3 Biggest Doubts About Your Team

[ritari330]

1. D-men health - Health on Defense was an issue last season. Keep the 3 puck moving defensemen, Green, Carlson and Wideman, and I feel pretty good about that aspect. We have pretty good depth on D, but last year the problem was replacing the puck movers. Green, Carlson, and Wideman played a total of 3 games together last season. Yes Orlov is good and he is a puck mover, but I wouldn't trust him when it is crunch time.

2. Getting the PP working - Seriously. Move OV off the point, put Green and Carlson on the point and have OV-Backstrom-Semin as the forwards. OV would play more of the guy in the paint with that group. Semin could be replaced with Laich if that group doesn't have enough pressure in front of the goalie. 2nd grouping would be most likely Laich or Semin along with Knuble and Johansson with Wideman and Hamrlik at the points.

3. Get the old OV back - Not that worried about this. Reports are that he's in great shape and if we get the PP back to 1/2 of what it was in 09-10 his production will go way up. The worry is more about if that doesn't happen. If it doesn't happen, others will have to step up, they'll have to play to keep a lead instead of extend, ect.

 

[Darkstone42]

1. Crosby's health. That's a given. He was the best player in the league last year before his injury, but he can't contribute if he can't play. If the Penguins want to contend, they need him.

2. Get the old Malkin back. He's shown he can be a top-5 player in the league, and if he gets there again, the Penguins will be tough to beat. Now that the talent on the wings has been improved, a healthy Crosby and a vintage Malkin could make this a potent offense.

3. Fix the power play. I think points 1 and 2 will help with this, but if the Penguins can't score on the power play, they're not going to reach their potential.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Islanders"

1.The Defense. I thought last years group was bad with all the injuries. This year could be worse if anyone gets hurt.

2.Goaltending. 6 goalies were needed last season. Three will probably make the opening night roster. For some reason I think that's a bad sign.

3.Josh Bailey & Frans Nielsen. Bailey is going to be the 3rd line center. It's time for him to figure things out or he could be headed out of town. Nielsen MUST be resigned. Losing him on July 1st next year would set the Isles back a year or two.

 

[Slimpikins]

Good analysis. Mine would be

1- The 4th line. Ties in with the forward depth issue. I think the third line is going to be fine. It's the 4th line where the question marks are. They don't have to be fantastic, they don't even have to be good, just decent enough to not ruin games for the Sharks while playing 10-12 mins in the regular season and 7-8 mins in the playoffs.

2- Team chemistry. There's a lot of turnover on this team. The big cogs are mostly the same, but everywhere else bits and pieces have been moved and upgraded at least when it comes to skill. But how long is it going to take before the Sharks become a cohesive group? Can they run out ahead of the pack like they did in 2008? Or will they have lackluster starts like in 2009 and 2010.

3- Goaltending. Both Niemi and Niittymaki are hurt right now. Niitty is gone long term, Niemi could be back to start the season. Both Greiss and Sateri have played well in preseason, but it's still a question mark. Have to keep in mind the horrendous start Niemi got off to last season as well before rounding into form, though he lost quite a bit of that form in the playoffs. The improved D should help, but there's still a lot of ?'s surrounding this position right now.

I think the lack of forward depth could be worse than just the 4th line but I agree that the chemistry issue will be more than just Burns.

I was bouncing between goaltending and speed for number 3. They are really 3A and 3B. Niemi started slow and then was lights out at the end of the year before reverting to his bad form in the playoffs. Sharks will need him healthy and much more consistent this year. I didn't realize he was injured, maybe I need to catch up on DP's blog.

If LA can jump out to a lead I don't think that they will blow it as horribly as Dallas did last year. It would be nice to not be playing catch up all season.

 

[forty_three]

Jackets:
1) Who is the real Steve Mason? Rookie, mono-having Mason or last years' not sure who's gonna show up Mason.

2) Lot of new guys, how will it all gel together? A few guys have made comments that the Wiz situation is actually unifying the locker room. They are pissed at the way it all went down (both the league reaction and Cal laughing about it) and are glad that Wiz was willing to stand up for a teammate and take the bullet for it. That cohesion will be a nice change.

3) Will all the rich people trading the fans' tax revenues work it out and get the team to sign the 2035 lease?

 

[DChero]

Islanders"

1.The Defense. I thought last years group was bad with all the injuries. This year could be worse if anyone gets hurt.

2.Goaltending. 6 goalies were needed last season. Three will probably make the opening night roster. For some reason I think that's a bad sign.

3.Josh Bailey & Frans Nielsen. Bailey is going to be the 3rd line center. It's time for him to figure things out or he could be headed out of town. Nielsen MUST be resigned. Losing him on July 1st next year would set the Isles back a year or two.

Is Ricky hurt yet?

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Is Ricky hurt yet?

Actually he played well in the one game he was in. As far as injuries go it's only a matter of time with Ricky. They have to treat him with kid gloves. That's why Montoya will probably be on the opening night roster.

 

[TheRobotDevil]

1 how will the team mesh with deboer coaching was a disaster last season this team needs to mesh and play sound hockey to function.

2 which kovy and Marty show up both have the ability to take over games but both can give them away as well.

3 parise coming off an injury and his 1 year deal have me a bit concerned

Honorable mention ipws squirrel curse

 

[quoipourquoi]

Ducks

1. The recurrence of vertigo

2. An injury to any one of RPG

3. Drop in production from the second-line


Avalanche

1. Forsberg filed retirement papers, so he cannot return this season without approval from all 29 teams

2. Niedermayer didn't play for the franchise; they may not be able to retire his number

3. Lack of a flux capacitor

 

[Slimpikins]

Ducks

1. The recurrence of vertigo

2. An injury to any one of RPG

3. Drop in production from the second-line


Avalanche

1. Forsberg filed retirement papers, so he cannot return this season without approval from all 29 teams

2. Niedermayer didn't play for the franchise; they may not be able to retire his number

3. Lack of a flux capacitor

But even if they get the flux capacitor could they generate the 1.21 Gigawatts nessecary to opperate it?

 

[DChero]

Actually he played well in the one game he was in. As far as injuries go it's only a matter of time with Ricky. They have to treat him with kid gloves. That's why Montoya will probably be on the opening night roster.

How many years are left on that contract? It seems like we've been joking about it for a while, so a nice chunk of that should be through.

I'd really like to see him succeed, but he can't if he can't play. The Isles may have to go shopping in the next couple of drafts/offseason.

 

[Vadered]

1. The new skaters. We are likely the team with the most changes on the ice compared to last year. How will those we traded for hold up in Philly? How will those making there first NHL appearance hold up?

2. The new goalie. Hi Bryz, welcome to goalie hell. Big team, big expectations, and big chance of the crowd turning on you if you only play GOOD hockey. Better not fuck up.

3. The not-so-new defense. Pronger and Timonen are almost older than the rest of the defense combined. If they can stay healthy, we have a shot. If they go down, well, it's a good thing we still have our first round draft pick next year.

 

[elocomotive]

The funny thing is that with most teams with two star players, the teams tend to split them up to maximize the pressure they put on the opposing defenses. OV and Semin, Zetterberg and Datsyuk, Crosby and Malkin...

One of these pairs does not belong... one of these pairs is not like the other. Somewhere DC, Backstrom has a single tear rolling down his cheek.

Capitals

(1) 1st Round of the Playoffs
(2) 2nd Round of the Playoffs*
(3) 3rd Round of the Playoffs*

*If necessary

 

[blindbaby]

Leafs:

1) Is Reimer the real deal
2) Same ol' same ol' from the "D"?
3) Penalty Killing

 

[SportsGuy305]

What a negative thread lol.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

How many years are left on that contract? It seems like we've been joking about it for a while, so a nice chunk of that should be through.

I'd really like to see him succeed, but he can't if he can't play. The Isles may have to go shopping in the next couple of drafts/offseason.

10:

 

[awaz]

1. The new skaters. We are likely the team with the most changes on the ice compared to last year. How will those we traded for hold up in Philly? How will those making there first NHL appearance hold up?

2. The new goalie. Hi Bryz, welcome to goalie hell. Big team, big expectations, and big chance of the crowd turning on you if you only play GOOD hockey. Better not fuck up.

3. The not-so-new defense. Pronger and Timonen are almost older than the rest of the defense combined. If they can stay healthy, we have a shot. If they go down, well, it's a good thing we still have our first round draft pick next year as of this writing.

fify

 

[beantownmaniac]

I doubt the Sabres, Canadiens, Senators, or Maple Leafs win the division.
I doubt any team other than the Bruins wins the ECF.
I doubt any team stops the Bruins from repeating.

 

[4thstreet]

Flyers

1.Our fans-Are they going to expect immediate results,or jump down everyone's throat that are not producing.

2.Bryz-Will he be our saviour?To me he seems like he is just going through the motions in the preseason.More like he's uninterested.(this usually happens with guys that have long term deals).I think he'll come through when the heat is on.

3.Pronger and Timmonen need to have the others step up and grab some more minutes from them.

 

[flyersfan4706]

3.Pronger and Timmonen need to have the others step up and grab some more minutes from them.

In Meszaros I Trust


(I know people are probably getting sick of my hard on for this guy)