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Guest9190
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 Posted - 10/27/2010 : 16:00:12
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Poll Question:
Where do you think the canucks will finish at the end of the 2010-2011 season?
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Edited by - willus3 on 04/03/2011 16:56:31
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semin-rules
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1915 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2010 : 18:07:43
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| 3rd or 4th in the west |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2010 : 20:44:30
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| 3rd or 4th would be nearly impossible from a weak division, and the NW is the weakest division overall in the western conference. |
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Utemin
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
451 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2010 : 22:04:52
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quote:
Originally posted by nuxfan
3rd or 4th would be nearly impossible from a weak division, and the NW is the weakest division overall in the western conference.
3 years ago it would be the opposite way around 
3rd in the West due to the injuries the Canucks can't seem to avoid.
The Monkey is me |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2010 : 10:48:52
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nuxfan - your answer makes no sense.
If the NW division is weak, and the Vancouver Canucks are strong, then how is 3rd or 4th not possible? Wouldn't a weak division, playing against weaker opponents more often, make it more likely for the Canucks to get MORE points? Aren't the division winners seeded 1, 2 and 3? Wouldn't 3rd be winning your division, but having less points than the other two division winners? Wouldn't fourth be finishing second in a weak division where only two good teams made the playoffs?
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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fat_elvis_rocked
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
902 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2010 : 11:03:41
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Unless things have changed, a team plays it's division rivals 8 times. That's 32 games against 'weaker' teams.
I'm pretty sure that's how Detroit dominated for a few of those years, playing all those games against their division rivals...
Should be a decided advantage for Vancouver in the 'weak' Northwest, but good to have the excuse ready for when they don't meet expectations. |
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ToXXiK1
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
696 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2010 : 11:51:19
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| I believe with new changes to sched this season, it's down to 6 games now. |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2010 : 12:32:08
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quote:
If the NW division is weak, and the Vancouver Canucks are strong, then how is 3rd or 4th not possible? Wouldn't a weak division, playing against weaker opponents more often, make it more likely for the Canucks to get MORE points? Aren't the division winners seeded 1, 2 and 3? Wouldn't 3rd be winning your division, but having less points than the other two division winners? Wouldn't fourth be finishing second in a weak division where only two good teams made the playoffs?
A weak division might only send 1 or 2 teams to the postseason. I don't expect any more than 2 to make it from the NW.
The weaker the division, the lower the ranking in the postseason - EXCEPT for the top team, which means the spread between division rivals is likely to be larger in the conference standings - as you say, the team that wins their division will benefit from weaker divisions. If the Canucks win their division, they'll finish 1, 2, or 3 in the conference - regardless of how many points they actually get. However, in a weaker division, the second place division winner would be unlikely to finish 4th, because there are very likely other second place division teams with more points.
Last year's NW was an example. VAN finished first, and was seeded 3rd. COL finished second, and squeaked into 8th, with less points than the 2nd place, and even 3rd place division teams. Or, all those years in the SE where WSH was the only team to make it to the post season at all, by virtue of winning their division.
So...because the NW is a weaker division than the other divisions in the Western Conference, I think that any teams coming out of that division will either finish top 3 (for the first place), or 7th/8th (for the second place team). A finish of "3rd or 4th" this year is highly improbable. I would be very surprised if there were more than VAN and either COL or CGY from the NW in the post season this year.
quote:
Wouldn't fourth be finishing second in a weak division where only two good teams made the playoffs?
No. 4th place would almost certainly go to a second place finisher from one of the other stronger divisions. Last year 4th seed went to PHX, who finished second in a very strong division with SJ and LA (6th). |
Edited by - nuxfan on 10/29/2010 12:33:47 |
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fat_elvis_rocked
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
902 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2010 : 14:48:18
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If you believe Vancouver is strong enough to win the division then third is the worst they would do. Correct?
That makes third probable as near as I can tell.
Fourth, I see being tough if they can't win their division, and if that's the case, then a playoff spot of any sort would be a bonus.
I think the NW is a little stronger than people give credit though, Minnesota looks good, Calgary has moments and if Iginla and Kiprusoff can get consistent, they can be competitive.
The Oilers of course are the odds on favorite to win it all anyways, so I guess that could leave Vancouver out in the sun! |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2010 : 17:10:48
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quote:
I think the NW is a little stronger than people give credit though, Minnesota looks good, Calgary has moments and if Iginla and Kiprusoff can get consistent, they can be competitive
Things look pretty good now, 10 games in, but I think that the NW is the weakest division in the Western Conference as a whole by far. There is really only one (IMO) sure-bet for the playoffs this year, and that is Vancouver - they should win the division and finish in the top 3 in the conference. After that, you have:
- COL - should also make the playoffs, but probably as one of the last 2 seeds
- CGY - will probably miss the playoffs again this year, although not by much
- MIN - will probably miss the playoffs
- EDM - will almost certainly miss the playoffs
(all of the above assuming no debilitating injuries)
Compare that to the Pacific division (which is the strongets this year with SJ, LAK, PHX, ANA all with a serious shot at the post season) and the Central division (DET, CHI, STL, NSH all gunning for it)
Assume that SJ and DET (and VAN) win their respective divisions. I don't see any of EDM, MIN, or CGY being better than the likes of ANA, CHI, LAK, and possibly STL or NSH by April. COL might squeak in again this year, but I think that will be it and there is a real possibility that the winner of the Pacific division will be the only one left come playoffs. |
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Oilearl
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
268 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2010 : 19:37:37
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| at this point Canucks have not proven anything. They are average at best and unless they start playing a better defensive team game IMO I don't think they're quaranteed a playoff spot. |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2010 : 20:59:13
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| Oilearl, I'm sure that will start happening just as soon as we get the 3 top-6 dmen and our best defensive forward that we're currently missing, back into the lineup. I am not particularly worried at this point. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2010 : 08:42:32
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Minnesota looks a lot better than I thought they would . . . they will surprise I think by being very competetive. Colorado does not look like it will be a big letdown at all, and their kids are playing fantastic. Calgary has struggled at times, but saying that now I am looking at them in 9th sport with more wins than losses.
I don't think the NW division is going to be that weak at all, frankly. I still think Vancouver will win the division; but there will be competition.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2010 : 09:56:07
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Hey, let's not forget Edmonton!!!
Kidding, they are obviously the least consistent team in the NW but they are doing what I expected them to do and that is compete. They will keep a team honest.
As usual, one of the toughest road trips is through the 3 Canadian teams in the West. Often, an eastern team will play at least one road trip a year through Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. Not only is this more travel than most East teams will see in a month but the schedule usually has a team playing 3 games in 4 nights.
I would also consider the Canucks the cream of the NW crop however they do not have much opportunity to slip. The NW division has been incredibly tight for much of the past 5 years. In 3 of the last 5 years the division was decided by 3 points or less, often with the teams in 2, 3, and 4th within a couple of point of each other.
I see Vancouver finish either 3rd or 5th. I see the 2nd place team in the Central taking the 4th spot in the West. |
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Oilearl
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
268 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2010 : 11:21:07
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If I was a Vancouver fan I wouldn't be too worried either IMO they are the favorites. My point I guess is that near the end of the season points are much harder to come by so a strong start does help when you are given the added pressure of winning. I too am very surprised at how solid the Wild look.
GO OIL!!!! |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2010 : 16:48:39
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the Canucks are actually having a better start than normal this year. Previous Octobers:
2006 - 7-5-1, finished first in division
2007 - 5-7-0, finished last in division
2008 - 6-5, finished first in division
2009 - 7-7, finished first in division
2010 - 4-3-2...
In the last 5 years, they have been about a .500 team in October, and have finished first in the division 3 out of 4 years.
For whatever reason, for the Canucks, the wins do seem to come easier as the year goes on. In all the years that they won the division, they also had 2 or 3 months of ridiculously good results:
2006/07 - 28-6-6 in Jan/Feb/March
2008/09 - 23-7-2 in Feb/March/April
2009/10 - 32-14-4 in Dec/Jan/Feb/Mar, and that included that monster olympic roadtrip.
I chalk it up to our laid back westcoast lifestyle 
I certainly think that our start this year might have been better if we'd had a healthy defense - missing Hamhuis, Ballard, and Salo from game 4 onwards has been hard, and there is a definite difference in the team play for the first 3 games vs the next 6. But hey, even without them we did OK. Ballard and Hamhuis should be back in early November, Burrows is back next week, and things should get back to normal.
quote:
I too am very surprised at how solid the Wild look
I am as well, I didn't expect them to come out of the gate this year like they have. Perhaps they will be our second place team this year, supplanting COL and/or CAL. |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2010 : 16:51:13
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quote:
I see Vancouver finish either 3rd or 5th. I see the 2nd place team in the Central taking the 4th spot in the West.
I think the battle for 4th and 5th in the conference will be pretty interesting this year. After the division probable division winners (I'm picking DET, SJ, VAN), there are a lot of very good teams to finish 4th and 5th. CHI is certainly one, but LAK and ANA will also be pressing, and maybe NSH.
And hey, don't count out STL  |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2010 : 23:35:41
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quote:
Originally posted by nuxfan
quote:
I too am very surprised at how solid the Wild look
I am as well, I didn't expect them to come out of the gate this year like they have. Perhaps they will be our second place team this year, supplanting COL and/or CAL.
Man, i can't stand this team. I know they're supposed to be playing more offensively now, but i guess i just figure they owe me something for the past 20+ games of boring hockey i've watched us play them! |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2010 : 10:02:06
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| good news Nux fans - looks like Burrows will make his season debut tomorrow night in EDM, and word is that Ballard is back tonight or tomorrow night as well. Hamhuis just a few days away... |
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Guest8092
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Posted - 11/01/2010 : 15:28:47
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| It doesn't really matter what place they get into the playoffs they are out for sure by the second round, no matter who they play |
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Guest9190
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Posted - 11/03/2010 : 14:43:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest8092
It doesn't really matter what place they get into the playoffs they are out for sure by the second round, no matter who they play
and why do you say that? the canucks look real good this year and some think they could win the cup. |
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Guest5806
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Posted - 11/03/2010 : 18:57:21
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| I think the avs will win the division and the wings and sharks willtake 4th and 5th so they'll get 6th |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2011 : 22:52:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Oilearl
at this point Canucks have not proven anything. They are average at best and unless they start playing a better defensive team game IMO I don't think they're quaranteed a playoff spot.
LOL....looking back on this thread is pretty funny. This one (above) in particular but there's a few that are interesting to look back on as well. Sure, it's easy for me to laugh with how well the Canucks have done and i'm not trying to rub it in, okay, maybe a little, but some of these predictions are way off! Like, the last one.....Avs to win the division! |
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Guest4672
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Posted - 03/30/2011 : 07:09:08
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| Vancouver first overall But i am still saying out in the second round... |
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Oilearl
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
268 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2011 : 23:07:55
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| Alex enjoy your time be smug...... after 40 years of suffering you've earned it. A fantastic showing by them this year I knew they would be a good team, but they've shown to be very consistent which as you saw I didn't think they would. So now they need to prove they can win in the post season, otherwise the pain continues. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2011 : 07:49:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Oilearl
Alex enjoy your time be smug...... after 40 years of suffering you've earned it. A fantastic showing by them this year I knew they would be a good team, but they've shown to be very consistent which as you saw I didn't think they would. So now they need to prove they can win in the post season, otherwise the pain continues.
I hear ya, and i hate to say it, but to coin a phrase from the movie Platoon.... "i got a bad feelin' about this one"! It just seems like they've been too good this year considering their injuries! What's their reward? By the looks of it, either the team with arguably the hottest line in hockey (Getzlaf / Perry / Ryan) which looks unstoppable at times OR the defending cup champs who we're all familiar with as far as recent playoff success over the Canucks is concerned.
The Canucks are better and deeper than both those teams, but a hot goalie and a bad game can change that quickly!
So be it. Obviously i'm hoping they go on a run, but if they lost in round 1, it wouldn't shock me more than what Montreal did last year. These things happen.
Here's hoping the Canucks get healthy and continue to play the way they have all season! |
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Oilearl
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
268 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2011 : 08:14:07
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It's a rollercoaster ride as you live and die with your team in the end it's a game but during the run so many things can happen but hey I'd rather be there anytime...... Good luck to you Alex I won't be cheeing for them.... envy you the ride!  |
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Poll - Vancouver Canucks 2010/11 Finish 
