The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

[SPTO]

NHL 12 simulation and SI prediction:

Quote:

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]

Predators' opening day roster:

Quote:

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]

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by VanCitySportsGuy

- 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]

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]

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.

[TheMatrix31]

http://www.sixsix8.com/2011/09/minimalist-nhl-teams/

these are awesome!

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

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.

Well considering we had the best team in the regular season and were up 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Finals, I think the Canucks deserved to be judged harshly (minus all the idiots that think Luongo is a terrible goaltender).

When you have the best roster in the NHL and are coming off 1 victory away from winning the Cup, I think it's fair to say anything less than the Stanley Cup will be considered a disappointment. Now if the Canucks roster was like the Panthers, my expectations would be different.