Who are your Final Four?

Jordo wrote:
That's what I was going to say too StarGate.

Final 8 are going to be

East:
Boston v Philly- which will be a hell of a series
New Jersey v Washington

West:
San Jose vs Calgary (CGY will fall in the standings)
Detroit vs. Chicago (HELL of a series)

Oh wow, the Final 4 in both Conferences are gonna be so much fun!

no one else has faith in Phoenix?

Tukker wrote:no one else has faith in Phoenix?

Not me personally, no. Bryz is pretty good, their D is...unremarkable. Their forwards are...young. We'll see.

Phoenix is a dark horse...but then so is Chicago. They will both be real contenders next year IMHO.

Neely4Life wrote:Boston Philly
Detroit Calgary

This.

San Jose vs. Chicago

Philadelphia vs. Washington

Don't forget that for the last five, maybe six, years that the Cup Finalists have either missed the playoffs or lost in the first round the following year.

Calgary VS Chicago
Washington VS Boston

This probably won't happen but hey.

dennycrane wrote:Don't forget that for the last five, maybe six, years that the Cup Finalists have either missed the playoffs or lost in the first round the following year.

Well, Detroit added Hossa and basically didnt remove any important parts. I dont really see why they would fail soon.

davetherave wrote:Phoenix is a dark horse...but then so is Chicago. They will both be real contenders next year IMHO.

Pheoniz has a looooooooooooong way to go.

Detroit-San Jose
Boston-Washington

Calgary is an also-ran. They've proven less than SJ has since their cup run. Kiprusoff has declined since then too. Phaneuf (expect offensively) is ridiculously overrated. It remains to be seen if guys like Boyd, Moss, and Bourque can contribute like they have been come playoff time.

I think this will be Boston over Detriot in the Final. Boston is just so big and strong and they move the puck as a team exceptionally well. I can't imagine Detroit having that much left in the tank come the Finals.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I'm not betting but I obviously expect another Playoff flop from the Sharks.

I'd rather see them crash and burn now...it's all about that pick...

504Heater wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:
They did, but he wasnt the difference between losing in the finals and winning the cup. He wasnt the difference between getting there and missing out. In the long run, that deal is going to hurt Pitts. They lost their 1st rounders from 07 and 08, plus additional draft picks for Gill.

Pitts is going to have real trouble the next few years and IMO will be forced to deal one of Malkin or Crosby eventually. They will be in the EXACT same position as Ottawa, just with more money tied up in a bad goaltender than we had.

Oh man...they are so screwed it's not even funny. It's happening a lot quicker than I thought it would, but they just don't seem to have the stones to make the requisite moves.

Fleury is an average - to even below average - tender who is making way too much $$.

The moves to make may have been to send out Malkin and Fleury, and shore up their blue line more. They'd still have had Staal and Crosby, with a ton of picks coming from the trades (as well as prospects, if lined up right). They'd have been set for years.

Neely4Life wrote:

davetherave wrote:Phoenix is a dark horse...but then so is Chicago. They will both be real contenders next year IMHO.

Pheoniz has a looooooooooooong way to go.

Not as far as you think 8) ...if they continue to progress next year as they have this one, they will contend. Like Chicago.

Have you watched the 'Yotes play this year?

Acrobat wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I'm not betting but I obviously expect another Playoff flop from the Sharks.

I'd rather see them crash and burn now...it's all about that pick...

:lol!:

Let's worry about the pick we can control

Phoenix has the youth, the skill, the grit, the leadership, the coach, and the goaltending to go far. maybe not this year, but give them time.

What is worth keeping tabs on in this half, IMHO, are...

Can the front runners stay healthy? What possible/likely injuries could scuttle a contender's chances?

Does age become a factor?

Will there be a trade that adds a player that gives one of the teams an extra 'edge'?

What Stanley Cup winning goalie coming back from an injury might help his team upset the favorites?

PS here is a link to Belmont Sports' daily Vegas betting line on the Stanley Cup...for all you folks who like to play the odds...

http://www.belmont.com/live-lines/hockey/nhl-stanley-cup-lines/

:pirat: :pirat:

davetherave wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:

davetherave wrote:Phoenix is a dark horse...but then so is Chicago. They will both be real contenders next year IMHO.

Pheoniz has a looooooooooooong way to go.

Not as far as you think 8) ...if they continue to progress next year as they have this one, they will contend. Like Chicago.

Have you watched the 'Yotes play this year?

YEah, I watch them a lot, kinda keep tabs on them for some reason. They have a long way to go. They take a lot of nights off, they arnt great on the road and too many times does Bryz let in weak ones and gets lit up.

Chicago is way ahead of Pheoniz right now, you can tell when they play each other its not even close.

Chicago is a contender now, Pheonix wont be a contender this year or next even if things stay the same, which I doubt will happen. That team is screwed.