It's easy to predict which teams will NOT win (Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Philly, etc, etc) but in today's NHL it's impossible to predict with certainty who WILL win. Who predicted the Canes? The Lightning? This year, once you get past the obvious losers mentioned above, there are several teams that could take it and none of them would surprise me. A lot depends on who has the most healthy players and who has the hottest goalie.
2006-07 NHL Predictions
- Thread starter picasso
- Start date
The Montreal Canadians will not make the playoffs.
At this point in the East the Sabres seem to be the odds on favorite to make the finals. That being said the West will crunch each other in the rounds leading up to the final amking the East a favorite to win it all. I think that San Jose is a good bet to make the finals out of the west.
At this point in the East the Sabres seem to be the odds on favorite to make the finals. That being said the West will crunch each other in the rounds leading up to the final amking the East a favorite to win it all. I think that San Jose is a good bet to make the finals out of the west.
I don't think the Habs will make the playoffs but, if I had to pick who between the Habs and Leafs has a better shot, I'd pick the Habs. Leafs have one more game to play but their shchedule is a heck of a lot tougher.
Leafs (6 home, 4 away): Devils, Sabres, Sabres, Canes, Thrashers, Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, Isles, Habs
Habs (6 home, 3 away): Bruins, Bruins, Capitals, Rangers, Sens, Sabres, Bruins, Rangers, Leafs
Leafs (6 home, 4 away): Devils, Sabres, Sabres, Canes, Thrashers, Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, Isles, Habs
Habs (6 home, 3 away): Bruins, Bruins, Capitals, Rangers, Sens, Sabres, Bruins, Rangers, Leafs
Between the Habs and the Leafs, I'd also have to pick the Habs. Especially if Huet is able to make it back into the line-up. If he can't make it back, then I hope they go with Halak for the rest of the season and leave Abby on the bench. One thing for sure is if it comes down to that last match between the two teams it's going to be one hell of a game to see!
Anyone in the league???
Even Buffalo,New-Jersey,Pittsburgh and Atlanta???
They have a loosing record against all of these teams exept Atlanta.
I don't see how it could change come the play-offs.
Souray would still be playing only for the powerplay while remaining non chalant at 5 on 5.
Kovalev is praying god that his team don't make the playoffs so he can get the hell out of here as fast as he can,so is Markov and Samsonov.
Koivu is out of juice,Bouillon never recovered from his injury--he's not the same since it happenned.
Ryder is a streak player,you gotta catch him while he's hot(will he be come playoff?).
That leaves us with a bunch of young inexeperianced players to carry the team.
Even with Huet,this team is less than average.
And also,even Huet wasn't as hot lately, before he got hurt.
Even Buffalo,New-Jersey,Pittsburgh and Atlanta???
They have a loosing record against all of these teams exept Atlanta.
I don't see how it could change come the play-offs.
Souray would still be playing only for the powerplay while remaining non chalant at 5 on 5.
Kovalev is praying god that his team don't make the playoffs so he can get the hell out of here as fast as he can,so is Markov and Samsonov.
Koivu is out of juice,Bouillon never recovered from his injury--he's not the same since it happenned.
Ryder is a streak player,you gotta catch him while he's hot(will he be come playoff?).
That leaves us with a bunch of young inexeperianced players to carry the team.
Even with Huet,this team is less than average.
And also,even Huet wasn't as hot lately, before he got hurt.
Not Buffalo the Pens Should Worry About
EB,
I would love to see the Pens play Buffalo, I think it would make for a fantastic series.
A point I made earlier was that the Pens will almost certainly play Ottawa in the first round. They have scored about the same but Ottawa has given up 24 goals less, and in the playoffs defense will get tougher, I doubt Gonchar, Whitney and company can out dual Redden, Phillips and company.
If the Pens can get past the first round, I agree they have a decent chance to go places, but IMHO that is a big if...
EagerBeaver said:
EB,
I would love to see the Pens play Buffalo, I think it would make for a fantastic series.
A point I made earlier was that the Pens will almost certainly play Ottawa in the first round. They have scored about the same but Ottawa has given up 24 goals less, and in the playoffs defense will get tougher, I doubt Gonchar, Whitney and company can out dual Redden, Phillips and company.
If the Pens can get past the first round, I agree they have a decent chance to go places, but IMHO that is a big if...
The Coyotes have the 2nd best FO% in the league and is ranked 29th O/A. Methink faceoffs stats are overrated. BTW, Crosby is in 56th place out of 85 players generally assigned to take face-offs, with a 49.3% ratio, The best in this department is former Habs now Leafs Yanic Perreault with a 63.1% ratio. Between Crosby and Perreault, who would you take on your team?Doc Holliday said:
Last edited:
Oh well, c'est la vie ... I'm still 7 for 8 in the West. As for the Habs, Kovalev sucked this year and Samsonov was a bust. Major priority for Gainey in the offseason is to upgrade the offense. Getting Vinny LeCavalier would be sweet and getting rid of Kovalev would be even sweeter.
... I'm still 7 for 8 in the West. As for the Habs, Kovalev sucked this year and Samsonov was a bust. Major priority for Gainey in the offseason is to upgrade the offense. Getting Vinny LeCavalier would be sweet and getting rid of Kovalev would be even sweeter.Pablo,
Toronto is not in yet, and I would not count on New Jersey beating the Islanders, who will be playing like cornered animals.
Toronto is not in yet, and I would not count on New Jersey beating the Islanders, who will be playing like cornered animals.
Drunken Belfour Arrested In South Beach After Challenging Cops
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/hockey/nhl/04/09/bc.hkn.panthers.arrests.ap/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/hockey/nhl/04/09/bc.hkn.panthers.arrests.ap/index.html
So at Tuesday's press conference Gainey says his Habs are not in a rebuilding phase and can be legitimate Cup contenders in Saku's remaining years. Bob? Bob? Bob!!! Please come back to the real world! Everybody knows that the first step in overcoming a problem is to admit the problem.
I don't give John Ferguson Jr. much credit but at least in his press conference he came right out and admitted that Raycroft didn't cut the mustard this year. Christ if Raycroft was Bob's goalie he'd probably be saying it's between him, Brodeur and Luongo for the Vezina!
I don't give John Ferguson Jr. much credit but at least in his press conference he came right out and admitted that Raycroft didn't cut the mustard this year. Christ if Raycroft was Bob's goalie he'd probably be saying it's between him, Brodeur and Luongo for the Vezina!
femaleluver2 said:
Agree with your point about Koivu. As I had posted before, I've met Koivu in person several times and I think he's a nice and classy guy but he doesn't have what it takes to command a presence in the locker room. If anything, he looks too frail too. I disagree with you on the second point; I'd argue that Markov and Latendresse should be untouchables.
joelcairo said:
Au contraire, Mr "just-say-no-to-anything-to-do-with-Habs". Gainey ain't a bullshitter. He has already hinted at a very busy summer and knows what needs to be done to fill the gaps in the Habs lineup.
