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Street Pharmacist · 11-20-2013, 10:28 AM

Well, a quarter of the season is done. There are some expected things, surprising things and good stories.

Biggest surprise?

For me, the dominance of the West. We knew it would be the tougher conference, but many people felt swapping Detroit for Winnipeg would help even things out. Nope. Right now, if the current pace continues, it takes 112 points to make the playoffs in the West. Yikes! It would take 89 in the East which is about normal for the East.

Other surprises?

I didn't see Philadelphia being as bad as they were, but they've really turned it around and could actually still see the playoffs, though not likely. Not a bottom feeder anymore though.

The Oilers were poised to be improving as they had improved last season and many saw the trend continue. Most around here expected the demise, I did not. I had them around 9th place, fighting for a spot. They've been abysmal. Almost every player is worse than last year, and that's bad, real bad.

Colorado is 15-5-0. This is on the back of high shooting percentages and high save percentages. I don't see it continuing to this extreme, and they are showing signs of slowing (last night excluded). This is a team that was second last, last year. How many times have we seen a team that bad be that good the next year. Philadelphia a few years ago?

Flames scoring goals. Someone here predicted it (dissentowner?) and I shot them down. Oops. I still see us in bottom 10 in scoring by the end of the year, and bottom 2 or 3 in the league standings.

Good stories?

Josh Harding. Dude gets diagnosed with MS, only to come out gangbusters.

Iginla has been playing well, though the points aren't necessarily there. I hope he's a big part of a Cup win this year.

Alex Steen. Seems like a great guy and I'm happy for him. Nobody saw his emergence, but I'm not sure it'll continue at its current pace.

Sean Monahan was supposed to go down at 9 games. In fact, some said to put him back in junior after training camp (before training camp occurred and he showed us what he could do). He's second in team scoring, and that's pretty impressive for a guy who wasn't even 19 before the season started.

Our prospects. I won't go into detail, as there are numerous threads about it, but it's nice to have prospects to be excited about

Expected:

Calgary isn't good

Buffalo isn't good

San Jose got off to another great start

Canucks are trending down

Predictions:

Johnny Gaudreau signs his pro contract at the end of the college season and plays a couple games before the end of the NHL season. Hand wringing on CP ends. Just kidding, it's a message board and that's impossible.

Poirier also plays this year

Flames win draft lottery after finishing one place ahead of the Oilers

Canucks finish in 7th in the west and lose out in 4 straight.

Toronto suffers a long losing streak and ends up 8th. Much hand wringing commences in the media.

Rask wins the Vezina

Ovechkin wins the Richard

San Jose wins the President's Trophy

Edit: Edited for spelling and clarity

11-20-2013, 10:28 AM	#1
Street Pharmacist Franchise Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Salmon with Arms Exp:	Around the Quarter Pole Well, a quarter of the season is done. There are some expected things, surprising things and good stories. Biggest surprise? For me, the dominance of the West. We knew it would be the tougher conference, but many people felt swapping Detroit for Winnipeg would help even things out. Nope. Right now, if the current pace continues, it takes 112 points to make the playoffs in the West. Yikes! It would take 89 in the East which is about normal for the East. Other surprises? I didn't see Philadelphia being as bad as they were, but they've really turned it around and could actually still see the playoffs, though not likely. Not a bottom feeder anymore though. The Oilers were poised to be improving as they had improved last season and many saw the trend continue. Most around here expected the demise, I did not. I had them around 9th place, fighting for a spot. They've been abysmal. Almost every player is worse than last year, and that's bad, real bad. Colorado is 15-5-0. This is on the back of high shooting percentages and high save percentages. I don't see it continuing to this extreme, and they are showing signs of slowing (last night excluded). This is a team that was second last, last year. How many times have we seen a team that bad be that good the next year. Philadelphia a few years ago? Flames scoring goals. Someone here predicted it (dissentowner?) and I shot them down. Oops. I still see us in bottom 10 in scoring by the end of the year, and bottom 2 or 3 in the league standings. Good stories? Josh Harding. Dude gets diagnosed with MS, only to come out gangbusters. Iginla has been playing well, though the points aren't necessarily there. I hope he's a big part of a Cup win this year. Alex Steen. Seems like a great guy and I'm happy for him. Nobody saw his emergence, but I'm not sure it'll continue at its current pace. Sean Monahan was supposed to go down at 9 games. In fact, some said to put him back in junior after training camp (before training camp occurred and he showed us what he could do). He's second in team scoring, and that's pretty impressive for a guy who wasn't even 19 before the season started. Our prospects. I won't go into detail, as there are numerous threads about it, but it's nice to have prospects to be excited about Expected: Calgary isn't good Buffalo isn't good San Jose got off to another great start Canucks are trending down Predictions: Johnny Gaudreau signs his pro contract at the end of the college season and plays a couple games before the end of the NHL season. Hand wringing on CP ends. Just kidding, it's a message board and that's impossible. Poirier also plays this year Flames win draft lottery after finishing one place ahead of the Oilers Canucks finish in 7th in the west and lose out in 4 straight. Toronto suffers a long losing streak and ends up 8th. Much hand wringing commences in the media. Rask wins the Vezina Ovechkin wins the Richard San Jose wins the President's Trophy Edit: Edited for spelling and clarity Last edited by Street Pharmacist; 11-20-2013 at 11:05 AM.