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deleted
4809 Posts |
 Posted - 03/11/2012 : 09:18:36
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Poll Question:
Which team(s), picked to be a shoo-in before the season started, will miss the post season?
Washington, picked by most to finish 1st in the conference? San Jose, expected to win their division and finish top three as usual? LA, a team that most looked at to make the next step upwards after acquiring Mike Richards?
If you think more than one of these teams misses, vote for the most likely, and let us know about the others. Also, give us your thoughts on the repercussions for each team that fails.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug
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deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2012 : 09:30:21
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I voted LA - they have a tough ending schedule; they play San Jose three times and don't do particularly well against them; and, they still can't score.
I think San Jose will slip in - they are slumping badly right now, but with Marleau and Thornton and a great supporting cast on that team, I can't see them losing out in their playoff push. And, they have a few easier match-ups in their last games, starting with the Oil tomorrow. That home and home against LA will be key, obviously.
Washington, I think, squeezes ahead of Florida (hurtling back to earth right now) and gets the default 3rd position in the conference.
So yeah, I see LA being the odd guy out here. And . . . I see the departure of Dustin Brown an eventuality, myself - especially with Mike Richards ready to take over captaincy.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2012 : 10:25:38
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Slozo....Washington and Florida play April 5. It's Fla's last game while the Caps have one more after that. Could be a HUGE game! I agree i think Washington will somehow end up with that 3 seed but i also think Fla willl sneak in in 8th. Now, this may only be so that we Leaf haters can pile on you Leaf fans with "Toronto's the only team to have not made the playoffs since the lockout" (Fla is currently the other i believe?). 
All kidding aside, LA seems to be the obvious pick. They're sitting in 11th in the west right now and while they're only a couple of points out of 8th, there are too many other teams to deal with. Odds are, they're golfing when the playoffs begin. At least LA has the climate for some good golfing.
As far as the fallout from this, i don't think it will be major. Pretty sure Sutter will remain as coach as they only just got him at Christmas. He will surely get a chance to begin the season and then some! As far as Brown goes, he's a fan favorite there and i'm not sure what they're after? My guess would be some defensive depth but i think they have quite a bit in their system if i recall correctly? Great goaltending, good D, potentially great forward lines......why is this team so damn bad? |
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Clatts
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
266 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2012 : 10:52:29
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I think you should have Buffalo on that list too. A lot of people thought they would be an elite team going into the season but now sit outside the playoffs
"Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French Guys."
Don Cherry on Visors |
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foolpittier
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
374 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2012 : 15:42:32
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i was thinkin more like the ducks.
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Clatts
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
266 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2012 : 21:26:02
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The Ducks are under performing but they have the same team they had last year
"Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French Guys."
Don Cherry on Visors |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2012 : 04:52:25
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Buffalo is definitely a team that could make the list, yes. I don't think one sportswriter or collumnist predicted them to miss the playoffs . . . and I know that I certainly had them in.
So Clatts, the question? You have an answer? 
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Clatts
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
266 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2012 : 08:58:57
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I went with LA, I think Calgary will beat them out for the final playoff spot
"Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French Guys."
Don Cherry on Visors |
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semin-rules
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1915 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2012 : 10:03:44
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| I would love for Washington to not make it, and have the Jets take their spot. However the way the Caps are playing, it looks unlikely, so I will have to go with the Kings as well. They just aren't scoring enough |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 07:44:18
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Anybody think that any bigger pieces become available if LA doesn't make it? Besides my suggestion of Brown . . . does Kopitar get moved? Doughty? Do Richards and Carter stay (how could they be moved now anyways?)?
Myself, I think it will be the coach getting fired; then some kind of sideways move . . . and I see that being Brown for one or more high end 'grit' players coming back to LA. It's going to become Mike Richards' team, I think. Who knows - maybe they pick up Pronger from the Flyers too! 
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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mandree888
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
400 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 08:08:56
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| i could see them moving doughty. i mean the guy holds out for more money. and now the team dont make the play offs. i could see him being shopped in the offseason for a skilled sniper. |
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Clatts
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
266 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 09:14:30
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quote:
Originally posted by slozo
Anybody think that any bigger pieces become available if LA doesn't make it? Besides my suggestion of Brown . . . does Kopitar get moved? Doughty? Do Richards and Carter stay (how could they be moved now anyways?)?
Myself, I think it will be the coach getting fired; then some kind of sideways move . . . and I see that being Brown for one or more high end 'grit' players coming back to LA. It's going to become Mike Richards' team, I think. Who knows - maybe they pick up Pronger from the Flyers too!
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug
Theres no way they will fire Sutter after only half a season. I think they keep Doughty after sending Johnson to CBJ, someone has to play defence on that team and Doughty is a gold medal winner. If they were smart they would leave the roster alone and see how they do over the next year or two after they build some chemistry. Some minor tweaks maybe....like Brown for a Dman.
The GM will be fired before the coach in this case
"Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French Guys."
Don Cherry on Visors |
Edited by - Clatts on 03/13/2012 09:16:40 |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 10:34:49
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quote:
Originally posted by slozo
[brAnybody think that any bigger pieces become available if LA doesn't make it? Besides my suggestion of Brown . . . does Kopitar get moved? Doughty? Do Richards and Carter stay (how could they be moved now anyways?)?
Guys, don't kid yourselves - this isn't the Leafs, where the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater after a couple of dissappointing seasons 
This team looks well positioned to be a serious contender for a group of years in the next decade. It is obviously not this year, but it may be next year or the year after - they'll be up there. Look at the core of this group:
- Kopitar: 24
- Richards: 27
- Carter: 27
- Brown: 27
- Williams: 30
- Stoll: 29
- Doughty: 22
- Voynov: 22
- Quick: 26
As Clatts said, they made their defense decision with Doughty when they traded Johnson - he'll be there for the long haul as their #1 dman, and he'll be good in the role, they'll build around him. . I also don't think they're going to trade Kopitar either - he's their #1 centre. 6'3/225, nearly PPG since he came to the NHL, only 24 years old and comes with a 6.8M cap hit. Centres like that don't come around very often, and his best years are still ahead of him.
The Kings are going to free up a fair amount of cap space in the offseason when Penner comes off the books, and certainly Gagne will have the final year of his deal bought out. A lot of that money will be needed to lock up Quick - who is probably going to get a Rinne-type deal. But they're in fine shape right now in that they don't have to do much in the offseason. |
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mandree888
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
400 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 11:19:26
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| nuxfan that hurt lmao but you are right they very well could decide to keep them all and build up some chemistry |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 12:08:51
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nuxfan.....i agree with what you're saying, but keep one thing in mind, it's been 2 or 3 years now that "big things" have been predicted for this team, including battling for the div and even conference!
I too don't see Sutter going anywhere after only half a season. I also keep hearing how LA has one of the better stockpiles of talent in the minors. I could see them trading a prospect or two for another sniper or dman. |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 12:51:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
nuxfan.....i agree with what you're saying, but keep one thing in mind, it's been 2 or 3 years now that "big things" have been predicted for this team, including battling for the div and even conference!
Yeah, I hear ya - but in retrospect, were people putting the cart before the horse? 2 years ago they were riding a stellar rookie defenseman tandem in Doughty/Johnson, a rookie goalie in Quick, and a 22 year old 3rd year centre in Kopitar - was it realistic to think that they might be leading their conference only 2 years down the road?
I think with young-but-promising teams, we as fans are all too ready to see them succeed, now. Like EDM - last year they finished dead last, but coming into this season with all that talent, some people had them making the playoffs - yet here they are again in the bottom 2. Everyone agrees they have the building blocks in place to succeed in the coming years, its just that no one knows when that will be.
I think Lombardi has built an extremely solid young core of talent, and once they have Quick locked up, the core of that group will be guaranteed to be together for at least the next 4-5 years (Kopitar, Carter, Richards, Doughty, Quick) - I think any team would be envious to have that to build around. I would be stunned if the Kings traded any one of those players this coming offseason. |
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Guest8875
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Posted - 03/16/2012 : 10:58:57
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quote:
Originally posted by nuxfan
quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
nuxfan.....i agree with what you're saying, but keep one thing in mind, it's been 2 or 3 years now that "big things" have been predicted for this team, including battling for the div and even conference!
Yeah, I hear ya - but in retrospect, were people putting the cart before the horse? 2 years ago they were riding a stellar rookie defenseman tandem in Doughty/Johnson, a rookie goalie in Quick, and a 22 year old 3rd year centre in Kopitar - was it realistic to think that they might be leading their conference only 2 years down the road?
I think with young-but-promising teams, we as fans are all too ready to see them succeed, now. Like EDM - last year they finished dead last, but coming into this season with all that talent, some people had them making the playoffs - yet here they are again in the bottom 2. Everyone agrees they have the building blocks in place to succeed in the coming years, its just that no one knows when that will be.
I think Lombardi has built an extremely solid young core of talent, and once they have Quick locked up, the core of that group will be guaranteed to be together for at least the next 4-5 years (Kopitar, Carter, Richards, Doughty, Quick) - I think any team would be envious to have that to build around. I would be stunned if the Kings traded any one of those players this coming offseason.
According to Coach Renny Edmonton has a 1-3-5 year plan. Not sure what the 1 was but 3 is making the playoffs and 5 is cup contender. This year was year 2. Question is, will Coach Renney still be around to see year 3??? |
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Stacked Teams to Miss the Playoffs 
