Meh - they'll be a 95 to 100 point team which is their M.O. over the past five years.
- LeftCoaster

They are built for the playoffs . They are a big strong team that can pound you down every other night

They are built for the playoffs . They are a big strong team that can pound you down every other night
- VANTEL

Yup - that's why they're successful, not because they win the Presidents Trophy. They're a talented team but they're definitely built for the playoffs.

Difficult to play against, which I believe is what Benning wants more of. Can you say L-U-C-I-C

Nothing wrong with keeping them if you're headed for the playoffs. You play to win the games!!!
- LeftCoaster

Exactly, I have no problem with that either.

Ducks
St.Louis
Nashville
Chicago
Dallas
LA
Calgary
Winnipeg


Minnesota
SJ
Vancouver
Edmonton
Colorado
Arizona

Yup - that's why they're successful, not because they win the Presidents Trophy. They're a talented team but they're definitely built for the playoffs.

Difficult to play against, which I believe is what Benning wants more of. Can you say L-U-C-I-C
- LeftCoaster

I hope so

Ducks
St.Louis
Nashville
Chicago
Dallas
LA
Calgary
Winnipeg
Minnesota
SJ
Vancouver
Edmonton
Colorado
Arizona
- VANTEL

I got Edmonton ahead of Van this year.

I got Edmonton ahead of Van this year.
- vancity787

Maybe

I got Edmonton ahead of Van this year.
- vancity787

Too many paint fumes

Too many paint fumes
- LeftCoaster

Could be. But I remember how SC kick started them Pens. No reason CM couldnt do the same.

They still have questionable D and we'll see about the goaltending. But I see them as a borderline playoff team.

Could be. But I remember how SC kick started them Pens. No reason CM couldnt do the same.

They still have questionable D and we'll see about the goaltending. But I see them as a borderline playoff team.
- vancity787

The Pens finished second last after Crosby's first year, I think they had one more point than St. Louis. Blues drafted that big defenseman (Erik Johnson), Pens drafted Jordan Staal and Chicago drafted Toews.

Could be. But I remember how SC kick started them Pens. No reason CM couldnt do the same.

They still have questionable D and we'll see about the goaltending. But I see them as a borderline playoff team.
- vancity787

Not this year, they might surprise, but I don't seem them in the race past the All-Star break. McDavid by himself isn't enough to push them into the playoffs, he needs a year to adjust to the NHL. Next year though, they'll be very tough to beat.

I think people need to understand the process is just starting with this management team, they've been on the job for a year and a half, yet they've brought in several changes to the line-up.

It's gonna happen, it's just not gonna happen quickly. I'll post something below from a response over at Canucks Army, I think it's good.

"All of Benning's moves for veterans have taken the form of either stop-gap solutions who will bridge us to kids who aren't ready yet (Millar, Vrbata), necessary depth pieces (Bartkowski), or complimentary players who will play a strong and reliable supporting role for a future young team (Sutter, Prust, Dorsett).

Short of actively trying to lose Sabres-style, which is not a strategy I agree with, there's not much more Benning could be doing to rebuild.

Some people choose an all-or-nothing approach, and assume that any move that makes the team older is a move away from a rebuild, but I strongly disagree. Even a young team that's moving into prime years needs a strong leadership group of veteran players.

Balance is important. Not allowing a losing culture to take hold is important, because it can be difficult to break free from that once it does. The last thing I want is to end up with a team a few years from now that has a bunch of young talent but no cohesion as a group.

That's not the way you build a winner. That's the way you build a team with lots of cap room, youngsters who never develop a complete game and are thrust into prominent positions before the time is right, therefore scoring more than their talent level, demanding huge contracts that fill up the available cap space, and leaving the team hard-pressed to fill the voids that still exist.

In that situation, nobody accepts a home discount during RFA years, no UFA comes to the team without overpayment, and every GM in the league asks for one of your highly paid kids the second you try to address your needs through trade. It's not a good place to be, and averaging 5-10 spots or so higher in drafts is nowhere near worth the trade-off."
- LeftCoaster[/b]

Absolutely spot on!

Ducks
St.Louis
Nashville
Chicago
Dallas
LA
Calgary
Winnipeg


Minnesota
SJ
Vancouver
Edmonton
Colorado
Arizona
- VANTEL

Id move SJ to Colorado, then swap Colorado for Winnipeg.

This is how I see it.

Locks =

Blues
Ducks
-----------------------------------------

Up in the air =

Chicago
Nashville
Dallas
Los Angeles
Vancouver
San Jose
Minnesota
Colorado
Calgary
Winnipeg

-----------------------------------------

Not a chance =

Oilers
Arizona

I saw the photos of Kraft Hockeyville with all of the local kids, is that the team the Canucks will face in the pre-season? I think it would be pretty even with the Canucks vs. a local peewee team but in the end I would have to side with the Canucks eeking out a win.

I saw the photos of Kraft Hockeyville with all of the local kids, is that the team the Canucks will face in the pre-season? I think it would be pretty even with the Canucks vs. a local peewee team but in the end I would have to side with the Canucks eeking out a win.
- JLO961

Man you're horrible at this

Id move SJ to Colorado, then swap Colorado for Winnipeg.
- phyllee

Colorado Sharks
Winnipeg Avalanche

And then...the Jets move to Vegas?

This is how I see it.

Locks =

Blues
Ducks
-----------------------------------------

Up in the air =

Chicago
Nashville
Dallas
Los Angeles
Vancouver
San Jose
Minnesota
Colorado
Calgary
Winnipeg

-----------------------------------------

Not a chance =

Oilers
Arizona
- LeftCoaster

Way to go out on a ledge

Way to go out on a ledge
- Nucker101

Hey - I'm not a betting man!!! But I do like to play Texas Hold'em when in Vegas.

The difference between 11th and 4th (inclusive) in the West was 12 points, that's just so close, the difference could be a simple injury for one team.

I saw the photos of Kraft Hockeyville with all of the local kids, is that the team the Canucks will face in the pre-season? I think it would be pretty even with the Canucks vs. a local peewee team but in the end I would have to side with the Canucks eeking out a win.
- JLO961

I suggest reading "Trolling For Dummies" and then try again.

Too many paint fumes
- LeftCoaster

Avs ahead of Vancouver. Edm is gonna miss the playoffs and rebuild

I saw the photos of Kraft Hockeyville with all of the local kids, is that the team the Canucks will face in the pre-season? I think it would be pretty even with the Canucks vs. a local peewee team but in the end I would have to side with the Canucks eeking out a win.
- JLO961

That peewee team still has more men on it then edm

I suggest reading "Trolling For Dummies" and then try again.
- Marwood

I'd suggest "Dealing with being Inbred".

Not sure whats going on with the draft. Nucker said he was going to get back to me and never did.

Is it happening now? I dont have a link for it.... Super confused.