Official™ NHL Season 2006-2007 Games Discussion

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:10 am

I used to REALLY hate Quebec Nordiques fans

But since they are gone.. i have only the Rangers left to hate

By the way, even if i hated the nordiques, i wish Quebec will get a team again even if gary bettman doesn't like the idea.
Same for Winnipeg.
Please... Quebec and Winnipeg before Kansas City or Las Vegas!!!!

Post by **CatchUp** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:42 am

jackknife77 wrote:Please... Quebec and Winnipeg before Kansas City or Las Vegas!!!!

That would be another case of what would be best for the GAME, which is not the same as what is best for the LEAGUE. What is best for the league is a team like ATL or ANA winning the Cup and putting any expansion teams in the Kansas Cities and Las Vegas' etc. Once the game grows to an acceptable level in the US (and it will, IMO) THEN the league will examine adding a couple of Canadian teams.

Just my thoughts....

Cheers.

Post by **Minstrel** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:34 am

batdad wrote:Oh Minstrel....20 years later and you are still prejudiced against Chris? I bet one time...long long ago, in a land far far away, back when dinosaurs ruled Chicago, and when Chris still wore the #7...you loved the Greek-American hotel trasher.

Of course though...you are so right about what he does...What is funny, is how often it works.

It only works due to others as I said knowing to cover up for him. Ask Keith Carney about his Chicago days

And then ask people how quickly "Cheli" fell out of favor with fans here once Mr. Carney was no longer there to cover for him yet he was out there for 30 minutes a game.

So as for your point of there being "Cheli loving days" in my past no, I have always seen "Cheli" as the overrated 'has to have other better players cover for him constantly' liability/nightmare he is.

I disliked him due to his play far before other people began to realize it and to save his career he sold his soul to the devil Detroit for which I and others have rightly branded him a traitor.

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:15 pm

Chelios would not have been a Chicago Black Hawks without the dumb trade Serge Savard made.
( chelios for a finnished Denis Savard)

Post by **batdad** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:58 pm

1. Montreal sure makes alot of dumb trades and signings don't they? Could have sworn I have seen that alot since you know...Montreal had to draft players, in an order, like every other team in the NHL. And actually, Savard would not have been a Blackhawk if it were not for the STUPID Wickenheiser draft of the Habs...so jackknife--Montreal 1 Chicago 1 (tying Chicago not a good thing)

Cue CatchUp
2. Drat, I was hoping that like me the dinosaur era was exciting for you Minstrel. And yeah, Chrissy sold his soul no question. But don't you have to have a soul to sell it? So hate Chelios.
3. What the heck does Keith Carney know? He was brutal last season in Van, although Weinrich and that other guy Brad Brown) were worse than he was. But yeah, really Carney has always been the smarter of the former Hawk d-pairing, no question.

Post by **CatchUp** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:29 pm

Cue CatchUp indeed.

The Reason I'm a Habs fan:
I was 10 in '93 when the Habs stomped through the playoffs to win the Cup. The first series against the Nords was pure gold, especially the 3rd game - overtime with the Habs down 2-0 in series - and there are not one but TWO disputed goals, one of which held up to be the winner for the Habs. They go on to win that series 4-2. Then shut out the Sabres 4-0. Then tear the Isles 4-1. Then it's the cup final against Gretzky and the Kings. Roy steals the show, etc. But THAT team in particular hooked me - Damphousse, Muller, Roy, LeClair, Schneider - they were all awesome. Plus, I was collecting hockey cards.

Oh, and my Dad had been watching HNIC or the Habs en francaise on RDS every weekend since I was in the womb.

All that aside, I can still look at the team with an objective eye. I'm not the stereotypical Habs fan. They have made some bonehead trades and signings, for sure. But what team hasn't at some point?

I actually think signing Samsonov is the only thing I would retrospectively veto if I was on the board during Bob Gainey's tenure. I think he's an awesome GM and he knows this team isn't up to snuff and he'll shake it up in the off-season. I hope they do make the playoffs this year. There are some Habs fans wishing they would tank so they move up in the draft. The draft blows anyway, so I don't care about the picks, but getting Latrendresse, Halak, et al some playoff experience in the Bell Center would do wonders for their developement.

Sorry for rambling...you cued me.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:08 pm

I actually think signing Samsonov is the only thing I would retrospectively veto if I was on the board during Bob Gainey's tenure.

Two Words: Guy Carbonneau.

As for other stuff Gainey has done, he has sure managed to get rid of annoyances: Jan (the hook) Bulis-does he lead the league in hooking penalties? and I believe he was responsible for the Theodore deal as well...

Samsonov would be fine in Montreal if not for that coach guy. Remember, Guy and Kirk (Mr Ed Smile) are not getting much out of alot more than just Samsonov.

As for the 93 Habs that was an amazing season for them...and you forgot one name to love from that year.

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:15 pm

Good one catchup

I was 10 in 86 when they won the cup. The year of the Roy miracle and the great overtime goal by Claude Lemieux against Mike Liut of the Hartford Whalers. I was a big fan of the little Viking Mats Naslund at that time.
Great years are coming for us Habs fan with the rising star Carey Price coming in a near futur.

I'm watching my games on RDS.. so im a frenchie.. so if you find my text a bit weird.. thats why

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:24 am

the habs are in 8th place

Cam Ward wasnt able to stop a beach ball as Marc Denis (no need to mention Mike Dunham )

Big work coming up on the weekend (OTT and BUF)

Habs fans.. keep the faith!!

flea · Post by **flea** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:55 pm

Its gonna be a crucial weekend for the Habs against Buffalo and Ottawa as I guess that the Sabres want to fight for the Presidents Cup too and the Sens want to finish 4th and take the home ice advantage against the Pengs or the Devils.

...I guess we (the B's) can be crucial too as we are one of the reasons u guys still have a chance to enter the PO with our two rubbish back-to-back losses (with rubbish I mean our play in that two games as u guys looked pretty good in the second game).

Gonna be a good one too next tuesday in Montreal.

Good luck guys!! (hey, I mean it, lol)

....and on another matter:
Dont u guys think the Ryan Smyth trade was cursed???

The Oilers have lost everything, except one game against the Avs, and the Islanders are 3-5-2 in the last 10 and now DiPietro is injured too....

Its gonna be a great playoffs I hope!!!

....even if we B's fans have to watch it on TV

Post by **batdad** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:17 pm

You know....I really hope the Habs do not make it. Every 15 years or so, some rookie goalie comes along in that city....HALAK better not be one o'dem.

Mr. Carbonneau....please please p*** off your Russkies again. And maybe a Finn too.

oxenhoper · Post by **oxenhoper** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:51 pm

Who do you guys think will win the stanley cup this year??

Post by **inSTAALed** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:33 pm

Philadelphia.

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:49 pm

Doing predictions is getting harder every years. Nobody expected an EDM-CAr final last year.
Anyone who make the playoff has a fair chance to make it.

montreal will win the cup

( did i wrote that? )

Post by **batdad** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:41 pm

Yes the Alouettes may very well win the Grey Cup. You are correct jackknife.

Heart: Canucks

Head says they don't get past second (maybe first) round. I think it is finally time for a 1969 expansion team though. Just not the one in my city.

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:44 am

nahhh.. Buffalo team is too small and Miller is not Hasek.
They wont pass the first round if they play the Canadiens

Post by **CatchUp** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:43 am

jackknife77 wrote:nahhh.. Buffalo team is too small and Miller is not Hasek.
They wont pass the first round if they play the Canadiens

You know - I actually think that might be true. If BUF meets MTL in the first round, they get bounced. The Habs have played BUF very well this year.

As far as my own prediction goes - it's really tough to say. There aren't as many contenders in the East as in the West, by far. I'd love to see the Canucks win - mostly just to experience the Cup run in this city - it would be crazy. But I don't know if Luongo can carry the team all the way. Cue batdad.

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:45 am

the best teams in the west look strong, but put Minnesota in the East for example.. im pretty sure they would be out of the playoff. The big majority of the good players are in the east. Anaheim a big contender for the cup? With an aging teemu Selane? wonder what would have been his stats if he was playing in the east...

Post by **batdad** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:32 am

I think an Eastern team is going to win THE CUP. Unless one of the Western guys really gets it together fast. By no means am I saying East is better, I just think that the West will be so tough to come out of, the team may have no gas left in the tank. Exhaustion has caused West to lose to East in the past (last season being just one example--Oilers were beat by the time they got to the final), and I think this could happen again.

That being said, a hot goalie can win the whole darn thing as well. Candiates for this are numerous, especially when you think of the likes of Ward and Roloson getting hot last year at the right time. Neither was a known star goalie until the playoffs.

But guys...Montreal? Right on cue I am...Reality check time. Samsonov would have to play well, Souray would have to be a god, and Halak would have to be the 2nd coming of Patrick Roy (or third coming of Ken Dryden)....Me thinks not. Buffalo wins that series in 4, no matter what happened in the regular season with the likes of Biron and Conklin playing goal for the Sabres.

Edit: Okay so I looked and Miller played most games. And Montreal has played well against Buffalo...but my points stand above...Playoffs Buffalo in 4 over Montreal
If Selanne played in the offensive east...and I mean offensive...He would have had 65 goals...come on,...the west is the better conference and the WAY MORE defensive conference now, and everyone knows it. all you have to do is look up the West-East record. West has only 2 losing teams vs East. And those are freaking Columbus and Chicago

The East, has only 5 teams with winning (500 or above) records vs the West, and 4 of those 5 are the Atlantic division, which is the only Eastern division that never played against the Northwest Division this season. So noone can play an East>West card , cause it is not even close.

So technically, one would think the West should win the Cup, however....beaten up teams very rarely win The Holy Grail. I expect an Eastern team to win it. The team most designed to do this...Buffalo. Speed, offence, defensive strength as well, and good goaltending. Noone in the East plays a physical enough game to hurt them enough this year.

jackknife77 · Post by **jackknife77** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:11 am

batdad wrote:

But guys...Montreal? Right on cue I am...Reality check time. Samsonov would have to play well, Souray would have to be a god, and Halak would have to be the 2nd coming of Patrick Roy (or third coming of Ken Dryden)....Me thinks not. Buffalo wins that series in 4, no matter what happened in the regular season with the likes of Biron and Conklin playing goal for the Sabres. Edit: Okay so I looked and Miller played most games. And Montreal has played well against Buffalo...but my points stand above...Playoffs Buffalo in 4 over Montreal

Samsonov wont play anymore. Last week with a lot of players injured, Carbonneau put Niinima as a forward and let samsonov on the press gallery with his box of tissues

Post by **batdad** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:29 am

Niinimaa as a forward??? Niinimaa as a defenseman??? Better off with a whiny Samsonov.....playing DEFENSE.

Anyway, I will revise my statement: Niinimaa will have to play like a god..and not the god of the water, Souray will have to be a defensive god, and Halak will.....You get the point.

No comment on the West vs East and Selanne in the east? It is very clear where the stronger teams are.

Post by **CatchUp** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:52 am

batdad wrote:Noone in the East plays a physical enough game to hurt them enough this year.

I don't think a physical game is the answer against BUF. Maybe in a single game - but not over the course of a playoff series. Montreal has it right when they play the Sabres - match speed with speed. As has been mentioned before, Buffalo is built for the new NHL - fast and skilled. While, player for player, Montreal can't match their skill - they can come close in the speed department.

And I agree with batdad - a lot would have to fall into place in a real hurry if the Habs are going to have a chance to make it out of the first round. I really Halak's play lately. Is he Roy or Dryden? Negative. But he HAS shown a lot of poise for a youngin. He seems very chilled - a la Huet (who should be back any day now). And yeah, Souray will have to be less of a pylon. Samsonov is a waste of roster space. If you're playing a junk D-man instead of him, he has probably put on a Habs sweater for the last time. The player that I see really stepping it up is Kovalev. He only had 14 goals all year until he scored 4 in the last 2 games. He's a bit like Fedorov in that regard - he's willing to work when the chips are down. And if he's working hard, maybe that will put some fire under Koivu to earn his C and lead by example.

Will they win the cup? I give that about a 3.5% chance. But can they handle Buffalo in a 7-game series? I think they can come close. It definitely wouldn't be 4-0 Sabres.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:44 am

OK CatchUp you are right. 4-1 Sabres. Sorry.

Post by **CatchUp** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:19 am

HA! That's more like it.

oxenhoper · Post by **oxenhoper** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:32 am

Somehow i quite fancy the Sabres to come out top of the pile this year.