Who, in your opinion, is taking the stanley cup home?

Question

And the 2007 stanley cup winner is.....

Well sorry to burst everyone's bubble, but obviously Florida Panthers are going to win.

Answer 1

SABRES!!!!!

Answer 2

Basically, any team that does not have a European as a captain that makes the playoffs has a chance this year. In the East, it's really Buffalo who has the best chance, although Ottawa (it does hurt me quite a bit to say this) does seem like they will try and push for it, but they will come up short as long as Daniel Alfreddson is their captain. Out west, it's anyones guess. Calgary has a shot. Nashville has a chance. San Jose, Anaheim and Dallas as well. Detroit's downfall is that Niklas Lidstrom, who is from Sweden so therefore European, is their captain, so no Stanley Cup in Motown. Likely not if the team has an American as a captain either. I do believe that Derian Hatcher with Dallas in 1999 is the only American captain of a Stanley Cup champion in like the last 20 or 30 years, if I am not mistaken. So, basically, this I guess would be the list: San Jose, Anaheim, Buffalo, Calgary, Nashville, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh (though they are a long shot if you ask me), and maybe Carolina, but they are an even longer shot than Pittsburgh if you ask me.

Answer 3

I still like the Flames in the West and New Jersey in the East. Flames can score and have the best goalie the last 2 years in goal and one hell of a tough D. If they can get bye first round jinx...they will go deep considering the last 3 times they got into the 2nd round they made the final. The Devils have Marty Brodeur and solidsystem and some great young talent. They also play a mean defense and will have an easier road in the first few rounds. Sabres are too beat up to consider a long run, Penguins added some experience and toughness but still lack badly defensively and I am still not sold on Fleury as a premier number 1 goalie. Sens have all the pieces but being the 4th or 5th seed makes it a long haul and will prolly wear out too. The West is again set up like last year where perhaps all 4 top seeds get knocked out first round. Nashville and San Jose made perhaps the strongest push at the deadline with Forsberg and Guerin but honestly what does that say to the players when you need to add big name guys like this and who has to take the reduction in playing time. Legwand and Arnott have been stellar this year and Forsberg makes them 2 or 3 on the depth chart. A good supporting cast with Kariya, Dumont, Sullivan and Radulov and some grit on D the Preds look tough but then again they did last year and fell completely on their faces losing in 5 games to a much more hungier SJ Shark Team. The Sharks have perhaps the TOP 9 forward unit in hockey with Thorton, Cheechoo, Guerin, Marleau, Michalek, Clowe, Pavelski, Bernier and the under achieving Mark Bell. A good young versatile D and two solid netminders who could imagine we might see these two go at it again in the first round. Detroit bulked up with Kyle Calder and Todd Bertuzzi but can Zetterberg and Datsyuk and Lidstrom on D continue to keep these Red Wings amongst the Leagues Elite. Question Marks still arise about Hasek and his wonky groin and can Osgood get it done if Hasek does bail out? Wings may very well take the first seed in the West but not because they are so great a team but because they beat the tar out of Columbus, Chicago and St. Louis 8X a year. Dallas will be another non factor which brings us to Vancouver. Again the Canucks cant score and take too many penalties and rely way too much on a goalie who has never even felt the pressure of a big playoff game because in 6 years as a professional he's never made it there despite the so called experts calling him a "FranchiseGoalie". I dont like the Canucks chances against any team but Dallas even still they will be an early second round loser. Flames over the Devils in 6 games.

Answer 4

By the Looks of Playoff Experience in the Last 5 Years, I'd Have to say, The Devils in the East and The Detroit RedWings in the West. I'd Have to Say the Devils will take home the cup this year because of they're brilliance and coaching staff experience. Come on guys u have to Admit that the Devils are in Fact the Smartest team in the League.

Answer 5

Isn't it obvious? The Detroit Red Wings are gonna take it this year! Last year was a letdown year for us. This year, we're back and not taking any shorts with anyone. The best player i would believe could make an impact and could be the key to us winning the Cup would be Zetterburg. The Carolina Hurricanes? We let them lease it for a year. Now, this year, it's payback! If the Oilers get in our way, we'll drain 'em!

Answer 6

San Jose Sharks.

We have a solid team with one of the best powerplays and one of the best 1-2 punch players in Marleau and Thornton. We have 2 starting goaltenders in Nabby and Vesa. We have depth, youth and size. We upgraded our defense by adding experience and leadership with Craig Rivet. We also now have another awesome winger in Bill Guerin to add to our arsenal of attacks! We're in a small losing streak right now, but we'll put it all together and make a run for the division and conference lead real soon. And next year....watch out for Devon Setoguchi!

Answer 7

well, before the trade deadline I would have said Buffalo over Nashville in 6. Now, with the addition of Bertuzzi, I say Red Wings over Sabres in 7.

Answer 8

I still like the Ducks - if they stay healthy - Giguere is for real and Pronger can carry a team a long way - Selanne looks like he has his jump back too
Ones to watch - Vancouver (Loungo is the key)
- Buffalo (Miller must stay healthy)
- San Jose (Thorton is a big factor)
- Detroit (only if Hasek stays up)
- New Jersey (Brodeur is a goalie god)

Answer 9

I think it's still a toss up. The teams that were steamrolling in the first part of the season are looking beatable now. And with such an active Trading Tuesday, it may depend on who made the best deals for their team now.

Answer 10

The Detroit Red Wings. Once Bertuzzi gets healthy, the Red Wings are the top contenders and have brute force to back it up. Put it in stone.

Answer 11

Penguins or Islanders!!!

Bring HOME stanley Smyth! aka Edmonton!