Drakrami Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Below is what I feel are the strongest teams in the West. 1. Los Angeles 2. Chicago 3. Anaheim 4. St.Louis 5. Colorado 6. Dallas 7. Minnesota 8. Edmonton I just realize how much all of these teams have improved and how far behind we suddenly are.... I mean we were one of the top teams in the NHL as little as 2 years ago. I don't like our chances of making the playoffs at all, and I am not even a bandwagoner. Guess I will have to settle with being excited about our prospect's development and the 2015 draft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Stammer- Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Minnesota is better than St.Louis imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higgyfan Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Edmonton's going to make the playoffs!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingAlex Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I stopped reading at Edmonton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangelos Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 How do the sharks miss the playoffs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 How do the sharks miss the playoffs?sharks out Edmonton in... LMAO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I stopped reading at Edmonton. They got better in areas they needed to and Nurse and Klefbom will be ready to step in to the blueline. Their goaltending got better as well. If you really think they don't have a shot with a stud 2nd line center in Draisatl, rookie or not. Big mean knuckle chucking Aulie, and Nurse/Klefbom on D as well as whatever other moves they'll make. I cannot help you. Even Calgary has a serious outside chance of making ti should they actually address their goal scoring or have players like Gaudreau step in. My 8. Anaheim Chicago St Louis Colorado Los Angeles (based on reg season not playoffs, two different teams really) Minnesota Dallas San Jose Outside looking in. Edmonton Arizona (weird to say that) Vancouver Winnipeg Calgary Nashville I really don't believe we are more than a 1 line team right now with a smattering of potential 2nd line players. And in a western conference that got much tougher yesterday I do not see us in contention for anything more than a bubble spot say 9th or 10th at best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Fig Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Canucks will be in very tough to make it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenDrinkin Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I'm not taking the Oilers seriously until they actually do something. Signed, everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking mama Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 They got better in areas they needed to and Nurse and Klefbom will be ready to step in to the blueline. Their goaltending got better as well. If you really think they don't have a shot with a stud 2nd line center in Draisatl, rookie or not. Big mean knuckle chucking Aulie, and Nurse/Klefbom on D as well as whatever other moves they'll make. I cannot help you. Even Calgary has a serious outside chance of making ti should they actually address their goal scoring or have players like Gaudreau step in. My 8. Anaheim Chicago St Louis Colorado Los Angeles (based on reg season not playoffs, two different teams really) Minnesota Dallas San Jose Outside looking in. Edmonton Arizona (weird to say that) Vancouver Winnipeg Calgary Nashville I really don't believe we are more than a 1 line team right now with a smattering of potential 2nd line players. And in a western conference that got much tougher yesterday I do not see us in contention for anything more than a bubble spot say 9th or 10th at best The turtle-derby may be between WIN, NASH, ARI & VAN. Is VAN the last of all 7 Canadian teams a reality for us now? On the plus-side - expectations couldn't be any lower....anything better is winning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Fig Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I stopped reading at Edmonton. That's okay, the list was finished at that point anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drakrami Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 Sorry Edmonton haters, but I actually think Edmonton this year will be a team to watch out for.They actually have NHL goaltending now with Scrivens and Fasth. Their stars are maturing: Hall, Hopkins, Eberle, Yakupov, Perron. They upgraded their 3rd line in size and production with Purcell and Pouliot. They signed Fayne, who is a top 4 D, and then they have defense like Darnell Nurse, Martin Marincin, and Oscar Klefbom who should start contributing next season.On paper, they are a team to watch out for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombieksa Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Honestly I feel like Anaheim actually got worse this off-season. Sure if you look at the upgrade from Bonino to Kesler in a vacuum it looks like they got better. But then you have to realize they lost the following roster players: Selanne - Leadership and decent scoring for his age Koivu - Leadership and a good 3rd liner that can step up when called upon Winnik - An above average bottom 6 guy with decent possession numbers Hiller - A fallback veteran who can step in if a rookie goalie falters Bonino - young center who was just starting to show flashes of what he is capable of Sbisa - under-performing but highly praised young defenseman who is expected to show a lot more in future. Perreault - Probably their biggest loss, played a ton in the top 6 and was their best faceoff guy. Robidas - Injury plagued season but was a calming player in his own end. In replacement they signed Clayton Stoner for 3.25M a season. Younger? sure. Upgrade? Questionable. So they lost a top 6 winger, 4 middle six forwards including two centers, an average starting goalie, and 2 bottom pairing defenseman. In return they gained a former Selke winner in kesler, a bottom six guy in Thompson, and a bottom six defenseman with a funny last name in Stoner. I don't know about the rest of you but last years high PDO and expected recessive S% aside, I just feel like the ducks have had a net loss this offseason and could be on the outside lookin in come April. Pretty much every young player on their roster had a career year and it is hard to believe this will be the case next year. That said. 1.LA 2. SJ 3. Anh/Van 1. Chi 2. Min 3. Stl W Dal W Col Those are my predictions for the playoffs next season. I am not sold on Edm yet, Phx lost some good players this year, and Calgary is just a joke this season. I think 5 teams make it from central, Jets and Nashville haven't improved enough, Colorado sneaks in but they are conceivably a worse team this year (Iginla does not make up for losing both Stastny and Paranteau. I believe Anh (bad possession) and Van (lacking scoring depth) will be in a fight for that final Pacific spot come the end of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsedin33 Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 The turtle-derby may be between WIN, NASH, ARI & VAN. Is VAN the last of all 7 Canadian teams a reality for us now? On the plus-side - expectations couldn't be any lower....anything better is winning! Dunno man, Calgary has sunk pretty damn low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xbox Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 For regular season, which is needed to make the playoffs, how can you not list San Jose? LA Chicago Colorado St Louis San Jose Anaheim Minnesota Dallas Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Nashville wont make it That leaves us and Arizona as the bubble teams. YAY! Sorry Edmonton haters, but I actually think Edmonton this year will be a team to watch out for. Where have I heard this before? Oh yeah 2011, 2012 and 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go Faulk Yourself Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Quite honestly right now, it's not looking great for Vancouver. The west is ultra-competitive as always, and even moreso then before now. I'd pretty much put the Canucks at the bottom of the pack ANA LA SJ CHI STL MIN COL DAL EDM NSH ARI WPG VAN CGY Nashville in my opinion continued to get a lot better this off-season in the acquisition of Neal. Rinne was out a majority of the season and expect FIlip Forsberg and Calle Jarnkrok to slot in the line up, two very good prospects. Couple that with a young and continuously improving blueline and I don't see how Nashville will be too far off The only one I can see going anywhere in that bottom 6 in the west is Arizona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swedish elite3 Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I'm going yo say we sneak into the playoffs with SJ missing them completely as well as Edmonton, but it will be down to us and Edmonton to the end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 The turtle-derby may be between WIN, NASH, ARI & VAN. Is VAN the last of all 7 Canadian teams a reality for us now? On the plus-side - expectations couldn't be any lower....anything better is winning! Dunno man, Calgary has sunk pretty damn low. Agreed. We will still be a cut above Calgary and Ottawa for sure. Possibly Toronto as well. In fact, a double double says we are better than Toronto hands down. WTF is Nonis doing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl's Jn Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Dunno man, Calgary has sunk pretty damn low. lol no way calgary has raymond! the calgary destroyer becomes the canuck killer.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl's Jn Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Minnesota is better than St.Louis imo how is minnesota better than stlouis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.