2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 10-08

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Yahoo! Sports - Ross McKeon

NHL Power Rankings: And away we go …



By Ross McKeon

13 hours, 11 minutes ago





Welcome to the 2010-11 season where, half a decade into the salary-cap era, parity reigns. The race for a playoff spot starts on opening night as the two points earned in October are every bit as important as those precious ones doled out in March and early April.



There are six teams in Europe to open the season, double the pleasure of outdoor games – one in Pittsburgh on New Year’s Day and another in Calgary in late February – and new rules to regulate goalie gear, hits to the head and long-term contracts.



As the season starts, the playoff struggles of the Washington Capitals are washed away like a Zdeno Chara(notes) clearing attempt. Alex Ovechkin(notes) & Co. are on top of a heap that will certainly feature plenty of movement as the schedule unfolds.



Let the fun and conjecture begin …

1. 
   
   [*:3sj8jd7h]WAS
   
   [*:3sj8jd7h]CHICAGO
   
   
   
   "Chicago Blackhawks – Marty Turco is going to be very good in Chicago. The hangover factor? Oh yeah, this team knows how to party."
   
   
   
   3. DET
   
   4. SJ
   
   5. PIT
   
   6. VAN
   
   7. PHI
   
   8. NJ
   
   9. LA
   
   10. BOS

FULL ARTICLE: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=A ... ower100510

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

ESPN.com

Updated: October 4, 2010, 1:08 PM ET





2010 NHL Expert Picks

Awards Watch

SOURCE: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/preview20 ... id=5647799

 

[tvltre]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Melrose has a hard on for the Canucks!



To bad the Hawks have the answer for that team.

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="tvltre"]Melrose has a hard on for the Canucks!



To bad the Hawks have the answer for that team.[/quote]



Let us pray Barry's spot-on prognosticating mojo was an isolated incident and ended with this past season. This time last year he of the lustrous silver mullet picked the Hawks and Flyers to meet in the SCF and the Hawks to emerge victorious and raising the sacred chalice in 6! :lol:

 

[Shredder]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Stanley Cup predictions



McKenzie: Wings

McGuire: Wings

Ferraro: Capitals

Duthie: Hawks



http://www.tsn.ca/nhl



Duthie had the Hawks beating the Flyers last season, so maybe that's a good omen...

 

[Guest]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="Shredder"]Stanley Cup predictions



McKenzie: Wings

McGuire: Wings

Ferraro: Capitals

Duthie: Hawks



http://www.tsn.ca/nhl



Duthie had the Hawks beating the Flyers last season, so maybe that's a good omen...[/quote]



Blasphemy none of them chose the Canucks.



Hmmm....

 

[MassHavoc]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

I just for the life of me can't figure out why everyone is so high on the canucks? The were the best team in a weak division and were stilll 10 points behind the leaders, and did nothing significant to close that gap? What am I missing? Why do they get picked every year based on failure?

 

[whiteevo]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="MassHavoc"]I just for the life of me can't figure out why everyone is so high on the canucks? The were the best team in a weak division and were stilll 10 points behind the leaders, and did nothing significant to close that gap? What am I missing? Why do they get picked every year based on failure?[/quote]



really?



they did upgrade their D with hamhuis and ballard. and added some grit with torres. picked up super face off ace malhotra. none of those players are world-beaters but all add up to decent upgrades to an already good lineup. they have three solid scoring lines.



starting to sound like canuckle but there is a reason they are getting picked. i doubt every single forward can replicate the personal successes and bests they all had last year again, but the team wont suck.



we can play around here all we want, but thinking the canucks wont be one of the teams to beat is a little short sighted. hope i'm wrong, i hate them. that said, **** the canucks.

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

NHL Network - Brian Duff

Can the Hawks repeat?



NHL Network's Brian Duff shares his thoughts on if the Chicago Blackhawks can repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.



VIDEO: http://video.blackhawks.nhl.com/videoce ... 0&id=77444

Damn skippy!

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Sports Illustrated - Allan Muir

INSIDE THE NHL: 2010-11 Central Division Preview



Chicago Blackhawks



2009-10: 52-22-8, 112 points, first in Central



FRESH FACES: Marty Turco (Dallas), Viktor Stalberg (Toronto), Fernando Pisani (Edmonton), Jeff Taffe (Florida), John Scott (Minnesota), Ryan Potulny (Edmonton)



OTHER PLACES: Antti Niemi (San Jose), Dustin Byfuglien (Atlanta), Andrew Ladd (Atlanta), Kris Versteeg (Toronto), Brent Sopel (Atlanta), Ben Eager (trade, Atlanta), Adam Burish (Dallas), John Madden (Minnesota)



STORYLINE: Look, no one ever said it was easy defending the Stanley Cup -- just ask the 2009 champs from Pittsburgh. But when salary cap issues forced this team into yard sale mode just days after skating the mug, the question became one that would define this season's edition of the Hawks: do they have enough left to repeat? All things being equal, GM Stan Bowman fared well at the swap meet, getting himself under the cap while acquiring a bit of help for now and a lot of help for later. What he's left with is a solid core that, despite all the changes, looks as capable as any of winning it all.



MVP: Duncan Keith. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are the sleek and shiny chassis of the franchise, but Keith is engine that makes it all go. At 27, he came into his own during a Norris Trophy-winning season, providing the sort of sublime two-way excellence that fans in Detroit have enjoyed for years from Nick Lidstrom.



KID TO WATCH: Nick Leddy. The Hawks gave long looks at several of their top prospects this fall, but only Leddy made the cut. The team's staff raved about the 19-year-old's anticipation and ability to make skill plays under pressure. With Brian Campbell out of the lineup, Leddy's up-tempo game will fill a significant hole.



KEEP AN EYE ON: Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Sharks didn't throw that loaded RFA deal at the young defender simply to monkey with the cap miseries of their conference rivals. At 23, Hjalmarsson has yet to fully tap into his potential, so the Hawks are expecting an upgraded contribution from him this season. Tells you how much faith they have in his steady game that they're pairing him up with rookie Leddy in a top-four role.



BOTTOM LINE: They can't lean on the depth they enjoyed last season, but these Hawks still boast a loaded top six up front and a solid top four on the back end. They're the class of the West until proven otherwise.





FULL ARTICLE (incl. the rest of the Central Div.): http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/w ... index.html

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

FANHOUSE

2010-11 NHL Season Predictions



10/07/2010 12:30 PM ET By FanHouse Staff





Central Division

FULL ARTICLE: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/07/2010 ... edictions/

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

FANHOUSE

2010-11 Chicago Blackhawks Preview: Rebuilding While Contending



10/06/2010 12:36 PM ET By Bruce Ciskie





There are many good reasons why it's exceptionally tough to repeat as a champion in virtually any sport.



The nature of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- combined with the salary cap in the NHL -- conspire to make it even harder in hockey. The Chicago Blackhawks learned that this summer, as close to a dozen players who were a part of their championship in June will be playing elsewhere to start the 2010-11 season.



Despite that high turnover, general manager Stan Bowman was able to keep his team's core intact. Players like forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, along with defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook return to aid Chicago's title defense. There might be a mix of youngsters and strangers around them, but the team kept their unquestioned best players around, and that could be a huge deal going forward.



Up front, Kane and Toews are joined on the list of returning contributors by Marian Hossa, who finally won the Cup for the first time after two well-publicized runs to the Finals with Pittsburgh and then Detroit. Dave Bolland is also back, as are Troy Brouwer and Tomas Kopecky. But they're surrounded by a ton of new faces.



The Blackhawks have young prospects like Bryan Bickell, Jack Skille, Viktor Stalberg, and Jake Dowell on the roster, along with veteran acquisition Fernando Pisani.



The Blackhawks are in a good position, because they kept their best players around. Kane and Toews are among the league's brightest young stars, Hossa is a very good veteran player, and Bolland's reputation as an effective two-way forward is only beginning to grow.



If a guy like Skille can become a productive offensive player, there's no reason why Chicago can't score enough goals to stay very competitive.



Chicago is probably stronger on defense, where Keith, Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson highlight a very good group. Brian Campbell -- once healthy -- gives the Blackhawks an offensive-minded defenseman, and they have veteran grit with the likes of Nick Boynton and John Scott.



Youngster Nick Leddy, just 19, should make the team thanks to Campbell's knee injury, and while he has skyrocketed to the NHL after a rough start to his college career last fall, he could play a significant role on the team.



The margin for error might not be what it was last year. When it comes to NHL-proven players, the Blackhawks simply don't measure up this season. Bowman was very smart to keep a core of top players intact, but it's probably asking a lot to expect so many new players to step in to important roles and fit in immediately.



Instead, it seems the Blackhawks are trying to do something that is very difficult. It's as if they're trying to rebuild around the core players while hoping those top guys are enough to keep them in contention. For this to work, Chicago needs all the top guys to stay healthy. With one injury to a key player, Bowman's plan could blow up in an instant.



This is especially true given the division Chicago sits in. Detroit is always a contender, and this year is no exception. Meanwhile, Nashville is lying in the weeds, once again ready to contend for a playoff spot, and that team seems to find ways to win games most think they have no business winning. To make it tougher, St. Louis looks vastly improved, and the addition of goalie Jaroslav Halak could make them a tough out in the Central Division.



GOALTENDING A QUESTION



In order to become cap compliant, Bowman jettisoned Cup-winning goalie Antti Niemi in favor of cheaper veteran Marty Turco.



It was a controversial move, because Niemi was a big part of the team's success in the playoffs, even though he had his share of clunker outings (he allowed four or more goals in three of the six games in the Stanley Cup Finals). Not only that, but Turco spent much of last year looking like a guy who is on the downside of his career, not a guy prepared to play 50-60 games as a Stanley Cup contender's No. 1 goalie.



It looks like Corey Crawford will serve as the primary backup goalie for Chicago, which is a nice story for the longtime minor-leaguer and NHL afterthought. He should get a chance to play a good number of games this season, as the Blackhawks try to keep Turco rested for what they hope is another long playoff run.



STILL A YOUNG TEAM



With the heavy roster turnover, the Blackhawks were able to retain their identity as a younger team. 12 players on Chicago's roster are 25 years old or younger, including captain Toews, 22, and star forward Kane, 21.



The best part? While Bowman has a big group of young players, he also has a ton of experience. The amount of ice time Toews, Kane, Brouwer, Bolland, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, and others got in the playoffs last spring is highly valuable moving forward.



Bowman has a large part of his roster that knows how to win a Stanley Cup, and they now get the chance to show the new kids on the team how it's done.



For the capped-out Blackhawks, it really could be the best of both worlds.



SOURCE: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/06/2010 ... ing/#cntnt

 

[Guest]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Same as always? So does that mean the dumb ***** picked the Wangs last year as in every year? Division is different. Maybe she should check out the AGE of KEY Wing players first.



Na, let her be a dumb **** instead.

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

[quote name="R K"]Same as always? So does that mean the dumb ***** picked the Wangs last year as in every year? Division is different. Maybe she should check out the AGE of KEY Wing players first.



Na, let her be a dumb **** instead.[/quote]





Hmmm. . .call it a weird vibe or something but I am sensing here that you don't care for Ms. Susan Slusser R K? :lol:

 

[JOVE23]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

The Versus peons are poo pooing us, I am SHOCKED, SHOCKED I tell you.

 

[bookjones]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Chicago Sun-Times Adam Jahns

Blackhawks season preview: This goal is worth repeating



Q&A | Panel of experts weighs in on key issues defending champs face in new quest for Cup



October 7, 2010

Adam L. Jahns





Where do the Blackhawks stand in the court of expert opinion? Hawks reporter Adam L. Jahns reached out to some analysts for their take on the defending champs, asking these questions:



• Which player will the Hawks miss the most?



• Which new Hawk will do the best this season?



• Which Western Conference teams are capable of ending the Hawks' repeat chances?



• Will the Hawks repeat?







TSN's Bob McKenzie on the Hawks



Below are the answers from Bob McKenzie of TSN of Canada:





Which former player from last year’s team will the Hawks miss the most?



Byfuglien, not so much in the regular season, but in the playoffs. He stepped up at key moments and, if the Blackhawks have lost one general thing, it's that they're maybe not as tough a team to play against now and Byfuglien, when so moved, was the epitome of that.



Which new Hawk will do the best this season?



Turco. I think he's highly motivated and feels he has a lot to prove.



How do they compare to the rest of the NHL?



The Hawks are still an elite team in the West, not quite as good as they were last year, but still a top-level contender. I believe they can deal with the loss of toughness and/or depth. What remains to be seen is whether the remaining core can deal with the chemistry change. It's just not going to feel the same in terms of the personality of the team. It may take time for that to sort itself out. For all the changes, though, the core remains intact and it's a very good core.



Which Western Conference teams are capable of ending the Hawks’ repeat chances?



Detroit and Vancouver both look as though they could be improved this season. San Jose is always a credible team. Those three teams are the Hawks' primary challengers.



Will the Hawks repeat?



I am inclined to say no, not because the Hawks have gone south so much as we haven't seen a team repeat in the post-lockout NHL. That said, if they came back with their team intact, they would have been prohibitive favorites.



http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/b ... 10.article



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Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski on the Blackhawk



Below is what Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports Blogs had to say:





Which former player from last year’s team will the Hawks miss the most?



As much as he was a zilch in the regular season at times, there’s no replacing a Dustin Byfuglien in the postseason.



He demands attention on the power play like few power forwards do in the NHL anymore; a throwback to the days when a Dave Andreychuk screen would turn your power play into something lethal. It was a tactical and a psychological advantage. How much easier does life get for Roberto Luongo when he isn’t barraged with “What about Byfuglien?” questions before the next Blackhawks/Canucks series? His head might actually get in a playoff game for once.



Which new Hawk will do the best this season?



Depending on his health, Fernando Pisani could be a cheap sleeper. He turns 34 in December, but if given some quality time in the top six there might still be a 20-goal season lurking in those hands.



Marty Turco might be another name that deserves to be here, but in all honesty he scares the bejeepers out of me. If his five hole is the size of Lake Toews again, especially early in the season, the fan reaction is going to be harsh. But he’ll have a better defense here than he did in Dallas, so who knows?



How do the Hawks compare to the rest of the NHL?



Chicago’s foundation of talent is as good as any in the NHL and better than most. Toews, Kane and Keith are going to mean the playoffs at a minimum for this team for years to come. But what I see as a downgrade in goal, and massive turnover from veteran grunts to unproven newbies, knocks the Blackhawks down a peg from the likely Cup finalist many saw them as being entering last season.



Which Western Conference teams are capable of ending the Hawks’ repeat chances?



The top five teams in the West are legit: Chicago, Detroit, Vancouver, San Jose and the Los Angeles Kings. Any of the other four can knock out the Blackhawks; and Detroit, in particular, is a team I see moving ahead of the Blackhawks into the division lead this season, as part of the Nicklas Lidstrom/Mike Modano Victory Lap 2010-11 Tour.



The other 10 teams are grand slams or groundouts to the pitcher’s mound. You look at a team like the Calgary Flames, and they could be quite dangerous in the postseason … or finish last in their division. It’s that kind of thing for the Western Conference field.



Will the Hawks repeat?



As one of the most entertaining teams in hockey? Yes. As a playoff team? Yes? As a first-round playoff winner? Yes. As a conference champion? No. Which should answer that question by default.



http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/b ... 10.article



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ESPN's Barry Melrose and Matthew Barnaby on the Hawks



Here's what ESPN's Barry Melrose and Matthew Barnaby, a former Hawk, had to say:



BARRY MELROSE





Which former player from last year's team will the Hawks miss the most?



"I think [Dustin] Byfuglien because he's so unique. He's a physical presence. He's a guy who can play two positions. A big body like his on the power play just creating havoc in front of the net, the guy is a unique player. A guy that big and that talented is very tough to find. Byfuglien is a real load to handle. I think Chicago will miss him."



Which new Hawk will do the best this season?



"I'm interested in [Viktor] Stalberg. I saw him in college and I saw him with the [Toronto Maple Leafs] a little bit. He can be good. He'll be playing with a lot better guys in Chicago than he played with on his other teams. He's an offensive guy. He's got great skills. He can be a guy that really fits in good with the Blackhawk forwards."



How do the Hawks compare to the rest of the NHL?



"They're not as good as they were last year. Some teams got better. I think Vancouver got better. Detroit got better. Certainly, Colorado, with all those great young players, they're a year older. The Kings will be better. I think it's going to be a tough road [for the Hawks]. They're certainly one of the top teams still in the West because of their core. If they repeat, it will be a great story. But they went down a few pegs while a few other teams went up a few pegs. I don't think Chicago is the best team in the West anymore."



Which Western Conference teams are capable of ending the Hawks' repeat chances?



"I like Vancouver a lot. I thought they were almost as good as Chicago last year. They've added [Dan] Hamhuis and [Keith] Ballard on defense. They got a group of forwards. I like Vancouver a lot. In fact, I'm picking them to win the Cup. I think they're the best team in the NHL."



Will the Hawks repeat?



"Certainly, the Hawks can [repeat]. You got five or six great players. But they're not as good as they were last year and teams got better. I don't think they can. I don't think they are as a deep. I don't think they're as dangerous. I don't think they're as big. There are some big teams out West. A lot of teams got better in the West. Points are going to be a lot harder to get. Detroit is a lot better than they were last year, and they had a lot of injuries late in the year. ... Vancouver is the team I like the most.





MATTHEW BARNABY





Which former player from last year's team will the Hawks miss the most?



"I think it's going to be Kris Versteeg. He does so many little things well. He can play the power play and a regular shift. He adds that dimension of depth to a team of scoring. He really made that team so deep no matter who they had around him. ... He's a guy that will blossom into that 30-goal man perennial year-after-year. He was very instrumental in them winning, and they're going to miss him a lot."



Which new Hawk will do the best this season?



"It's going to be [Marty] Turco. He's going to have a great year. I played with Marty in Dallas and to me this is a guy who took less money and less years to come to a team that just won a Cup. So he's putting all the pressure on himself. He's a very confident guy and a very good goaltender. To me, [Antti] Niemi, he did win a Stanley Cup, but I think a lot of people blew it out of proportion on how good he played. Chicago would have won the Cup despite of goaltending on some nights. Marty is going to fill in great and do a great job for them."



How do the Hawks compare to the rest of the NHL?



"They're up there. Do I consider them a No. 1 or No. 2 team now in their conference? No. But I do consider them in the top 4 in the conference. If you look at Vancouver with what they've done to their back line, the guys are poised to have a great season. Detroit is improved. But they're in the mix. I don't consider them in that top 2 of the conference, but I do have them finishing fourth in that conference. But anything can happen. They lost a lot of their depth players, but they were able to keep their core. Anything can happen with this team. If anyone told me they are going to repeat as champions, it wouldn't surprise me one bit. I'm not betting on it. But it wouldn't surprise me."



Which Western Conference teams are capable of ending the Hawks' repeat chances?



"At No. 1, I have Vancouver winning the conference. I have San Jose winning their division. I have Detroit winning Chicago's division. After watching Detroit in the preseason, getting Jiri Hudler back, Mike Modano playing in a fourth-line role and sometimes jumping up to the third line and playing the point on the power play, this is a deep, deep team. When you look at those three teams in the Western Conference with the losses Chicago had in the offseason, there is a little ground to be made up to catch those teams right now."



Will the Hawks repeat?



"All you need to do is get to the dance. You get to the Stanley Cup playoffs, and anyone has a chance. The parity in the league is so good. They have enough scoring up front and on the back end. ... This is a team that certainly could win a Stanley Cup. You get on a good roll [and] you get good goaltending, which Marty Turco is definitely capable of, they certainly could repeat."



http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/b ... 10.article

 

[agenthehe]

Re: 2010-2011 Media Standings/Predictions/Previews UPDATED 1

Hardly media, but here's my Western Conference preview from the front cover on IHN...



http://indianheadnation.com/index/2010/10/09/10-11-nhl-western-conference-preview/