Other than Flames or Habs, which Canadian team makes playoffs next?

[Stupid]

Senators or Leafs.
East is weaker, and I have more faith in those franchises than I do Van/Edm/Peg

[GreenLantern2814]

Sens, regardless of whether or not they keep Spezza (which k think they should). They have a good defense corps, the forwards have a good amount of skill, and their goaltending isn't as bad as it showed last year. If Ottawa gets its head right, they should be back in post season contention next year.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Sens, regardless of whether or not they keep Spezza (which k think they should). They have a good defense corps, the forwards have a good amount of skill, and their goaltending isn't as bad as it showed last year. If Ottawa gets its head right, they should be back in post season contention next year.

I only doubt them because it appears Spezza is gone, and more for budget reasons than hockey reasons.

Sad.

[ComixZone]

Toronto will sign Stastny to an 8.1M per season contract and end up in playoffs.

[the2bears]

I have to agree, one of the Eastern teams will be in the playoffs before Winnipeg, Edmonton, or Vancouver.

[_Q_]

I think none make the playoffs next season.

[BlackWallStreet]

The Oilers for shizzle

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Canucks had a terrible year, but they're getting worse, not better. Goaltending is a huge question mark and the core, especially the Sedins, are aging. They have tough contracts with total passengers like Booth (Wellwood 2.0) and a D that's destined to take a step backward. They're on the bubble next year at best.

The Jets have some pieces and good youth but the Kane situation is a problem. If they move him for something that helps right now they have a chance.

It hurts to say but the Leafs should have made it this year. They'll be in next year.

Ottawa's 50/50.

Edmonton is no good.

Yeah, the Sedins are starting to break down and the good news is they think they still have a great core and won't go into a rebuild. Really they don't have much choice but to carry on with their core as the Sedins are untradeable.

[calumniate]

Nordiques

[OffsideSpecialist]

I think the Leafs, Habs and Sens all make it next year.

[Geeoff]

I do like the confidence in the Flames shown in the thread title but we're not gonna be making the playoffs next year. I'll take the Senators.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I do like the confidence in the Flames shown in the thread title but we're not gonna be making the playoffs next year. I'll take the Senators.

I interpreted that as merely excluding the Flames from the choices, not that they were picked to make the play-offs next year. Sort of a "which of the other teams make it" question, also excluding the one team that made it.

[Fire in the disco]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

I would hate to be a fan and have that happen to my team.

What really grinds my gears is the Canucks picking 6th in this draft. This took us 3-4 years of slow decline. They are going to get great young talent at 6. I would say they would make the playoffs next year had they not botched their goaltending situation so badly over the last 12 months. I see them as a 9th place team at best, and hopefully that is where they finish.

[DoubleF]

Leafs
Sens
Jets

Draw a line in between one of the teams, the ones below that line don't make it.

Edmonton and Vanc don't make it I would guess. Not because I hate them necessarily, but the bed is badly shat and a lot of cleanup is necessary first. We should make it a new tradition to throw Mr Clean Magic Erasers on the ice at those games.

[dino7c]

Look at the pacific division, the Canucks are not making the playoffs next year...I hope they think they just underachieved, the reality is they aren't that good any more...you might even say they are no good

As for the original question, I think TO makes it...sure they blew it but they are a decent team the the east sucks

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by calumniate

Nordiques

Best possible answer.

Or the Jets. I would love to see a home playoff game at MTS, just imagine the noise.

[Monahan23]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

The thread title confuses me.

It says "Other than Flames or Habs, which Canadian playoff team makes playoffs next?"

Since there is only one Canadian playoff team, the only option is Montreal. But the title does not allow me to pick Montreal, so I am in a bit of a pickle here.

To answer the question seriously though, I say the Leafs make it next year, and MAYBE Vancouver.

Really doubt Toronto makes it next year. Vancouver and Ottawa are looking to move, Edmonton is awful. Therefore, I say Winnipeg.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Jets and maybe Sens. Toronto has fun going downhill again.

[CaptainCrunch]

Ok, based on the criteria, I'm going to ignore it

Toronto - Really pourous defense, the forwards are notorious one way, they kept close at all. The lockout shortened season disguised a lot of problems with the team. I don't think their coaching is the answer. Their prospect base is terrible. Chances of next year. Without significant change to the attitude of the team and their blueline, nope

Ottawa - They have a lot of good young pieces and a very good coach. their goaltending killed them this year. They have a good prospect base to call from. They really should move Spezza for immediate help through their lineup. If they get better goaltending and see progression from their young players they should make it.

Montreal - Good prospect base, great goaltending and they're pretty solid throughout. I think their coach is their kryptonite. I think that their window is pretty wide open. Are they a Cup contender? Nope, I don't like their chances of grinding through 4 series against bigger teams. Playoffs yes

Winnipeg - Another team with a good young core, I think their management group is too tentative, they are afraid to make the moves to take that leap. Decent prospects, bad goaltending, but they have size and the coaching change to Maurice was smart. Playoffs - Yes as a lower run connon fodder team

Edmonton - We've talked about the holes in their lineup, which are vast. They are not mentally strong enough to do anything. Even Hall who is suppossed to be their heart and soul guy is dog sh%t when he doesn't have the puck in terms of effort. That blue line could be worse next year. Their prospect cupboard is pretty bare and the thing that they really needed in the draft is going to be gone, and Lowe in company will draft the biggest sissypants player that they can find as long as he looks good on youtube. Eakins is a terrible coach. Until this team gets a heart transplant and a brain transplant and a give a crap transplant. Don't talk to me about playoffs. They'll be lucky if they improve next year.

Calgary - Long ways off, love the effort, but we also saw a lot of growth in our prospect pool, however I'm not convinced that all of the young guy will continue to progress. The Flames got stellar goaltending from Ramo but is it real or memorex? They are still too small, lack high end skill but the culture is there. I don't think this team is as far out as we think. But tomorrow will be a bottom out year so playoffs. No Playoffs for you.

Vancouver - Too old, no depth, terrible prospect pool. Its going to take time to adjust to a new coach and organizational culture shift under a new GM. The area that could have kept them in, which is goaltending is gone now. Kesler will be traded, but it depends on what they get back. They got no offense from the blueline and very little from their bottom 3 lines. I'd have to say that they're heading into an involuntary rebuild. They believe that they are still a good team and are going to try to take a shot, but they're going to plummet.


On the rise

Montreal, Ottawa Winnipeg

On the fall

Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto

Pathetic and a mess

Edmonton