We're now entering the home stretch of the NHL season. It's usually about this time of year that the league gets divided into 3 categories:
1. Teams with a legitimate shot at winning it all,
2. Teams with only a shot at making the playoffs, and
3. Teams that are truly bad.
So, my question is, who are the 2, 3, or 4 teams from each conference with realistic aspirations of winning it all.
For me:
East - Buffalo, New Jersey, Ottawa, and Atlanta (in that order)
West - Nashville, San Jose, Detroit, Anaheim
2007-02-02 07:05:47 · 14 answers · asked by SabreFreek 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
West:
Nashville: Unbelieveable offense, amazing defense, and stunning goaltending. Unless injuries get the best of them, they are true cup contenders. Probably the most well rounded team in the league.
Sanjose: 2 solid scoring lines, and the have 2 amazing goaltenders on the backside. Should be interesting to see what they will do.
Anaheim: 2 of the best defenceman in the world, one of the best goalies in the league, and they are a scoring threat. Enough said.
East:
Buffalo: Much like Nashville, they are set in every position. Very well rounded team.
Pittsburgh: Believe it or not, they are starting to look like true contenders. Get these guys into the playoffs and they will do some collaeral damage.
Atlanta: Offensive threat. Great goaltending and defense.
New Jersey: two words: Martin Brodeur
Montreal: They hardly ever lose in front of their home crowd, and that will help them greatly in the playoffs, much like it helped Edmonton last year.
2007-02-02 07:50:48 · answer #1 · answered by Lebanese_Mafia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
East - Buffalo is the hands-on favorite. New Jersey would be the second logical guess, then I'd say Atlanta, then I doubt anyone else has a real shot to beat those three team.
West - Anaheim is the easy pick. Then San Jose. Both teams are strong in what is shaping to be a tough division, same as the Northeast. After that, it gets fuzzy because I don't see either Nashville nor Detroit as being for real because they play in the division with the Blues, Blackhawks, and Blue Jackets, three of the lower teams in hockey.
2007-02-02 14:31:46 · answer #2 · answered by Kaotik29 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
East: Buffalo, New Jersey and Ottawa
I don't feel Atlanta plays good enough defense to win enough games in the playoffs, although you have to like Lehtonen.
West: Who knows? Anaheim?
Detroit and Nashville's records are propped up by getting to play extra games against St. Louis, Columbus and Chicago. Both are strong teams with key players who are serious injury risks.
I like that Anaheim has a strong Defense system, and two goalies who can both hang in the playoffs.
I'm not willing to write off any of the potential Western playoff teams.
2007-02-02 11:51:18 · answer #3 · answered by Tim S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For Me
East- Buffalo, Montreal, Ottawa, New jersey, and Atlanta
West- Anaheim, Detroit, Edmonton, San Jose and Nashville
2007-02-02 08:21:33 · answer #4 · answered by tfoley5000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
West---1. Preds 2. Ducks 3. Stars 4. Red Wings
East---1. Buffalo 2. Atlanta 3. Ottawa 4. Montreal ( if the goaltending stays healthy )
2007-02-02 08:15:36 · answer #5 · answered by Newfie In Nashville 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you pretty much nailed it, I'd just add Dallas to the West, I think there will be a fire lit under Turco to perform the way he does in the regular season. I'd change the order like this:
East: New Jersey, Buffalo (I think almost certainly 1 of those 2)
West: Anaheim, San Jose, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville (in that order).
I would be pretty surprised if the finals have a team (or 2!) that is NOT one of those 7.
2007-02-02 07:40:56 · answer #6 · answered by clueless_nerd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's impossible to answer. the way the NHL is now, any team that makes the playoffs has a chnace at the cup. Take a look at the final- The eastern conference was considered the stronger one, and it's first ranked team went to the final while the 8th ranked team from the weaker conference took the series to 7 games.
2007-02-02 07:21:34 · answer #7 · answered by The Big Box 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any team that makes the playoffs has a great chance at winning (note: Edmonton the 7 seed last year) so the only teams truly without a shot are the Flyers and Kings
2007-02-03 07:20:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll tell you who won't win, the Boston Bruins. Hartford has a better chance of getting their team back than the Bruins have to make 06/07 a winning season.
2007-02-02 09:03:26 · answer #9 · answered by El Cupacabra 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in this joke of a league, anyone has a legitimate shot
however, if detroit thinks they do, they better be banking on a new goalie. hashit will carry them only to the golf course.
2007-02-03 05:03:55 · answer #10 · answered by Tiberius 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋