The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

My Predictions, my predictions are usually way off from what happens.

Eastern Conference

1. Buffalo
2. Washington
3. NY Rangers
4. Boston
5. Tampa Bay
6. Pittsburgh
7. Philadelphia
8. Carolina
9. New Jersey
10. Montreal
11. NY Islanders
12. Toronto
13. Winnipeg
14. Ottawa
15. Florida

Western Conference

1. Vancouver
2. San Jose
3. Chicago
4. Detroit
5. LA
6. Nashville
7. Anaheim
8. Colorado
9. St.Louis
10. Calgary
11. Minnesota
12. Columbus
13. Phoenix
14. Dallas
15. Edmonton

Playoffs
Tampa Bay over Buffalo
San Jose over Detroit

San Jose over Tampa Bay

Awards
Hart: Steven Stamkos
Vezina: Pekka Rinne
Norris: Keith Yandle
Calder: Gabriel Landeskog
Selke: Pavel Datsyuk
Adams: Lindy Ruff
Art Ross (Most points): Stamkos
Richard (Most goals): Alex Ovechkin
Conn Smythe: Joe Thornton

[SPTO]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

The Leafs acquired centre David Steckel for more or less peanuts (4th round pick in 2012 draft) This is pretty nice move for the Leafs in that Steckel is a great face-off man which will lead to more puck possession for the Leafs.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Damn, you guys like Buffalo lol.

I think we'll be somewhere between 3-6. Lot depends on defensive upgrades and Miller getting back to his top goaltender form. Also, how Leino reacts going back to playing C and Stafford following up on the heels of a good year + contract extension.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Western Conference

1. Detroit
2. Vancouver
3. San Jose
4. Chicago
5. Anaheim
6. St. Louis
7. Nashville
8. Los Angeles
9. Minnesota
10. Phoenix
11. Dallas
12. Calgary
13. Edmonton
14. Columbus
15. Colorado

Eastern Conference

1. Washington
2. Boston
3. Buffalo
4. Pittsburgh
5. Philadelphia
6. Tampa Bay
7. Montreal
8. Winnipeg
9. Rangers
10. New Jersey
11. Toronto
12. Islanders
13. Carolina
14. Ottawa
15. Florida

Feel free to point and laugh after the season.

[SPTO]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Buffalo is my dark horse to make the Stanley Cup Finals actually. Not sure about the West but maybe just maybe this can be San Jose's year.

[gopher_guy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Let's go WILD!!

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I'll just throw something out there;

Washington and Chicago.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Absolutely stunned by the people picking Columbus last in the West.

How does that work? Somehow, Columbus got worse by signing Wisniewski and trading for Jeff Carter?

Think we'll be battling for the 8th spot at the least.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Mostly spite in my case. I'm genetically predisposed to hate anything related to that festering pustule on our great country's map. I wish ill will on any and all things sports in that town.

[SPTO]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

NHL 12 simulation and SI prediction:

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- A simulation using EA Sports' "NHL 12" video game has the Pittsburgh Penguins winning the Stanley Cup, aided by Sidney Crosby's comeback.

The made-in-Canada video game sees Crosby returning after 17 games and leading the Pens to second place in the East.

Pittsburgh defeats Chicago four games to two in the Cup final with Crosby earning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Sports Illustrated is also predicting a Pittsburgh win over Chicago in the Stanley Cup final.

According to the video game, Vancouver wins the Presidents' Trophy again, with 114 points, but loses the Western Conference final to Chicago in seven games.

Second-seeded Pittsburgh disposes of the Rangers, Flyers and Lightning in the East en route to the Cup final. Chicago, No. 2 in the West, dispatches the Predators, Sharks and Canucks en route to the final.

The simulation is good news for Maple Leafs fans, since Toronto finishes eighth in the East to make the playoffs. But it also has the Leafs losing to Washington in seven games in the first round.

The Canadiens just miss out, placing ninth, while Winnipeg is 11th and Ottawa 14th in the East. Edmonton finishes 13th in the West, just ahead of Calgary.

The simulation sees the defending champion Bruins losing to Philadelphia in the first round in five games.

The game is developed in Burnaby, B.C.

SI predicts that Montreal will make the playoffs with a sixth-place finish in the East, while Toronto places 11th, Ottawa 14th and Winnipeg 15th.

The magazine has the Canucks second in the West behind Chicago, with Calgary 12th and Edmonton 14th.

courtesy of tsn.ca

[jyoung]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Predators' opening day roster:

FORWARDS (15): Niclas Bergfors, Martin Erat, Mike Fisher-IR, Blake Geoffrion, Matt Halischuk, Patric Hornqvist, Sergei Kostitsyn, David Legwand, Cal O'Reilly, Craig Smith, Jerred Smithson, Nick Spaling, Zack Stortini, Jordin Tootoo and Colin Wilson.

DEFENSEMEN (8): Teemu Laakso, Jonathon Blum, Francis Bouillon-IR, Mattias Ekholm, Jack Hillen, Kevin Klein, Ryan Suter and Shea Weber

GOALTENDERS (2): Anders Lindback and Pekka Rinne.

6 new players who weren't on the team last season, so it should be an interesting first game against Columbus, especially with Fisher on IR.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Western Conference:

1. Vancouver
2. San Jose
3. Nashville
4. Detroit
5. Chicago
6. LA
7. Anaheim
8. St. Louis
9. Minnesota
10. Columbus
11. Colorado
12. Calgary
13. Edmonton
14. Dallas
15. Phoenix

Eastern Conference:

1. Washington
2. Buffalo
3. Philly
4. New York Rangers
5. Boston
6. Tampa Bay
7. Pittsburgh
8. Carolina
9. New Jersey
10. Toronto
11. Winnipeg
12. Montreal
13. New York Islanders
14. Ottawa
15. Florida

Stanley Cup: Buffalo over San Jose

- I think I've reach "Braves" status with my Canucks. My interest in the regular season has taken a nosedive. We will be judged by how we peform in the Playoffs.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

- I think I've reach "Braves" status with my Canucks. My interest in the regular season has taken a nosedive. We will be judged by how we perform in the Playoffs.

We won 15 playoff games last year and were judged rather harshly.

If every year is going to be Cup or failure/disaster from now on... well, let's just say that I know where I'm putting my money.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I'll take a crack at this:

EAST
1. Capitals
2. Bruins
3. Flyers
4. Lightning
5. Sabres
6. Penguins
7. Rangers
8. Devils
----------------
9. Hurricanes
10. Jets
11. Panthers
12. Maple Leafs
13. Canadiens
14. Senators
15. Islanders

WEST
1. Sharks
2. Canucks
3. Blackhawks
4. Kings
5. Red Wings
6. Predators
7. Wild
8. Ducks
----------------
9. Blue Jackets
10. Blues
11. Avalanche
12. Flames
13. Coyotes
14. Stars
15. Oilers

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Sunday should be one of the greatest days of all-time.

And as if I didn't hate Montreal enough, it's going to be even worse if they win the opener.

For predicitions, I honestly have no clue what's going to happen this season. Putting my realism hat (aka non-homer hat) on, I'd like to see the Canucks get the job done this year. I personally feel that the Cup is going to a Western Conference team this year.

Also, I think St. Louis will be a sleeper this year. Not saying they'll win the Cup, but they'll be a or the "this team is a lot better than I thought" team.