Flames are out - who do you want to win cup?

[dammage79]

After tonight and seeing in person what the Jackets have going into the playoffs, I'm rooting for them the most. Dynamic team and top to bottom good.

[1qqaaz]

I think the Columbus fan base deserves a good cup run.
Long overdue, really.

Look how exciting it was for the Preds last year.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Looks like it's going to be pretty hard for the Panthers to make it at this point, but there are still games left that are very winnable.

If they don't make it, I'm going for a team that has never won it or hasn't won it in a very long time. In order of preference:

Minnesota
Winnipeg
Nashville
Columbus
Washington
Toronto
St. Louis
Philadelphia (if only so Elliott can redeem himself a little)



Teams that I will not be cheering for because of recent cup wins:
L.A.
Anaheim
Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay (obviously)
Boston
New Jersey (I don't care about the Hall factor)

Teams that have never won but I can't cheer for because of divisional rivalry:
San Jose
Vegas

[ReinhartonD]

I'd rather see a team like Vegas, without a supposed superstar, show Flames management how important investing in coaching is in this league. I don't need to see hours of Crosby praise, even if its warranted.

Looking forward to Tortorella's head exploding at some point in a series, and I hope the Leafs get swept.

I'm meh about Winnipeg except that the Jets in the final would be Bettman's nightmare, so there's that. Nashville would be okay because Poile does things the right way and it would piss off all the Habs fans I know to see PK hoist the cup.

[DynamRyan]

Originally Posted by CedarMeter

No it wouldn't.

Seconded. Can you imagine if the leafs actually won something of merit? I live in TO, and I am 100% sure it would become absolutely insufferable for years if they won the cup. Some of my TO friends legitimately think every good Canadian player will eventually end up playing for the Leafs because of reasons and it’s been their secret lifelong dream. This is with the Leafs last having won the cup before the majority of their current fanbase was even born. Just say no to a Leafs cup. Forever. That being said, Nashville, just to see P.K. bring the cup to the MTL Children’s Hospital, and mightily troll that idiot Bergevin. Screw Vegas, but I can definitely see it happening, just to pile it on.


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[McG]

I’d be happy with any other team winning as long as they don’t currently play in the nhl.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by ReinhartonD

I'd rather see a team like Vegas, without a supposed superstar, show Flames management how important investing in coaching is in this league. I don't need to see hours of Crosby praise, even if its warranted.

Looking forward to Tortorella's head exploding at some point in a series, and I hope the Leafs get swept.

I'm meh about Winnipeg except that the Jets in the final would be Bettman's nightmare, so there's that. Nashville would be okay because Poile does things the right way and it would piss off all the Habs fans I know to see PK hoist the cup.

They have a superstar goalie and a guy with 40 goals...I can't believe people still think its all the coach and hard work.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dino7c

They have a superstar goalie and a guy with 40 goals...I can't believe people still think its all the coach and hard work.

Its not like our guys sucked.

Monahan and Gaudreau had career years despite sitting out the end of the season and Smith was solid all year.

Nobody is saying its one or the other but I think in both cases it is largely due to coaching. Yes. Vegas played their players to their strengths. We didnt.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by dino7c

They have a superstar goalie and a guy with 40 goals...I can't believe people still think its all the coach and hard work.

And that’s why the flames were 4 time Stanley cup champions during the Iggy/Kipper years.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by dino7c

They have a superstar goalie and a guy with 40 goals...I can't believe people still think its all the coach and hard work.

Agree. Not that their coach is chopped liver (and I do think Gallant deserves to be a favourite in the Adams trophy conversation), but Vegas probably had the most generous expansion draft in NHL history. They had their pick of the lower half of NHL regulars (forwards or defensemen) from 30 teams. Even without a couple of the younger players chosen blossoming (e.g. Karlsson), those picks have clearly given Vegas the most balanced roster in the league. Add top level goaltending, and (in retrospect) the surprise should probably be that the "experts" were so surprised at the Knights' success.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

Agree. Not that their coach is chopped liver (and I do think Gallant deserves to be a favourite in the Adams trophy conversation), but Vegas probably had the most generous expansion draft in NHL history. They had their pick of the lower half of NHL regulars (forwards or defensemen) from 30 teams. Even without a couple of the younger players chosen blossoming (e.g. Karlsson), those picks have clearly given Vegas the most balanced roster in the league. Add top level goaltending, and (in retrospect) the surprise should probably be that the "experts" were so surprised at the Knights' success.

Probably? they got the easiest draft rules and were the only team picking

[Cecil Terwilliger]

It wasn’t just the experts. Go read the expansion draft thread. Vegas got roasted for their picks and most thought they’d be basement dwellers and that McPhee had lost his mind. Including several people who are now posting about how unfair it was that Vegas got such a sweet deal in the draft.

Funny how much opinions have changed in hindsight.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its not like our guys sucked.

Monahan and Gaudreau had career years despite sitting out the end of the season and Smith was solid all year.

Nobody is saying its one or the other but I think in both cases it is largely due to coaching. Yes. Vegas played their players to their strengths. We didnt.

MAF has a .931 save percentage...Kipper had .933 in 04 and never came close again

Vegas has far better forwards in the bottom six...they chose the best bottom six players from 30 teams.

Calgary has Stajan, Lazar, Hathaway, Glass, ect.

Vegas has top end talent and better depth than most of the league.

VEGAS HAS GOOD PLAYERS!

coach and work ethic might be good too but I have realized they have good players, deeper than most teams

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Probably? they got the easiest draft rules and were the only team picking

Just because the previous drafts were designed to screw the expansion teams doesn’t mean this one was too favourable.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by dino7c

MAF has a .931 save percentage...Kipper had .933 in 04 and never came close again

Vegas has far better forwards in the bottom six...they chose the best bottom six players from 30 teams.

Calgary has Stajan, Lazar, Hathaway, Glass, ect.

Vegas has top end talent and better depth than most of the league.

Is that why you kept saying in the expansion draft thread that MAF was gonna get lit up and Vegas would suck so bad? Because the draft was so stacked in their favour?

[memphusk]

Cheering for Nashville. Would like to see Hartnell win a cup.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

It wasn’t just the experts. Go read the expansion draft thread. Vegas got roasted for their picks and most thought they’d be basement dwellers and that McPhee had lost his mind. Including several people who are now posting about how unfair it was that Vegas got such a sweet deal in the draft.

Funny how much opinions have changed in hindsight.

These are the same experts that almost unanimously figured the Oilers would easily progress further over last season.

Outside a few in the hockey media, it’s all about ego and wanting to sound smarter than fans, spinnning general storylines and flawed logic (Oilers made playoffs and have McDavid and resigned Draisitsl and should’ve beat Ducks=automatically will do better this year, and, Vegas is expansion and expansion teams are baddies they will be bad) with their own spin, to sound like an authority. And when they are wrong, it’s “shocking”.

For the first time in a while, maybe ever, as the only time I’ve cared about teams in the playoff outside of the Flames were because of who they were playing (Bruins vs Vancouver, Canes vs Oilers, (and that Cinco de Mayo miracle in Anaheim last year))I’ll be actively rooting for Vegas.

Having been to a game early in the year there it’s a unbelievable atmosphere, a great story, and a hard working team that deserves to be there.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Is that why you kept saying in the expansion draft thread that MAF was gonna get lit up and Vegas would suck so bad? Because the draft was so stacked in their favour?

Things change obviously...hindsight is 20/20

As I look at the Vegas roster TODAY they have better talent than 2 3rds of the league. I really don't care who said what in the summer.

Oilers were cup favorites in the summer

There is no debate that they had the most favorable expansion draft of all time...they did.

Too favorable is a matter of opinion

Anyway I will cheer for/against whoever I want...They are not some ####ty team getting through with good coaching and hard work. They are a good team with both of those going for them IMO.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

And that’s why the flames were 4 time Stanley cup champions during the Iggy/Kipper years.

And if we wanna go there Kipper had similar stats to MAF this season ONE TIME in his career...guess what year?

2004 when the Flames did in fact win the cup*

MAF 28-12-4 0.931...That is Vezina quality and I'll admit WAAAAAY better than I expected

[Ducay]

Im cool with anyone except:

Laffs (TSN is already insufferable)
Pitts (enough already)
Boston (why won't they go away)
LA (see Pitt above)
Anaheim (Edmonton of the USA)