NHL'13/'14 Thread

[Killer B]

You guys think Toronto makes the playoffs this year, or are they going to continue to decline as the season goes on, thus missing the last spot (as per usual)?

As much as I dislike the Leafs, they should be in the playoff mix right to the end. I still can't believe that my Flyers traded van Riemsdyk to them for Luke Shenn.

They have a solid foundation with JVR, Kessel, Lupul, Kadri, 2 decent goalies and a good head coach. Phaneuf is overrated.

 

[lurkingdirk]

As much as I dislike the Leafs

 

[Jagger69]

You guys think Toronto makes the playoffs this year, or are they going to continue to decline as the season goes on, thus missing the last spot (as per usual)?

They'll make the playoffs.

Blues win again on the road in Dallas the night after the shootout win versus Chicago. Kevin Shattenkirk scored the game-winner with 11 seconds left in OT to win, 3-2. Gutsy performance as we played without Steen, Backes, Leopold or Polak in uniform. :clap:

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

How 'bout dem Canucks?

They're... there... sort of.

 

[lurkingdirk]

They've won the last 3, but are pretty inconsistent. They'll make the playoffs, for sure, and we all know how well they do in the playoffs.


:1orglaugh

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

They've won the last 3, but are pretty inconsistent. They'll make the playoffs, for sure, and we all know how well they do in the playoffs.


:1orglaugh

Still probably better than Toronto.

(That's right bitch, I'm calling you out)

 

[lurkingdirk]

You won't get arguments from me, sir. I may be a Toronto fan, and I cheer for my team, but I'm not going to deny that they've had complete shite leadership for around sixty years, and that weakens the team.

 

[Jagger69]

OK so the Blues finally kick the shit out of the LA Kings (5-0 last night at Scottrade) and all I hear from the Kings fans (on Hockeystreams) is that Quick is injured and therefore they lost. Wow....I knew that Quick was an outstanding goaltender but I didn't know that he was a goalscorer as well since we SHUT THEM OUT (great job by Elliott and the D). No Steen or Backes again last night and it's just next-man-up with Oshie scoring a pair, Tarasenko, Morrow and Jackman chipping in with a goal apiece.

 

[Jagger69]

US Olympic squad announced:

http://olympics.usahockey.com/page/show/1067902-roster

Looks like we'll be solid in goal with Miller and Quick, physical at power forward with Brown and Backes, Kane and Parise are talented goal-scorers, Some really good role-players up front, D looks adequate, all these guys need to be healthy....some aren't right now. Not sure how likely we are to medal. It will likely come down to goaltending (always does, doesn't it?)

 

[lurkingdirk]

US Olympic squad announced:

http://olympics.usahockey.com/page/show/1067902-roster

Looks like we'll be solid in goal with Miller and Quick, physical at power forward with Brown and Backes, Kane and Parise are talented goal-scorers, Some really good role-players up front, D looks adequate, all these guys need to be healthy....some aren't right now. Not sure how likely we are to medal. It will likely come down to goaltending (always does, doesn't it?)

Canada is going to announce tomorrow. I think we'll be strong on offense AND defense, but weak in net. I think Canada wins again this year, though.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

They announced our roster after the Winter Classic on the 1st. Notable omissions are Ryan, E. Johnson, J. Johnson, Byfuglien, Yandle and Bishop. Okposo and Saad perhaps as well. No other American has had more goals than Ryan in the last four years other than Kessel.

I don't think we will medal. Outside of another tournament for the ages from Miller, I just don't think we bring hardware back.

 

[lurkingdirk]

They announced our roster after the Winter Classic on the 1st. Notable omissions are Ryan, E. Johnson, J. Johnson, Byfuglien, Yandle and Bishop. Okposo and Saad perhaps as well. No other American has had more goals than Ryan in the last four years other than Kessel.

I don't think we will medal. Outside of another tournament for the ages from Miller, I just don't think we bring hardware back.

I bet America gets fourth, though. Can't see them landing lower than that.

- - - Updated - - -

They announced our roster after the Winter Classic on the 1st. Notable omissions are Ryan, E. Johnson, J. Johnson, Byfuglien, Yandle and Bishop. Okposo and Saad perhaps as well. No other American has had more goals than Ryan in the last four years other than Kessel.

I don't think we will medal. Outside of another tournament for the ages from Miller, I just don't think we bring hardware back.

I bet America gets fourth, though. Can't see them landing lower than that.

 

[rodfarva]

Team Canada announced:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi..._canada_names_mens_olympic_hockey_roster.html

Notable omissions: Joe Thornton (48 points in 43 games and been the league's best playmaker for over a decade), Martin St. Louis (has kept it up even without Stamkos in the lineup), Claude Giroux (arguably the league's hottest scorer right now), and Marc-Andre Fleury (been having a stellar season, better than Luongo or Smith, but has struggled mightily on the big stage the last couple of years), among others.

I definitely don't like Chris Kunitz being on the team, but that's just my opinion. I think that Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Dan Hamhuis are interesting choices, but I really like Hamhuis. I am thrilled to see Jay Bouwmeester on the team. Pretty good squad, I think our selections and omissions are a lot better than the US's (no Kyle Okposo, Dustin Byfuglien, or Ben Bishop were all really bad omissions on their part), but I don't know how this is going to play out. Sweden is going to have a stellar squad, Russia has the home-ice edge, and the US has had the best development over the past several years (although, as I already mentioned, they omitted some players they really shouldn't have). I think if Canada is going to repeat they're going to have to outscore their opponents at times; even though Carey Price is an excellent goaltender (and hopefully he plays every second of every important game because I don't have much faith in the other two goaltenders who were named) I still think that the rest of the world has caught up and surpassed us in terms of goaltending. At the Olympics, winning by outscoring your opponent is not a winning strategy, and based on that and the roster that we've named, I'm a little apprehensive, but we have to go in as the favourites as per usual.

 

[lurkingdirk]

Team Canada announced:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi..._canada_names_mens_olympic_hockey_roster.html

Notable omissions: Joe Thornton (48 points in 43 games and been the league's best playmaker for over a decade), Martin St. Louis (has kept it up even without Stamkos in the lineup), Claude Giroux (arguably the league's hottest scorer right now), and Marc-Andre Fleury (been having a stellar season, better than Luongo or Smith, but has struggled mightily on the big stage the last couple of years), among others.

I definitely don't like Chris Kunitz being on the team, but that's just my opinion. I think that Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Dan Hamhuis are interesting choices, but I really like Hamhuis. I am thrilled to see Jay Bouwmeester on the team. Pretty good squad, I think our selections and omissions are a lot better than the US's (no Kyle Okposo, Dustin Byfuglien, or Ben Bishop were all really bad omissions on their part), but I don't know how this is going to play out. Sweden is going to have a stellar squad, Russia has the home-ice edge, and the US has had the best development over the past several years (although, as I already mentioned, they omitted some players they really shouldn't have). I think if Canada is going to repeat they're going to have to outscore their opponents at times; even though Carey Price is an excellent goaltender (and hopefully he plays every second of every important game because I don't have much faith in the other two goaltenders who were named) I still think that the rest of the world has caught up and surpassed us in terms of goaltending. At the Olympics, winning by outscoring your opponent is not a winning strategy, and based on that and the roster that we've named, I'm a little apprehensive, but we have to go in as the favourites as per usual.

Spot on, man. I'm slightly leery, but I'm hoping hard for Team Canada for Gold.

 

[Killer B]

I'm shocked that Team Canada didn't pick Claude Giroux. He should have been selected over Nash, Carter and Marleau. No Canadian player has more points than Giroux and Tavares over the past 3 NHL seasons (179).

The Blues have 10 players going to the Olympics, almost half their team.

 

[Jagger69]

The Blues have 10 players going to the Olympics, almost half their team.

Yeah and although it's a great honor to be selected to represent your country at the games, I really don't like all the extra wear-and-tear that they will be experiencing while a lot of their competitors are taking a timely break and getting healthier every day.

 

[lurkingdirk]

Yeah and although it's a great honor to be selected to represent your country at the games, I really don't like all the extra wear-and-tear that they will be experiencing while a lot of their competitors are taking a timely break and getting healthier every day.

This is a good point, and I wonder if that's why some of the seemingly obvious picks aren't on the team. These guys might take the time to condition and heal, rather than get messed up while playing for no pay...

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Yeah and although it's a great honor to be selected to represent your country at the games, I really don't like all the extra wear-and-tear that they will be experiencing while a lot of their competitors are taking a timely break and getting healthier every day.

I've always wondered.


I think they're going to stop allowing pros to go(?) next Olympics or two down the road? You would think that when these pros are signing such massive contracts that there would be clauses that bar them from playing. Obviously not. It's a big investment for all of the NHL and other professional clubs.


Personally I like the idea of allowing NCAA and junior players represent, but damn it's a spectacle with all the all star teams we get to see in the Olympics. And I've always found Olympic hockey to be probably the best sporting event in my life, next to probably World Cup soccer. Nothing compares to either of those. Not the World Series, boxing, SCP, NCAA basketball or anything. The Latvia-Slovakia game in 2002 Olympics is still the greatest game I've ever seen.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

As far as how I think the countries will fare, I suspect:

1. Russia
2. Sweden
3. Canada
4. Czechs
5. USA



Everyone else.

It's a total crap shoot. Have no idea how it will unfold, but I suspect Russia wants to secure gold, and Finland doesn't have the Koivus, and America is a little iffy. If Miller plays like he can we can get a bronze (or better), and I have my doubts about Canada's goalies, so...

 

[lurkingdirk]

Jagger will like these power rankings.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=700975&navid=DL|NHL|home