Giroux out 6 weeks.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/...f-has-finger-surgery.html
- Iggysbff

Yup, sucks balls, but hopefully he is 100% for the start of the season.

As far as the Blues go, I agree, Steen is very underrated. I feel like Shattenkirk could've been like a tie for 5th as well, or maybe just a close 6th.

I have one big disagreement though, why the hell isn't Alzner 5th on your Capitals list!?

Reimer was undoubtedly one of the Leafs top 5 players last season. Remains to be seen if that will change this upcoming season.

I actually had a bit of trouble putting Kadri on the list, since it could be argued that numberous other Leaf players played a more important role for the team last season. But....Kadri should become a top player on the team as he matures. He also possesses more raw talent than any Leaf not named Kessel, so I feel that helps his inclusion on the list as well.

You put in Reimer instead of jesus Bernier? Interesting....And Kadri wont be in your starting line up in October....
- Iggysbff

Where's he going?

I'm taking Luke Schenn and Wayne Simmonds over Hartnell and Vinny.

Reimer was undoubtedly one of the Leafs top 5 players last season. Remains to be seen if that will change this upcoming season.

I actually had a bit of trouble putting Kadri on the list, since it could be argued that numberous other Leaf players played a more important role for the team last season. But....Kadri should become a top player on the team as he matures. He also possesses more raw talent than any Leaf not named Kessel, so I feel that helps his inclusion on the list as well.
- BestRapperAlive

Kadri is definitely one of their top 5 most important. I just believe Nonis is really (frank)ing this up. Landy's deal is going to make it even tougher. I think Kadri will eventually get signed but Franson will be traded. Problem is there are not many teams that can fit him in without dumping contracts.

pens fans, prepare for yet another early round exit

pens fans, prepare for yet another early round exit
- MrBigglesworth

What are Flyer fans preparing for?

Please don't get this thread going on "climate change" arguments again....
- Iggysbff

We all know climate change was created to distract us from the truth of 9/11

Exactly how have the Canucks been more successful than the Oilers. The only thing that really matters in the grand scheme of things is Stanley Cups and last I counted we're up 5-0 despite you having 10 years on us.

Now that I find very funny.
- Oildrum

you find it funny that after your stanley cup run in the mid 2000's that your team hasn't made the playoffs and you think thats more successful? oh OK

Didn't the Canucks draft #2 and #3 about 14 years ago? And the year before they picked 4th.

Teams rebuild. They have a solid core that gets old and moves on leaving an empty shell. Then the team sucks and has to build through the draft. In about 3 years Vancouver will be doing the same thing when the Sedins have fallen apart. Luongo finally killed Gillies, Kesler has retired to join the American Olympic Diving team and they are left with Kassian and Schroder.
- Ben37

do you even know how they got the 2nd and 3rd over all? ahh yes as i continued reading, you sure know what you're talking about

leafs have 3x more playoff wins compared to the canucks over the past 2 years, and they didn't even make it 2 years ago. Nucks are kinda like the sharks, great regular season team but not likely to get past the 1st round anytime soon.
- GardinerExpress

well you sure pay attention dont you kiddo, not only did the sharks beat the canucks to get into the 2nd round this year, but who do you think the canucks had to beat to get into the finals against boston? oh right the sharks... seems like you dont actually pay attention to the games, you only go by the stuff you read on here...thinking the sharks have not made it past the 1st round any time recently

do you even know how they got the 2nd and 3rd over all? ahh yes as i continued reading, you sure know what you're talking about
- annoyance_101

Well they had the third overall pick and made a complicated trade involving picks and Bryan McCabe for the 2nd overall pick. The fact of it is that they were still one of what would have been considered a lottery team at the time.

As for the rest of it, sure I wondered off into my delusional fantasy, but the Canucks are looking at a situation of that they are getting older and they will sooner rather than later have to start looking at a rebuild. And if recent picks aren't panning out as fans, scouts, and management hope who says the Canucks won't be looking at high picks.

What would be the point of a blog? If you don't mind my asking.
- Dangles13

To teach us something, or talk about an interesting point, or provide an opinion about an interesting topic, etc. Not this waste of time.

Well they had the third overall pick and made a complicated trade involving picks and Bryan McCabe for the 2nd overall pick. The fact of it is that they were still one of what would have been considered a lottery team at the time.

As for the rest of it, sure I wondered off into my delusional fantasy, but the Canucks are looking at a situation of that they are getting older and they will sooner rather than later have to start looking at a rebuild. And if recent picks aren't panning out as fans, scouts, and management hope who says the Canucks won't be looking at high picks.
- Ben37

Who said anything about recent picks not panning out? AV hasn't given enough chance to the young guys who were drafted to see if they can make a difference, torts isn't like that at all...he likes giving younger guys a chance to crack the line up...Horvat, Schroeder, Gaunce, Shinkaruk, Jensen, theres plenty of young that havent been given the chance to succeed...unless you have a team like calgary, which absolutely will suck for a very long time as long as they draft the way they do, the coaching staff is a large reason that a team succeeds or fails...i have faith in torts to get the most out of the players on this team for at least 1-2 years...there is no clear cut way to know if the picks the canucks have made are going to pan out or not...none of which should be branded as busts or flops as of yet because they haven't been around enough in the NHL to know that

Interesting Yost saying local paper in Ottawa going to drop a nuke tomorrow.

Who said anything about recent picks not panning out? AV hasn't given enough chance to the young guys who were drafted to see if they can make a difference, torts isn't like that at all...he likes giving younger guys a chance to crack the line up...Horvat, Schroeder, Gaunce, Shinkaruk, Jensen, theres plenty of young that havent been given the chance to succeed...unless you have a team like calgary, which absolutely will suck for a very long time as long as they draft the way they do, the coaching staff is a large reason that a team succeeds or fails...i have faith in torts to get the most out of the players on this team for at least 1-2 years...there is no clear cut way to know if the picks the canucks have made are going to pan out or not...none of which should be branded as busts or flops as of yet because they haven't been around enough in the NHL to know that
- annoyance_101

I agree. But if they don't pan out the Canucks are in the same situation as hundreds of teams before them. Trying to rebuild with no depth. The Oilers thought that Cogliano, Schremp, Nilsson, O'Marra, Plante and other guys drafted would reduce impact of losing veterans, but they obviously didn't. So the Oilers had to rebuild.

And Calgary is just bad at everything from drafting to coaching.

I agree. But if they don't pan out the Canucks are in the same situation as hundreds of teams before them. Trying to rebuild with no depth. The Oilers thought that Cogliano, Schremp, Nilsson, O'Marra, Plante and other guys drafted would reduce impact of losing veterans, but they obviously didn't. So the Oilers had to rebuild.

And Calgary is just bad at everything from drafting to coaching.
- Ben37

the only guy in recent drafts that come to mind that could replace a guy like pronger is seth jones...and i do believe there was probably a deal to be made between nashville and oilers...but i'm glad it didn't happen...i just find it odd when the oilers brag about their drafting in recent years...as if they're going to pass up the best players in the draft, they've had no brainers, it doesnt take a genius to figure out who to draft when that happens...canucks may fall a little, but i wouldnt say they have NO depth...i do wish we had a different GM however, but i don't see how the drafting has been bad as of yet...AV was the most successful coach at making bad decisions i've ever seen i'll be totally critical of the canucks, where they deserve to be criticized, and coaching (was the worst) and their GM are the worst right now...gillis has made it a nightmare for guys to play here lately, dating back to hodgson, and now its luongo...its out right pathetic...but i don't think their drafting is the problem, they have not given up a 1st since the ballard trade...they just need to be given a chance to show if gillis actually did draft the right players...if the coaching is still decent enough, i don't see the canucks missing the playoffs for quite a while, and we've seen in years past, all you need to do is make the playoffs and you could upset a team...hell the leafs ALMOST did it if they didn't embarrass themselves in that game 7...they would have completely changed the final 2...would have made it more interesting too...oh well

Kronwall is no Lidstrom, but he's close.

What the what?! Are you kidding me? I can take alot of stuff, but writing that Kronwall is 'close' to Lidstrom is absolutely ridiculous. You can make a decent argument that Lidstrom is the best defensemen to ever play in the NHL - you might not win, but you wouldn't be laughed out of the building. Kronwall is a great dman, but to say he's close to Lidstrom is straight-up crazy.

The only thing 'close' about them is their first names...

I think the canes deserve to be higher and the wings should be a spot or two down but overall pretty acurate

1-3, Im impressed
4-8/9 (9 being generous), ehhhhhh

10 onward I could nit pick to poop, but I'll just keep it simple and say you started off pretty good for once, Clouts. You had me going for a second.

Clouts... You're lack of intelligence in the NHL is quite annoying. Karlsson is the best defenseman in the world? Hell no. Best Offensive Defenseman. Yeah, probably. But defenseivly he is horrible.
- Oilers4Life14

Still if Karlsson only puts one skate on and enters the ice he's better than any of Oilers defenseman.

What the what?! Are you kidding me? I can take alot of stuff, but writing that Kronwall is 'close' to Lidstrom is absolutely ridiculous. You can make a decent argument that Lidstrom is the best defensemen to ever play in the NHL - you might not win, but you wouldn't be laughed out of the building. Kronwall is a great dman, but to say he's close to Lidstrom is straight-up crazy.

The only thing 'close' about them is their first names...
- awong048

Still if Karlsson only puts one skate on and enters the ice he's better than any of Oilers defenseman.
- Arosen74

While that isn't literally true I appreciate your point.

For the Penguins he's top, top 5 defensmen in the nhl, no way. Besides did you see his play against the Islanders and Bruins. Didn't do very well.

List of defensmen I'm taking before him include...
Pietrangelo
Weber
Kieth
Seebrook
Suter
Chara
Karlsson
Yandle
OEL
Edler
Carlson
- tomburton99

I get your point that Letang is overrated because he puts up points on a big points fteam and doesn't do much else, but Yandle? foggetaboutit
not sure if i'd rather have Edler and Carlson, either. the others you have listed are indeed more valuable then Letang at playing the whole position of defense. you might at Subban, too.