NHL Season has started

[Panzzer]

In the Eastern conference Pittsburgh, Rangers and Ottawa seem to be strong.
In the Western conference Detroit, Dallas and San Jose seem to be strong.

I'm hoping for someone else than the Red Wings or the teams mentioned above to win the Cup this year, and I expect Minnesota will be the team to succeed. In the Eastern Conference, Montreal or Buffalo could surprise.

But these past years in the O'Club that I've started the NHL thread, I've not yet once got the team to win the Stanley Cup correct. So it won't be Minnesota, it will be some of the other teams.

[Sandman]

I just hope the Kings make a decent showing for a change.

[Stalwart]

I cheer for Dallas because they're the home team, but I'm really looking forward to watching the young Penguins team.

Here's Mr. and Mrs. Stalwart before our last game of the season in Fort Worth, Texas:   

[Bosco123]

I would hope that some team like the Avalanche or the Devils make a strong show this year. You always have the Hurricanes that do ok. Maybe Tampa Bay will come back after these bad two seasons that they had, but we will just have to find out.
Personaly, I'm a Panthers fan, but I don't expect a stanley cup season for a wile at least, from what I saw last year, was the same as the year before. A race for a playoff spot, and they never win. Garuntee that they do the same thig again this year, maybe get in, then lose first round.
Well all just have to wait and see!

[Panzzer]

Oh, the Avalanche have a lot of depth in offense, which will get them to playoffs, as the Devils have defense & Brodeur that will get them to playoffs... But as the past years have shown, neither is enough, both ends of the rink need to be well-equipped to win the title. And other platitudes given by the commentators.

But I'm actually hoping for the Minnesota Wild to win the title this year, just to see someone else than the Red Wings "old stars" and the Penguins "young stars" to win it.

[007Rusty]

                       GOOOOOOOOOOO     

                                                     

                     

[Latrobe]

The Penguins have always been my favorite team. Some of my favorite players played for them. Jagr, Mario, Straka, Kasparaitis. When I played hockey I always took the jersey #67 because my favorite match-up was Jagr (68) and Mario (66), so I took the middle  .


I also like...

Lightning
Alvalanche
Boston (Bobby Orr!!)
Rangers

I'd root for the Lightnings over any of them though (except the Pens of course!). On a side note, I just love saying Nikolai Khabibulin's name!!!

[SuBWaYCH]

I"m a huge islanders fan. I have tickets for opening game against the Blue's on the 11th, 4 rows behind the islander bench.

Playoff predictions:

Eastern Conference -
1.Penguins
2.Senators
3.Devils
4.Bruins
5.Hurricanes
6.Lightning
7.Islanders
8.Rangers

Western Conference -
1.Flames
2.Sharks
3.Avalanche
4.Blackhawks
5.Red Wings
6.Canucks
7.Ducks
8.Stars

[Sixpence]

                       GOOOOOOOOOOO     

                                                     

                      (Image removed from quote.)

Kill Jacobs

Oh, and maybe you remember the good ol days of the big bad bruins?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8K7roZu3WU&feature=related

[Sandman]

7.Ducks

I just want to see Teemu Selanne's fibula sticking out of his sock. Is that so much to ask?

[Baitman]

Would like to see the Canucks win at least one cup.

But I cheer Canucks, Flames, Oilers, or the last Canadian team in the play offs.

 

[Fulmar]

For nearly my entire life I was bored to death by hockey (at least on TV).  Then this last Stanley Cup I picked it up and was generally interested and towards the end found myself hoping the Pens would pull off the upset.  I was impressed with their fans after the last game and they lost the series as they continued to chant.  It's nice to see true fan support, even in disappointment.  I was at the Packers Giants NFC championship game and after the game winning field goal you could have heard a pin drop.  Everybody left the stadium silently.  I was generally depressed for at least a week after that game.  But I cheered on the Giants in the SB.

[MORAY37]

I"m a huge islanders fan. I have tickets for opening game against the Blue's on the 11th, 4 rows behind the islander bench.

Playoff predictions:

Eastern Conference -
1.Penguins
2.Senators
3.Devils
4.Bruins
5.Hurricanes
6.Lightning
7.Islanders
8.Rangers

Western Conference -
1.Flames
2.Sharks
3.Avalanche
4.Blackhawks
5.Red Wings
6.Canucks
7.Ducks
8.Stars

Your Eastern Conf is pathetically messed up.  West is actually decent... although I would make exception with the Hawks.  In the playoffs yes... not higher than 5th though.
  In the EAST>>>>No Philly.  No Washington.  No Montreal.??? No way...take out the Bruins, Lightning and COUGH.... Isles.  ISLES???? At least give some backup for that.....
Bruins at 4th?  Dreaming.!!!!  MAYBE 7th or 8th....and that's a stretch.  Remember... no Metropolit, he went to the Flyers.
Philly? hello?  Played in the conf. finals last year....STOMPED two great teams to get there.  They didn't lose anyone besides Umberger in offseason.  Gained a defenseman to complement Timmonen,  and ALL forwards in their prime...Goaltending is solid. This team is a not so dark horse to beat the Pens for the Conference. 
Unless Marty has a full body transplant.... or the Devils forego building for the future and buy up the free agent market for NOW.... they may not even make the playoffs.  Putting them anywhere near the top is a huge mistake.  Name another Devil after Brodeur?  Didn't think so.  And Marty.... gettin old bro.  He showed it the last two seasons.

Washington will be the #3 seed for many seasons...no matter how many points they get... they're in the Southeast.  Division winner gets seed.  Southeast will be the weakest division.... therefore, they're in 3.

I'll keep your west....but

EAST:
1. Pittsburgh. (115 points)  Malkin and Lem.. I mean Crosby, each score 80 to 90 points this season.
2. Ottawa.  (103 points) Northeast isn't strong... Isn't weak... But Heatley willl have a great season.  40/40, with Alfredson notching 50 goals if Healthy.
3. Washington   (85 points) Best team in a horrible division.  Could get upset by Florida late in the season to get knocked out of this spot.  Seriously.  Just like last year... the team in this spot won't have the points to get in any other playoff spot. 
4. Philadelphia  (100 points)  Dark horse to the Stanley Cup.  Plays a team game, everyone has bought into the system.  Gagne is back.  Richardson gets close to 60 goals, maybe 100 points... Briere...more assists than goals. 
5. Rangers.  (96 points)  Good team... bad city.  Goaltending will win and lose them games.  Jags....maybe last spin.
6. Montreal  (90 points)  Always a threat, at home or on the road.  Don't think they'll be as good as last year though.
7. Toronto (88 points) Just a guess.  If they don't make the playoffs... the riots will consume the city.
8. New Jersey (86 points)  Will barely squeak into the post season over Carolina, cause Brind'amour always cools off prior to the postseason.

[rpm]

NHL Season has started

and the world went ZZZZZzzzz...

[MiloMorai]

and the world went ZZZZZzzzz...

The ZZzzzz.....'s for the NFL are greater.

The only Conference that counts is the East and that will come down to Pittsburgh and Ottawa.