NHL Hockey playoff Thread

[Luke]

^That, and you couldn't steal that helmet and take it on public transportation.

[skyknight]

Well, the quest for this year's Stanley Cup has ended, and what follows is the draft pick and free-agency signing.

This year's draft should have good talent, thou no definite ones like Sid, Ovie, or Kane, but should be able to fill in some needs on some teams.

However, this year's free-agency isn't too attractive.

Any of you hoping what your team could do during the next few weeks?

[vash23n]

Well, the quest for this year's Stanley Cup has ended, and what follows is the draft pick and free-agency signing.

This year's draft should have good talent, thou no definite ones like Sid, Ovie, or Kane, but should be able to fill in some needs on some teams.

However, this year's free-agency isn't too attractive.

Any of you hoping what your team could do during the next few weeks?

Apparently the top two of the draft group this year have some talent and might be able to step right into the NHL. The big story for the Flyers is goaltending. I personally was a big fan of Leighton when he stepped in. Many think he just got lucky, but I don't think so. He finally got a goalie coach to focus on him and admitted that his game was tweaked. Maybe that is all that has been needed all these years. It wouldn't surprise me. If you have bad habits and they are not corrected they hamper your play year after year. Leighton is a goaltender that has always been overshadowed until this year. Look what a little attention resulted in. I would like to see a whole season with him in net to see how he does under normal circumstances (in other words, not coming in and being expected to win the cup after not having played for a few weeks do to injury).

I think Boucher will probably be backup as he is signed into next year and I don't know what we would get for him. Johan Backlund, however, just go resigned for two more years. Neither can carry the load as a starter (at least Backlund still needs to prove himself since he got injured in his one start this season). Looks like he and Boosh will compete for the backup position. Ray Emery may have faced a career ending injury with his degenerative hip issue - he's trying to make sure he can be able to walk before worrying about whether or not he can play. It's ashame because he played great up until the few games he tried to play through injury. So who will start? I have a feeling Leighton will be gone. The Flyers can never be forced to change their minds once they are made up and they decided they wanted to chase a new high talent goalie before Leighton was even acquired. Good luck! Every time we go chasing after someone we think will make the major difference at so and so position, he ends up underperforming, which opens the doors for someone unexpected to step in and excel - Leino! I wish we would allow ourselves to be pleasantly surprised for once. Maybe that is the key to our success... this is the farthest we have gotten in a while and look who proved most important for our run - Leino, Hartnell (gasp), Briere, Leighton, and even Boosh. The other reason Leighton might be gone is money. I am sure he wants to be paid more than $100,000 next season. We are going to have to move someone big like Briere (NTC) Hartnell (NTC), Carter, etc. It doesn't look like any changes will happen on defense as Holmgren thinks we are set. Considering how loaded we are at center, it seems pretty obvious who has the highest chance of being gone. And if we want that young superstar goalie to solve our problems once and for all we will have to move someone big.

[skyknight]

For my home team, the Minnesota Wild,

I am thinking next year we should be able to make it to the playoffs, however we are short on offensive talent, and lack depth in the farming system.

I do agree with some sport beat writer that the Wild will need to make some bold moves to gain talent and clear out salary cap space. I gotta hand it to Chuck Fletcher for being able to traded Benoit Pouliot for Guillaume Latendresse (whom scored 25 goals within 55 games). Having the 9th pick is no guarantee for a superstar player, but should add depth to the farm system.

And compared to the elite teams in the West, I say this team has ways to go before they can match up.


[edit]:
http://www.capgeek.com/index.php

for those who want play "real" instead of fantasy!

[vash23n]

For my home team, the Minnesota Wild,

I am thinking next year we should be able to make it to the playoffs, however we are short on offensive talent, and lack depth in the farming system.

I do agree with some sport beat writer that the Wild will need to make some bold moves to gain talent and clear out salary cap space. I gotta hand it to Chuck Fletcher for being able to traded Benoit Pouliot for Guillaume Latendresse (whom scored 25 goals within 55 games). Having the 9th pick is no guarantee for a superstar player, but should add depth to the farm system.

And compared to the elite teams in the West, I say this team has ways to go before they can match up.

I have read a lot about the Wild having a serious chance to go deep next post season. Does Branco still play for them? I loved it when he was a Flyer. I regret getting rid of him as much as I regret getting rid of Sharp to the Blackhawks.

[edit]:
http://www.capgeek.com/index.php

for those who want play "real" instead of fantasy!

[skyknight]

Branco, as in Branko Radivojevič?

He is long gone, along with all Slovakian players (Gabby + Demitra), for a while all three played together on one-line. But I guess playing for Lemaire leads to misery for all players, unless you really buy into his philosophy.

Last year was a bit hard, especially after all those years under the "trap"-system, our PK proficiency did went down, and Goals-Allowed went up.

Hopefully in the coming year, with the right free-agent signing, and players more comfortable with open-gameplay, we can make a good run in the playoffs.

[skyknight]

Not to double-post,

But Man!

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=324934

Why trade away your hero?

[vash23n]

Not to double-post,

But Man!

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=324934

Why trade away your hero?

Odd odd move... not a lot of support with the Montreal fans. Pressure is on Price BIGTIME!

[DaGamingMonkey]

I think it was a good idea to do it at soon as possible. Having a goalie situation where you don't know who to start the next year is bad for the team. This tells Price, listen, you're the #1 guy, step up.

[Luke]

This really sucks, Bob Probert dead at 45:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=5356462