2010 Stanley Cup Predictions And Why

#juan

Hall of Fame Member
Aug 30, 2005
18,326
119
63
Here is my pick to win the Stanley Cup:

1. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks will have to bring their A game and work like hell but they can do it. If they can get themselves into first place in their division, I'll bet money on them.

Right now Vancouver is just too inconsistent. They've spent almost the whole season with somebody missing. They really miss Samuelson and Dimitra. Sedin, Sedin, and Burrows is the only line doing any scoring.
Probably Detroit and Washington in the final
 
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talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
19,576
113
63
Vancouver Island
At this point I think Vancouver have just as much a chance
as many others to go all the way, they lead their division,
and have for some time.
They are in the top 4 in games won, so that is good
consistency.
No team wins all the time, some teams get on a roll for
a while, then have a few losses, eg. San Jose went through
a 6 game loss period a short while ago, but now have
recovered and are back to normal.

Detroit are on a roll right now, we'll see if they keep it
up, as they had to 'scramble hard' to make the playoffs,
and if they hadn't improved they would be on the outside
looking in right now.

Chicago, phoenix,nashville,l.a.,and colorado in the west
are playing good enough to make a run, so all of that just
tells me that none of them are dominating any others.
We could all jump from one to another every week or so,
if we watch how they all play.

Makes for a very exciting playoff, and that's the best way
for it to be, 'very close'.

The goalies go through the same up and down times, they
can't always be at their very best every game, so if the
goalies are solid going into playoffs, on a team that is
solid any of them can do it.

Luongo played very well last night, and the team played
very well last night, just the second period belonged to
San Jose, but on the San Jose side of it, they have to say
the same about Canucks, as we played even with them, if
you study the 'whole' game, so again just shows how close
all of these teams are.

I think Canucks are a little better than some, as they have
two very good goalies, and can depend on Raycroft any time
if they have to, he is not a luongo, and probably can't
play the whole way, but certainly is capable at this time
to take on a few games as good as any starter.

Chicago don't have that luxury, and have to be concerned
about their goalkeepers, both of them.

San Jose have Nabokov, and hope that he can go all the way.
Phoenix have to depend on their number one.
Colorado the same.
Nashville too.
Detroit have a rookie in goal, and don't
have a clue how he will do under that kind of pressure, so
they might have to drag osgood out of the cobwebs at some
point, who knows.

When people only watch their own teams play, they get too
tunnel visioned into only them, live and die with every
game they play, and judge them either too harshly or are
too sure of how good they are, and don't know how all the
others are playing over a long period of the season.

Any team that has as many wins as canucks, and are on top
of their division as they are, and holding there for a long
period, have to be considered.

Samuelsson will be back before playoffs, and demitra has
personal problems at home, so not sure about him, but
canucks can win without him, but will be deeper with him.

Grabner is a very exciting player, has been doing many good
things out there, just a matter of time before most of the
chances he has had will be 'goals' instead on 'near goals'.
And I like his defensive game, he knows what to do 'without'
the puck as well as 'with' it.

That line is so fast it is quite amazing, with raymond,
kesler and grabner.

vancouver are touted as a stanley cup threat by many of the
hockey analysts, along with some other top teams, and are
very respected throughout the league as a whole.
 

Risus

Genius
May 24, 2006
5,373
25
38
Toronto
Here is my pick to win the Stanley Cup:

1. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks will have to bring their A game and work like hell but they can do it. If they can get themselves into first place in their division, I'll bet money on them.
Maybe they can, but they won't. Ottawa is hot again...
 

Liberalman

Senate Member
Mar 18, 2007
5,623
36
48
Toronto
The Toronto Maple Leafs is out of the play-offs, but this year was very different for the team.

The Maple Leafs broke records for most losses in a row.

Fans saw a metamorphism take place where a general manager come on board to change and shape a champion team where most of the players were exchanged for better ones.

Unfortunately it came late in the season but the Toronto Maple Leafs near the end shown the hockey world that they have the right stuff.

Next year will be their year.
 

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
21,887
848
113
70
Saint John, N.B.
My Stanley Cup Prediction:

Millions of Canadians will get feverishly excited over a bunch of massively overpaid bully-boys engaging in a level of violence unseen and unacceptable in the roughest port-side taverns.....

Why?

Because religion is dead, and sports is the new opium of the people.

:)
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
548
113
Vernon, B.C.
My Stanley Cup Prediction:

Millions of Canadians will get feverishly excited over a bunch of massively overpaid bully-boys engaging in a level of violence unseen and unacceptable in the roughest port-side taverns.....

Why?

Because religion is dead, and sports is the new opium of the people.

:)

Because that's what the fans pay big bucks to see- when the fans don't want it it won't be happening. All teams play to the same rules. I think Chicago or Phoenix are going to win the Cup.
 

talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
19,576
113
63
Vancouver Island
My Stanley Cup Prediction:

Millions of Canadians will get feverishly excited over a bunch of massively overpaid bully-boys engaging in a level of violence unseen and unacceptable in the roughest port-side taverns.....

Why?

Because religion is dead, and sports is the new opium of the people.

:)

spoken by a typical non sports person, who hasn't a clue
about that world at all, speaking of violence maybe you
should polish all your guns today.

lol lol
 

wulfie68

Council Member
Mar 29, 2009
2,014
24
38
Calgary, AB
Every year I look forward to this time of year, some more than others (if my beloved Isles make the cut), with a mix of excitement and trepidation. And every year I try to look into a crystal ball and impress everyone with how much I (don't) know about whats going to happen. This year seems to be more of a toss up than most: I don't see clear cut front runners in either conference, but a whole bunch that have the potential if things turn their way. If you make any money off my picks, please be generous, and if you lose any, well, my heart goes out to you but I don't do this for a living for good reason :p

The East

Washington vs Montreal - possibility of this being a pretty one-sided series. I'm not totally sold on the Capitals goaltending but I don't think Montreal has the offence to find the weaknesses. Montreal's hope is for Huet to stand on his head and shutdown the most high powered offense in the NHL. Possible but not likely. Caps in 5

New Jersey vs Philedelphia - another potential mismatch. The Flyers have looked really good at times this year but their goaltending situation is like a triage scene from old M*A*S*H reruns. IF (huge if) Brian Boucher can rise to the occasion, the Flyers have an outside shot, but I don't think so with the way the Devils have been playing across the board. Devils in 4

Buffalo vs Boston - as in all series, goaltending looms large. We have last year's Vezina winner Tim Thomas, fresh off a disappointing year, matched against one of the best young goalies in the league, US Olympic hero Ryan Miller. Could be a really close series, both offenses have some talent but not as deep as many others. Coaching is top notch on both benches. Home Ice will decide it, Sabres in 7

Pittsburgh vs Ottawa - the Sens are a streaky, inconsistent team with a lot of talent, the Pens are the defending champs. I think this is a mismatch, especially given the small difference in points between the Pens and top seeds in the East. The Pens have talent, depth and goaltending: the question marks mainly being on the health of their blueline. Ottawa isn't ready yet. Pens in 5

The West

San Jose vs Colorado - the Sharks have been perrenial almosts for the last 5 years or so. Dany Heatley has looked good for them but the weakness of San Jose always seems to be team defence and goaltending. The Avalanche have a lot of young talent coming to the fore but next to no experience who learn some lessons. The Sharks in 5

Chicago vs Nashville - The young talented 'Hawks have been learning their post season lessons the last couple years, but can't take the hard working Preds for granted. I have my doubts about Chicago's defensive situation with the injuries they sustained late in the season but I don't think they'll surface in the first round. Blackhawks in 5

Vancouver vs Los Angeles - The Canucks have been building to this point for the last couple seasons and are taking on another young, inexperienced team. Luongo seems to have been fighting the puck a bit since the Olympics and his D hasn't been as sharp as they need to go places, but they should be more than enough to teach the young Kings about playing at this time of year. Canucks in 5

Phoenix vs Detroit - welcome to Bizzarro world! Its always hard to play the Wings with their mix of talent and experience but this season they've struggled. Phoenix seems to have had the pieces snap together for them this season and have vaulted into the upper echelon of Western teams. Now we get to see who is for real. Coyotes in 6
 

talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
19,576
113
63
Vancouver Island
Every year I look forward to this time of year, some more than others (if my beloved Isles make the cut), with a mix of excitement and trepidation. And every year I try to look into a crystal ball and impress everyone with how much I (don't) know about whats going to happen. This year seems to be more of a toss up than most: I don't see clear cut front runners in either conference, but a whole bunch that have the potential if things turn their way. If you make any money off my picks, please be generous, and if you lose any, well, my heart goes out to you but I don't do this for a living for good reason :p

The East

Washington vs Montreal - possibility of this being a pretty one-sided series. I'm not totally sold on the Capitals goaltending but I don't think Montreal has the offence to find the weaknesses. Montreal's hope is for Huet to stand on his head and shutdown the most high powered offense in the NHL. Possible but not likely. Caps in 5

New Jersey vs Philedelphia - another potential mismatch. The Flyers have looked really good at times this year but their goaltending situation is like a triage scene from old M*A*S*H reruns. IF (huge if) Brian Boucher can rise to the occasion, the Flyers have an outside shot, but I don't think so with the way the Devils have been playing across the board. Devils in 4

Buffalo vs Boston - as in all series, goaltending looms large. We have last year's Vezina winner Tim Thomas, fresh off a disappointing year, matched against one of the best young goalies in the league, US Olympic hero Ryan Miller. Could be a really close series, both offenses have some talent but not as deep as many others. Coaching is top notch on both benches. Home Ice will decide it, Sabres in 7

Pittsburgh vs Ottawa - the Sens are a streaky, inconsistent team with a lot of talent, the Pens are the defending champs. I think this is a mismatch, especially given the small difference in points between the Pens and top seeds in the East. The Pens have talent, depth and goaltending: the question marks mainly being on the health of their blueline. Ottawa isn't ready yet. Pens in 5

The West

San Jose vs Colorado - the Sharks have been perrenial almosts for the last 5 years or so. Dany Heatley has looked good for them but the weakness of San Jose always seems to be team defence and goaltending. The Avalanche have a lot of young talent coming to the fore but next to no experience who learn some lessons. The Sharks in 5

Chicago vs Nashville - The young talented 'Hawks have been learning their post season lessons the last couple years, but can't take the hard working Preds for granted. I have my doubts about Chicago's defensive situation with the injuries they sustained late in the season but I don't think they'll surface in the first round. Blackhawks in 5

Vancouver vs Los Angeles - The Canucks have been building to this point for the last couple seasons and are taking on another young, inexperienced team. Luongo seems to have been fighting the puck a bit since the Olympics and his D hasn't been as sharp as they need to go places, but they should be more than enough to teach the young Kings about playing at this time of year. Canucks in 5

Phoenix vs Detroit - welcome to Bizzarro world! Its always hard to play the Wings with their mix of talent and experience but this season they've struggled. Phoenix seems to have had the pieces snap together for them this season and have vaulted into the upper echelon of Western teams. Now we get to see who is for real. Coyotes in 6

you've got to change huet, to halak/price
 
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YukonJack

Time Out
Dec 26, 2008
7,026
73
48
Winnipeg
An 80+ game season should determine who the best team is in both the East and the West.

Those two teams should play ONE game, without the idiocy of shoot-out, but using sudden death if necessary.

Anything else is nothing more than money-grabbing nonsense.

I am sure Lord Stanley is spinning in his grave in light of current day besmirching his name.
 
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talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
19,576
113
63
Vancouver Island
The H names trip me up... I wonder what will happen with Carey Price now. Montreal has been such a revolving door for young goalies since Patrick Roy...

yes, I agree, but both of montreals goalies are great, and
can stone any team on any given night, but the consistency
needs to arrive, maybe it's because montreal is such a
horrid place to 'have' to play well, fans are brutally
critical, and will boo their players after one period of
poor play.

Vancouver have to play better on the road, season road play
was poor.
Washington should blow montreal away, but ?
 

EagleSmack

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 16, 2005
44,168
96
48
USA
My prediction... Same as last years...

The Boston Bruins will NOT win the Stanley Cup.

and a new one...

Canadian players who are on the losing team in the Stanley Cup Finals will NOT stay on the ice and clap happily with joy and help the winning team celebrate. ;-)