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Street Pharmacist · 09-30-2013, 01:17 AM

Big question: What would a good season be this year? What do you think it will be in the end? How many Rookies will play? What are you looking forward to?

It's mentioned in every thread almost. The Flames will likely suck. I'm not sure they'll be as bad as some predict, but they will be out of any shot of the playoffs early. I don't see a 10/11 Oilers bad, but bad.

Offense:
They have no quality finishers save Cammaleri. No real set up man except maybe Hudler. Basically, no real first line players (maybe Cammaleri). Lots of secondary players. I don't foresee too many goals from this group. The entire forward core scored 67 goals in 405 combined NHL games last year. If you average it out and make it 12 average forwards over 82 games, that's 163 goals from the forwards. Lots of caveats there, for example the fact that many of these players will get more ice time than they did last year. Contrast that with the fact they'll be playing with less talented linemates, and it's a decent guess IMO.

They have no number 1 puck mover. They do have a PP threat in Wideman, and an emerging talent in Brodie. The rest are not going to contribute to the goals department much. I don't see very many goals from the back end overall. Last year this group had 14 goals in 245 NHL games. Same formula as above and you get 28 goals in an 82 game season.

Add it up and the goals aren't going to come often. That's 191 goals projected, or a 2.3 G/G. Only 3 teams were worse last year, and only 1 the year before.

Defense:
The GA stat is going to be dependent on a team with a lot of turnover learning to play their coverage in a system that's new to many. There aren't a lot of forwards that don't back check (Hudler maybe), so that should help. I didn't see a statistical way to project this, and it'll be highly reliant on the system and the players buy in anyways.
As for the D, there are a few Dmen that aren't known for their defensive prowess (SOB, Butler, Wideman) and this may be an Achilles Heel.
In net, there does not appear to be a quality starter, but it's probably too early to make that call.

I expect quite a few GA, few GF and maybe 70-75 points for a 27th overall finish.

I know I'll be in the minority here, but this will be a long season for me I think. The frustration for me is the lack of purpose there will likely be when there is no playoffs in the future really early on. It takes away the intensity and injects some apathy. A loss may be no big deal if there are Rookies playing well, but that's hard to do when the team around them is bad. It's too early in the rebuild to expect anything more if you ask me. I'm even debating getting Center Ice as in BC I won't get many games otherwise. Normally it's not a question.

I'm excited for the future, but maybe not for this season.

09-30-2013, 01:17 AM	#1
Street Pharmacist Franchise Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Salmon with Arms Exp:	Expectations for the season Big question: What would a good season be this year? What do you think it will be in the end? How many Rookies will play? What are you looking forward to? It's mentioned in every thread almost. The Flames will likely suck. I'm not sure they'll be as bad as some predict, but they will be out of any shot of the playoffs early. I don't see a 10/11 Oilers bad, but bad. Offense: They have no quality finishers save Cammaleri. No real set up man except maybe Hudler. Basically, no real first line players (maybe Cammaleri). Lots of secondary players. I don't foresee too many goals from this group. The entire forward core scored 67 goals in 405 combined NHL games last year. If you average it out and make it 12 average forwards over 82 games, that's 163 goals from the forwards. Lots of caveats there, for example the fact that many of these players will get more ice time than they did last year. Contrast that with the fact they'll be playing with less talented linemates, and it's a decent guess IMO. They have no number 1 puck mover. They do have a PP threat in Wideman, and an emerging talent in Brodie. The rest are not going to contribute to the goals department much. I don't see very many goals from the back end overall. Last year this group had 14 goals in 245 NHL games. Same formula as above and you get 28 goals in an 82 game season. Add it up and the goals aren't going to come often. That's 191 goals projected, or a 2.3 G/G. Only 3 teams were worse last year, and only 1 the year before. Defense: The GA stat is going to be dependent on a team with a lot of turnover learning to play their coverage in a system that's new to many. There aren't a lot of forwards that don't back check (Hudler maybe), so that should help. I didn't see a statistical way to project this, and it'll be highly reliant on the system and the players buy in anyways. As for the D, there are a few Dmen that aren't known for their defensive prowess (SOB, Butler, Wideman) and this may be an Achilles Heel. In net, there does not appear to be a quality starter, but it's probably too early to make that call. I expect quite a few GA, few GF and maybe 70-75 points for a 27th overall finish. I know I'll be in the minority here, but this will be a long season for me I think. The frustration for me is the lack of purpose there will likely be when there is no playoffs in the future really early on. It takes away the intensity and injects some apathy. A loss may be no big deal if there are Rookies playing well, but that's hard to do when the team around them is bad. It's too early in the rebuild to expect anything more if you ask me. I'm even debating getting Center Ice as in BC I won't get many games otherwise. Normally it's not a question. I'm excited for the future, but maybe not for this season.