Bought 'The Hockey News'

Jay1982 · Guru

Bought 'The Hockey News'

barry33 · Guru

Jay1982 wrote:

Before I took off today for my flight, I saw that the new issue of The Hockey News was out, and every year around this time, they offer their thoughts for people who participate in fantasy pools. I didn't open it till after take off, which was a mistake, as I was reading it, they made SOME valid points, but their lack of faith towards the habs made me disappointed. Not because I lost faith in the Habs while reading their take on the habs, but because they value that habs at something next to nothing. Finishing 9th in the East--which COULD happen if Huet isn't everything he is cracked up to be. However they go on to say that Edmonton will finish 13th in the west. The Canes in 2nd (I see them in 6th to be honest). Not only that, they have our highest point-getter at a mere 65 points (Kovalev AND Koivu). Followed by Sammy and Ryder (60), and it goes on. Of course these things aren't written in stone, but they make the habs sound like they are an expansion team in year 2 or something.

Jay- I think it just goes with what I have been saying all along. This season could go either way and it depends on alot of variables. As you said, Huet is a huge variable. Koivu,,will he stay healthy? Samsonov, will he wake up Kovalev and the 2 complement each other? Ribs...can he actually play in this league? Alot of questions remain to be answered and they will be in a couple months. I think what scares the so called "experts" is the fact that the key weaknesses have not been addressed yet and a lack of depth. Time will tell. I do believe that if everything comes together as outlined above we will have a decent club.

doodie · Veteran Member

So called "experts" AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH.IN tHIS "NEW NHL" THEY CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT THESE SO CALLED EXPERTS,THE "HABS" HAVE JUST AS GOOD A CHANCE AS "THE DUCKS",WINGS,CANES,ETC.,MY PICK IS THE "HABS" TO WIN IT ALL,AND BELEIVE ME I'M NOT AN "EXPERT". BUT IN ALL HONESTY.........I DON'T SEE WHAT OTHER TEAMS HAVE THAT THE "HABS" DON'T HAVE,THE DUCKS FOR EXAMPLE PICKED UP PRONGER,I WATCHED SOME OF THE EDMONTON SERIES HE DIDN'T EMPRESS ME AT ALL SO HOW MUCH BETTER DOES HE MAKE THE DUCKS,I'VE SEEN MOLASSES MOVE FASTER THAN HIM,THE "HABS" SPEED WILL BLOW BY HIM.
"GO HABS GO"

Fatherhab · Senior Member

Again Doodie- the so called experts " a la Mcguire and company" picked the Sens as the favorites to win it all last season----look what hey did, in my estimation they have a better chance of winning it this year without the likes and distractions created by Hasek and Chara.

GO HABS GO

Jay1982 · Guru

It should also be noted that in last year's edition they picked the Canes to finish in 9th place as well

AB Habman · Guru

They're just predicting. Also, they are hinging the season on Huet. That makes sense. Without his play down the stretch, the Habs don't see playoffs and the so called experts would of been bang on before last season. I also think Huet will be key for the Habs to make the playoffs. Good goaltending can go a long way to masking(no pun intended) our weaknessess.

Also how can one discredit Pronger? The guy was SOLID and along with goaltending a huge part of the Oiler's success.

Jay1982 · Guru

Nothing is written in stone when it comes to these mags. Clearly, though they do not think Huet is the real deal. I hope he can prove them wrong

Jedah · Guru

Jay, funny you should mention this magazine. My buddy just gave me a copy of it the other day. I've been pretty busy so I haven't read everything, but I was very surprised to see Koivu and Kovalev at only 65. And someone like Sundin is projected to get 95. Sure, we all know he's better than Koivu, but by 30 points?! Crosby at 116 sounds reasonable, but I still think Ovechkin will lead the league.

Jay1982 · Guru

Yeah, I was gonna mention Sundin at 95. Found that a bit odd seeing as how they placed the leafs in like 12th place in the East, but with more point getters than alot of teams. I guess they must think Raycroft stinks! LOL

Ando · Guru

Jedah wrote:

...I was very surprised to see Koivu and Kovalev at only 65. And someone like Sundin is projected to get 95.

Actually, And-o would be amazed if Sundin got anymore than 70 points this season. He is usually an automatic 30 goals and 40 assists (as history has shown) but he is now 35 and is starting to show his age. Perhaps if Toronto's younger forwards can elevate their play...this might free up some room for Mats...but anything over 70 points from Mats would be "gravy" for the Laffs!!!

...and 65 points from Saku seems reasonable IF...AND ONLY IF...he plays 75 games!!! And, how many times has that happened anyway...seriously?????

Fatherhab · Senior Member

I not sure about the rest of you , but And-o's post are becoming so repetitively negative concerning Saku, that I am really starting to believe he is not a Habs fan at all and demand that he comes out of the broom(Bruin) closet.

My apologies Ando- I read the post and added negative connatation to it. sorry

-- Edited by Fatherhab at 08:50, 2006-08-18

Ando · Guru

Fatherhab wrote:

I not sure about the rest of you , but And-o's post are becoming so repetitively negative concerning Saku, that I am really starting to believe he is not a Habs fan at all and demand that he comes out of the broom(Bruin) closet.

Well Father...please enlighten us all...which part(s) of And-o's post is negative concerning Saku???

...sorry if you don't like the truth! But, the 65 point prediction for Saku in the Hockey News is quite reasonable.....IF he can manage 75 games played (which history has shown is just not likely to happen)!!! And-o is sorry that is true!!! Sorry this fact bothers you!!! Sorry Father!

...maybe this is a realism versus idealism issue??? At any rate Father...65 points for Saku is quite reasonable...IF...MAYBE...BUT (as usual for Saku)!!!

Fatherhab · Senior Member

My apologies Ando- I read the post and added negative connatation to it. sorry

plouf · Guru

Ando wrote:

Fatherhab wrote:

I not sure about the rest of you , but And-o's post are becoming so repetitively negative concerning Saku, that I am really starting to believe he is not a Habs fan at all and demand that he comes out of the broom(Bruin) closet.

Well Father...please enlighten us all...which part(s) of And-o's post is negative concerning Saku???

...sorry if you don't like the truth! But, the 65 point prediction for Saku in the Hockey News is quite reasonable.....IF he can manage 75 games played (which history has shown is just not likely to happen)!!! And-o is sorry that is true!!! Sorry this fact bothers you!!! Sorry Father!

...maybe this is a realism versus idealism issue??? At any rate Father...65 points for Saku is quite reasonable...IF...MAYBE...BUT (as usual for Saku)!!!

I think if Saku does play 75 games he'll probably get more than 65 points, because that would mean the eye injury isn't a big factor. He's on a settled line, with an improving left-winger and for once there's another line that looks to take some defensive attention off him (sorry but Perezhogin-Ribeiro-Kovalev wasn't exactly striking fear into our enemies). He'll lose a fair bit of power play time, but he should get almost a point a game in the new NHL. Last year he got 62 in 72 in one of Montreal's weirdest seasons in a while, while having the worst slump of his life at one point.

But I do think And-o is right that Saku is not a great bet to play those 75 games. So if I had him in a pool I'd probably say 65 points is a good estimate.