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Post by HMARK Center on Oct 8, 2011 10:51:55 GMT -5
I'm actually surprised how many of the so-called "experts" are discounting the Devils. They had a godawful first half thanks to team drama and a new coach, but the team seems more cohesive than ever. If Zach Parise can stay healthy and Kovalchuk and Hedburg are as beastly as they were the second half of last season, they're making the playoffs at least. Despite their awful start, they bounced back and nearly made it from last place to a playoff spot in one of the best comebacks ever. It's because most of these sport experts basically just play things safe from last year unless it is really obvious if a team has improved or got worse during the off season. These sport experts have reps to protect. Yeah, the dumbest thing I keep hearing on XM NHL Center Ice is "Well, ok, you picked this team to make the playoffs, but who do you think they're going to bump off from last season out of the top eight to make it?". Do they have any idea how ridiculous a question that is? This is a league that's done, I'll admit, a solid job of establishing pretty good competitive parity. Every year, it seems, there's at least 11, if not 12, teams in each conference either settled into or just on the doorstep of a playoff spot. All it takes for the #11 team to overcome the #7 is often just a swing of, let's say, 8 points, 4 both ways. Given how level the playing field has become in the league, is that such a ridiculous thing to imagine? Plus, like you say, they base all their predictions on: What Happened Last Year + Free Agent signings x Trades/How Much we Like or Hate Your Team to Begin with. I will say that predicting the Devils this year IS incredibly tough, and it doesn't have a lot to do with last season; it has a hell of a lot more to do with there being a huge influx of youth into the everyday lineup on a permanent basis, a new coach, and the fact that Travis Zajac won't be around for a couple months. I'm pretty optimistic, because this offseason came off like the Devils fully embracing that you need youth and speed to win in today's NHL, while still holding onto the defensive responsibility that is a Jersey hallmark. That said, the young guys may end up needing time to gel, and it could mean a slow start. That said, if the Devils are in a top 8 spot come 12/1, then I'll be pretty confident they aren't going any lower.
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triplethreatmark
Grimlock
Party Fouler
I look exactly like this avatar in real life.
Posts: 14,074
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Post by triplethreatmark on Oct 8, 2011 11:43:26 GMT -5
It's because most of these sport experts basically just play things safe from last year unless it is really obvious if a team has improved or got worse during the off season. These sport experts have reps to protect. Yeah, the dumbest thing I keep hearing on XM NHL Center Ice is "Well, ok, you picked this team to make the playoffs, but who do you think they're going to bump off from last season out of the top eight to make it?". Do they have any idea how ridiculous a question that is? This is a league that's done, I'll admit, a solid job of establishing pretty good competitive parity. Every year, it seems, there's at least 11, if not 12, teams in each conference either settled into or just on the doorstep of a playoff spot. All it takes for the #11 team to overcome the #7 is often just a swing of, let's say, 8 points, 4 both ways. Given how level the playing field has become in the league, is that such a ridiculous thing to imagine? Plus, like you say, they base all their predictions on: What Happened Last Year + Free Agent signings x Trades/How Much we Like or Hate Your Team to Begin with. I will say that predicting the Devils this year IS incredibly tough, and it doesn't have a lot to do with last season; it has a hell of a lot more to do with there being a huge influx of youth into the everyday lineup on a permanent basis, a new coach, and the fact that Travis Zajac won't be around for a couple months. I'm pretty optimistic, because this offseason came off like the Devils fully embracing that you need youth and speed to win in today's NHL, while still holding onto the defensive responsibility that is a Jersey hallmark. That said, the young guys may end up needing time to gel, and it could mean a slow start. That said, if the Devils are in a top 8 spot come 12/1, then I'll be pretty confident they aren't going any lower. Very nicely said and as a guy who had to deal with young guys having to gel and develop with the Kings the past few years, I completely agree with letting these kids grow up and develop together to have that solid core 3-5 years down the line. Anyways, with that being said, I think the Devils do make the playoffs, but probably as a seventh or more realistically as an eighth seed.
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Post by Vice honcho room temperature on Oct 8, 2011 11:47:00 GMT -5
It's because most of these sport experts basically just play things safe from last year unless it is really obvious if a team has improved or got worse during the off season. These sport experts have reps to protect. Yeah, the dumbest thing I keep hearing on XM NHL Center Ice is "Well, ok, you picked this team to make the playoffs, but who do you think they're going to bump off from last season out of the top eight to make it?". Do they have any idea how ridiculous a question that is? This is a league that's done, I'll admit, a solid job of establishing pretty good competitive parity. Every year, it seems, there's at least 11, if not 12, teams in each conference either settled into or just on the doorstep of a playoff spot. All it takes for the #11 team to overcome the #7 is often just a swing of, let's say, 8 points, 4 both ways. Given how level the playing field has become in the league, is that such a ridiculous thing to imagine? Plus, like you say, they base all their predictions on: What Happened Last Year + Free Agent signings x Trades/How Much we Like or Hate Your Team to Begin with. I will say that predicting the Devils this year IS incredibly tough, and it doesn't have a lot to do with last season; it has a hell of a lot more to do with there being a huge influx of youth into the everyday lineup on a permanent basis, a new coach, and the fact that Travis Zajac won't be around for a couple months. I'm pretty optimistic, because this offseason came off like the Devils fully embracing that you need youth and speed to win in today's NHL, while still holding onto the defensive responsibility that is a Jersey hallmark. That said, the young guys may end up needing time to gel, and it could mean a slow start. That said, if the Devils are in a top 8 spot come 12/1, then I'll be pretty confident they aren't going any lower. I said it to my brother that if the Devils play NHL .500 hockey til Zajac comes back they'll make the playoffs
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RKTaker
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Posts: 16,328
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Post by RKTaker on Oct 8, 2011 14:54:53 GMT -5
brad richards gets his first goal as a ranger but they lose in a shootout
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Post by Vice honcho room temperature on Oct 8, 2011 14:55:43 GMT -5
I knew the Rags were going to tie the game up to bring it to OT
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RKTaker
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Posts: 16,328
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Post by RKTaker on Oct 8, 2011 15:01:49 GMT -5
yeah i was hoping to but i didn't know who that person would be
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Post by slasher911 on Oct 8, 2011 15:30:55 GMT -5
Ryan Callahan and Brad Richards' goals were beautiful. I'm a sucker for top-shelf goals.
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triplethreatmark
Grimlock
Party Fouler
I look exactly like this avatar in real life.
Posts: 14,074
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Post by triplethreatmark on Oct 8, 2011 15:50:26 GMT -5
Well, that was a very ugly game for the Kings. Despite having 10 pounds on the Sabres (thanks Jim Fox and Bob Miller for that fact), we still got out-muscled by Buffalo. Our D down the middle was atrocious as well. Oh well, at least our top guys (Kopitar, Richards, Gagne, Doughty and Johnson) played all right. But, if I had to break it down, it would be like this:
90% Kings playing badly 10% Ryan Miller. He was outstanding today.
As for Buffalo, 8 goals in two games. Look out Eastern Conference, these Sabres are looking like the early 90s Sabres with their Run-and-Gun offense. They're going to be a really good club this year.
Onward towards New Jersey...
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Post by slasher911 on Oct 8, 2011 18:57:55 GMT -5
Holy shit, the Bruins powerplay looks about 10,000x better tonight. They haven't scored yet, but it looks so crisp without Recchi or Kaberle.
Steve Downie is such a bitch.
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Post by darbus alan on Oct 8, 2011 19:01:33 GMT -5
1-0 Flyers going into the second period. But Brodeur made a beautiful save on a shootout-style goal shot.
They need to take advantage of these power plays more.
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Post by slasher911 on Oct 8, 2011 20:28:22 GMT -5
Patrice Bergeron is f***ing incredible.
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smokinvokoun
Dennis Stamp
Daffy's Gonna Kill You
Posts: 4,770
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Post by smokinvokoun on Oct 8, 2011 20:55:06 GMT -5
3-0 Hawks!!!!
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Post by Pgarodactyl on Oct 8, 2011 20:55:45 GMT -5
Leafs win it 6-5 after leading 4-0 after 2.
The Senators showed life in the third scratching and clawing back, but in the end, it was just barely not enough as the Leafs start off 2-0.
Now the Leafs get a week off to fix the habits that let the Sens nearly steal this one.
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Post by Vice honcho room temperature on Oct 8, 2011 21:02:44 GMT -5
f***ing Flyers
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H-Fist
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 6,485
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Post by H-Fist on Oct 8, 2011 21:02:58 GMT -5
What a difference a Dave makes. Love Bolland. Seriously, he is the guy that makes this team work top to bottom.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2011 22:56:39 GMT -5
DETROIT WON AGAIN!!!
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Post by Friday Night SmackOwn on Oct 8, 2011 23:05:43 GMT -5
Game got ugly towards the end, but hey, 2-0 to start the season, plus....
Phil Kessel got a f***ing hat trick! ;D ;D
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Post by therealsks on Oct 8, 2011 23:56:07 GMT -5
And we lose 3-0 to the Flyers. Not too surprising.
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Post by slasher911 on Oct 9, 2011 0:13:43 GMT -5
Congrats to Peter Forsberg for having his number retired by Colorado.
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Unocal 76
King Koopa
Providing The Finest Oil
Posts: 12,687
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Post by Unocal 76 on Oct 9, 2011 0:16:55 GMT -5
DETROIT WON AGAIN!!! What a shocking surprise this is!
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