apollo Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Alright so I’m 6 days earlier this year but I just can’t keep it in any longer. I’m getting a tumour from all these pessimistic posts: “Tank!” “We’re gonna be bottom feeders” “Last in the division!” Had to have my voice heard beofore I lose it... Disclaimer: If you’re gonna call me out like last year and say I’m wrong and we’ll miss the playoffs – I’m willing to put my CDC membership on the line as long as you agree to do so as well and leave CDC forever when we make the playoffs. Or at least stop being a pessimistic downer 24/7. Last year we penetrated the Pacific with a 17-9-3 record, 2nd in the division, and dealt one of the final KO punches to the Kings when Lord Henrik decided to go #700 in PROLIFIC FASHION. Now all of sudden people think because we lost a couple “power forwards” that don’t hit and are inconsistent, we’re in trouble? Or is it because we lost a social media darling? Richy and Juice will leave a void but none that can’t be filled by committee. Let’s take a look at the division again and see how we match up. Not comparing with the Central because all that matters is for us to finish top 3 in the Pacific. Anaheim: Prediction 1 or 2nd in the division. Our biggest threat. Replaced Beau, Belesky, Etem with Hagelin, Juice, Stewart. Also added a good goalie in Khudobin. Made improvements for sure. Offense: Better than us Defense: Par with us Goaltending: Inferior to us Rating: 9.00 Calgary: 3rd to 5th in the division. They won too many games they shouldn’t have and had poor underlying numbers which was well documented. That being said they made a great addition in Dougie and their youngsters should all see some improvements. Frolik was also added and overpaid IMO. I could see what happened to the Avalanche happen to them with teams taking it harder to them each game so I don't see them improving in the standings Offense: Slightly Inferior Defense: Better than us Goaltending: Inferior Rating 8.50 Loser Angeles: 3rd to 5th in the division. Added Lucic, but lost Stoll, Williams, Richards, Voynov, Sekera, Regehr, Jones… they have young talent the likes of Shore, Pearson, Toffoli and Andreoff that can step up but they’ll be in tough unless the league hands them at least 15 wins. Offense: Inferior Defense: Better than us but very little depth now so it's marginal Goaltending: Can’t go wrong with Quick. Better than us but not that much Rating: 8.50 San Jose: 2nd to 6th in the division. It’ll be up to Jones and Stalock solely. They’ll live and die by their goaltending. Offense: On par Defense: Inferior Goaltending: Inferior Rating 8.25 Edmonton: 4th-6th. Connor can’t save them just yet. Horrible Sekera contract, Griffin is unproven. They’ve got lots of good young players but don’t see them ready yet. Talbot shouldn’t be that big of an upgrade if they play D like they have been. Rating 7.00 Arizona: Last (I was way wrong last year… chose Calgary) Vancouver: Prediction 1-3rd in the division Offense: Sedins are nowhere near washed up. Daniel was tied for 1st in points between Western Conference players that made the playoffs. Also led the NHL in primary assist; ahead of Crosby, Benn, Tavares, etc. Vancouver still has an elite top line, it will be up to the 3 very good 3rd lines we have to support them. Without a doubt Vancouver will roll 4 lines better than any team in the division. It’ll be up to Vey, Bo, Kenny to show improvements over last year. One more year under a new system from Bonino, Higgy and Hansen should do wonders for their games as well. Look for them to have better seasons. If a guy like Virtanen, Cassels, McCann, Shink, Jensen, etc can step up that would be fantastic but not our only hope. Defense: Extra year for everyone to adjust to the new coaches. Tanev, Lui, Edler, Weber, Franky, and Adam should all be improving. Hammer is a rock and hope to see good things from Bart. Biega is also a great depth option. Canucks defense is in good hands even with the departure of perennial leader and all man KB3. I'm confident Lui can fill Jucie's void and then some. Physicality and as man as you can get. Remember that game last year he got cut, got stitches and came back to the game with like 1 minut left? He's a gamer. LUUUUUUUUUU! Goaltending: No worries. Not gonna waste my breath on it. Miller is money ... FYI had the longest shutout streak in pro hockey last year. Also Marky should do as well as Eddie. Rating: 8.75 Final Standing Predictions – Went away from my rankings just based on feeling. Nux are a lock for the playoffs. If all goes well, division and a healthy cup run can be ours. Vancouver Anaheim Calgary San Jose LA Edmonton Arizona GO CANUCKS GO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 BUwahahahahahah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 No Apollo seriously though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Barzal Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 If we had a half decent team I don't think attaining 2nd in our division would be very hard, but we don't. Barring a rookie invasion and some kind of miracle sophomore year from Horvat/Vey/Kenins we are battling it out with Arizona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CroSen Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I agree with you Apollo!......................................in that we will finish ahead of Arizona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 We won the cup last season, the season before, and actually all the seasons, so I don't even care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horvat Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Warhippy its time for you to leave or make the bet with apollo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahf149 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Last year this team had no chance, they surprised us. This year they really have no chance apparently...I bet you they will surprise everyone again. Willie D's second year, hes not a stupid man, he probably learned a lot from last year. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aladeen Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 You know I'm with you Apollo... I believe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slegr Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Nothing wrong with a healthy dose of optimism. The team isn't that bad and may just surprise some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd. Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 1+ for the optimism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Karlsson Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Last year this team had no chance, they surprised us. This year they really have no chance apparently...I bet you they will surprise everyone again. Willie D's second year, hes not a stupid man, he probably learned a lot from last year. :D Hopefully, his coaching in the playoffs was one of the worst coaching performances I've seen in a long time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baer. Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 2nd is possible. We proved that last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Warhippy its time for you to leave or make the bet with apollo. Horvat, I've already put myself out there. Note my sig. I don't need to make a bet with someone who won't live up to it (again) I stand by my sig. There's no chance our team makes the playoffs this year let alone wins the division. But you can feel free to make that bet yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messier's_elbow Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I read the thread and before I looked at the poster I knew it was you Apollo. I'm afraid it's going to be 3-4 years before we are battling for top spot again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortorella's Rant Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Yeah... it's you. I appreciate the thought out post... but it's just you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviewonder20 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 The short answer to "Is it just me..." is yes, it is. I would love to have us "dominate" the Pacific Division but quite frankly, I don't even feel we can compete with them, let alone dominate. Our prospect cupboard has been poor (due to poor drafting and trades for rentals) and we are just beginning to have some promising prospects in the system. We are still old, slow and not tough enough to play against. Sure, we have Dorsett and Prust, but there are lots of very big forwards in the Pacific and our D are not very big. With no one to clear the front of the net and no great PMD or PP specialist, we have no chance of dominating anybody. We may not even be able to count on those 2 points every game from Edmonton and Calgary that we have been doing for years. Things will improve, but I think we are going lower before we rise again like a Phoenix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex425 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 We won't be one of the top 5 worst teams this year, that's 99% certain. Making the playoffs depends on if our young guys and veterans can play better than last season. I'd say we can make the playoffs, and there's a better chance than a lot of you people think. I wouldn't bet tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashby17 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Good coaching, same core, if we add some youth and it's successful, we will do well but as it stands. Dunno. My magic 8 ball stopped working years ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Here's why I laughed so derisively at this. No it isn't because it's apollo. No it isn't because it's because I don't believe in our team. It's more because the reality is, the Pacific is shaping up to be the bad boy in the league again. LA, Anaheim strong contenders, Calgary actually got better and 1 year older, San Jose is always a 50/50 shot at being a strong team and we well...we're introducing youth. For us to "dominate the pacific" means we would be a league leader. I cannot see this team pacing Chicago, Pitts, NYI, NYR, Dal, Ana, Tampa or any combination of 5 other teams. I also see us having an issue as the gimme points we had from Calgary and Edmonton might possibly be done. at 5 games a piece that's a possible 20 points we are going to be fighting for instead of expecting. Now factor in an LA team that while shoddier on defense and it's back 6, is introducing some solid players from its AHL Calder Cup winning Monarchs squad to replace them as well as adding a up year down year Lucic who is now fighting for a contract. He's gonna be a beast. An Anaheim team that got dumped by the champs but actually got stronger in the off season and still has a bunch of cap space. A San Jose team without injury issues and a new coach with something to prove as well as new goaltending. A Calgary team that outworked us in 6 games and blew us out in game 6 by chewing up a 3 goal lead and not stopping that is now healthier 1 year older and arguably deeper on that back end An Edmonton team that finally has (at least on paper) an NHL caliber defense and a plethora of young goalies with something to prove, new management, no health issues and a new coach. And of course McDavid and Draisatl. Finally we have Arizona who for whatever reason plays us tough no matter how terrible that team is. 1 goal grinders. All of that vs a Vancouver squad with a few losses some "character" depth replacements and hopefully; a whole lotta youth. I know it isn't just me that has a hard time seeing us make the playoffs. but I sure as hell know I'm not the only one shaking my head at being a Pacific division beast barring some kind of unheard of miracle of a cinderella run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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