Where Do We Finish (Playoffs)?

[LiveeviL]

Conference finals would be good enough this season...

 

[deadinthewater]

Hmmm:

1. Chicago
2. Anaheim
3. Minnesota
4. Los Angeles
5. St. Louis
6. Detroit
7. Vancouver
8. San Jose

Chicago over San Jose in 5
Anaheim over Vancouver in 6
Detroit over Minnesota in 7
LA over St. Louis in 5

Chicago over Detroit in 7
Anaheim over LA in 6

Chicago over Anaheim in 6

Chicago over Montreal in 5

A little off topic, but weren't you the one that wanted a top six winger and was fine with Shroeder at 3C, despite what the rest (or most) of the board was saying? So if we end up rolling:

Higgins-Kesler-Roy
Raymond-Shroeder-Hansen

what is the problem?

 

[vector209]

Hmmm:

1. Chicago
2. Anaheim
3. Minnesota
4. Los Angeles
5. St. Louis
6. Detroit
7. Vancouver
8. San Jose

Chicago over San Jose in 5
Anaheim over Vancouver in 6
Detroit over Minnesota in 7
LA over St. Louis in 5

Chicago over Detroit in 7
Anaheim over LA in 6

Chicago over Anaheim in 6

Chicago over Montreal in 5

Quite the pessimist, huh?

Be happy. Don' worry, be happy right now.

 

[Patchey*]

I have a feeling it will be the second round, but in all honesty, I wouldn't be surprised if we went out in the first round, or even the third. This team is capable of winning, they just need to get over the mental humps.

 

[professorchaos]

If Schneider pulls a Halak (Montreal style) we have a chance of reaching the second round.

First round exit seems much more likely however.

 

[Derp Kassian]

Why? There are one of the least intimidating teams in the West imo

LA least intimidating? you're fooling yourself if you say that. We can beat them but they are no doubt a deeper team in all areas. We might have a more solid D with their injuries but they still have superior puck movers and a dangerous top6.

If Schneider pulls a Halak (Montreal style) we have a chance of reaching the second round.

First round exit seems much more likely however.

This team is nowhere near as bad as that Montreal team when healthy where Schneider would have to play like Halak. You will see the trickle down effect of just having Kesler and Roy in the lineup. We won't be routinely outshot and out-possessed like that MTL team was. We already are one of the top 5 possession teams with only 1 top 9 center.

 

[Virtanen2Horvat]

I really want to say Champs and I hope we are the CHAMPS!! but I am gonna say semis or conference finals.

 

[Dr Awesome]

Semis unless the team can get rolling without hampering issues

 

[Royal Canuck]

Ask me with any team on any given year.

Cup Champions.

 

[LeftCoast]

It's been a really up and down season, however I think if we can get healthy, we have as solid a lineup as anyone. If we hold onto 3rd seed, I'm confident we can get out of the first round, after that, it depends on what team is playing well and what the match up is.

The addition of Roy really solidifies our lineup down the middle, particularly when Kesler returns. Roy is the type of player that I hope/think/pray Jordan Schroeder develops into.

It would have been nice to get Torres or Clowe, but we have a lot of flexibility in our wingers. Burrows, Hansen, Raymond and Higgins can play on any line and provide offense without giving up defensive play. Kassian has had his ups and downs, but he brings size and some nastiness (if inconsistently). If our 4th line ends up as Weise, Lappy and Pinnizzoto I can live with that.

Our defense as a group can step it up a notch. Edler in particular has had a rough year both offensively and defensively. Ballard had a good start, but has managed to find his way back to AV's doghouse.

We are obviously strong in net.

There are three areas that the team can improve on for the playoffs:

1. The power play has been brutal. Hopefully the return of Ryan Kesler and having Derek Roy on the 2nd unit will improve things. Having Kesler in the slot could prevent teams from pressuring our point men as much and open up some shooting lanes. A more consistent playmaker on the 2nd unit will also help.

2. We are not generating enough scoring chances, our shots for per game (28.2) is 19th, grouped in with St. Louis, New Jersey, Buffalo, Winnipeg and Minnesota.

3. Face-offs. A major component of the Mike Gillis / Alain Vigneault numbers based system is based on zone starts. Giving the Sedins favourable zone starts means that our 2nd, 3rd and 4th lines are going to take the majority of their face-offs in the defensive or neutral zones. We are not winning these face-offs as we are missing 2 of the top face-off centres in the league in Kesler and Malhotra. Malhotra is not returning, but Kesler (who generally gets fairly balanced zone starts) and Roy will improve this situation. Ebbett (38%) has been brutal and Schroeder (43%) is below average (but not bad for a rookie). Henrick is uncharacteristically below 50% at 49% and which hurts the set plays off of face-offs. Roy is about 46% on the year.