NHL 2008-2009

RipVanWinkle · 09-23-2008, 09:20 AM

I am a homer/fanboy, but I pick Dallas to win the cup this year!

Is anybody else way excited about NHL?

***Art*** · 09-23-2008, 09:34 AM

I'm not to sure what to expect for my Sharks after Ron Wilson left. They do have a lot of talent. Plenty to make the playoffs. I am excited for the season.

Unique · 09-23-2008, 09:37 AM

I hope my Canadiens do better in the play-offs this year...

Gwenny · 09-23-2008, 06:22 PM

I predict the Red Wings will win the cup again. Even if they don't, they'll make the playoffs.

Cam42 · 09-23-2008, 06:56 PM

GO FLAMES!!!
that is all I have to say

***Art*** · 09-24-2008, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvinjesus

I predict the Red Wings will win the cup again. Even if they don't, they'll make the playoffs.

And I predict that air will be breathed tomorrow. Oh, and gas prices will be high... People will argue about politics... All that.

**Skeeter** · 09-24-2008, 11:16 AM

The Red Wings are going to be scary this year. Not many losses in terms of personnel and they picked up Marian Hossa for a pittance. If Osgood can keep up his solid play from last season, they're going to be a scary team. They also picked up arguably the best backup goalie in the NHL in Ty Conklin, so it's likely they'll rotate the way Hasek and Osgood did last season.

The Penguins will likely have another solid season. The Lightning are an interesting team; they tore apart their prospect pool in the hopes of getting to the Stanley Cup within the next couple seasons. They will definitely be in the mix. I'm also interested to see what Markus Naslund does with the New York Rangers. Getting out from under the pressure of the Vancouver media and being the captain will be nothing but good for him.

I have hopes for my Canucks, but they're not too high. I really like the moves that Mike Gillis made in the off-season. Picking up the league-leader in shot blocks in Ryan Johnson, a respected tough guy in Darcy Hortichuk, and a legitimate big, young, right-handed shot to play with the Sedins in Steve Bernier. He's also opened the door for some of our young prospects, like Mason Raymond, Michael Grabner, Jannik Hansen, Cody Hodgson, and Jason Krog. How our young prospects step up will largely determine how the season goes. I expect that we'll be able to squeak into the playoffs thanks to Luongo, but I'm not sure if we'll make it very deep. Of course, having $10 million in cap space leaves Gillis plenty of room to maneuver.

dtaylorl · 09-24-2008, 04:29 PM

GO FLAMES!!! I guess I'm optimistic about them but its a very reserved optimism. I'm not sure that Bertuzzi's going to be a good fit. I'd preffer to have Owen Nolan back any day. Hopefully after a little bit of shaking up we will have a better year, especially if Kipper does well (which he should, even if he didn't really last year I still think he's one of the best goalies in the league). If not we're looking at another first round exit.

Cam42 · 09-24-2008, 04:39 PM

sweetness. another flames fan!! *high fives*

dtaylorl · 10-09-2008, 06:29 PM

Flames play their first game tonight!!!

**Skeeter** · 10-09-2008, 06:40 PM

Vancouver will win it.

**Skeeter** · 10-10-2008, 11:17 AM

And I was entirely correct. Vancouver handed the Flames a 6-0 drubbing highlighted by Alexandre Burrows' two goal performance as they paid tribute to the late Luc Bourdon.

9 players hit the scoresheet for the Canucks and Luongo recorded a 25 save shutout. Wonderful game.

***Art*** · 10-10-2008, 11:38 AM

The Sharks win 4-1! Hooray! The world is right again!

**Skeeter** · 10-10-2008, 11:45 AM

What was with Toronto beating Detroit 3-2 last night? The Red Wings did not look good out there. A lot of bad giveaways; their transition game, normally their strength, really let them down. Holmstrom looked strong though, two great goals.

earlessdog · 10-10-2008, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeeter

And I was entirely correct. Vancouver handed the Flames a 6-0 drubbing highlighted by Alexandre Burrows' two goal performance as they paid tribute to the late Luc Bourdon.

9 players hit the scoresheet for the Canucks and Luongo recorded a 25 save shutout. Wonderful game.

Vancouver owned that game. Hopefully this will be a better season for them, Luongo deserves a better team than he's had the last couple years.
As far as i'm concerned, Luongo is the best goalie in the NHL right now and has been for the past number of years.

Well my bruins played their first regular season game last night against Colorado, it was in Denver.
The game was a close on, as soon as one would score, the other would score. That was mostly a tie game, but my bruins came out and won it!

I was pleased with Tim Thomas, though letting in 4 goals (2 he was shorthanded) he made several big saves.
Wheeler got his first NHL career goal (for the bruins) and it was beautiful!
Ryder got scored his first goal with the Bruins, that was big for him.

Judging by that game, it looks like the bruins need some work on the powerplay (both ways), defense could step it up a bit, but considering who they were playing, I wasn't unimpressed.

I don't think the Red Wings will take it this year again, but they will go far and they will be strong.
Like it has been for the past few years, the Sharks have an incredible team (i've predicted them champions the past few years) but they can never make anything of themselves in playoffs. So I don't really know what to think about them.

I think the Canadians will be dangerous as well.