MDSF-(2)Lightning vs (3)Redwings (Lightning wins series 4-1)

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Then don't respond? Pretty easy eh?

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42

Probably easier to post all the #### no one cares about so much that they made a separate forum to keep the garbage out of this forum in said separate forum.

[jeffporfirio]

I expected the Lightning to be out in 6, without Stamkos and Stralman, shows how much I know.
Never hid my preference for TB, (I'm probably one of the few fools with a blue jersey when they play the flames at the Saddledome), after watching this series I expect them to get to the EC finals.

Go Bolts!

[nik-]

I mentioned it before in this thread, but Detroit is looking all sorts of mediocre now that Datsyuk is gone. Zetterberg is on his last legs, and other than Larkin, it's all pretty meh.

Could be headed for a rebuild just in time to move into the new building.

[Sylvanfan]

I don't know what to make of Tampa honestly. If they're full health, they are one of the top 5 teams in the East. This is such a strange year though in the East. They handled Detroit easily enough, but it's sort of like the Flames getting thru Vancouver and than getting crushed the next round by Anaheim.


Realistically the Conference final is the Capitals and Penguins which is going down next round. It's too bad the series is happening now because I do think those two teams are a real cut above everyone else. Had Tampa had to play Pittsburgh in round one, I think they're going home in 5.

[Erick Estrada]

The Wings are a mediocre team that's not remotely close to a cup contender but IMO given the injuries that was a pretty impressive playoff series victory by the Lighting. Any thoughts of Bishop becoming a Flame in the offseason looks like a pipe dream now.

[Sylvanfan]

Should Datsyuk in fact leave, it will be interesting to see what happens in Detroit. Even if they have cap space, is that team as attractive to free agents if there is no Datsyuk, Lidstrom, and Zetterberg is a 36 year old at the back end of his career? That doesn't look like a team that's going to be winning championships any time soon to me.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Should Datsyuk in fact leave, it will be interesting to see what happens in Detroit. Even if they have cap space, is that team as attractive to free agents if there is no Datsyuk, Lidstrom, and Zetterberg is a 36 year old at the back end of his career? That doesn't look like a team that's going to be winning championships any time soon to me.

Moving to the Eastern conference bought them a few more playoff births but they are closing in on the inevitable. Some hard times in store for that organization. Hockey Town will be ghost town when they start missing the playoffs.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I don't know what to make of Tampa honestly. If they're full health, they are one of the top 5 teams in the East. This is such a strange year though in the East. They handled Detroit easily enough, but it's sort of like the Flames getting thru Vancouver and than getting crushed the next round by Anaheim.

Going to have to disagree with this in every way.

I thought Detroit looked really good in that series. They certainly deserved to win that last game by three goals, if not for Bishop-related heroics. They have quite a bit of depth and a ton of team speed. Datsyuk and Zetterberg aren't the same as six or seven years ago but they're still top line players. Their defence allows them to transition very quickly. And as good as Larkin is, Athanasiou is also a very talented young player. Then they've got Tatar and Nyquist, who are top 6 quality skill players. Add in good depth contributors like Abdelkader and Richards and it was actually a solid forward group. So I don't agree that it's like the Flames getting through Vancouver - the Wings weren't a contender, but they weren't by any means the worst team in the playoffs this year. Losing Datsyuk, maybe next year they fall off, but the team that just played was a hell of a fast, dangerous beast.

Add to that, they get the winner of NYI / FLA. Ain't no 2015 Anaheim Ducks to get crushed by in that series. Not even close. If Detroit had won this series, I'd have picked them to get through the next one too - in fact I think I did say so earlier in the thread. It was 5 games, but they were all pretty close ones and all were played at an absolutely incredible pace that hasn't been matched in any other series in this first round.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

You lost that battle in 1926.

I think you misunderstood my differentiating "Americanizing" and having American teams.

I don't see a problem with having teams in the US, just when they would rather stick teams in Florida that can't sell out, versus having another team in Toronto and Québec city. That's what I have a problem with. Bring on LV

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I think you misunderstood my differentiating "Americanizing" and having American teams.

I don't see a problem with having teams in the US, just when they would rather stick teams in Florida that can't sell out, versus having another team in Toronto and Québec city. That's what I have a problem with. Bring on LV

They put teams in places where owners are gullible enough to pay fat expansion fees that they cannot recover. Nobody in Quebec City is dumb enough to pay $500 million for a franchise, and the Leafs are determined not to allow a second Toronto team at any price.