I'll go with the Leafs. Here's why:

-young defensemen with lots of upside: Gardiner, Schenn, Gunnarsson and Franson along with quality vets like Phaneuf and Liles.
-a potent offense led by Kessel, Lupul and Grabo.
-a strong season (after a terrible one) by Kulemin
-a bounce back season by Reimer
-a strong defensive system with an excellent coach
- thomas81

Holy drinking the cool aid batman.

Don't you find an issue with Toronto in that they completely suck?

I could see a team like Ottawa, who had a great playoffs. I am not sure that Toronto is ahead of the Islanders.

I'll go with the flyers, heres why

: If I don't I'll get banned.

Holy drinking the cool aid batman.

Don't you find an issue with Toronto in that they completely suck?

I could see a team like Ottawa, who had a great playoffs. I am not sure that Toronto is ahead of the Islanders.
- Daman

Ottawa is definitely not far off; all depends on Anderson though.

I'll go with the Leafs. Here's why:

-young defensemen with lots of upside: Gardiner, Schenn, Gunnarsson and Franson along with quality vets like Phaneuf and Liles.
-a potent offense led by Kessel, Lupul and Grabo.
-a strong season (after a terrible one) by Kulemin
-a bounce back season by Reimer
-a strong defensive system with an excellent coach
- thomas81

And this because you are a Leafs fan?

You don't go from repeatedly being bottom 5 in the league to Cup champion.

I'll go with the Leafs. Here's why:

-young defensemen with lots of upside: Gardiner, Schenn, Gunnarsson and Franson along with quality vets like Phaneuf and Liles.
-a potent offense led by Kessel, Lupul and Grabo.
-a strong season (after a terrible one) by Kulemin
-a bounce back season by Reimer
-a strong defensive system with an excellent coach
- thomas81

every team faces injuries, sure the wild had some major ones, but that doesnt excuse such a steep fall in the standings, minny has prospects but thats what they are prospects and you cant expect them to come in and play huge their 1st year

also even though they were first, they didnt score many goals and if they are going to be next years kings they would need to add someone who can put the puck in the net (kings started scoring when carter was in the fold)

and well the wild goalies dont match up to quick, let alone see if they could stay healthy for a full season
- dmarsden2988

I believe, if they get Suter, and Parise. Then that will be enought to help them in the regular season and playoffs. The combination of Backstrom/Harding (IMO) is a better 1/2 punch than Quick/Bernier. Quick was amazing, but I do not think bernier could fill in as well as harding could.

Hockey is a game of skill, but it's also a game of luck. Sometimes weird things happen.

One of those weird things included the Minnesota Wild's start to last season. It was clear from the numbers that their great record was a mirage. They were getting outshot and outchanced at even strength. Their special teams were not especially good. They were riding high on the percentages (historically unsustainable combination of goaltending and shooting success) and were absolutely due for a regression. Dig past the wins and losses and look at the numbers underneath, and it was clear the Wild just weren't that good of a team, even as they sat atop the conference.

Any team can get lucky over a stretch of a few months. It would be a mistake to point to Minnesota's run of great fortune and bet that "if only they stay healthy, they can sustain that level of play for a full season." They can't and they won't, unless they make MAJOR upgrades to the roster in the offseason.

Very true up till January they looked good. My argument is the Kings didn't just sneak up they were in the playoffs last three years, and it took that long to get the experience throughout the roster to learn how to win. Plus Quick's development.

If Backstrom bounces back and has a good year,which he can,would the Wild have the playoff savy to push as far as the Kings?

They have Vets, but do they have playoff vets?

Clutterbuck is very similar to Clarkson physically, but can he pick up his offensive game and go on a run? Does he have Brown's offensive talent? Brown set the power forward bar pretty high in the playoffs,his regular season production was low till trade deadline.

Koivu can play Richards role but who else is in the middle?(missing Kopitar/Malkin playmaker)

Defense, your counting on Gilbert for 4 mill.....Riiiiiggghhhhtttt!!!!!!!

Unless the Wild sign Suter. They don't have a puckmover in the back.

Granted huge offseason moves, the Wild don't have the same structure at all.

Hockey players are crazy. If all the big guys decide MN is the place to be then it might just happen, The Mall of America is a crazy tourist trap.

Holy drinking the cool aid batman.

Don't you find an issue with Toronto in that they completely suck?

I could see a team like Ottawa, who had a great playoffs. I am not sure that Toronto is ahead of the Islanders.
- Daman

Wow. That's some Leafs hate right there. Surprise, surprise.

I believe, if they get Suter, and Parise. Then that will be enought to help them in the regular season and playoffs. The combination of Backstrom/Harding (IMO) is a better 1/2 punch than Quick/Bernier. Quick was amazing, but I do not think bernier could fill in as well as harding could.
- acresd

Bernier didn't have a roll in the Cup. neither did hedberg nor will HArding.

Minnesota is 3-4 years away from being considered a contender in the West assuming their prospects pan out

And this because you are a Leafs fan?

You don't go from repeatedly being bottom 5 in the league to Cup champion.
- willey101

The Devils disagree.

I believe, if they get Suter, and Parise. Then that will be enought to help them in the regular season and playoffs. The combination of Backstrom/Harding (IMO) is a better 1/2 punch than Quick/Bernier. Quick was amazing, but I do not think bernier could fill in as well as harding could.
- acresd

Backstrom/Harding better than Quick/Bernier??

Naw man NAWWWWW. Quick is going to win the Vezina and just won the Conn Smythe. Backups don't really matter anyway, how many games did Bernier play in the playoffs? Quick plays a ton and plays well. Best goalie in the league last year.

I'll go with the Leafs. Here's why:

-young defensemen with lots of upside: Gardiner, Schenn, Gunnarsson and Franson along with quality vets like Phaneuf and Liles.
-a potent offense led by Kessel, Lupul and Grabo.
-a strong season (after a terrible one) by Kulemin
-a bounce back season by Reimer
-a strong defensive system with an excellent coach
- thomas81

The Devils disagree.
- thomas81

Repeatedly.....not 1 year as a bottom 5.
When have the Leafs last made the playoffs? Teams pretty much never go from being among the worst in the league for 5 years to cup favorite.

Your whole presumption is what if.

Well what if Gardiner digresses like most players do in their 2nd year? What if Lupul goes back to his old form? What if Connolly stays injured. What if Toronto does not lure any big ticket UFA's.

Toronto is extremely distant from being a contender.

I grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick.

I currently work in Saint John, New Brunswick.

I've attended Saint John Sea Dogs playoff games.

St. John's is in Newfoundland.

Thanks!

I meant more that they were horrible during the season and turned it around quickly...I actually picked the Kings to win the Cup before last season
- Eklund

shouldn't this blog be more appropriate in say March rather than say 1 week after the SCF?

I grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick.

- CanadianTom

I'm sorry.

I'll go with the Leafs. Here's why:

-young defensemen with lots of upside: Gardiner, Schenn, Gunnarsson and Franson along with quality vets like Phaneuf and Liles.
-a potent offense led by Kessel, Lupul and Grabo.
-a strong season (after a terrible one) by Kulemin
-a bounce back season by Reimer
-a strong defensive system with an excellent coach
- thomas81

I'll go with the Habs. Here's why :

- Price is top 3 goalie in the NHL
- Subban will be next year's Karlsson
- Pacioretty, Eller, Cole, Desharnais, Plekanec = all pure goal scorers
- Emelin-Gorges will demolish people with their sweet bodychecks
- One of the best prospects pools in the entire league
- French coach and assistant coaches

I grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick.

I currently work in Saint John, New Brunswick.

I've attended Saint John Sea Dogs playoff games.

St. John's is in Newfoundland.

Thanks!
- CanadianTom

how do you like living in Newfoundland?

Backstrom/Harding better than Quick/Bernier??

Naw man NAWWWWW. Quick is going to win the Vezina and just won the Conn Smythe. Backups don't really matter anyway, how many games did Bernier play in the playoffs? Quick plays a ton and plays well. Best goalie in the league last year.
- The-O-G

HENRIK!

I'm sorry.
- Morris

How about no team will ever do what LA accomplished (8th seed Champion).

Just to end this conversation and get to the rumors about Parise leaving NJD

how do you like living in Newfoundland?
- RealityChecker

Nice place. People sometimes talk funny though.

Repeatedly.....not 1 year as a bottom 5.
When have the Leafs last made the playoffs? Teams pretty much never go from being among the worst in the league for 5 years to cup favorite.

Your whole presumption is what if.

Well what if Gardiner digresses like most players do in their 2nd year? What if Lupul goes back to his old form? What if Connolly stays injured. What if Toronto does not lure any big ticket UFA's.

Toronto is extremely distant from being a contender.
- willey101

If you would let your obvions Leafs hate aside, you would admit that Gardiner is not going to be a star but he's going to be a superstar. Every GM in the league would give a ransom to get him.