2009-10 NHL Thread

[BadKarma]

Well my Ranger season tickets just got here so I Figured its that time of the year again. The greatest sport on Earth time. Yay Hockey!

[Tyche]

Title fails, at least acknowledge your 100 year anniversary of professional hockey in america. Oh, and the season opens in less than a month. Get to it, what a terrible way to open the thread.

[BadKarma]

Title fails, at least acknowledge your 100 year anniversary of professional hockey in america. Oh, and the season opens in less than a month. Get to it, what a terrible way to open the thread.

Im not creative

[friedfunk]

Have fun with Gaborik, you'll be lucky to get 50 games out of him.

[BadKarma]

Have fun with Gaborik, you'll be lucky to get 50 games out of him.

Rangers have the best training staff in the NHL so im not worried. Its all about the King here in New York though :3

[Richybear]

Already picked up my 2 hockey pool books.
Just laughing that The Hockey News has Philly as their pick to win the Stanley Cup. That's putting a LOT of faith in Pronger and/or Ray Emery deciding he feels like showing up.

In related NHL news, Vancouver locked up Luongo for 12 years / $64M.

Living in Edmonton, I'm kinda excited to see how Quinn attempts to turn this team around. If nothing else, I just hope Gagner has a breakout season.

A bunch of movement from my favorite team in Montreal, but they're no different really than last season. Losing Komisarek, Tanguay, Kovalev and Koivu to bring in Spacek, Gionta, Cammalleri and lolGomez doesn't appear to be a step forward or backward.

[Viq]

Here's hoping I get my name drawn to buy Winter Classic tickets next month. /crossfingers

[Gadritan]

Can't wait to see Aaron Ward in black and red again :D

[Palin]

So pumped.

The Western Conference should be a lot of fun this season. A lot of teams got stronger, and a lot of teams are building off success from last year. I'm really excited to see if my Stars from the '08 playoffs or if the Stars from last year's regular season show up this year. I'm also pumped I got to nab a ticket to the only Florida game they're travelling to this entire season. So what if its the pre-season.

Predictions anyone?

[Ratatapa]

Hoping the Habs do better this year.

Martin is a good coach so hope he can get them all in good shape. Physicly and mantaly

[Gadritan]

Predictions anyone?

Canes take it all. Duh.

[BadKarma]

Canes take it all. Duh.

My Predictions.
Eastern
1.Boston (unless Thomas comes back down to Earth)
2.Pittsburgh
3.Washington
4.Philadelphia
5.Montreal
6.New Jersey
7.New York Rangers
8.Carolina or Buffalo

Western (Who cares with Detroit in this conference its just a formality anyway)
1.Detroit
2.San Jose
3.Calgary
4.Chicago
5.St.Louis
6.Anaheim
7.Vancouver
8.Columbus

[Palin]

I don't think Detroit will be the powerhouse it was the last few years. They lost a lot of depth due to cap space, and are going to need time to work their kids up to the elite level. That being said, they're Detroit; so expect them to be President's Trophy winners again in 2-3 years with their kids. That team has such amazing scouting.

I think Chicago is set to win this year. It's cup or bust for them with their cap space issues next year. I see them taking the Conference.

East:

1. Boston
2. Washington
3. Philly
4. New Jersey
5. Pittsburgh
6. Rangers
7. Carolina
8. Buffalo or MTL

West:

1. Chicago
2. Calgary
3. San Jose
4. Detroit
5. Vancouver
6. Dallas (homer optimism)
7. Anaheim
8. St. Loius/Columbus/Minnesota

[Richybear]

Also, as a Habs fan, I hope Koivu and Teemu click in Anaheim.
That being said, my regular season predictions: Detroit will take the West, and Pittsburgh in the East as far as the standings go.
I'd love to see a Chicago / Pittsburgh finals, so Crosby can be like "Oh hey, Mary Ann! No Stanley for you again this year. "

[Ishido]

Only thing that worries me this year for the Wings is the goaltending. If Osgood puts up another mediocre regular season, we don't have a backup that will perform as well as Conklin this year. With one less superstar forward the Wings will have to get back to the '08 levels of defense, while hopefully still maintaining good goal scoring, given that the only big asset we lost there is Hossa.

Hoping Bertuzzi doesn't do any dumb shit.

I don't see Chicago living up to expectations (meaning dominating) but they will probably do quite well. If they don't they will have huge problems in the years to come.

[Melena]

The Sharks will again lock up the #1 or 2 seed this year, only to choke in the second round of the playoffs. It's like the sports version of Groundhogs Day for Sharks Fans.

[Sepukku]

East:
1. Boston
2. Washington
3. Philly
4. New Jersey
5. Pittsburgh
6. Rangers
7. Carolina
8. Buffalo or MTL

Really?!?! REALLY? REALLY. Pittsburgh FIFTH?!?! OK, OK. I can see how possibly, from an unbiased point of view, you put Philly over Pittsburgh. But NEW JERSEY over Pittsburgh, given who they've let go?

My East looks like this:
1. Washington
2. Pittsburgh
3. Boston
4. Philly
5. Carolina
6. New Jersey
7. Buffalo (Ryan Miller stays healthy come March)
8. New York Rangers (Gaborik = Goat)

My West looks like this:
1. Chicago
2. San Jose
3. Calgary
4. Detroit
5. St. Louis (ballsy sleeper)
6. Anaheim (aslong as Scott Neidermeyer continues to play, they'll continue to contend)
7. Columbus
8. LA Kings

But lets all remember whats really at the heart here. The Pittsburgh Penguins are the best. You all hate, but you all love the Penguins secretly. You loved when they eliminated Failadelphia and their all-mighty demi-God Kimmo Timmonen. You loved Varlamov crying in the locker room. You LOVED Max Talbot from downtown on Chris Osgood.

Final note: Can't wait to draft my fantasy team.

[Ratatapa]

My predictions

East

1) Washington
2)Philadelphia
3)Ottawa
4)Carolina
5)Pittsburgh
6)New JErsey
7)Rangers
8 )Montreal

West

1)Detroit
2)San Jose
3) Vancouver
4)Chicago
5)Calgary
6)Anaheim
7)Dallas
8 ) Columbus

[BadKarma]

Really?!?! REALLY? REALLY. Pittsburgh FIFTH?!?! OK, OK. I can see how possibly, from an unbiased point of view, you put Philly over Pittsburgh. But NEW JERSEY over Pittsburgh, given who they've let go?

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/butthurt.jpg


Brah

[Sepukku]

We'll see whos butthurt come April. Penguins going for back to back Cups again!!