Chasing the Cup
Chasing the Cup
Its getting to crunch time for the NHL season. For all you bleachercoaches that might not start following until this time of the year I figured I would help get everyone up to speed.
I do not recall a year when so many teams have realistic cup chances this late into the season. First we will look at the east:
1st: Philadelphia: If I were to pick a cup favorite this would be the one right now. Just added Versteeg (who won a cup last year with the Hawks) to add even more firepower to this lineup. Goalie will be the question mark over the stretch run because I have never been to high on teams winning the cup when the #1 goalie hasn't been a foregone conclusion all year.
2nd: Tampa Bay: Lost in a shootout last night to Philly but still the surprise team of the year. The most explosive offense in the league right now lead by Stamkos but the experience is there as well with some of the core members (St. Louis and Lacavalier) having their name on the cup. Steve Yzerman has this team in contention and acquiring Roloson as a netminder may have been a cup winning move.
3rd: Boston: Less points that Pittsburgh but they are 3rd since they are winning their division. Defense is the name of the game here. Best team defensively all year long and Tim Thomas is the type of goalie that can win his team 2-3 games in a series. This makes them a serious contender. To win a cup, however, they do need to find some offense especially with Savard out for the year.
4th: Pittsburgh: This team is pretty bad right now. Cooke and Godard are suspended. Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz, Comrie, Letestu, Jeffery, Asham, and Tangradi all injured. Pens need to make a deadline deal but defense will keep them in it for now. Good news is that Fleury and the entire defensive unit is all in tact and will keep this team in a lot of hockey games until some of these players get back or make a deadline move with Malkin's salary coming off the books when he was placed on the long-term injury list.
5th: Montreal: Team very similar to last year. Defensively minded and enough fire power to be a legit cup contender. Watched them play last night and the energy that home crowd brings this team will be scary for opponents in the playoffs.
6th: Washington: For the first time in a while this team is not the regular season favorite and I feel it makes them much more dangerous. Ovechkin will get things going and once he does this team easily could be the best in the east. Messing around with the goalie situation this late into a season always worries me but this team is currently last of the 6 teams in the east I feel have a realistic shot at the cup. So they need to get some work done over the last 25 games and get some home ice advantage because I would not want to play any of the 5 teams ahead of them on the road.
7th: New York Rangers: Good bounce back year for the Rangers after missing the playoffs last year. Marc Staal will be a force at the point for the Rags for years to come. Lundqvist looked quite shaky the last time I seen them play.
8th: Carolina: Solid overall team play has a team that was dreadful last year fighting for a playoff spot this year. Cam Ward is also a goalie that when hot can carry a team through a playoff round. They just don't have enough behind him but some really solid young talent on this team.
Other Contenders:
-Buffalo: The fight in this team was evident last night. Down 2-0 in the first to force overtime with the Canadians. Down 2 shots in the shootout only to win it in the 10th round with a backup goalie. This team will put a lot of pressure on the Rags and Hurricanes for the final spot.
-Atlanta: Long-term is looking good after locking up Byfuglien long term but this team has been in a free fall of late. If any team needs a good deadline move it is this one.
-New Jersey: Although 14 points out of the playoffs this teams is 8-1-1 in their last 10 and has won 4 straight to pull themselves from the laughing stock of the league to a very dangerous hockey club. Being trading deadline sellers will seal the fate of this team though.
Western Conference I will touch on in a bit.
I do not recall a year when so many teams have realistic cup chances this late into the season. First we will look at the east:
1st: Philadelphia: If I were to pick a cup favorite this would be the one right now. Just added Versteeg (who won a cup last year with the Hawks) to add even more firepower to this lineup. Goalie will be the question mark over the stretch run because I have never been to high on teams winning the cup when the #1 goalie hasn't been a foregone conclusion all year.
2nd: Tampa Bay: Lost in a shootout last night to Philly but still the surprise team of the year. The most explosive offense in the league right now lead by Stamkos but the experience is there as well with some of the core members (St. Louis and Lacavalier) having their name on the cup. Steve Yzerman has this team in contention and acquiring Roloson as a netminder may have been a cup winning move.
3rd: Boston: Less points that Pittsburgh but they are 3rd since they are winning their division. Defense is the name of the game here. Best team defensively all year long and Tim Thomas is the type of goalie that can win his team 2-3 games in a series. This makes them a serious contender. To win a cup, however, they do need to find some offense especially with Savard out for the year.
4th: Pittsburgh: This team is pretty bad right now. Cooke and Godard are suspended. Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz, Comrie, Letestu, Jeffery, Asham, and Tangradi all injured. Pens need to make a deadline deal but defense will keep them in it for now. Good news is that Fleury and the entire defensive unit is all in tact and will keep this team in a lot of hockey games until some of these players get back or make a deadline move with Malkin's salary coming off the books when he was placed on the long-term injury list.
5th: Montreal: Team very similar to last year. Defensively minded and enough fire power to be a legit cup contender. Watched them play last night and the energy that home crowd brings this team will be scary for opponents in the playoffs.
6th: Washington: For the first time in a while this team is not the regular season favorite and I feel it makes them much more dangerous. Ovechkin will get things going and once he does this team easily could be the best in the east. Messing around with the goalie situation this late into a season always worries me but this team is currently last of the 6 teams in the east I feel have a realistic shot at the cup. So they need to get some work done over the last 25 games and get some home ice advantage because I would not want to play any of the 5 teams ahead of them on the road.
7th: New York Rangers: Good bounce back year for the Rangers after missing the playoffs last year. Marc Staal will be a force at the point for the Rags for years to come. Lundqvist looked quite shaky the last time I seen them play.
8th: Carolina: Solid overall team play has a team that was dreadful last year fighting for a playoff spot this year. Cam Ward is also a goalie that when hot can carry a team through a playoff round. They just don't have enough behind him but some really solid young talent on this team.
Other Contenders:
-Buffalo: The fight in this team was evident last night. Down 2-0 in the first to force overtime with the Canadians. Down 2 shots in the shootout only to win it in the 10th round with a backup goalie. This team will put a lot of pressure on the Rags and Hurricanes for the final spot.
-Atlanta: Long-term is looking good after locking up Byfuglien long term but this team has been in a free fall of late. If any team needs a good deadline move it is this one.
-New Jersey: Although 14 points out of the playoffs this teams is 8-1-1 in their last 10 and has won 4 straight to pull themselves from the laughing stock of the league to a very dangerous hockey club. Being trading deadline sellers will seal the fate of this team though.
Western Conference I will touch on in a bit.
Last edited by abpk2903 on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
The Ancient Enemy
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 7549
- Joined: October 30th, 2004, 2:47 pm
Re: Chasing the Cup
Doesnt history show you dont need a great goalie to win the Cup?
I love what TB is doing now, and I think their new direction is going to be very successful.
Boston will choke.
Pittsburgh, for all their struggles now, is still only 3 -5 pts out of 1st place.
Montreal doesnt score enough for me to get really excited.
Washington is scatterbrain.
Staal has done virtually nothing as of late.
Carolina has a lot of promis but I think Buffalo will get in.
I love what TB is doing now, and I think their new direction is going to be very successful.
Boston will choke.
Pittsburgh, for all their struggles now, is still only 3 -5 pts out of 1st place.
Montreal doesnt score enough for me to get really excited.
Washington is scatterbrain.
Staal has done virtually nothing as of late.
Carolina has a lot of promis but I think Buffalo will get in.
Last edited by The Ancient Enemy on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
"I can and will be hard anytime with or without my boyz!!!" - Hollywood
"Their jerseys make me want to run through the desert and tackle a terrorist." - nLions1
"Their jerseys make me want to run through the desert and tackle a terrorist." - nLions1
Re: Chasing the Cup
Which staal are u referring to?
I agree a proven goaltender isn't always needed to win the cup but the field is so close this year that it could very easily be what separates a team from the pack.
I agree a proven goaltender isn't always needed to win the cup but the field is so close this year that it could very easily be what separates a team from the pack.
Last edited by abpk2903 on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
Crimson09Crazy
Re: Chasing the Cup
Marc Staal I think he means, not like Jordan is doing great either.
Come playoff time, it doesn't matter what seed the Pens are, They are a tough out.
When is Crosby coming back? My guess has been sometime in late March like the 20th, which gives him enough time to get into a rhythm, like 7-8 games
And last year, with Philly being the 7 seed and Montreal being the 8th was also another year which anyone had a chance, this season is mirroring last year.
My pick is Tampa, but like you, I could see any of those teams make a run
Come playoff time, it doesn't matter what seed the Pens are, They are a tough out.
When is Crosby coming back? My guess has been sometime in late March like the 20th, which gives him enough time to get into a rhythm, like 7-8 games
And last year, with Philly being the 7 seed and Montreal being the 8th was also another year which anyone had a chance, this season is mirroring last year.
My pick is Tampa, but like you, I could see any of those teams make a run
Last edited by Crimson09Crazy on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
jack daniel
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 2615
- Joined: August 13th, 2010, 2:49 pm
- Location: point stadium
Re: Chasing the Cup
My pick to win it all, Vancouver. But to come out of the east, it pains me to say it but right now I have to go with the Flyers. But, if the Pens get Sid back at 100%, Fleury gets hot come playoff time, and Shero works some of his deadline magic hes known for, discounting the Ponikarovsky debacle last year, and uses the $8 million he has wisely and gets a big threat guy, I personally am hoping for Ales Hemsky from Edmonton, they could still make a run at it.
Last edited by jack daniel on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
"some may say you just got lucky, i personally believe you make your own luck by being good."
Re: Chasing the Cup
Now for the West:
1. Vancouver - Best team in hockey right now. Probably the team with the least amount of questions, too. The Sudin brothers make the best line in hockey (IMO). The one question that is surrounding this team is how will they hold up towards the end of the season. This team has the most travel in the NHL by far and finishing a season will be the issue here. For now though they gotta be west favorites.
2. Detroit - This comes to no surprise. The team as always is filled with veteran leaders and they will be in contention come playoff season. They have been plagued with goaltender injuries all year but good defense led by Lidstrom always alleviates that.
3. Phoenix - They lost their best defenseman from last year to the Penguins through free agency but somehow this team continues to win hockey games. Yandle has done a fine job taking over that role, though. I don't have them as cup contenders but I do expect them to be a tough out in the playoffs.
4. Anaheim - Good bounce back season as well. Perry is a guy to really build this team around. Jonas Hiller provided good security in the net as well. Not quite in the class with Detroit and Vancouver but a very solid year.
5. Dallas - Brad Richards may be the most underrated player in the league. Eriksson has elevated his game as well. No one expected them to be this good this season. Once again I don't have them as a cup contender but they have answered all the doubters all year.
6. Nashville - One of the best ran franchises in the league. They are never big spenders but they always provide one of the best defensive teams in the league. A lot of their success comes from a power point player in Shea Weber but Ryan Suter is being just as productive this season. This could be the dark horse in the west.
7. San Jose - Much like the Caps, they are used to being the clubhouse leader at this point in the season. They have been playing fairly well of late and if they can get past the first round of the playoffs they can be very dangerous. The line off all Canadian players is the pivotal piece to this puzzle.
8. Calgary - They have a lot of talent they could unload at the deadline. The problem is they are contenders. I don't see this team being at the caliber as a lot of the teams ahead of them. Over the next 5 games we will get a better fill for this team and they very easily could become deadline sellers with some big contracts on this team.
Others in contention (and there is a lot):
Los Angeles - I had this team as a top 3 team in the west but they have underachieved. Really not sure why they are struggling so much but the west being so tough has a lot to do with it. I look for these guys to find a way to get in.
Minnesota - As much as LA underachieved this team is overachieving. A very scrappy hockey club. Cutterbuck is a solid hockey player but when he is your go to man (and possibly Koivu), there could be trouble on the horizon.
Chicago - That's right they are 3 spots and 4 points out of the playoffs. Tough road to climb even for a Stanley Cup championship club. Salary cap crunch really has limited this team on having a successful campaign this season. If they get in, however, they will be one of the favorites.
Columbus - Won 2 in a row to get on this list. Nash is a hidden gem in the NHL and Mason may be a future star at goalie but not enough behind them to make a push for the playoffs let alone the cup.
1. Vancouver - Best team in hockey right now. Probably the team with the least amount of questions, too. The Sudin brothers make the best line in hockey (IMO). The one question that is surrounding this team is how will they hold up towards the end of the season. This team has the most travel in the NHL by far and finishing a season will be the issue here. For now though they gotta be west favorites.
2. Detroit - This comes to no surprise. The team as always is filled with veteran leaders and they will be in contention come playoff season. They have been plagued with goaltender injuries all year but good defense led by Lidstrom always alleviates that.
3. Phoenix - They lost their best defenseman from last year to the Penguins through free agency but somehow this team continues to win hockey games. Yandle has done a fine job taking over that role, though. I don't have them as cup contenders but I do expect them to be a tough out in the playoffs.
4. Anaheim - Good bounce back season as well. Perry is a guy to really build this team around. Jonas Hiller provided good security in the net as well. Not quite in the class with Detroit and Vancouver but a very solid year.
5. Dallas - Brad Richards may be the most underrated player in the league. Eriksson has elevated his game as well. No one expected them to be this good this season. Once again I don't have them as a cup contender but they have answered all the doubters all year.
6. Nashville - One of the best ran franchises in the league. They are never big spenders but they always provide one of the best defensive teams in the league. A lot of their success comes from a power point player in Shea Weber but Ryan Suter is being just as productive this season. This could be the dark horse in the west.
7. San Jose - Much like the Caps, they are used to being the clubhouse leader at this point in the season. They have been playing fairly well of late and if they can get past the first round of the playoffs they can be very dangerous. The line off all Canadian players is the pivotal piece to this puzzle.
8. Calgary - They have a lot of talent they could unload at the deadline. The problem is they are contenders. I don't see this team being at the caliber as a lot of the teams ahead of them. Over the next 5 games we will get a better fill for this team and they very easily could become deadline sellers with some big contracts on this team.
Others in contention (and there is a lot):
Los Angeles - I had this team as a top 3 team in the west but they have underachieved. Really not sure why they are struggling so much but the west being so tough has a lot to do with it. I look for these guys to find a way to get in.
Minnesota - As much as LA underachieved this team is overachieving. A very scrappy hockey club. Cutterbuck is a solid hockey player but when he is your go to man (and possibly Koivu), there could be trouble on the horizon.
Chicago - That's right they are 3 spots and 4 points out of the playoffs. Tough road to climb even for a Stanley Cup championship club. Salary cap crunch really has limited this team on having a successful campaign this season. If they get in, however, they will be one of the favorites.
Columbus - Won 2 in a row to get on this list. Nash is a hidden gem in the NHL and Mason may be a future star at goalie but not enough behind them to make a push for the playoffs let alone the cup.
Last edited by abpk2903 on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
jack daniel
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 2615
- Joined: August 13th, 2010, 2:49 pm
- Location: point stadium
Re: Chasing the Cup
Just a thought, if Jersey somehow someway gets in with the rule their on LOOK OUT.
Last edited by jack daniel on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
"some may say you just got lucky, i personally believe you make your own luck by being good."
Re: Chasing the Cup
They beat Carolina (who they're chasing) tonight.
Good 2 points for the Pens tonight. I know the Ave's are struggling but anytime you can get a win with a depleted roster as bad as this is good.
Good 2 points for the Pens tonight. I know the Ave's are struggling but anytime you can get a win with a depleted roster as bad as this is good.
Last edited by abpk2903 on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
jack daniel
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 2615
- Joined: August 13th, 2010, 2:49 pm
- Location: point stadium
Re: Chasing the Cup
Yeah I saw the Jersey score I believe their 12 out now? But like I said if they get in look out, I know I wouldn't want to be the team that has to play them in the first round. And for the Pens it was two good points all things considered, plus it was on the road. And Cooke will be back Sunday and Kunitz should be back any day now as well, their gonna start to slowly but surely get people back.
Last edited by jack daniel on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
"some may say you just got lucky, i personally believe you make your own luck by being good."
-
Crimson09Crazy
Re: Chasing the Cup
Big Game Sunday. I'd like to beat Chicago on National TV in their barn.
Last edited by Crimson09Crazy on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.