Who is going to challenge the Bruins for the division title? I can't see anyone in the division make enough improvements to surpass the Bruins. They are returning close to the same team that won them the division last year with the exception of Thomas. The Sabres will not contend without a legitimate #1 center. Steve Ott is not the answer to deal with the Bruins toughness and physicality. Bruins win the division handedly.
- fudd1689

You forget about Scott ?

The Sabres in my opinion are tougher than the Bruins now.

Not one guy on the Bruins can step up to Scott. Not even Chara. Watch the fight videos. He toys with his opponets. Its sad actually.

I guess if there is a season we will season. Fair enough?
First time we play the Bruins I would expect your Bruins and Lucic to see Scott on the ice as well.

In a couple of years, the Wild will be competing with the Seattle Oilers for the division.

I'm going to assume you posted this because you hate the Bruins with a passion or you've been in Yemen that last couple of years.
- mhp

The friggin Kings won the Cup last year.

Enough said.

You forget about Scott ?

The Sabres in my opinion are tougher than the Bruins now.

Not one guy on the Bruins can step up to Scott. Not even Chara. Watch the fight videos. He toys with his opponets. Its sad actually.

I guess if there is a season we will season. Fair enough?
First time we play the Bruins I would expect your Bruins and Lucic to see Scott on the ice as well.
- BuffaloHardHat

Chara will be on the ice for 30min per game, Scott might play 5min at best, that's if Ruff puts him in the line up, he isn't that good.

Ek is still under the delusion that these greedy arseholes aren't willing to lose the season.
- Emperor Filonius

I'd still think there will be too

You forget about Scott ?

The Sabres in my opinion are tougher than the Bruins now.

Not one guy on the Bruins can step up to Scott. Not even Chara. Watch the fight videos. He toys with his opponets. Its sad actually.

I guess if there is a season we will season. Fair enough?
First time we play the Bruins I would expect your Bruins and Lucic to see Scott on the ice as well.
- BuffaloHardHat

The problem is Scott probably will play half the games and play 3 mins when he does.

Chara will be on the ice for 30min per game, Scott might play 5min at best.
- Symba007

Exactly, plus from top to bottom the bruins are still "tougher"

Chara will be on the ice for 30min per game, Scott might play 5min at best.
- Symba007

Chara will be on the ice for 30min per game, Scott might play 5min at best, that's if Ruff puts him in the line up, he isn't that good.
- Symba007

The only reason he stands out is because he is huge and always 3 steps behind the play.

Who is going to challenge the Bruins for the division title? I can't see anyone in the division make enough improvements to surpass the Bruins. They are returning close to the same team that won them the division last year with the exception of Thomas. The Sabres will not contend without a legitimate #1 center. Steve Ott is not the answer to deal with the Bruins toughness and physicality. Bruins win the division handedly.
- fudd1689

They should win it, but I wouldn't say handedly. Remember a shorter season means less games so it's harder to pull away from people.

It's been a long time since I've seen the Islanders and #1 in the same sentence!

It only took a lock out to get it done.
- SCLI

What about when they pick #1 in the draft?

This is all a joke right?

The Leafs ?

The Habs ?

The Bluejackets ?

The Oilers ?

I agree with the Islanders. But wow just wow.

Teams with no defense nor goalie are teams to watch for ?


Alriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighty then.
- BuffaloHardHat

Wow. So the Oilers, Leafs and Habs making the playoffs is absurd and a joke, but the Islanders....the powerhouse all world Islanders..are a logical team to make a massive leap....

I can't see that happening. They have a strong fanbase that has only grown since the Parise and Suter signings. Add to that their great prospect pool and you've likely got an elite team in a few years. The first half of last year showed that they're capable of competing. No reason for them to fold.

On the off chance that you're just trolling, WHY NOT FOLD CALGARY, TOO?!?!! AND THE CANUCKS?!?! THEY BOTH SUCK!!!1! LOLOLOLLOLLOLOLOLLOLOOOLOL

I call that sarcasm font
- MaximumBone

The wild won't be able to afford those fancy contracts if the union dissolves and revenue sharing goes away. But I just remembered that if the Union decertifies all existing contracts will be null and void so I guess the Wild won't have to worry about that.

I am not convinced the Bruins win the division .
- BuffaloHardHat

you're a big homer though.

the bruins are the class of that division. no question

Chara will be on the ice for 30min per game, Scott might play 5min at best, that's if Ruff puts him in the line up, he isn't that good.
- Symba007

Scott's just big and slow with little skill. He won't have a strong positive impact for any NHL team.

you're a big homer though.

the bruins are the class of that division. no question
- hugefemale dog77

I wouldn't call them the "class"....they're the outright winner though- absolutely

This is all theoretical right? Because if Ek is presuming that the season will be saved I think we can all officially throw in the towel.

Minnesota! They collapsed harder in the standings than they do in the defensive zone. I'm sure a shortened season would lessen the chance of that.

You forget about Scott ?

The Sabres in my opinion are tougher than the Bruins now.

Not one guy on the Bruins can step up to Scott. Not even Chara. Watch the fight videos. He toys with his opponets. Its sad actually.

I guess if there is a season we will season. Fair enough?
First time we play the Bruins I would expect your Bruins and Lucic to see Scott on the ice as well.
- BuffaloHardHat

your comparing a plug heavyweight and a superstar defenceman.
one will be playing 5 mins a night, the other 30.

I wouldn't call them the "class"....they're the outright winner though- absolutely
- Giroux_Is_God

point taken....

and agreed

Scott's just big and slow with little skill. He won't have a strong positive impact for any NHL team.
- flamminghead

You mean that big oaf John Scott?

Why are we talking about this guy?

That's like talking about Jody Shelly

This is all theoretical right? Because if Ek is presuming that the season will be saved I think we can all officially throw in the towel.
- S Kaspar Rollins

screw it. ill bite on these useless threads for another 2 weeks as long as there's even a shred of hope for a season.

as soon as its cancelled..see ya next summer

You forget about Scott ?

The Sabres in my opinion are tougher than the Bruins now.

Not one guy on the Bruins can step up to Scott. Not even Chara. Watch the fight videos. He toys with his opponets. Its sad actually.

I guess if there is a season we will season. Fair enough?
First time we play the Bruins I would expect your Bruins and Lucic to see Scott on the ice as well.
- BuffaloHardHat

You throw Scott out there then. Would almost be like a powerplay for the opposing team. In fact, plugs like him will just end up taking stupid penalties giving the other team good time on the PP.

This isnt old time hockey rockem sockem clear the benches NHL anymore. Its great to have guys with size, but those guys need to have some skill and be able to play. See Lucic for details.

The wild won't be able to afford those fancy contracts if the union dissolves and revenue sharing goes away. But I just remembered that if the Union decertifies all existing contracts will be null and void so I guess the Wild won't have to worry about that.
- flamminghead

I have no idea whether the season will be saved or not, but the one thing I'm pretty certain of is that this whole "the NHL becomes like European soccer" structure will not happen. It would make zero sense for a league that just spent months locking out players to cut costs suddenly allowing that to happen.

Plus it's a structure that only favours the top earning players really, so I would expect the union to cave into CBA demands before that it reaches that point. Yes, it's the theoretical endgame of decertification, but remember that the "all existing contracts are null and void" also represents a threat to the owners.

Scott's just big and slow with little skill. He won't have a strong positive impact for any NHL team.
- flamminghead

the bruins will dress some behemoth plug from the minors to drop mitts and take a beating. and theyll both go for 5. the fans will cheer...
and they wont be seen for the rest of the game