Who's the Best in the West?

Since when did our conference become soft?

Another link you may like about the West from Behind the Net.

over 1 year ago stacie7 17 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

the overall statement may be true, but certain parts are stupid

I think Vancouver can nab the top seed this year, but …………..

A wonderful combination of skill and toughness, plus two of the top three players at their position in the league

I assume he’s talking about H Sedin and Luongo. Ok, I’ll buy Sedin from a point production standpoint, but what has Luongo proven in the playoffs?

The same is true of Detroit, where benefiting from a division softer than Kyle Wellwood’s(notes) midsection is going to inflate point totals

The Central is soft? Last year, only the central and pacific had three teams over 100 points. Only the Central had 4 teams over 90 points.

As I mention, I think Vancouver can be good enough to end up with the top seed in the west, but is their D core that improved? I don’t know much about Ballard, is he really good enough to put them over the top? Does vancouver have a legit, minutes eating, shutdown top pair?

Ditto for Badgerdano

by Hack on Aug 30, 2010 3:31 PM CDT reply actions

Did you read the comments over there?

Some big-time Luongo hate going on.

by yardsale on Aug 31, 2010 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah i sent lambert an instant email about that.. little hasty.

Mr Lambert,

I have a small bone to pick with you over the following statement:
“The same is true of Detroit, where benefiting from a division softer than Kyle Wellwood’s midsection is going to inflate point totals and expectations above where they should be”

This is not the Central Division of 2004 or 2006.
- Nashville is a perennial playoff threat, despite being written off every year by everybody.
- Chicago won the frikkin Stanley Cup, and with all their minuses they still have Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Bolland, Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjalmarsson, and Turco. If Goldie-pads is even mediocre they should still be Top-4 and go at least 2 rounds in the playoffs.
- St Louis had the inevitable drop-back season after a miraculous playoff berth in 08-09. But with Halak (who should be in the top 20 of goalies this year), Brad Boyes regressing to the mean with his shooting % and getting back up to a 25-30 goal scorer, all the kids getting an extra year of experience (Perron, Oshie, Backes, Johnson, Berglund), and most importantly Davis Payne changing up the tone behind the scenes after the Andy Murray days, they will be a surprise challenge again in the West (though probably end up in the 9-12 range because of the insane difficulty of the conference).
- Columbus is the single dog team, but even they should be better than last year with new coaching and Mason shaking off his sophomore slump. Probably still bottom 4 in the conference, but not going to be a 60 or 70 pt team.

His response was

I get your arguments…. If we’re ranking strength by division, the NHL looks like this for me:
Atlantic (Pitt,NJ,Phi all make the postseason)
Pacific (SJ,Phx,LA)
NE (Bos,Buf,Mon)
Central (Chi,Det,Nas*)
SE (Wash,TB)
NW (Van,CGY*)
prohibitive maybe on the preds and flames.. no way they both miss the playoffs

He also did get roasted by everyone though, as shown by the first line of his email:

First I would like to thank you for not being like a good 99.76 percent of the emailers and telling me I’m a moron (in that many words, at least). That is, of course, why you are receiving this email.

by Death_By_Leafs on Sep 1, 2010 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I can maybe understand putting the Atlantic and the Pacific above the Central

but the Northeast? In what fantasy world are Bos, Buf, Mon > Chi, Det, Nashville?

Ditto for Badgerdano

by Hack on Sep 1, 2010 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah that one got me.

And after last year’s playoff performances, there’s no way i’d have that much confidence in the Atlantic.

happy ninja is happy....and wants to share its new toy!

by puppetmasterp on Sep 1, 2010 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Just saw this article

Came over here to FanShot it too.
I never expected the season after winning the Stanley F’ing Cup that the Hawks would be underdogs.
The points he makes about Vanny can be said exactly for the Hawks. They have a freaking good top 6. They have a good D corps [good last year, probably equivalent this year]. Turco, to me, is like old Luongo. Skilled, plays big minutes, lack of postseason success.

This all reminds me of Sam’s post on good cores— now that the Hawks only have Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Bolland, Keith and Seabrook, the Central is soooo weakkk.
Gimme a fucking break. Yet, I’m diggin the lack of attention/pressure on the Hawks. It’s a good thing.

You must have me confused with someone else, I have never been to Chicago.
[whispers] I sexually assaulted Scottie Pippen in 1997.

by DocPepper on Aug 30, 2010 3:38 PM CDT reply actions

You will appreciate this link too from Behind the Net

West Poll

My favorite comment was this one

Chicago’s got Keith but man their D2-8 houses some of the most overrated mediocre-to-shit hockey players in the entire league. Still, CHI has a nice top 6 and so the D will piggy back on that.

How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?

by stacie7 on Aug 30, 2010 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I like this quote

the Hawks still have their top 4 D back (by ice time)

Is he implying that Sopel>Seabs/Campbell/Hjammer, if he felt the need to add in the “by ice time”?

by Germware on Aug 30, 2010 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions

The team looks great on paper

but that doesn’t guarantee that the team will have chemistry and/or be able to keep their heads during the games. As long as we have our core, its premature to count the Hawks out.

by justforkicks on Aug 30, 2010 5:36 PM CDT reply actions

all these pundits are right

it totally sucks having to defend the Cup with only Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Kopecky, Brouwer, Bolland, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarrson, Campbell, and Turco. Christ, who would want that? SUCKS TO BE US

Back off man, I'm a scientist
Bug Chucker Fly Fishing

by BigCSouthside on Aug 30, 2010 8:53 PM CDT reply actions