They'rrree Baaaack...

moogs

Yes sports fans, it's HOCKEY SEASON once more! I cannot convey strongly enough the excitement I feel at knowing my NHL Center Ice channels are about to be filled for the next eight months, with games-a-plenty. Wicked slappers from the blue line, brutal checks in the corners and those cheezy, animated Canadian Tire ad shorts.



Ahhhhhh. Life is sweet sometimes. This is even better than the Cubs pounding the sh*t out of the fish last night, I'd say.



So on with the predictions, lads. This astute hockey observer believes that other than two teams in the east (Ottawa and Phillthy), the WC will dominate the league in most categories that matter. When it's all said and done, I believe we'll see the following throughout the season:

Code:

Best Offensive Fireworks: Colorado

Honorable mention: Vancouver, Ottawa, maybe Phillthy



Best Defensive Smackdowns: Detroit

Honorable mention: Vancouver, Carolina, Phillthy, maybe Colorado



Best Line: Hejduk - Foresberg - Tanguay

HM: Kariya - Sakic - Selanne, Toddzilla - Morrison - Naslund



Best G: Broduer

Honorable mention - Turco



Best Young Gun - Kovulchuk

Honorable Mention - Spezza (Ott), Koltsov (Pitt), Gaborik (Minn)



Best Young D - Jackman (again)

Honorable Mention - Bouwmeester (Fla), Baumgarnter (Pit), Orpik (Pit)



Best Yougn G - Marc Andre Fleury (Pit)

Honorable Mention - none that will compare









Playoff Predictions



WC

Code:

1. Colorado

2. Detroit

3. LA (if they get healthy)

4. Vancouver

5. St. Louis

6. Dallas

7. San Jose

8. Minnesota



9. Edmonton







EC

Code:

1. Ottawa

2. New Jersey

3. Carolina

4. Phillthy

5. Toronto

6. Tampa Bay

7. Boston

8. NY Rangers



9. Buffalo









Finals - Colorado vs. Ottawa

Winner - Ottawa (surprise!)





Tonight's games to watch:



Buffalo at Phillthy - 7:00 EST

Montreal at Ottawa - 7:00 EST

Los Angeles Kings at Detroit Red Wings - 7:30 EST

Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks - 10:30 EST

curiousuburb

Canucks all the way!

moogs

I am pulling for the Nucks all the way. My favorite WC team, though Colorado will be fun as hell to watch this year too. Vancouver has a great combination of talent and grit, along with good fans and a great GM who can manage a team within a real budget.



They should be the model for the rest of the league IMO.



Plus, I'm glad the Pens picked up Baumer. I think he's going to show what he's capable of this season as a top 4 Pens D. He'll definitely get the ice time now!

moogs

And so the vaunted Canucks start the season off right against the Flames. The Sedin twins and King are going to make a great line by the end of the season I think....



Tonight's festivities worth watching:



Los Angeles Kings at Pittsburgh Penguins - 7:30 pm



Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche - 9:00 pm



St. Louis Blues at Phoenix Coyotes - 10:00 pm

inactionman

Leaf hockey every Saturday night for the next eight months! Hooray!



Oh! The predictions cometh!



Eastern Conference:



1 Ottawa (though maybe not with Havlat retreating to the Czech Republic

2 New Jersey

3 Tampa Bay

4 Leafs!

5 Philly

6 Boston

7 Florida

8 Montreal



Western Conference:



1 Vancouver

2 Dallas

3 Detroit

4 Colorado

5 Minnesota

6 St. Louis

7 Los Angles

8 Anaheim



Award Predicitions to come! Stay Tuned! Although, I will predict that Hasek will suck huge ass this year and will re-retire with immense shame.

chinney

Of couse we are waiting...waiting...here in Ottawa. So far they look great, but I will wait until early June next year to commit to any particular Cup prediction.

ibrowse

Oh man I was hoping this thread was going to be about the movie Gremlins...