I know Buffalo looks the best and Philadelphia looks the worst. Actually their goals for is the complete opposite (53-28, 28-53). But we are Canadian so give me your take on what the good ol' Canadian teams will do.Here's my take on all the Canadian NHL teams in alphabetical order:
Calgary Flames:
Current Record - 9 games played = 3 W 5 L 1 otl 7 Pts
Analysis > Let's be honest their best player has to be Kiprusoff. But Calgary hasn't looked good yet but it's early. What's with Calgary any way? Amonte goes there and sucks. Tanguay goes there and can't score either. Is Ignila that hard to play with? Is Sutter than defensive he sucks the offensive life out of the Flames? It looks like they have 1 good line and the rest are grinders who score everyone once in a while (exception maybe Kobasew). They only have 23 goals for and are at the bottom of the league just in front of Philly, Columbo, and Boston. Defensively with Phaneuf and Regehr they should be solid. That into consideration Calgary has only played 9 games where everyone else has played over 10.
Edmonton Oilers:
Current Record - 11 games played 7 W 4 L 0 otl 14 Pts
Analysis > We all know that if Roloson played the whole final Edmonton would have won or if Conklin didn't give the puck up either...but that was last year.
These guys have impressed me this yr. They have scoring on every line. Stoll, Hemsky, Smyth, Sykora, Lupul, Horcoff, etc. Maybe their weakness is their defense but they have played well so far only allowing 28 goals. Roloson has played great with a GAA of 2.41.
Montreal Canadiens:
Current Record - 10 games played 5 W 2 L 3 otl 13 Pts
Analysis > Montreal is an interesting team. Some games they look good and others not so good. You look at their lineup and ask, "Where are they going to get their offense from?" We see the defensemen S.Souray is leading the team in scoring. In net who is the #1 Huet or Aebischer? Looks like a committee in goal. The goalies hate that. Kovalev leads the team in PIM.
Ottawa Senators:
Current Record - 10 games played 5 W 5 L 1 otl 10 Pts
Analysis > The Sens are not the team they used to be. They could have the best line in hockey in Spezza, Alfredsson and Heatley. But after that who do they got? Corvo was a great pick up for some offense on D. I know hind sight is 20/20 but they shouldn't have gone and got Gerber but let Emery be the guy. Then they could have used that $ to buy another offensive FA. Emery needs the opportunity to become a great goalie. Great move letting Chara go...$7.5 a yr...no wonder Boston sucks. Most there $ is going to a defensive defenseman who has scored a career high 30 pts.
Toronto Maple Leafs:
Current Record - 12 games played 5 W 4 L 3 otl 13 Pts
Analysis > Leaf fans seem to be coming back to reality. They don't seem to think they are going to win every season any more. No kiddin' because the last time was in 1967. Before we were all born!
They took a huge gamble this off season getting Raycroft. He hasn’t looked bad actually. This former rookie of the year will get a legit shot at proving himself. I really like Wellwood with Sundin & Tucker. The Leafs are tied for 3rd in goals for (40) but they are 2nd to last in the goals against in front of Phoenix (53). Defense wins championships but in the new NHL it might be who can score more goals.
Vancouver Canucks:
Current Record - 12 games played 7 W 4 L 1 otl 15 Pts
Analysis > I can't believe Vancouver is playing this well. Luongo has made a ton of massive saves but he still lets in the easy ones every once in a while. The Canucks as a team are playing hard. That's why we are winning games we shouldn't be...HARD WORK. Bertuzzi we are not missing you at all. 4 pts in the 1st game, 2 pts since and missed 3 games with an injury. And oh by the way, he still hasn't signed with the Panthers yet. If he bolts from Florida Nonis is a genius. The twins are incredible and Naslund looks like he’s ready for another good season. You know all the guys who have been crying we don’t have A.Carter…he’s got one goalie this season in Columbus. Pyatt has turned into a great acquisition (6 goals). The Canucks just have to stay out of the sin bin.
Leave a comment if you are Canadian and man enough!
8 comments:
No, you are wrong. But on another point I think you're right. That being said some is right and some is wrong. Right and wrong, wrong and right. It's like a prediction merry-go-round. Let me get back to you in say 30 or 40 games. Like we've seen from both Alberta teams the last 2 seasons. All you gotta do is get into the playoffs. Doesn't matter how, just get there and you can win it all. Here's my own thought/question. What if only three Canadian teams make the playoffs this year. Which ones will it be?
I am a die hard Canucks fan so this may be tainted. I believe if the Canucks keep working this hard they have the best shot. If they let up for even a couple of weeks they are doomed. Beyond the Nucks I would have to say the Sens. Once they get back on track, which is just a matter of time, they have the key pieces in place. Alberta just does not have the work effort needed, they showed it in the past but I do not see it now. As mentioned before 30-40 games from now with give a clearer picture.
well...toews you are so wishie washie, yes no maybe so, they might they might not...cant you pick a team...
monster is right by saying that all you have to do is make the payoffs, it doesnt matter how. i know this is not baseball but the yankees do awesome thru the season but yet cant win the prize.
calgary sucks mostly cause they do. i believe they think they are all that casue they almost won the cup a few years ago, where edmonton still works hard and without the loser pronger can get to the finals and posibly win the cup.
habs dont suck as much as calgary and the leafs are impressing me. i just might jump on the leafs bandwagon.
Ottawa sucked in the first few games but when spec, heat and alf started playing well the rest of the team picked it up...the jury is still out on them,
vancouver sucks more than calgary...just kidding...but remember last year the canucks did well in oct and nov and didnt make the playoffs. i think that the sedins are the future and make a carter who he was last year and will make any player who they are if they play with the sedins. i agree with kempner on how naslund looks but disagree with loungo. ya he makes mistakes but still holds the fort down when he needs too. i believe the canucks will go further this year than the flames did last year.
later
This will be tainted too, but I think if the Canucks keep up the intensity for all 82 games and can find the back of the net they have a good chance to go all the way, because in the playoffs its all about the goal tending. Other than that, maybe the Oilers because they work hard and hard work wins over skill in the long haul. I don't think Ottawa will make the playoffs, they are the Canucks of the past few years: a great top line but nothing else, except maybe one D man.
i am totally man enough trevor! [even tho im a girl=)]GO CANUCKS!!!
-Beckyyy
I'm a die hard HOCKEY fan who cheers for the Oilers.
I'd be scared to be a hockey fan in Ontario. Both of those teams look to be going in the wrong direction. Did I miss Daniel Alfredsson's retirement from the NHL? Gerber..... they could (should) have done better. THey should have spent the money on Chara and gone with Razor Ray in net. Is Kyle Wellwood for real? He's seriously a big surprise this year. Sundin still keeps rolling. He's the Swedish Mark Messier.
Calgary better pull it together soon or they're in trouble. Their losses get exponentially worse now. The panic button is not far away. Wonder if Sutter wishes he was still on the bench. He sure cut the legs out from a bunch of his players yesterday in the media. It was wierd to see that from Sutter but it was Halloween and maybe this year he was going as Mike Keenan.
Montreal is a fun, fast and young team. They should dump Samsonov ASAP and pick up another forward. I'm disappointed they won't be in town this year.
Vancouver looks like a hard working team. If they can keep it up they'll do alright but they need another line going to make it in the playoffs.
I won't comment on the Oil. As the virgin Mary did, I will "treasure all these things in my heart"...... OK I'll make one comment on the Oil. If we can pull the trig' on a trade for a D man at the deadline, LOOK OUT.
Here are some random comments on the season so far:
1. Where's Rick Nash?
2. Ryan Kesler changed his number from 22 to 17. He should have changed it to 1.9.
3. The fact that Bobby Clarke resigned in disgrace is proof that there is a God. Ever since he made that assinine comment about Roger Nielson when they fired him ("We didn't make him have cancer") I knew he would get his.
4. The Sharks are THAT good.
5. Anson Carter has 1 goal and Taylor Pyatt has 6. YESSSS!!!
6. I don't like Cassie Campbell on HNIC.
7. I DON'T hate the new Sabres uniforms.
8. Who's the worst GM in hockey: Jay Feester, Dale Tallon or Garth Snow?
9. If San Jose trades one of their goalies at the deadline, who would pick them up? I honestly can't come up with a team.
10. Three words: Dan "Beachball" Cloutier.
paul,
Kesler was 20, i thought you were a hockey fan (lol). I loved your observations though I don't think you can really call Garth Snow a GM since he is only a puppet through which the owner can run the team.
Puppet! Did Drew say puppet? I loves puppets...oh sorry, was that out loud?
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