26 replies to this topic

[ghdi]

http://espn.go.com/n...rds-predictions

This is basically a list of ESPN's "experts" and who they feel is going to win. Look at Melrose. I

[Zubie#8]

PSH.

[DevilMinder]

All these ranger people are ridiculous...they are the Rangers, come on.

[Daniel]

All these ranger people are ridiculous...they are the Rangers, come on.

I look at them closer, and the Rangers are better than I was giving them credit for, and I was already of the view they were a dangerous team. They're basically weak with the third-pairing D, but otherwise that's it. They have better forward depth than I originally thought.

Bottom line: The Rangers are a very logical Cup favorite.

[ghdi]

Yea, I take no issue with people taking the Rags. They're basically the same team as last year with Rick Nash.

Melrose's pick though. Just funny.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

The Rangers seem to be the trendy pick right now. So be it. I can't say I'm expecting that much from the Devils...I think they'll start slowly, but probably do enough to get into the playoffs.

[ghdi]

The Rangers seem to be the trendy pick right now. So be it. I can't say I'm expecting that much from the Devils...I think they'll start slowly, but probably do enough to get into the playoffs.

I would say the Blues are the trendy pick. The Rags are the easy way out. IMO they are the favorites going in, but I wouldnt bet on them.

[Triumph]

I look at them closer, and the Rangers are better than I was giving them credit for, and I was already of the view they were a dangerous team. They're basically weak with the third-pairing D, but otherwise that's it. They have better forward depth than I originally thought.

Bottom line: The Rangers are a very logical Cup favorite.

They're really not. Their bottom 6 forwards are weak and their top 6 is still pretty damn weak too. Outside of Hagelin and maybe Nash they don't have any tough minutes forwards. And of course there's the whole 'Lundqvist had an SV% higher than he's ever had'. They're a middle of the pack playoff team.

[Daniel]

They're really not. Their bottom 6 forwards are weak and their top 6 is still pretty damn weak too. Outside of Hagelin and maybe Nash they don't have any tough minutes forwards. And of course there's the whole 'Lundqvist had an SV% higher than he's ever had'. They're a middle of the pack playoff team.

What are "tough minutes forwards"?

[SMantzas]

What are "tough minutes forwards"?

Players who can play against strong competition and do well.

Guys who are- Elias, Zajac, Zubrus
Guys who aren't- Kovy, Clarkson, Tedenby

[hystyk28]

They're a middle of the pack playoff team.

I thought I was the only one that thought this way, I couldn't agree more.

[Daniel]

Players who can play against strong competition and do well.

Guys who are- Elias, Zajac, Zubrus
Guys who aren't- Kovy, Clarkson, Tedenby

Ok. Then what teams have more tough minute forwards, and what's the critical mass?

[devlman]

Players who can play against strong competition and do well.

Guys who are- Elias, Zajac, Zubrus
Guys who aren't- Kovy, Clarkson, Tedenby

Who needs tough minutes forwards when your entire team will park the bus on front of the Michelin man

[Triumph]

What are "tough minutes forwards"?

I forgot Callahan - but they are forwards who can either go up against the opponent's best and be + or break even (relative to zone start). The trouble with the Rangers is that they are weak down the center - now Stepan may have improved considerably, but he was legitimately not good last year. Richards has never been good, and Boyle is what he is - they slam him with hard minutes and he gets eaten up.

Edited by Triumph, 18 January 2013 - 03:53 PM.

[MantaRay]

Has Melrose looked at the Minnesota roster?????
Their Defense is horrible, Suter is NOT Shea Webber, regardless how much they overpaid for him.

[DH26]

I forgot Callahan - but they are forwards who can either go up against the opponent's best and be + or break even (relative to zone start). The trouble with the Rangers is that they are weak down the center - now Stepan may have improved considerably, but he was legitimately not good last year. Richards has never been good, and Boyle is what he is - they slam him with hard minutes and he gets eaten up.

I dunno why they were so against trading Stepan but willingly traded Anisimov I thought AA was better. But as long as you're running out Stu Bickel, and Carl Hagelin on the first line, you probably shouldn't be the cup favorite

[Chuck the Duck]

I don't know about you, but I am SHOCKED that Linda Cohen picked the Rags. Just shocked. She's about as much of an "expert" as my 21 month old son.

It's like they get the 12 people in all of ESPN that are allowed to even discuss hockey in any form and put their opinions out there to make it seem like they are informed. Generally, Bucci is good with his predictions, but the rest are a joke, none more so than that Don Cherry wann-be clown Melrose. Too bad he wasn't mugged in Newark during the Cup finals last season.

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

Kings should be respected more, they were incredible last year after dumping Johnson and signing Sutter. Hard to pick someone else at this date.

[grcenter47]

does anyone think edmonton will finally make it to the playoffs?

[DH26]

does anyone think edmonton will finally make it to the playoffs?

If they do I'd imagine it'd have to be because their young forwards and Schultz kept tearing it up like they were at OKC and Dubnyk puts up good numbers and Ryan Whitney turns into Ryan Whitney again