Bing: Datsyuk

Selke: Zetterberg

Jack Adams: CarbonneauCalder: Stamkos

Actually Carbonneau missed his opportunity last season, the people who vote are too lazy to actually analyze the work of coaches throughout the league, and recently the Jack Adams simply goes to whoever is standing behind the team that surprised the most. Last year in Washington, once the coach was removed, Ovechkin became a freakishly dominant force, and the players played on the edge for the remainder of the season like there was no tomorrow; this allowed the team to cause a huge upset, and qualify for the playoffs.

This allowed Bruce Boudreau to win the Jack Adams... but had the Capitals lost only one extra game to the Hurricanes, they would not have qualified for the playoffs, and Boudreau most likely would not have won the Jack Adams.

This year the Canadiens are expected to be a top contender, and considering that Mike Babcock - whose team played nearly flawless hockey all season long (except for a short slump) - didn't win it, I don't see how Carbonneau would... unless the 100th year anniversary becomes a factor for people who vote...

[lazy26]

Actually Carbonneau missed his opportunity last season, the people who vote are too lazy to actually analyze the work of coaches throughout the league, and recently the Jack Adams simply goes to whoever is standing behind the team that surprised the most. Last year in Washington, once the coach was removed, Ovechkin became a freakishly dominant force, and the players played on the edge for the remainder of the season like there was no tomorrow; this allowed the team to cause a huge upset, and qualify for the playoffs.

This allowed Bruce Boudreau to win the Jack Adams... but had the Capitals lost only one extra game to the Hurricanes, they would not have qualified for the playoffs, and Boudreau most likely would not have won the Jack Adams.

This year the Canadiens are expected to be a top contender, and considering that Mike Babcock - whose team played nearly flawless hockey all season long (except for a short slump) - didn't win it, I don't see how Carbonneau would... unless the 100th year anniversary becomes a factor for people who vote...

I'm banking on a the 100th year anniversary and a Cup win for the Jack Adams nod. But otherwise I agree with everything you said.

[jetsniper]

I'm banking on a the 100th year anniversary and a Cup win for the Jack Adams nod. But otherwise I agree with everything you said.

You mean because of a Cup win? The voting is all done before the playoffs start.

[habs rule]

Prediction: 15 minutes after our first loss there will be calls for some players to be dumped, others to be called up, and for Saku to be traded because he didn't have the leadership to help the team win.

and don't forget carbo must fired immediately lol :hlogo:

[MMPL]

EAST:

1. MON

2. NYR

3. WAS

4. PHI

5. PIT

6. NJD

7. BOS

8. OTT

9. BUF

10. CAR

11. TBL

12. FLA

13. NYI

14. TOR

15. ATL

WEST:

1. DET

2. SAN

3. CAL

4. DAL

5. MIN

6. ANA

7. EDM

8. COL

9. PHO

10. CHI

11. VAN

12. CBJ

13. STL

14. NAS

15. LA

[lazy26]

You mean because of a Cup win? The voting is all done before the playoffs start.

Yes, I worded that poorly. I meant more by being a legitimate Cup contender.