THN.com Blog: Time to move it or lose it
Ilya Kovalchuk has two years remaining on his contract with the Thrashers. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
Sam McCaig
2008-08-12 15:56:12
Every season in the NHL is important, but some franchises are facing make-or-break campaigns in 2008-09. Here’s a rundown of which teams are looking at turning points in the near future.
Atlanta Thrashers
Eight seasons, one playoff appearance, zero playoff wins. And all the losing is wearing on franchise face Ilya Kovalchuk, who may not be in Georgia much longer if the Thrashers can’t find a center to set him up. And if Kovalchuk leaves town, how long before the team follows? This franchise needs something good to happen – fast.
Buffalo Sabres
No, the Sabres aren’t about to fold up shop and leave town. But the team that made back-to-back runs to the conference final before falling flat last season – missing the playoffs – needs to re-establish itself as an Eastern Conference contender. If someone (say, Thomas Vanek) steps up as a game-breaker, the Sabres have the depth and the defense to keep pace with the league’s top teams. The supporting cast has to be just that, however.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Hawks are back on TV and back on the road to respectability, too. If Martin Havlat can finally stay healthy, Brian Campbell lives up to his billing, and one of Cristobal Huet or Nikolai Khabibulin can provide solid netminding, the Hawks will make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs have been a top contender (and two-time Stanley Cup champion) since relocating to Denver from Quebec City in 1995. Fans in Colorado have been spoiled by a succession of 100-point regular seasons and long playoff runs. This year, however, might be a harsh reality check. Joe Sakic is still wavering on returning for a 20th NHL season – the smart money says he’ll be back – and a goaltending tandem of Peter Budaj and Andrew Raycroft does not intimidate. Missing the playoffs for a second time in three years is very possible.
Columbus Blue Jackets
It’s been a tough existence for Jackets fans, who have had to try and support a team that’s traditionally been eliminated from playoff contention by January. The past couple of seasons have brought hope in the form of Ken Hitchcock and marginal improvement in the standings, but only a playoff appearance – preferably, an extended one – will provide real relief. New faces R.J. Umberger and Kristian Huselius will get all the ice time they can handle.
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Florida Panthers
After making it to the Stanley Cup final in their third season in 1996, not much has gone right for Florida. Two summers ago, they traded away Roberto Luongo. This summer, they sent top forward Olli Jokinen to Phoenix and franchise defenseman Jay Bouwmeester opted to sign a one-year deal, making him eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the season. Young guns Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss offer hope for the future, but Florida needs the future to be now.
Nashville Predators
In many ways, the Preds are the model expansion franchise of the 1990s. They’ve been patient, building through the draft and developing their own top-notch prospects. They have the same GM and the same coach as when they joined the NHL in 1998. They’ve made the playoffs four consecutive seasons. Problem is, the specter of relocation has chased several top players to leave Nashville (and surely has discouraged most free agents from signing). Not to mention the Preds’ top drafted player, young winger Alexander Radulov, signed in Russia despite having one more year on his NHL contract. Credit the Preds for remaining competitive as everything falls apart around them, but how long can they keep it up?
NY Islanders
The expectations can’t get much lower for a team that has been bland and unexciting for far too long. Mike Comrie and Doug Weight as the top two centers is scary if you’re an Islanders fan, but not to anybody else. Twenty-five years after winning four straight Cups, the Isles have been reduced to a glorified expansion team that too few people care about.
Phoenix Coyotes
Their on-ice advances last season were somewhat overshadowed by the fact the Coyotes can’t draw crowds. Phoenix has lost big money season after season; how long will the owners throw around good money? The Dogs have to make some noise in the standings and generate local buzz; otherwise…it might be back to Winnipeg.
Sam McCaig is The Hockey News' senior copy editor and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears weekly.
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Christopher Columbus (Posted 2008-08-14 22:10:14)
Buffalo nearly a border city? Across a bridge makes it a border city. I did'nt mean they were doing as well as Canadian teams, but they are doing better than most other american teams.
Magellan (Posted 2008-08-14 20:03:07)
Hey genius, besides Detroit, what American teams in "Border Cities" are you talking about? Buffalo is nearly a border town I guess...are they a model of economic success? Teams in New York, New Jersery, Philadelphia are NOT doing well financially? You've got a real scoop on everybody else there, better write it up for THN's next issue quick! Maybe you think Boston is a "Border CIty" - um get an atlas dumbass. No math, no geography...what are you people studying up there? Sidney Crosby's junior league stats?
CanadaHasTooManyTeamsSendSome (Posted 2008-08-14 19:53:48)
Passion, Smashion. As soon as I hear a Canadian talking about "passion" while trying to convince me that more teams should be relocated to Canada my eyes glaze over because I know it's like trying to talk theology with a Moonie...they're locked into their own special brand of crazy (which they're now bottling and marketing to you as "Passion") and you're not going to get anywhere talking to them. I'm pretty sure that since none of you knuckle heads that are alleging that Canadian teams provide most of the League's revenue have actually cited any data or sources of same that you're once again toking on that old goalie stick that you've turned into a bong...How could the six teams in Canada possibly be contributing more revenue to the league than all the other twenty four??? They can't and you're a moron. Ok, Moonies, since there's no more chance of you getting teams in those cities than there is of Don Cherry coaching the Leafs, I'll leave you to that resin encrusted goalie stick that you're sucking on...
Dave G Knows (Posted 2008-08-14 18:51:15)
Dave G ...you could not of said it better!
Border Teams (Posted 2008-08-14 18:48:37)
The only American NHL teams that do well finacially are in close proximity to the border...Coincidence?
Canada Could Support More Tea (Posted 2008-08-14 18:40:04)
Here in Canada, we are not saying that ALL NHL teams should be moved here...but...there are definitely several markets SOLD OUT CROWD ready for NHL hockey. As for TV revenue in the U.S. being so low, this only proves that teams should not be in certain markets. Hockey TV ratings are always high here in Canada. Some markets in the U.S. should stick with what they know...football and nascar. The admin of the NHL should scrap revenue sharing then we will truly see who fuels the NHL.
CanadaHasEnoughTeams (Posted 2008-08-14 12:38:09)
What is it with Canadian fans? The majority of the NHL's revenues is certainly NOT coming from Canadian teams unless you teach math VERY differently up there than they do in the rest of the world. That wouldn't surprise me since as "A.K." reminds us - reason, economics and logic has nothing to do with it, just give the Canadian fans what they want . Yes, by all means lets move ALL the teams to Canada that they want - what will happen?: a minor league sport. You've already got minor league football up there, pushing more teams into marginal markets will pretty much just create amateur hockey where a professional league once was. Realy good idea though...
Frank T. (Posted 2008-08-14 12:26:48)
Some of these owners use the losses to offset the profits they have in other areas of their investment portfolios.
Brian Kemp (Posted 2008-08-14 11:07:02)
I keep reading about how Canadian franchises are generating the majority of revenue for the NHL, and that's true. Right now. But some of us seem to have very short memories, because it wasn't that long ago that all of the Canadian franchises, with the exception of Toronto (whose fans will pay to get poked in the eye if the person doing it is wearing a Maple Leaf on their chest), were in danger of being sold and moving to the States. Me, personally, I thought it would be a travesty if the Habs moved out of Montreal, but there actually was a danger there for a while. Like I said, short memories, because what happens when (if) the US dollar makes significant gains on the Canadian dollar? We're back to old ladies emptying out their savings to keep their team in town. So stop saying all these teams need to move to Canada, because the foundation for all the arguments for it aren't terribly solid. And the reason why football works in Green Bay is because TV revenue pays the salaries of every player in the NFL, and that happens without any gate reciepts. The last time I checked, that is not possible with what the NHL gets from TV.
Steve Harko (Posted 2008-08-14 06:53:27)
I have to hand to Gretzky is for not giving up on coaching.
He's had some pretty lousy teams -- for years, he had to
sit on the bench and watch some pretty bad teams hack
their way thru a season. And that has to be tough -- there's
the whole "does a great player make a lousy coach" question.
But now, he might have a decent team, and some experience.
So I guess we'll see.
obed (Posted 2008-08-13 22:41:41)
Yeah thats right,inc. bettman and the suits run hockey now. Screw JB and so.ontario. nashville and the 13k fans 4-ever.
Incorporated (Posted 2008-08-13 22:11:06)
CORPORATE sponsors, how many dollars are generated in lieu of attendance falling short? Do you folks think the naming rights of an NHL arena is free, or a one time deal? How about the top tier luxury box crowd, do you think they try to buy those suites for bottom dollar or is it a corporate write off / tax deduction where the donation is well above the actual value? Do you think the weak attendance is hurting the ownership in the non-traditional markets? Give me a break, these guys, a majority of them are Fortune 500 types, are the types who can squeeze two dimes out of a nickle. Do us all a favor and leave the business of the NHL to the business minded crowd. Bettman has gridlocked every avenue of any team leaving their town. The guy is beloved by the owners because he has taken the NHL's revenue to new heights. ESPN will regret turning their back on the NHL, the same way they did Nascar in the 80's, now they had to beg their way back to covering Nascar and they even had to pay what Nascar determined their own worth to be. The TV deal was the only black eye Bettman deserves, but when you look at it as a long-term growth process, you can understand why he didn't sell the NHL's soul to ESPN for mere chicken feed. A better NHL? That is funny, because the fans NHL is what the owners WANT it to be.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-13 21:41:47)
Even though we're probably the most avid hockey fans around, Canada can't afford a lot of hockey teams. The population is small. Toronto or Vancouver should have NHL teams though.
Dave G (Posted 2008-08-13 21:37:06)
Hamilton, being in the biggest hockey market in the world from a fan's perspective--Ontario--could be a fantastically successful hockey franchise, especially if billionaire Jim Balsillie buys the team. As for Quebec City and Winnipeg, unless they suddenly build a bigger arena and get a daddy-longbucks owner, they would have no chance in hell of supporting an NHL team successfully. They had their shot and failed. But Hamilton or the Kitchener-Waterloo area, anywhere else in Ontario, could support another NHL team. Canada is where the fan passion is, where most of the NHL revenue is generated, especially Montreal and Toronto. Finally, having NHL teams in cities like Florida, Phoenix, Nashville, LA and Carolina, especially the first three, is a big joke. No one cares about hockey there, no one plays it there, we get more fans watching junior hockey on TSN than you do watching an NHL gane down south in the States. When Anaheim won the Cup, they had 15,000 fans fill their frigging arena parking lot for the "Stanley Cup parade," for God's sake! That's because those are the ONLY fans, the ones who watched in person at the arena, and only a FEW THOUSAND watched the finals on TV! Compare that to a northern city like Detroit, where hundreds of thousands lined the streets for their Stanley Cup parade and compare that to the MILLIONS who warch any Canadian team in the playoffs. I can't imagine the untold MILLIONS that would line up in a parade to cheer if Montreal (possible in the next few years), Ottawa (possible soon) or Toronto (maybe the next 10 years?) won the Cup! Bottom line: More teams in the northern USA or Canada, fewer or NONE down south.
A.K. (Posted 2008-08-13 20:23:00)
Canadahasenoughteams> I really dont care what your argument is. Canada should have at least two more teams.
cantskate (Posted 2008-08-13 19:51:04)
Many were puzzled by the NFL putting a team in the backwaters of Wisconsin known as Green Bay. Here we are decades later and the team is still thriving. Although I agree that some proposed destinations for teams may not make apparent sense due to population and posperity of the people that live there, however, I also don't think it makes sense to put a hockey team in a place with population and $$ and just assume that you can grow a following.
Craig (Posted 2008-08-13 18:32:00)
"... and one team in Regina."????? WTF are you talking about? great city, really nice people. there are maybe a million people in the whole province of Saskatchewan. It has a landmass bigger then California and a population smaller then Edmonton. I love the people and they are avid hockey fans, but they would never be able to support a team. This is the type of fansical crap that most people only come up with when they are passing a bong. Just because people love a sport does not make them a viable market for a professional league. I hear Somalia loves soccer but I doubt they'd make a very good MLS sight.
Reg Hamilton (Posted 2008-08-13 17:53:23)
Terry Where do you think the hot bed of hockey is CANADA !!! What teams sell out every game ?T.O MTL. There should be six teams in CANADA and less in U.S.A . Where do you think Sid the kid is from .
Shut up fools (Posted 2008-08-13 17:39:24)
Lets talk business here, as it relates to a few of the markets in question: Nashville, they put 67,000 rears in the seats, 8 times a year at LP Field, home of the Titans, that is 67,000 sports fans in general, willing to pay for a hefty NFL ticket. The city is loaded with capital investors and it will be a lucrative market over time. Now we have Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, Mesa etc.......Why does Barret Jackson chose this as their Western host city? Oh thats right, the metropolis is loaded with wealthy people. Lets head to Central Ohio, Columbus, wow they put 110,000 people in the Shoe 7 times a season???? Sounds like they have some die-hard sports fans willing to pay the inflated price of Buckeyes tickets. Business logic: YOU FOLLOW THE MONEY and you market your product to gain a percentage of it. This convoluted path to the "so-called" ideal NHL, that some of you clowns nuture, isn't fiscally possible, it is bordering on insanity. The days of the free-lance owner, ie; Karmonos, are long gone. You won't see the Sonics debacal in the NHL anytime soon. Bettman is way too business savy to allow it. Expansion will be the only change in the NHL any time soon.
Shut up fools, the NHL is fin (Posted 2008-08-13 16:23:19)
Hey Matt Fry, DpuckingTroit has some empty seats too, so I guess we should move them too. FACT: Michigan has the worst economy of the fifty states, so I guess we should move the Wings ACCORDING to Matt's philisophical opinion of what the NHL should be. FACT the NHL's revenue is UP, FACT that the big picture is planting the hockey seeds in non-traditional markets will provide revenue GROWTH for generations. FACT you will have about 700 plus union members fighting any NHL contraction. FACT the lowest paid member of those 700 plus can afford the fight a whole lot easier than the typical blow-hard fan who wants a different NHL. FACT I don't think the new Glendale arena was built on false hopes of what the Yotes can do. And I don't think Monopoly money was used to capitalize the deal. Maybe some of you market bashing fools ought to pay those markets, which you so love to trash, pay them a visit and get a feel of how NHL hockey is received there.
Mike (Posted 2008-08-13 15:35:54)
I live in Phoenix and I'll be honest, this city is hungry for an awesome hockey team. The Roadrunners of the ECHL and the Sundogs (in Prescott) of the CHL get good support. A lot of people here are skeptical of the ownership and the fact that the team decided to leave downtown in favor for West Valley... when most of the local ice hockey happens to be in East Valley (making weekend games is no problem, but making weekday games with a 7PM start time from here is near impossible if you have a job like everyone else.) Compile that with the fact that the team was reluctant to rebuild for so long (their longest tenured draft pick aside from Doan is Matt Jones, drafted in '02!) has made the team kinda a joke in recent times. If this new crop can turn things about face, expect the Coyotes to be restored to a level of respectability. Anyway, I'd like to see the Panthers move to Quebec City, The Islanders move to Winnipeg (three teams serving a market? Dude, that doesn't even happen in Canada!) and the LA Kings to Kansas City (Anaheim's just that good) and I think it would do a lot for the game. I don't like retraction. You can say talent was deeper with less teams, but that was also from a time where there were a lot less Americans and Europeans playing the game. I'd like to seem them keep 30 teams, just move a few around and they'd be all set.
Canada needs more teams (Posted 2008-08-13 15:13:44)
Canada should have 10 teams 5 in the west and 5 in the east. Move Atlanta and the Islanders to either Quebec city or Halifax and the other U.S team to Hamilton. So then there is a Canadian East Division. In the West, Phonex should move to back to Winnipeg and Nashville should go to Regina. Then theres your Canadian West Division.
Matt Fry (Posted 2008-08-13 15:00:02)
I think the main reason Phoenix has a lot of empty seats is because they haven't been a very successful team (of course, the Jets weren't successful either). They did fairly well during the season in the first few years in Phoenix but never moved past the first round. At least in Winnipeg, they had fans, no matter how badly they were doing. But I don't think having the Jets back would save the franchise (no matter how much I want them back). All it will take is for the Canadian dollar to lose strength and boom, they'll be shuffling out of town again. Until there's a feasible plan that doesn't rely on how strong either dollar is, there's no point to moving a franchise back to Canada (unless, of course, you have a certain billionaire who is prepared to throw money at his team).
Ryan (Posted 2008-08-13 13:55:18)
Everything said about the Isles is true enough, but I don't see how the team fits into the general topic. This isn't a "make-or-break" season in any respect for the Isles. Expectations are low with a new coach and a young team. There's really no argument you can make that this year the Isles have to put-up or shut-up.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-13 13:46:55)
The talk of relocating teams only makes sense from a fan viewpoint. A city has to have people ready to commit enough money to pursue a team be it an existing one or expansion. Balsillie is the only one to step up in that capacity recently. The owners don't want the league folding nor moving teams due to the bad publicity that would cause. As it sits now, overall the league is making money. Equalization keeps owners from losing too much. I also doubt the talent is that watered down. Adding the players from non NA locations and the fact there a lot more people generally suggests there should be enough good players to stock 5 times the teams. We only hear about the stars from the Original Six era. I'm sure they had fringe players too.
Craig (Posted 2008-08-13 13:05:05)
The Canucks are not make or break this season, they are already broken. and moving teams is never an answer. I would love to see teams back in Winnipeg or QC, but not at the expense of another town. We in Vancouver lost the Grizzlies, and it sucked. I wasn't even a big NBA fan, but removing a team pissed me and a lot of people off to the point that Basletball only survived in this province because of Steve Nash. If the NHL pulls out of any of the "non-traditional" markets it will irrevocably damage the games reputation and any chance at popularity in those regions since I doubt the next repeat league MVP will be comming out of Nashville or Atlanta to dethrone Crosby or Ovechkin. I would also point out the since Heisley and the NBA fled to the "greener pastures" of Memphis, that basketball hotbed; they have actually accelerated their financial losses, and Vancouver grew into one of the most appealing markets around, with one of the few still growing economies in North America. The point here is that Winnipeg may not be the saving grace everyone thinks.
Martin's E-Ratt (Posted 2008-08-13 12:39:12)
I see Chicago and Phoenix being much better teams this year. Nashville will still be very tough to beat and should get in. Nice to see you threw some ownership crap in there. Very original! Nashville will be in the NHL a very long time ............so get used to it!
Canada has enough teams (Posted 2008-08-13 12:36:44)
Enough already with the "if this team doesn't do better it should be sent to Canada without it's dinner" crap...for 500th time: NOBODY IS GOING TO BE MOVING ANY NHL FRANCHISES TO WIN-A-PIG, Q-CITY, HAMPER-TOWN OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN CANADA. BTW, did some moron just start passing cards out with this tired script? The reason there are so many allegedly AHL level players on NHL clubs is that there's a SALARY CAP genius. For clubs that don't even push to their cap it's because they have too little revenue. If the NHL is really so hard up for talent as some of you repeat ad nauseum, maybe you should ask HNIC to start air HNIR from Minsk after they put Grapes back in his box on Saturday nights. Should be coming on about then....
Terry is clueless (Posted 2008-08-13 11:00:29)
Terry the moron; So Nashville is a poor market? Sooo poor that someone should move them? I think they already tried that. You see Terry, a few of the teams you mentioned are owned partially by community members of those locations. People who hold their prospective communities best interests close at hand. Now we understand why moron's like yourself use the internet to post oulandish comments, because you don't like being laughed at when your mindless fodder doesn't add up.
Terry (Posted 2008-08-13 10:15:46)
Hey rattus, get a clue! We do not need anymore teams in Canada. Keep all the teams in US except for Atlanta, Florida, Phoenix, Nashville, Columbus, Islanders (your an idiot, Tampa and Carolina are great markets!) Get rid of Toronto, they have done nothing for this league in 50 years (and counting)
Hamilton? Are you kidding!
Numbers65 (Posted 2008-08-13 09:52:25)
Blue Jackets will make the playoffs. Defense is much better. Goaltending the same, with prospect Steve Mason waiting in the wings. Offense lost Zherdev and Vyborny and other less significant players, but gained RJ Urmburger (former OSU player who I've always wanted to be a Jacket), and Huselius, who will be the best center Nash has ever had. I think we added more than we lost already. Now let's say prospects Brassard, Vorechek (spelling?), and Filatov, make the big club and make some noise at the NHL level! Don't forget about Hitch behind the bench!
Brian Kemp (Posted 2008-08-13 07:54:03)
I agree with everything Cliff said, although I think the Blue Jackets will make it in. Daryl Beam, the Wings didn't spend like drunken sailors before the lockout, and they won last year while being under the cap. The team you were thinking of was the Rangers, or maybe the Maple Leafs. Those are the guys that have been handing out contracts to players way over market value, which is funny, because a lot of players would play in those two towns for less.
Mike (Posted 2008-08-13 01:27:49)
The Difference between the Leafs and the organizations mentioned in this article bill, is that the leafs are the leagues most profitable organization with the largest fanbase and support the survival of the entire league through revenue sharing. The reality is that the leafs NEED to do nothing, because they can make the largest NHL profit annually without adding playoff revenue or winning a single game. That is why they don't try very hard to run a winning franchise, they're in it for profit first, winning second, who needs to try to win when your building sellouts either way.
I wish I was Turd Fergusson (Posted 2008-08-13 01:26:06)
Turd Fergusson....excellent.
The Wild should be on this list...however, the Wild management know that the fans will pack the Excel Center no matter what and build to make money first and win second.
Turds!
bill (Posted 2008-08-13 01:09:33)
i think the leafs should be added. they need to do something before basille buys them and moves them.
Gerald (Posted 2008-08-13 00:00:24)
I think Buffalo will step up. They realized after last season the mistakes they made as a team and an organization. It was a lot of pressure to pay 24 year old Vanek 10 million dollars after only one strong season and the Campbell ordeal is now in the past. If they can land another defenseman and veteran they should easily work into 5th or 6th seed playoff spot. After all this team is not that different from the one that made the 2007 conference finals.
Ian Altenbaugh (Posted 2008-08-12 22:27:18)
I think the Coyotes have a really good shot to make the playoffs this upcoming season. With Kyle Turris and Jokinen down the middle they have the best mix of forwards for a very long time. Too bad Blake Wheeler did not sign with them because they would be even better.
I think Minnesota needs to be on that list too. Even though they made the playoffs last season, like the Avs, the messages in those cities seem to be getting a little stale.
rattus rattus (Posted 2008-08-12 22:22:17)
Fold 6 teams out of Florida, Tampa Bay, Nashville, Atlanta, Carolina, Phoenix and the Islanders. Move Buffalo (Buff because it removes half of the Tor/Buff - Ham. proximity problem) to Hamilton. Go with a 24 team League where the better markets for hockey are, and build the game for 10 to 15 years before considering any further expansion. The NHLPA will squack and splutter, but a more viable and entertaining League, and most of the problems in this column are solved.
Daryl Beam (Posted 2008-08-12 21:20:35)
Yeah the Sabres had a set back year and I expected that after losing the two guys Briere and Drury. But with that said they found out what kinda of team they have and the way they fought to the end to try to make the playoffs last season. Are they still headed south in the standing I doubt it sure ownership doesn't spend like a drunken sailor on a 3 day port of call like the Wings. Remaining competitive is what the game is all about and the kids the Sabres brought up last season found out exactly what it takes to be winners.
Jw Cole (Posted 2008-08-12 21:00:21)
There are many reasons for a drop in goals against. Better goaltending equipment has contributed somewhat but the advancement in teams video scouting and defensive systems play has played a much bigger part. There are more talented players today than at any time in the history of the game.
Mark McAuley (Posted 2008-08-12 19:46:13)
I think one thing that needs to be said about some of these teams is that they shouldn't even exist. The reason NHL scoring is down is not only because goalies are better than ever and that too many coaches preach defense at the expense of scoring, but that the talent has been spread so thin. Too many AHLers are on NHL squads because someone has to fill the roster. Teams in the 1980's scored so much because the talent level on their 3rd line would qualify as 1st line talent on some of today's teams. I'd love to see Winnipeg, Quebec City and somewhere in Ontario get teams, but even if Atlanta, Florida and Nashville moved, that wouldn't solve the problem. Bettman should have used his brains and stopped at 24 teams.
Bill Carroll (Posted 2008-08-12 18:45:27)
Whoa, I can't wait to see who picks up Gaborik when he goes UFA. Hope someone in the east takes him so I get to see him more often. Kovalchuck is going to be gone as well I bet. And the only teams more embarassing than Toronto are (in order) the Islanders, than the Panthers. Everyone has been waiting forever for Horton to turn himself into an offensive force. And what happened to the Canucks? They had all the peices in place to build off a solid defense. All they really need to do is sign a few play makers and their back in business. Although we all expected so much more from the Flames. They're definetly falling apart now. I thought they would be on the list.
obed (Posted 2008-08-12 17:44:14)
J--Dub cole is as smart as Bob Cole. The PREDS WILL WIN the cup.
steve (Posted 2008-08-12 17:17:10)
The Oilers out and the Canucks in???? lol Cole must be a B.C boy, too much in that pipe buddy!
daniel (Posted 2008-08-12 17:15:49)
i wouldn't mind Phoenix going back to Winnepeg personally. The Jets logo was Bad Ass. lol. I do think Gretzky's team though will be better this season with the trade of Jokinen. I think there defense is going to be really scary and ugly to watch though. Bryzgalov is going to have to play like Luongo to have that team competitive every night. I think the Kings should be on this list though. they talk about how Nashville has young talent that can come in when counted on, that's all the Kings have. Now me being a Kings fan, I am hoping for the best. At the same time though, maybe they need a player like Tavares or Hedman just to get going. who knows.
IMB (Posted 2008-08-12 17:13:22)
What about San Jose? I think they are gonna drop off big time in the next couple of seasons....they need to win now or never.
JW Cole (Posted 2008-08-12 17:05:22)
I think Nashville will be ultra tough and competitive again. They have maybe the best young defense in the NHL and have a good chance again for the playoffs. Phoenix could be right there and make it in the extremely tough west. Anaheim, Dallas, Detroit, Calgary and San Jose are almost certain to make it save for a injury to say Jerome Iginla or Joe Thornton. Right now I think the above mentioned teams along with Minnesota, Vancouver and Nashville will be in with Phoenix being very close. Edmonton, Chicago and Columbus with Hitchcock could be improved but they may need one more year with the top teams still just too strong and experienced. I expect a big fall for Colorado and Los Angeles is still a couple years away from seriously competing for a playoff spot.
Turd Ferguson (Posted 2008-08-12 16:37:18)
From this list I think only Buffalo, Chicago, and maybe Phoenix has a chance. But there are always surprises I guess. Also, Darryl Sutter, if you ever happen to read these articles (which I doubt), please fire Keenan and hire Ted Nolan...the Flames will be SC Contenders if you do. I promise he wont sleep with Kipper wife.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-08-12 16:35:07)
I agree about the Canucks. Roberto isn't going to be the "Doc Halloday" of the Canucks forever. They need to show him they're serious about giving him some goal support or I'd expect him to be gone first chance he gets. Van is a great city, great fans, great lifestyle, but I'm sure being on a winner is Roberto's priority.
... (Posted 2008-08-12 16:30:30)
The Canucks should be on this list.
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