CHI or WAS are the favorites IMO. LA isn't as strong as the last few years and they haven't exactly run away with a rather weak Pacific this season. STL has to overcome their Round 1 Demons and get through CHI and DAL in the first 2 rounds. DAL still has big question marks on D and in the net plus the ever burning question of can barnburning hockey be sustainable enough for a Cup run. WAS has to be a favorite with how well they've done through the season so far and how well they matched up with CHI on Sunday.

Jer99

Canada8157 Posts

March 01 2016 02:20 GMT

#522

yep i think Chicago Washington final, with Chicago yet again winning

Kyhron

United States945 Posts

March 01 2016 09:27 GMT

#523

Wow there's reports coming out of both Dallas and Vancouver that the Stars offered their first and third to Vancouver for Hamhuis and the ownership nixed the deal. Thats why Dallas picked up Russel instead of Hamhuis. Wow thats really awful.

QuanticHawk

United States32066 Posts

March 01 2016 12:08 GMT

#524

On March 01 2016 18:27 Kyhron wrote:
Wow there's reports coming out of both Dallas and Vancouver that the Stars offered their first and third to Vancouver for Hamhuis and the ownership nixed the deal. Thats why Dallas picked up Russel instead of Hamhuis. Wow thats really awful.

Benning/Aquilini both suck

Jaaaaasper

United States10225 Posts

March 01 2016 18:45 GMT

#525

I'm okay with the bruins deadline moves in hindsight, untill I realized the Bruins traded a second and a forth for a guy who was in cap for them and willing to sign for the minimum.

QuanticHawk

United States32066 Posts

March 01 2016 19:16 GMT

#526

So we gots about 20 games left. Playoff teams are pretty certain except for a few:

east: 8th seed is probably down to PIT (major favs), with PHI and NJD as major underdogs. In the west, it is basically MIN and COL fighting for the 8th seed.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html

I think PIT gets it in the east, they've got the standings advantage and are just better overall than those two. West, i would think Min is probably better

Kyhron

United States945 Posts

March 01 2016 19:34 GMT

#527

Min is probably the better team, but Colorado has a far easier schedule down the stretch. Min has 2 games against Col, 2 against Chi and 1 against LA. The best teams Colorado have are the Minni games, a pair against STL and one against FLA.

CorsairHero

Canada9491 Posts

March 02 2016 00:26 GMT

#528

i would lmfao if hamhuis doesn't resign with the team

Jer99

Canada8157 Posts

March 02 2016 01:27 GMT

#529

+ Show Spoiler +

Jinxed

United States6450 Posts

March 02 2016 01:52 GMT

#530

On March 02 2016 04:16 QuanticHawk wrote:
So we gots about 20 games left. Playoff teams are pretty certain except for a few:

east: 8th seed is probably down to PIT (major favs), with PHI and NJD as major underdogs. In the west, it is basically MIN and COL fighting for the 8th seed.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html

I think PIT gets it in the east, they've got the standings advantage and are just better overall than those two. West, i would think Min is probably better

Pittsburgh is playing really well and they certainly have a lot of talent. However they also have that weird 'literally can beat anyone except the old Atlantic' thing going on. I think they have the best odds, but it isn't a lock as of yet.

The fact that the Flyers are even this close is nothing short of miraculous. Most fans are literally just waiting for the season to end because next year is when we really start to become scary. #2 (Provorov) and #3 (Konecny) of our big 4 are rumored to come up with #4 (Sanheim) probably starting off in the AHL. With Schenn, Vinny, and (likely via buyout) Umberger no longer on our books we'll finally have cap room as well.

oneofthem

Cayman Islands24199 Posts

March 02 2016 02:55 GMT

#531

rangers collecting the staals not a good look. declining players tend to decline

JimmiC

Canada22817 Posts

March 02 2016 03:28 GMT

#532

--- Nuked ---

Kyhron

United States945 Posts

March 02 2016 09:37 GMT

#533

I don't think adding Staal hurts the Rabgers chances at a Cup but at the same time I don't think it's that missing piece they need for a Cup run.

So currently Chicago, St. Louis and Dallas are all tied for first in the West/Central. Granted 13 points behind the Caps but still ridiculous when you think about how many times they play each other year and take points away from each other. I'd love to see what one of their point totals would be if they got a season in the East.

Flaccid

8837 Posts

March 02 2016 18:18 GMT

#534

CFMD

I'd call this a successful season as a low-expectations Oilers fan (is there any other kind?) simply to win the lottery (tlolronto) and then sign Stamkos (double tlolronto). That would be all kinds of hilarious.

QuanticHawk

United States32066 Posts

March 02 2016 19:07 GMT

#535

unless CFMD's immense powers include robbing banks and salary cap manipulation (or murdering guys like Pouliot) how they gonna fit hiM!?!

I really think Stamkos isn't going anywhere. He just know he's got leverage

Flaccid

8837 Posts

March 02 2016 19:16 GMT

#536

I think they actually have a fair bit of cap space next year, what with NikitinikinikitiNikitin coming off the books and then maybe buying out the last year of TheCaptainAndrewFerence. In the long run they may have to lose one of the $6M contracts, but fuck it because Stamkos. With some of the other bigger contracts not coming back, they could probably find a way to manage the raises of new contracts next year (Davidson, Klef, etc.) and free up the necessary munnies. Plus Katz just sold some drug store shit for $3B so there's that too.

Just gotta find somebody to take on Korpikoski's 2.5M hit =\

And then worry about paying CFMD truck loads of money in a few years.

And pay some decent defensemen.

Bah.

QuanticHawk

United States32066 Posts

March 02 2016 19:23 GMT

#537

I would think it would be Eberle of the three (even though I think his deal is alright actually). He's just the least dynamic of Hall (stud), Nudge (p good), and himself.

The Oil would help themselves immensely if they could draft some top 4 dmen and have them all get good in the next 2-3 years before they back up the dumptruck of money to CFMD's house

JimmiC

Canada22817 Posts

March 02 2016 22:03 GMT

#538

--- Nuked ---

oneofthem

Cayman Islands24199 Posts

March 02 2016 22:16 GMT

#539

On March 02 2016 12:28 JimmiC wrote:
He's still a useful player and is not going to decline between now and playoffs. The rangers have to go for it now, lunquist, nash, most of there Dman are all at best at the end of there prime. Making one last run before they tear it down makes sense.

well yea they have to make win now moves esp in light of past moves.

on my end it's more of a told you so with the souring staal and girardi decisions over keeping better players.

Flaccid

8837 Posts

March 02 2016 22:27 GMT

#540

I will never get behind the idea of trading RNH; I just can't do it. He has done nothing but put up good metrics against the Toews and the Kopitars and the Thortons of the WC since he was 18. Not to mention how the Oilers have fallen off (even more of) a cliff since his injury. You just can't have enough center depth, especially in the WC. Someone is always gonna be hurt =P

He's an outstanding player on a good contract. Honestly, given the likely return I'd probably rather trade Hall than RNH. And I love Hall.

edit: Let's take a second to appreciate what RNH and Hall have done since entering the league. Here are their relative rankings in regards to quality of fwd competition faced and even strength ppg (as stolen from another blog):


Hall faces #11/330 - .692 EVPPG
RNH faces #17/330 - .456 EVPPG

...

Gaudreau #135/330 - .758 EVPPG
Kane faces #150/330 - .859 EVPPG
Seguin faces #158/330 - .708 EVPPG
Benn faces #165/330 - .692 EVPPG

Kind of unreal, honestly. I'd love to see what they could do against the soft parade that other top forwards see.

edit2: And these team NA jerseys are pretty dope:

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