2006-07 NHL Predictions
- Thread starter picasso
- Start date
joelcairo said:
Well JC, your predictably canned response just validates my point. It is a fact that the Habs are among four teams (Colorado, LA and Philly) with the most money under the cap (expected be $47-$49M) to spend when free agency starts on July 1. I fully expect them to pursue some big names such as Daniel Briere to boost their offense.
femaleluver2 said:
Worst thing is,back in 1998, I think,Briere was offered to all nhl teams including the Habs.His agent even got a verbal agreement with then Habs dj Rejean Houle.All that was left to do was to Briere's agent to send the paperworks via fax.In the meantime,Houle changed his mind--he tought Briere was too small and the team had a lot of small players back then,so he called up Briere's agent and cancelled the deal.
And instead they settle for the infamous Juha Lind,remember him???
This kind of bad management killed the team.Not to mention trading Pierre Turgeon who was in his prime for declining underachiever overrated bum Shane Corson!
As for the pressure in Montreal it is not worse than in Ny for the Yankees,Boston for Celtics and Red Sox,Dallas for the Cowboys and so on.
Those sissies who can't perform under pressure are not worth beign professional athlethes.Guys like Mark Messier and Reggie Jackson thrieved under pressure they even put pressure on themselves to perform.
Kovalev's offensive problems have very liitle to do with defensive system.They had the same problem with him in NY and Pittsburgh--lazy bastartd who's only in it for the paycheck.And both these teams had offensive system.Kovalev was given all the chance in the world.Samsonov is another gutless little sissie who's only in it foe the paycheck and plays like a ballerina.
Doc Holliday said:
"Players don't want to play in Montreal" is a myth. And that myth was recently debunked by a study which placed Montreal in the top 10 (can't remember exact rank) cities where players would most like to play.
What system is that? I don't know if you have noticed, but hockey has changed with the new rules.
It becomes increasingly difficult to trap, hook, and grab your way to victories these days. Teams who have and will have success will be built on speed and ability. Of course, if you have less offensive power than other teams, you have to play somewhat of a more defensive game.How do you explain the fact that Ryder scored 30 goals, and Plekanec got 17 goals from the all-star break onwards? And you don't think Briere could score 35? Samsonov was a bust from the start and everyone knows Kovalev plays when he feels like it.
That's just silly. If you happened to be watching Habs games on a regular basis, you would have noticed that the "system" has already changed. Do you even know how hard, historically, it has always been for a rookie to even get a regular shift? One mistake and you'd be benched, or worse sent back down to minors. Not only did Carbonneau let the young kids play, but he also wasn't afraid to bench veterans and/or to sit them out. Effort, despite mistakes, was rewarded over experience and even defensive ability. Again, historically, this almost never happened. You had to prove yourself as a rookie, and were slowwwwwwwly integrated into "the mighty Habs tradition" regardless of how good you were.
I frankly don't see where you get this "defensive mindset set in stone" stuff from.
picasso said:
Earth to Pablo, Earth to Pablo: read some of the posts above and you'll see that just about everybody except Bobby (no surprise there) is living in the real world and not falling into your pipe dream. I predict that your prediction of future success will be just about as accurate as your past predictions. And if you want to see how accurate your past predictions were, just reread this thread from the beginning.
Message to JC
aka, Mr. "Habs will always suck no matter what" - You need to brush up on your reading comprehension skills. What i stated is that there's no question that the Habs will pursue some big names in the free agency period including Briere. That's quite different from saying that they will land Briere for next season. In fact, it would not surprise me a bit that the Sabres will re-sign him given that the likelihood of Drury going over to the Western Conference is becoming a near certainty.
As for your tiresome harping on my predictions at the beginning of this thread, let's just say that if your average hockey fan shares your negativity and cynicism, NHL hockey as we know it would cease to exist. For the record, I'm batting 0.500 on my eastern conference picks and 7 for 8 on my western conference picks. So what's such a big fucking deal? Like I've said so many times before and for that matter you don't seem to get it, it's about fun and games for sports fans in general. If you keep dwelling on the fact that I missed out on the Habs making the playoffs because it undoubtedly gives you pleasure to trash the Habs at every opportunity, then it's your problem dude. Deal with it and spare us your righteous despise of the Habs team and organization. Do you even know what it means to be a sports fan?
joelcairo said:
aka, Mr. "Habs will always suck no matter what" - You need to brush up on your reading comprehension skills. What i stated is that there's no question that the Habs will pursue some big names in the free agency period including Briere. That's quite different from saying that they will land Briere for next season. In fact, it would not surprise me a bit that the Sabres will re-sign him given that the likelihood of Drury going over to the Western Conference is becoming a near certainty.
As for your tiresome harping on my predictions at the beginning of this thread, let's just say that if your average hockey fan shares your negativity and cynicism, NHL hockey as we know it would cease to exist. For the record, I'm batting 0.500 on my eastern conference picks and 7 for 8 on my western conference picks. So what's such a big fucking deal? Like I've said so many times before and for that matter you don't seem to get it, it's about fun and games for sports fans in general. If you keep dwelling on the fact that I missed out on the Habs making the playoffs because it undoubtedly gives you pleasure to trash the Habs at every opportunity, then it's your problem dude. Deal with it and spare us your righteous despise of the Habs team and organization. Do you even know what it means to be a sports fan?
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JustBob said:
I think that comes from the Maple Laughs' "Guide to Fabricating Consent Just to Trash the Habs"
PS to JustBob: I'm in complete agreement with your well thought out arguments.
I see Bob making some good moves this summer on the free agency market while getting rid of some of the dead wood on this team – in preparation to challenge for the NE division title next season followed by a lengthy playoff run – while the Toronto Maple Laffs enter their 42nd year with out so much as a sniff of the Stanley Cup finals!
In Gainey we trust!
GO HABS GO!
TORONTO MAPLE LOAFS SUCK!
In Gainey we trust!
GO HABS GO!
TORONTO MAPLE LOAFS SUCK!
picasso said:
Earth to Pablo part 2 : Sorry "dude" but your predictions have consistently been poor. That in itself is not a problem but maybe admitting the truth would be a good first step towards recovery. Maybe a good second step "dude" would be to make predictions based on facts, statistics and reality rather than on your deep and abiding love for anyone who pulls on a Canadiens sweater. Maybe a good third step would be to understand that it's very possible to "know what it means to be a sports fan" - maybe even to BE a big sports fan - but not root for the Habs. (No need to - it appears they already have enough groupies.) Maybe a good fourth step would be to realize that one is not exhibiting "negativity and cynicism" by stating the obvious truth or by - heaven forbid! - not being a rabid Habs fan. Maybe a good fifth step would be to improve one's own reading skills (not to mention reality skills) rather than falsely accusing someone else. Steps 6 to 12 available on request. Pleasant dreams, Pablo.
joelcairo said:
Pushing maximum density, aren't we? You're beyond a 12-step program dude... What you need is a medication to make you less dense. Unfortunately, I don't believe there's such a pill. So good luck fighting thru all that negativity and cynicism.
My best to you,
picasso said:Pushing maximum density, aren't we? You're beyond a 12-step program dude... What you need is a medication to make you less dense. Unfortunately, I don't believe there's such a pill. So good luck fighting thru all that negativity and cynicism.
My best to you,
Sorry Pablo. I thought it would be easier for you to understand if I broke it down into simple little steps - my mistake. I'll try to make it even shorter and simpler this time. Regarding the "negativity and cynicism" : please have someone read and explain the fourth step to you. Maybe that will help. Sorry again for making the post too complicated.
PS: Good luck to the Habs next year. Maybe 07-08 will be their season to take it all! (By the way, I don't take any offense at your insulting tone. I'd probably also be a little frustrated if my heroes always let me down. Pleasant dreams again.)
They couldn't rise their game level enough to compete with Ottawa, that's all. Pens will be a team to watch as of next year but, right now, their best players lack of experience. As for my ability to forecast hockey games, please note that San Jose and Buffalo are very much in the run, so we'll have to wait and see.Doc Holliday said:
Pittsburgh gave signs of a fast maturing team midway through the calendar and given the talent of their young players and the support coming from veterans Recchi and Roberts, I thought they had a genuine shot but I was wrong. Oh well, maybe next year.Doc Holliday said:
I now see a Buffalo/Sharks final but the chances of an all-Canadian Ottawa/vancouver final are also very good.
arm chair QBing
The strength of the Habs this past season has been their blue line and if not for the performance of Souray and Markov, the Habs would not be in the thick of the playoffs race right through the last weekend. Gainey did move one of the soon-to-be unrestricted FA in Rivet by the trading deadline to get a prospect and if he traded away Souray at the time it would have sent a message to the team and the fans that the Habs were throwing in the towel for the season-unless the trade would be to bring in a blue-chip top line forward which is what the Habs sorely need. We'll never know whether there were such talks prior to the trading deadline. One thing that's clear is that the Habs are one of four teams with the most money to spend during the upcoming FA period and they'll be actively pursuing big names scoring forwards. Now if Gainey can find a way to trade Kovalev, Samsonov and Bonk...
Doc Holliday said:
The strength of the Habs this past season has been their blue line and if not for the performance of Souray and Markov, the Habs would not be in the thick of the playoffs race right through the last weekend. Gainey did move one of the soon-to-be unrestricted FA in Rivet by the trading deadline to get a prospect and if he traded away Souray at the time it would have sent a message to the team and the fans that the Habs were throwing in the towel for the season-unless the trade would be to bring in a blue-chip top line forward which is what the Habs sorely need. We'll never know whether there were such talks prior to the trading deadline. One thing that's clear is that the Habs are one of four teams with the most money to spend during the upcoming FA period and they'll be actively pursuing big names scoring forwards. Now if Gainey can find a way to trade Kovalev, Samsonov and Bonk...
