Predict the pacific

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Oilers, Ducks are sure shot division position playoff teams...

Last season the Oilers won 47 games, the Ducks 46 and the Flames 45. I think the division is a toss up between the three.

[Itse]

1) Calgary
2) Anaheim
3) Edmonton
4) LA
5) SJ
6) Arizona
7) Vegas

[transplant99]

Edmonton.....yeah i know. Ouch.
Anaheim..... Even with injuries a lot of good pieces there so i think they can weather the storm
SJ......Still a formidible group.
Calgary....will take them a while to get it all together.
Arizona.....starting to look like a real team
LA.......Stevens may make a bigger difference here but will need to shed some dead weight and add a couple things before they are playoff contenders.
Vancouver....wont be as bad as many think but no where near a PO spot either.
Vegas......just a gong show as all expansion teams tend to be.

[1qqaaz]

^
I would say that same, except swap San Jose and LA
A healthy Quick should help the Kings quite a bit.

[rodszta]

1) Edmonton
2) Calgary
3) Anaheim
4) San Jose
5) Los Angeles
6) Arizona
7) Vancouver
8) Vegas

[White Out 403]

Edmonton
Anaheim
Calgary
Los Angeles
San Jose
Arizona
Vancouver
Vegas

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Last season the Oilers won 47 games, the Ducks 46 and the Flames 45. I think the division is a toss up between the three.

Don't forget about the Sharks, they won 46 games.

[Displaced Flames fan]

1. Anaheim
2. Calgary
3. Edmonton
4. San Jose
5. Los Angeles
6. Arizona
7. Vancouver
8. Las Vegas

I think there will be significant point differentials between San Jose/LA and Vancouver/Vegas.

I think 5-7 will be bunched up tightly.

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

They could have Aki Berg and Jyrki Lumme as their 1st pairing, and I still doubt that Calgary wins in the Honda Center.

Those are certainly names you don't get to read often these days.

[Gaudfather]

Reflecting the Jagr factor!

1. Calgary
2. Edmonton
3. Anaheim
4. Los Angeles
5. San Jose
6. Arizona
7. Vancouver
8. Las Vegas

[TheFlamesVan]

1) Calgary
2) San Jose
3) Edmonton
4) LA
5) Anaheim
6) Arizona
7) Vegas
8) Vancouver

I haven't understood the lack of respect for San Jose. Pavelski, Couture, Thornton, Burns, Vlasic, Jones... plus their support cast is solid. They are a great team who could definitely do some damage.

[Erick Estrada]

They are one of those middling veteran teams that could be good or bad. Thornton's game dropped off big time last year. Less points than Backlund and at 38 it's probably a trend. Marleau's 27 goals haven't been replaced. They will go as far as Burns can remain in the MVP race as last year once he slowed down the team dropped off big time. If he slumps or has injury issues you can stick a fork in them IMO.

[JBR]

1) Calgary
2)...

What was the question again?

[Itse]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

They could have Aki Berg and Jyrki Lumme as their 1st pairing, and I still doubt that Calgary wins in the Honda Center.

I get Berg, but Lumme was a pretty good D-man. Almost 1000 NHL games, 100+ playoff games, 3 time Olympian, World Cup, Canada Cup, close to .5 PPG throughout his career...

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Itse

1) Calgary
2) Anaheim
3) Edmonton
4) LA
5) SJ
6) Arizona
7) Vegas

Did Vancouver get relegated to the A?

[Cheese]

1) Edmonton
2) Anaheim
3) San Jose
4) LA
5) Arizona
6) Calgary
7) Vancouver
8) Vegas

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Itse

I get Berg, but Lumme was a pretty good D-man. Almost 1000 NHL games, 100+ playoff games, 3 time Olympian, World Cup, Canada Cup, close to .5 PPG throughout his career...

About the only thing I remember about Lumme was my dad (diehard Leafs fan) constantly calling him a simpleton, and Don Cherry calling him Lucy Lurmme.

[Huntingwhale]

1/2) Edmonton/Anaheim
3/4) Calgary/LA
5) San Jose
6) Arizona
7) Vancouver
8) Vegas

I still see Anaheim at the top. They made the WCF last season. And while they can be a slow team to start the season, they've won the division 5 years in a row. The last 2 seasons they were at/near last place in the entire league, only to storm back and take the division. As much as I'd like to see them fall, they are an elite team until proven otherwise and they have the record to back it up.

If Talbot plays lights out and McD is MVP calibre again, I could see them carrying the Oilers to a division win or at least another 100 pts season. I hate the Oilers as much as anybody. But Flames fans have to accept that they have elite players at the G and C position. Having top players in those 2 positions puts ANY team in contention. An elite goaltender like Talbot easily masks their deficiencies on the backend. Flames fans should know this well. Like it or not, McD will be able to handle 20+ mins each night and excel at it. If either gets injured, then of course it becomes another story. But as for now, as long as those 2 players are on the roster, they get the benefit of a doubt.

Calgary could also be in contention for 1st place in the division. But I've had my heart broken too many times to make a concrete prediction of the Flames being at the top. Smith is still very much up in the air if he's the solution until one of the prospects are ready. I think Lack will do well once he's in the groove of things. The D is great on paper. But so was Bouwmeester, Regehr, Sarich, Phaneuf and Gio at one point. To me the key on the backend will be Brodie returning to form. Gio seems to struggle to start the seasons, but once he gets going with Hamilton they will return to be one of the best pairings in the league. But if Brodie can find chemistry with Hamonic and return to top 20 D status, that adds a new dimension to the team. The 3rd pairing is a bit of a questions. But having Stone on it helps immensely. Then again, we've seen strong Dmen be dragged down by crappy partners (Brodie with Wideman) so it's not a guarantee that doesn't happen with Stone. Hopefully it's the opposite and Stone makes his partner better, like he did with Brodie. The forward group has plenty of depth and certainly with the addition of Jagr it will score it's share of goals. I'm not too worried about the lack of a top line RW like most here are. The Flames have had the highest scoring D for the past 3 seasons. They move the puck well and provide plenty of secondary scoring. There are 3 D who can potentially break 50 pts and are at the very least a lock for 40+ each. To me that easily offsets not having that extra scoring winger. Most teams are lucky to have one 40pts D, let alone 3.

With Sutter gone from LA and a new voice coaching, I can see LA having a bounceback season. They still have Quick in net and an elite D in Doughty. Similar to Edmonton, having elite players in 2 of the 3 key positions usually means that team is a good team. If Kopitar returns to his Selke/70pts form, then that's 3 elite players at 3 key positions. If all goes right, the Kings are sure to be in playoff contention.

The Sharks are a bit of a wild card for me. Like Anaheim, they are always predicted to fall yet find a way to earn a playoff spot. I could see them being a bubble team that can go either way. However Thornton is a year older and the loss of Marleau IMO will hurt them. But Jones is a good goalie, and their GM always finds a way to make a big splash when it comes to trades. They are my 2nd favorite team and Flames/Sharks games are always my favorite to watch. Looking forward to seeing how they do this season.

The bottom 3 teams (VAN, LV, ARZ) to me can go either way. I think it's safe to say none of them will make the playoffs and will be (hopefully) easy points for the Flames to stock up on.

[Enoch Root]

I see Anaheim and Edmonton both getting fewer points than last year.

I see San Jose about the same as last year.

I see Calgary improved over last year. And I think LA will be improved as well.

As a result, I think it will be an absolute horse race all year. Any of ANA, SJS, EDM and CAL can win the division or finish as low as 5th. And I think 4 teams from the Pacific will be in the dance in April.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

...If Talbot plays lights out and McD is MVP calibre again, I could see them carrying the Oilers to a division win or at least another 100 pts season. I hate the Oilers as much as anybody. But Flames fans have to accept that they have elite players at the G and C position. Having top players in those 2 positions puts ANY team in contention. An elite goaltender like Talbot easily masks their deficiencies on the backend. Flames fans should know this well. Like it or not, McD will be able to handle 20+ mins each night and excel at it. If either gets injured, then of course it becomes another story. But as for now, as long as those 2 players are on the roster, they get the benefit of a doubt...

Seems early to call Talbot "elite". I myself would wait until he puts in another year like the last one.