NHL

[Spooshy]

Thought this needed a topic of it's own as it has attracted the attention of almost every dms member here. It means that probably only Spooshy and d9 will be posting here.

[Spooshy]

Dec 11, 2011 2:55:10 GMT Ivan The Destroyer said:

what do ya think of the 4 conferences

Haven't looked into it so much yet, so can't say for sure. But Spooshy's first thought was that it sounds complicated with different sizes of each conference. 7 or 8 per. Should be an equal amount in every conference. Since that is impossible to do with the current amount of teams, then this maybe isn't the best solution to a problem that really is no problem. Should have just moved Detroit and Winnipeg around see how Phoenix and Columbus work out before making big changes like that.

The playoff -format is the one that needs more attention. They were talking about the best two teams squaring of in the final. So basically two teams from the same conference could end up in the finals. Dunno how that will look...

[Ivan The Destroyer]

lol next year when phoenix goes to quebec city or something theyre gonna go back to the same format xD

[Spooshy]

Wether they wan't to admit it or not, hockey ain't going to stay in the Phoenix desert for long... That being said, one of the teams in Florida will be facing the same issues soon, The Panthers if you ask Spooshy. Only city that could support two hockey teams is Toronto. And the "other" team would still have same fate as the New York Islanders.

[Ivan The Destroyer]

its true that toronto could but supposedly they have some kind of agreement that there isnt gonna be another nhl team in the area so that they dont loose fans, although even if they do i dont see that happening. in canada even if your team sucks youre still gonna fill up the arena every game, people love hockey that much

[Ivan The Destroyer]

they were also thinking of putting a team in vegas, and i think that would work, although the team might not have a big fan base but people will still come to watch the games as its a big tourist destination, other places were kansas city, seattle, hamilton, and kitchener area. i think the toronto area could have 3 teams but its unlikely that they will put so many there, toronto area has around 6 million people living in it

[Spooshy]

Vegas me don't like, a Toronto team maybe. Fan base is what keeps players motivated, momentum in games and the feeling of a fine event. Random drunken monkeys in the stands don't make players wanna come there. Big money and no feeling -kinda players would be signed and teamwork wouldn't be the name of the game. Finnish hockey fans sit quietly in their seats and wait for a goal or near goal/ pretty save before making a single sound. That isn't so cool.

Kansas City has been talked about for a while now and that could be a good idea. Quebec would still be first choice per Spooshy. Problem is that Bettman tends to disagree with Spooshy on many different matters.

[Ivan The Destroyer]

yeah that bettman is always going against what seems to be good for the league a team in canada is guaranteed profit, although the problem with quebec city is that the city is a french city, unlike monteal where most people speak english too, for that reason some players may not want to go there as we saw with eric lindros when he got drafted. obviously a team in toronto would be a good idea, hamilton (~40km from toronto downtown) wanted one for a long time now and i dont think it would have any damage on the leafs fanbase since its probably the biggest one in the nhl, but it seems that bettman wants teams all over the place, not teams that are all successful (money wise)

[aksur]

Do you know what? I tell you a secret...

MINNESOTA WINS, coz their Finns....i like Heatly also...

out.

[Ivan The Destroyer]

ill tell you that they suprised the hell out of me this year

[aksur]

Yeah, me too i think most of us but they have good team it reminds of me like Anaheim few years ago when they win Stanley Cup. Good goalie and very good construct of players around of it. They will be strong at this year.

[Spooshy]

They are looking good at the moment, but they are very unproven in the playoffs. It's a long way to go from being a good regular season team to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. It has been seen countless times before. Most recently last year, when the favorite to win was picked to peaces by a strong underdog -team. They have the talent, but have they got the depth they need when 2-3 of their good players go down with injury? After 82 regular season games and 20+ playoff battles, there are very few guys that haven't injured themselves. It takes a lot to stay in one piece in todays NHL.

[aksur]

Yes it still long season to go, will see. There is few player whitch are irreplaceble to the team and if some of them or many of them got injury it would be hard but i truly hope they manage.

[Spooshy]

Not only because Spooshy is a lifelong Canuck -fan, but because it is that at the moment. Vancouver has probably the best depth in the NHL and still a very good looking core if young and coming stars. Of course everyone has talent coming up, but they have several NHL-ready kids in the minors and still enough 3rd and 4th -line veterans who can come up and some bottom six guys that can step up and find chemistry with the two top lines. They have and 9-10 NHL calibre d-men at the start of every season now for a few years and still end up having a couple of guys having to come up from nowhere to fill in. And successfully so. This won't go on for long now, as many are in their primes, and their chance is now. 1-2 more years and the fire-sale of underachieving money-men will commence in BC. Fact stated.

This is what we live for

Attachments:

[Ivan The Destroyer]

i think that vancouver's chance was to win last season and now that they didnt i just see other teams in my mind that would challange better for the cup than them, they do have good d-men, but they dont really have a great d-man like chara for the bruins, obviously its hard to compare to chara since he's the most dominating defence man in the league. they do have good forwards, but the sedins are in their thirties now?(not sure) it also looks like luongo is kinda in the middle of nowhere right now, they obviously havbe to go to him because of that huge contract, but schneider has been better, and i think maybe they should trade him. the thing about minnesota is that they are the lowest scoring of the top teams (i heard an announcer say this at a game) and although they have 2 good goalies if the offence stutters a bit they could find themselves in some trouble. originally i thought maybe washington would take it this year, but now im leaning more to philly or boston to repeat, and boston is just so hard to play against because they have a lot of guys that are big tough and skilled so you dont have much to do

[Spooshy]

Dunno if Boston can repeat what it did las year. They struggled against Tampa in the conference finals and barely got through. But that really gave them the final boost. Philadelphia seems like the favorite in the east. Minny is looking good, but just 1-2 injuries and they could be looking at the playoffs from outside. Spooshy sez Philly, Pens and Bruins in the east and Nucks, Hot Wings and Hawks out west are still the teams to beat. Panthers, TO and Minny are looking good, but they are not deep enough yet to make it through all the way. Rangers surprisingly high up considering their team and coaching.

[aksur]

Well we have seen that before nearly anything can happen no matter how games going this far. No matter how deep the team is, it helps yes but there is so many various things that means in the end and one of it is luck or bad luck, mostly of meaning injuries or losing touch. I think cant say much until the real games begins. Its so unbelievable how everything can chance when playoffs(hard games) starts. Some teams can keep them good shape to the end but some cant and some team can raise up credible versus regular season.

Im not watch NHL so much that can say very highlited or expert comments but like basicly. I dont have favour team i follow one team through the season im intrested in now it Wilds before was Anaheim, years ago Detroid and Colorado..

[Ivan The Destroyer]

hmm i almost forgot about the hawks, yeah they are very good and they probably will go far, i was thinking of the kings and anaheim at the start of the season but i have no idea how they can be doing so bad with players like theyve got. florida is also looking good, but at the end of the day i dont think they have enough raw talent to make a big push in the playoffs when teams are really going to start shutting down the top lines

im with spoosh on the top teams, and the ranges suprised me too, whenever i think of them they just never feel like a cup contender, but who knows

[Nemez]

Is Panthers playing good, seriously? They havent been in playoffs like in 10 years.

[Spooshy]

10 years is actually correct. They look like a team that could slot in somewhere between 6-8. They are playing well above expectations, considering the amount of new players on the team. Hard to find chemistry so fast and get everything clicking.