DKH
The Bergeron of HF
- Feb 27, 2002
- 74,130
- 51,766
This will be harder than usual because one or two teams are going to get boxed out out of the gate and have a tough time getting back on track.
There are 4 teams I like a lot in the East and a 5th who had a hichup but should be in the mix
TOP 5 in order
1. RANGERS- Nash is exactly what they needed; biggest flaws could be injuries with this team as Torts will ride them hard even if he thinks he's not; and really blocking pucks eventually will lead to an injury- just ask Ryan Callahan.
KEY PLAYER- Nash
2. BRUINS- if I went into a coma from eating one of JJ's free sausage subs (and I am going for it) and woke up July 4th and could ask one question about the just completed Boston season- it would be how Rask played. If it was outstanding I'd say they won the Cup; anything else I'd say they got stalled somewhere (maybe by the Stall's even
)
KEY PLAYER- Rask
3. FLIGHTLESS BIRDS- Crosby is the key here; they are somehow flying under the radar. They have a very good coach, pretty decent and deep young blueline group, and lots of very good forwards. I actually think they are better than the Rangers but I hate them
KEY PLAYER- Crosby (I hope he returns to greatness, but goes Cup-less)
4. WASHINGTON- Oates will be great- really smaht guy, and just a down to earth good person. There are ECHL players who were more cocky about their game than this guy. He was as well-rounded as they come as a player and was Johnny Bucyk tough- clean but played all three zones. One of my favorites all-time and he'll have respect with these guys and is balanced which is what this lineup could use. He will be a great coach, leader, and these guys will not press and learn to breathe and probably win and play together while they are approaching zen-like consciousness
They are my sleeper team.
KEY PLAYER- AO (who else but he needs to get close to what he was and can), honorable mention Oates (hey, they are both AO)
5. TAMPA BAY- got a goalie, have some nice young forwards coming in to add to the core; good coach, very good GM, great owner.
KEY PLAYER- G Anders Lindback
THE BOTTOM 5 who can dream of Seth Jones, and the Halifax duo: Drouin and McKinnnon
15. WINNIPEG- (watch them beat Boston Monday
) travel has to somewhat suck, and Big Buff looked like he was ready to protect Brady more than Pavelec this weekend. Burmistrov looked and played miserably in the AHL and thats a bad sign to me- there is always Blake Wheeler & Evander Kane for Bruins fans. Might not be a bad idea to suck for this year though with the talent at the top of the draft.
14. ISLANDERS- one of these days they are going to pull a Los Angeles Clippers type turnaround on the hockey world and be good. Don't see it this year. Some interesting talent coming in with Strome and Nino but still just not deep enough. Boy would Seth Jones be the perfect guy for this franchise. I'd pull the goalie even with leads just to make sure I can get this guy.
13. FLORIDA- not sure they can replicate last year and they do have a lot of young talent on the way, but the team is a collection of real good third liners, and low end second liners to me. Huberdeau & Markstrom are on the way but for atleast this year- expect sparse crowds and a sunny pick.
12. NEW JERSEY- Losing Parise is like losing the long time loving family dog. You can't relace him or her, EVERYTHING reminds you of him and the feeling is just there. Henrique has been hobbled, the Goalie played in the OLD Garden, David Clarkson aint getting that production, and the D even with Larsson is still meh to me.
11. TORONTO- Team seems just stick in purgatory. They have some good players but no great players. I like getting JVR but as a US Senator once said of porn- "you know it when you see it." Well, I know a mess when I see it and Toronto is it.
the 5 who made neither include the Flyers, Senators, Sabres, Canadiens, and Canes
It would not suprise me if the Flyers and Canes especially make the top group. The Canes have lost though super PIA Tomas Ruuttu so that hurts. But they are an interesting team and should make the playoffs with health.
The Sens, Canadiens, and Sabres all could grab one of the lower playoff spots but all have some issues.
There you go
also, best game to see would be a Pittsburgh-Rangers matchup.
There are 4 teams I like a lot in the East and a 5th who had a hichup but should be in the mix
TOP 5 in order
1. RANGERS- Nash is exactly what they needed; biggest flaws could be injuries with this team as Torts will ride them hard even if he thinks he's not; and really blocking pucks eventually will lead to an injury- just ask Ryan Callahan.
KEY PLAYER- Nash
2. BRUINS- if I went into a coma from eating one of JJ's free sausage subs (and I am going for it) and woke up July 4th and could ask one question about the just completed Boston season- it would be how Rask played. If it was outstanding I'd say they won the Cup; anything else I'd say they got stalled somewhere (maybe by the Stall's even
)KEY PLAYER- Rask
3. FLIGHTLESS BIRDS- Crosby is the key here; they are somehow flying under the radar. They have a very good coach, pretty decent and deep young blueline group, and lots of very good forwards. I actually think they are better than the Rangers but I hate them
KEY PLAYER- Crosby (I hope he returns to greatness, but goes Cup-less)
4. WASHINGTON- Oates will be great- really smaht guy, and just a down to earth good person. There are ECHL players who were more cocky about their game than this guy. He was as well-rounded as they come as a player and was Johnny Bucyk tough- clean but played all three zones. One of my favorites all-time and he'll have respect with these guys and is balanced which is what this lineup could use. He will be a great coach, leader, and these guys will not press and learn to breathe and probably win and play together while they are approaching zen-like consciousness
They are my sleeper team.
KEY PLAYER- AO (who else but he needs to get close to what he was and can), honorable mention Oates (hey, they are both AO)
5. TAMPA BAY- got a goalie, have some nice young forwards coming in to add to the core; good coach, very good GM, great owner.
KEY PLAYER- G Anders Lindback
THE BOTTOM 5 who can dream of Seth Jones, and the Halifax duo: Drouin and McKinnnon
15. WINNIPEG- (watch them beat Boston Monday
) travel has to somewhat suck, and Big Buff looked like he was ready to protect Brady more than Pavelec this weekend. Burmistrov looked and played miserably in the AHL and thats a bad sign to me- there is always Blake Wheeler & Evander Kane for Bruins fans. Might not be a bad idea to suck for this year though with the talent at the top of the draft.14. ISLANDERS- one of these days they are going to pull a Los Angeles Clippers type turnaround on the hockey world and be good. Don't see it this year. Some interesting talent coming in with Strome and Nino but still just not deep enough. Boy would Seth Jones be the perfect guy for this franchise. I'd pull the goalie even with leads just to make sure I can get this guy.
13. FLORIDA- not sure they can replicate last year and they do have a lot of young talent on the way, but the team is a collection of real good third liners, and low end second liners to me. Huberdeau & Markstrom are on the way but for atleast this year- expect sparse crowds and a sunny pick.
12. NEW JERSEY- Losing Parise is like losing the long time loving family dog. You can't relace him or her, EVERYTHING reminds you of him and the feeling is just there. Henrique has been hobbled, the Goalie played in the OLD Garden, David Clarkson aint getting that production, and the D even with Larsson is still meh to me.
11. TORONTO- Team seems just stick in purgatory. They have some good players but no great players. I like getting JVR but as a US Senator once said of porn- "you know it when you see it." Well, I know a mess when I see it and Toronto is it.
the 5 who made neither include the Flyers, Senators, Sabres, Canadiens, and Canes
It would not suprise me if the Flyers and Canes especially make the top group. The Canes have lost though super PIA Tomas Ruuttu so that hurts. But they are an interesting team and should make the playoffs with health.
The Sens, Canadiens, and Sabres all could grab one of the lower playoff spots but all have some issues.
There you go
also, best game to see would be a Pittsburgh-Rangers matchup.
