Four stealth Stanley Cup contenders this spring

[Wood]

They don't consider Flames a "stealth" team, they have us in 3rd on their power rankings. If we keep playing this way we could even rise, considering we just beat their #1 Pens

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/page...power-rankings

Power rankings are useless, but its worth pointing out how ESPN views the Flames and Oilers before this thread get to be 25 pages

[trumpethead]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

And his cross overs, oh god his crossovers.

I wonder what the NHL record for perfectly executed consecutive crossovers in an NHL regular season game? Asking for a friend

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

I wonder what the NHL record for perfectly executed consecutive crossovers in an NHL regular season game? Asking for a friend

Tell your friend to #### off

[trumpethead]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

No mention of the Flames, but Alberta's other team gets some love:

Led by 20-year-old captain Connor McDavid, Edmonton looks likely to earn a postseason berth. The Oilers have youth, talent and a veteran presence -- which could provide a perfect storm for a deep playoff run. GM Peter Chiarelli decided to sign veteran free-agent forward Milan Lucic last summer for a few reasons. Sure, Lucic's looming presence serves as protection for McDavid and his teammates, but the veteran also brings a Stanley Cup-winning mentality. He understands firsthand what it takes to win one, as he helped the Boston Bruins bring home a Cup in 2011 and returned to the finals in 2013 before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks. Lucic is also the type of leader who can keep his teammates focused and even-keeled during a stressful postseason run.

Principe translation:

Led by 20-year-old captain Connor McDavid, Edmonton looks likely to earn a postseason berth. The Oilers have a young Connor McDavid, a talented Connor McDavid and Connor McDavid playing like a veteran -- which could provide a perfect storm for a deep playoff run. GM Peter Chiarelli deftly won the lottery when Connor McDavid had no choice but to join the young , talented Connor McDavid-led Oilers. Veteran free-agent forward Milan Lucic also joined Connor McDavid and Oilers last summer for a few reasons. Sure, Lucic's looming presence serves as protection for McDavid and his teammates, but the veteran also enjoys watching the the young and impressively gifted forward Connor McDavid who already brings a Stanley Cup-winning mentality. Lucic understands firsthand what it takes to win one, as he helped the Boston Bruins bring home a Cup in 2011 (despite not having a young, talented elite superstar like Connor McDavid) and returned to the finals in 2013 before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks (because they did have a young, talented, superstar forward who played almost as well as Connor McDavid does). Lucic is also the type of leader who can keep his teammates (especially elite generational talents like Connor McDavid) focused and even-keeled during a stressful postseason run.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by jeffman

One person cannot win a cup so the Edmonton mcdavids will never win

Roy in 1993.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Roy in 1993.

Almost. The best he could do by himself was a 0-0 tie at the end of regulation. Somebody else had to score the goal.

(Note ‘goal’, singular. There's a reason why the '93 Habs got 10 of their 16 playoff wins in OT.)

[Southside]

CBS Sports give the Flames a little love. No mention of that franchise up north.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/pl...up-contenders/

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

More to the point, why should anyone care about what ESPN thinks about anything? They are the last place I would consult for anything resembling useful information or perspectives on hockey.

Almost.

Spector (or Staples) < ESPN < Everything else

[btimbit]

Oiler's aren't a contender, stealth or otherwise. Talk to me in a year or two when they add Puljujärvi, Draisaitl keeps improving and if thy add another top 4 Dman. And even then I have zero faith in that management team to not completely neuter the team when it comes to a contract for their new captain.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Southside

CBS Sports give the Flames a little love. No mention of that franchise up north.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/pl...up-contenders/

While CBS did make mention of the Flames, they basically tossed them out the window

[Northendzone]

just in case anyone was wondering who the 4 steralth teams are:
- tampa
- new York
- st. Louis
- edmonton

[Hockey Fan #751]

What's so stealth about Tampa? They made the finals two years ago and third round last year.

And the Rangers are 7th overall in the NHL standings!

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

just in case anyone was wondering who the 4 steralth teams are:
- tampa
- new York
- st. Louis
- edmonton

So, three wild card teams and a team that isn't even in a playoff spot. Yeah, it feels nice to not be grouped in with them!

[Young_Guns]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

What's so stealth about Tampa? They made the finals two years ago and third round last year.

And the Rangers are 7th overall in the NHL standings!

Yes but the Rangers are in the leagues strongest division.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Young_Guns

Yes but the Rangers are in the leagues strongest division.

I thought they were talking about the Islanders but I guess Rangers makes more sense. Wouldn't consider them stealth though.

[d_phaneuf]

I wouldnt consider Calgary stealth

I had Edmonton ahead of them a few weeks ago, but at this point the run looks legit as long as the goaltending can hold up in the playoffs I would have Calgary has favorites to come out of the pacific

Backlund looked like a late bloomer a few years ago, but he had an even later bloom in to what he is now. Some of you will probably hate to make the comparison but to me he's very similar to what Kesler was doing in the 09-12 range for the Canucks

[JerryUnderscore]

I'm calling it now: Calgary/Pittsburgh SCF.