Ice Hockey

Inspired by the number of Canadians I have already seen join the forum I thought this subject might have a chance of flourishing. Even if you aren`t Canadian you can join in.

First topic is of course.

Who will lift the cup this year?

Since I'm a Pittsburgh fan, and had to suffer thruogh the dreaded 2002-2006 era, I'm going to be greedy and say Pittsburgh repeats. Geno, I don't even have to say Crosby yet.

Being from Montreal, my answer is obviously the Habs LOL. But realistically this won't happen. Especially after Markov's injury last night. He's gonna be out for 4 months

Zack, forget the cup. No Markov, no playoffs.

Go leafs! lol jk they are too slow and have a sh*t defense >.< But honestly as long as montreal is out its all GG

Unfortunately I don`t get to watch any of the games. Well actually the way Vancouver's playing it might actually be a good thing. Getting shut out by the Avs....wow. I hope they put it together and get a cup...but my realistic prediction is that this is the year SJ meets Lord Stanley.

SJ will definately be amazing. they do have soooo many all stars, I can't exactly name them all so someone else can .

CuddlesTheBear wrote:SJ will definately be amazing. they do have soooo many all stars, I can't exactly name them all so someone else can .

Well you can start with their top line, who'll all be allstars again this year (Marleau, Thornton, Heatley). Then on defense they have Boyle (all-star again likely this year) and Blake (all-star last year). Even their second line is stacked (Setoguchi, Pavelski, Clowe). And Setoguchi will prolly get 35 goals alone. They do have a weakness though - Nabokov. Nabokov can single-handedly lose them their hopes and dreams once again this year.

Who`s going to get the Calder?

And on the other end. Who is overhyped?

I'd like to say the toronto marlins, but I don't follow the AHL tooooo much. On the other hand, who follows the OHL? I think oshawa gens will win it all this year

I don't think many people are following the OHL here. Only a few of us are in Eastern Canada. I'll say either Windsor Spitfires or London Knights. In the AHL I'm very bias for the baby Pens even though Goligoski, Curry, and others have been promoted to Pittsburgh. And btw, the Marlins are the only good hockey team in T.O.

I was thinking Rookies, not AHL. Guess I should give more detail.

I could tell ya who is going to win the AIHL(Asian Ice Hockey League) but I`m sure no one cares.

Well the odds on favourite is Tavares. Contrary to popular belief, I think he'll get a lotta points on the PP, simply because they have Streit back there to help. Also, since the Isles only chance of survival is to milk the Tavares centered team, they will have to play him as much as possible.

Other possibilities in my mind are: Nikita Filatov (wild card with loads of scoring potential)
Ville Leino (gonna play second line in Detroit to cover for Hossa, 25-30 goals)
Cody Hodgson (simply brilliant, but playing behind Kesler and Sedin)
Erik Karlsson (there is actually a good blueliner in Ottawa, a
one dimensional player, but none the less, still good)

I'll have to go with Tavares, but I am very bias. I grew up in the same school board as him, I even remember him facing our school in hockey (I forget his high school but he is from a near by city) and I also loved watching him on the power play when he played for the gens. When our schools met it was half of the time us playing and half of time us watching him in awe. He's definately a fun player to watch. But honestly, when he was on the gens, he got a goal 2/3 power plays.

Not gonna be Hodgson, he was sent back to the OHL before the end of training camp. Might have a chance at the Calder next year if he improves his skating. Which just happens to be the knock on Tavares too. Do you think he has a chance at the Calder if he is a -80 in +/-?

My money is on Leino, he plays for a good team with high caliber linemates, in a prominent role. Sounds like a formula to win the Calder if there ever was such a thing.

What do you mean? Tavares is playing now and I think he will have a ton of ice time. Heck, he's already got a goal I think. If you ask me, he's probably going to be the man pulling the islanders forward

He means that the Islanders suck. I think that Tavares will still be Calder. Only he has the potential to go over a point a game amongst the freshmen this year.

Well.. no ones talking about hockey anymore.. kinda makes me sad... Well lets try and keep this going. So how about them leafs? Who wants to discuss why they suck for fun? lol

The leafs suck because they have a crappy defense, no-name forwards, and a poor inexperienced goalie playing his first season in this continent. Then we get to their defensive zone coverage: awful. They have one good offensive defensemen which you need 2 to be good, and usually 3 to win a championship (see Pittsburgh, Detroit, New Jersey, Anaheim).

Hey zack... how about that habs game? 55 shots against!!! To Nashville...

Jeez, no hockey talk lately.. so how about them Isle almost being in playoff range, That tavares is really something down there...

The Isles are not a one man team. They have young players developing around Tavares, with input from wingers Matt Moulson and Kyle Okposo, D-man Mark Streit and great goaltending from the ageless Roloson. What they don't have is depth... or secondary scoring. The very reason they will not be seen in May.

I agree with that. but I think that whole team has potential. unfortunately what probably will happen is some stupid GM will trade those youngster for old farts out of thier prime, then they'll be the same old Isles we once knew.

Canada goin for gold

I'm from Holland and ice hockey ain't popular here (unlike normal hockey) so I don't know much about it.
Well, except that the referee allows players to fight with each other.