Early Playoff Predictions

[Spar]

the Eliteserien does that. (Swedish Elite League) - so not such a crazy idea.

It's a pretty cool idea because it (a) let's the winner get the advantage of choosing an opponent (b) gets the team they choose all riled up ... talk about motivation ... 'they want to play us because they think we are easy'

It would also create useless controversy over the picks.

the only thing they should change is, only guarantee a playoff birth to division winners, nothing more.

[evilducks]

the Eliteserien does that. (Swedish Elite League) - so not such a crazy idea.

It's a pretty cool idea because it (a) let's the winner get the advantage of choosing an opponent (b) gets the team they choose all riled up ... talk about motivation ... 'they want to play us because they think we are easy'

It would also create useless controversy over the picks.

the only thing they should change is, only guarantee a playoff birth to division winners, nothing more.

How is that different than now?

[landonhockey4]

the Eliteserien does that. (Swedish Elite League) - so not such a crazy idea.

It's a pretty cool idea because it (a) let's the winner get the advantage of choosing an opponent (b) gets the team they choose all riled up ... talk about motivation ... 'they want to play us because they think we are easy'

It would also create useless controversy over the picks.

the only thing they should change is, only guarantee a playoff birth to division winners, nothing more.

How is that different than now?

I think he means have the top 3 in every conference set by the division winners and then have the other 12 teams have play-in games. I'm not positive but I think thats what he meant. It would be kinda cool but then cleary deserving teams could have a bad game and lose to a team that has no business being there at all.

[Spar]

the Eliteserien does that. (Swedish Elite League) - so not such a crazy idea.

It's a pretty cool idea because it (a) let's the winner get the advantage of choosing an opponent (b) gets the team they choose all riled up ... talk about motivation ... 'they want to play us because they think we are easy'

It would also create useless controversy over the picks.

the only thing they should change is, only guarantee a playoff birth to division winners, nothing more.

How is that different than now?

I think he means have the top 3 in every conference set by the division winners and then have the other 12 teams have play-in games. I'm not positive but I think thats what he meant. It would be kinda cool but then cleary deserving teams could have a bad game and lose to a team that has no business being there at all.

I meant that that the 3 division winners should not be guaranteed the top 3 spots in the rankings. They should only be guaranteed a spot amongst the top 8.

But if Evilducks meant that there was already controversy when it comes to the playoff match-ups, I don't consider that there is controversy.

[SensFan07]

The reward for being the no. 1 in your conference should be getting to pick your opponent.  Any team from your own conference.  Then no. 2 picks (assuming team no. 1 didn't pick them), etc.

They could do a big special on it at the start of the playoffs... big night of TV viewership and sports pundantry.

I'm full of crazy ideas.

I actually love that idea. That would be cool.

I also agree with Spar. Division winners should not be seeded 1-3, they should just be guaranteed a playoff spot.

[evilducks]

I was reading the Puck daddy live chat with Spector today.  It's always tough hearing people's who opinions I respect basically write off the Sharks in the playoffs.

et tu Lyle?

[Sharks2009]

I was reading the Puck daddy live chat with Spector today.  It's always tough hearing people's who opinions I respect basically write off the Sharks in the playoffs.

et tu Lyle?

Make it stop...make the choking stop.

[Lyle Richardson]

I was reading the Puck daddy live chat with Spector today.  It's always tough hearing people's who opinions I respect basically write off the Sharks in the playoffs.

et tu Lyle?

I sincerely hope, for their sake, the Sharks can prove everyone wrong. I spent the past three seasons predicting the Sharks would be Cup finalists, only to see them choke as bad as the Ottawa Senators from the turn of this century. Until they prove me wrong, I'm not expecting anything different from them this year, and I've seen nothing to suggest the result will be any different. Yes, they look great in the regular season but that don't mean squat if you've got a history of coming up small in the post-season.

[evilducks]

I was reading the Puck daddy live chat with Spector today.  It's always tough hearing people's who opinions I respect basically write off the Sharks in the playoffs.

et tu Lyle?

I sincerely hope, for their sake, the Sharks can prove everyone wrong. I spent the past three seasons predicting the Sharks would be Cup finalists, only to see them choke as bad as the Ottawa Senators from the turn of this century. Until they prove me wrong, I'm not expecting anything different from them this year, and I've seen nothing to suggest the result will be any different. Yes, they look great in the regular season but that don't mean squat if you've got a history of coming up small in the post-season.

Yeah, I know.

I think this is my least favorite month of hockey over the last couple of years.

[landonhockey4]

well the caps now have one of the top three seeds in the east, not that that is too surprising, but it does seem really early for it.

[evilducks]

well the caps now have one of the top three seeds in the east, not that that is too surprising, but it does seem really early for it.

Helps being in the worst division in hockey.  It's like winning the NFC west...

[ap_cymru]

well the caps now have one of the top three seeds in the east, not that that is too surprising, but it does seem really early for it.

Helps being in the worst division in hockey.  It's like winning the NFC west...

yeah ... last year I thought this division had finally pulled itself out of being the worst. I mean they have had strong teams in the past ... but usually only one at a time. Then last year it seemed that Carolina was good, WAshington was good, Florida was on the cusp, TB and Atlanta even seemed to be getting better.

But this year ... how stinky can you get ... to have 4 of 5 teams at or below .500 in the era of the loser point? yikes ... that truly sucks. 4 of the worst 8 teams in the league ... Pacific is probably the best right now ... hmmm ... lesseee ranking the divisions

1. Pacific -  no teams in the bottom 8 and 3 of the top 7.
2. North West - two teams in the top 8 ... 3 in playoff position - Edmonton really really brings the division down a bit though.
3. Atlantic - only scrapes above Central because Pitt and NJ  are so strong - they have three teams in playoff contention but Philly would be out of it in the west. The Islanders still kind of suck although they are improving.
4. Central - Columbus isn't as big a stinker as Edmonton, Leafs or Islanders but only two teams in playoff position right now and one of those is marginal
5. North East - only one team in the top ten (Buffalo at 10th) and one of the worst two teams in the league
6. South East - 4 of the worst 8 teams - all at or below .500

[landonhockey4]

well the caps now have one of the top three seeds in the east, not that that is too surprising, but it does seem really early for it.

Helps being in the worst division in hockey.  It's like winning the NFC west...

yeah ... last year I thought this division had finally pulled itself out of being the worst. I mean they have had strong teams in the past ... but usually only one at a time. Then last year it seemed that Carolina was good, WAshington was good, Florida was on the cusp, TB and Atlanta even seemed to be getting better.

But this year ... how stinky can you get ... to have 4 of 5 teams at or below .500 in the era of the loser point? yikes ... that truly sucks. 4 of the worst 8 teams in the league ... Pacific is probably the best right now ... hmmm ... lesseee ranking the divisions

1. Pacific -  no teams in the bottom 8 and 3 of the top 7.
2. North West - two teams in the top 8 ... 3 in playoff position - Edmonton really really brings the division down a bit though.
3. Atlantic - only scrapes above Central because Pitt and NJ  are so strong - they have three teams in playoff contention but Philly would be out of it in the west. The Islanders still kind of suck although they are improving.
4. Central - Columbus isn't as big a stinker as Edmonton, Leafs or Islanders but only two teams in playoff position right now and one of those is marginal
5. North East - only one team in the top ten (Buffalo at 10th) and one of the worst two teams in the league
6. South East - 4 of the worst 8 teams - all at or below .500

I agree with those rankings, although the Oilers always bring the Northwest down so I don't think you needed to say that.

Also at one point this year Tampa and Atlanta and Florida were all right in the mix for the playoffs. I don't know what happened.

Tampa is a team on the upside though, they have good young talent. Florida is a team I have always been impressed with, and I wouldn't count them out of the playoffs quite yet. They are one or two impact players away from a solid playoff berth maybe. Atlanta will eventually just get moved. Carolina should have been better.

[NonMint]

I agree with those rankings, although the Oilers always bring the Northwest down so I don't think you needed to say that.

Firstroundplayoffexitsayswhat?

-NonMint

[evilducks]

well the caps now have one of the top three seeds in the east, not that that is too surprising, but it does seem really early for it.

Helps being in the worst division in hockey.  It's like winning the NFC west...

yeah ... last year I thought this division had finally pulled itself out of being the worst. I mean they have had strong teams in the past ... but usually only one at a time. Then last year it seemed that Carolina was good, WAshington was good, Florida was on the cusp, TB and Atlanta even seemed to be getting better.

But this year ... how stinky can you get ... to have 4 of 5 teams at or below .500 in the era of the loser point? yikes ... that truly sucks. 4 of the worst 8 teams in the league ... Pacific is probably the best right now ... hmmm ... lesseee ranking the divisions

1. Pacific -  no teams in the bottom 8 and 3 of the top 7.
2. North West - two teams in the top 8 ... 3 in playoff position - Edmonton really really brings the division down a bit though.
3. Atlantic - only scrapes above Central because Pitt and NJ  are so strong - they have three teams in playoff contention but Philly would be out of it in the west. The Islanders still kind of suck although they are improving.
4. Central - Columbus isn't as big a stinker as Edmonton, Leafs or Islanders but only two teams in playoff position right now and one of those is marginal
5. North East - only one team in the top ten (Buffalo at 10th) and one of the worst two teams in the league
6. South East - 4 of the worst 8 teams - all at or below .500

I find the Pacific being so good kinda funny.  If the Ducks weren't in the Pacific they'd probably be a playoff team.  Unfortunately they just can't seem to beat Pacific teams and it's killing them.
vs. Sharks 0-5-0
vs. Kings 1-3-0
vs. Coyotes 2-2-2
vs. Stars 1-3-0

vs. Pacific 4-13-2
vs. Others 26-15-6