What are your expectations?

[BOSSMANPC]

Boss, you need to expand your field of vision a bit

NLL Champs 4 times in the past 20 yrs

That brings a mild smile, thanks puckhead.

 

[dare2be]

Good analysis as usual. Nice post loki.

she expanded on my bullet points (malkin/staal, PP, defense jelling, MAF)

So yeah, I agree...good analysis

 

[Automattic]

Regehr + Backlund for Jumbo Jim

Geez, and here i thought we were friends...

 

[mattola]

Geez, and here i thought we were friends...

at least until October 7th

 

[dash]

Geez, and here i thought we were friends...

lol...that trade will never happen (although I think it could benefit both teams)

 

[Destroydacre]

lol...that trade will never happen (although I think it could benefit both teams)

Not as long as Wilson is GM anyway. Guy has a serious man crush on Jumbo Jim.

 

[beantownmaniac]

As a Sabres fan unfortunately I have little.

The goaltending is obviously great if Miller can play every game. But they have no real snipers unless Vanek wakes up and it seems like they have few guy's as forwards that can score the big goals when needed.

The defense looks pretty good and I still think Myers will be a star for years to come.

That said they need guys like Roy, Pomminville and others to step up. Stafford so far has been a flop and just hoping for the young guys like Gerbe and others to fill the hole. The problem is they are small and come playoff time get pushed around and that's not good.

Miller can't do it alone and that's the bottom line.

What are your takes on your fav team as far as strengths and weaknesses?

Thanks in advance for the input.

Here on Boston, I expect a Stanley Cup and nothing less.

 

[GagneFire12]

I'm a Philadelphia fan. I expect nothing less than full blown goalie controversy.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

Cup

 

[SLY]

There's only one stanley cup, and you all expect one. hmm... Lets be serious, Florida Panthers are taking it.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Expectations?

I expect the Islanders to finish somewhere between 10th & 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

They will be better than last year. The problem is every other team but the Rangers has gotten better in their division. Teams like Tampa Bay & Atlanta have improved during the offseason.

The defense has gotten a boost from the acquisition of James Wisniewski. Mark Eaton signed as an UFA. As did Milan Jurcina.

The offense hasn't changed much. Moulson was resigned. They expect Tavares, Okposo, Bailey & Blake Comeau to continue to get better.

In goal Dwayne Roloson is the #1 guy. His backup will be Nathan Lawson. If Lawson falters Mikko Koskinen & Kevin Poulin are waiting in the wings.

I don't expect any of the Isles prospects to make the team this year. They have 8 defenseman on 1 way contracts. Travis Hamonic will likely be in Bridgeport this season. Calvin De Haan will probably be in Oshawa.

Nino Niederreiter will get a long look but, he just turned 18 yesterday. If Kirill Petrov can get out of his contract in the KHL he would probably make the team out of camp. Whether he's going back to Russia or not will supposedly be decided this week.

If everything goes right they'll challenge for the 8th spot all year. If not let the Adam Larsson, Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Sean Courturier watch begin.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

There's only one stanley cup, and you all expect one. hmm... Lets be serious, Florida Panthers are taking it.

Those people are all stupid and wrong, obviously.
I am, of course, the only one who is right.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

I expect the Devils to at least make the ECF. Anything less is a failure. Maclean is the "new" coach even though he has been with them for years. All those times Lou fired the coach and went behind the bench himself, it was really J Mac running the show.

I expect Marty to finally sit some games this year with Hedberg making 1.5 million as a backup. They could definitely use a puck moving D Man other than Greene. Elias moving back to wing instead of center should have a rebound season.

Again, like the past few seasons they match up on paper with anybody in the league. It all depends if they finally have the right gameplan/mindset to actually play to their ability.

 

[postmaster]

I expect the Wings to be one of the top 3 in West along with San Jose and Vancouver.
I would say my expectations are to win the Cup, but I want to reserve that until I see that Howard holds up and plays as well or better than last year. I do not trust Ozzy in net any more
I also worry about the defense for some reason. Ericsson and Kronwall did not play particularly well last year and Lidstrom and Raflaski are another year older. I do look forward to seeing what Kindl can do after hearing about him what seems like forever.
I do really like how our forward lines stack up.
I think the Wings have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup but I would have to say my expectations are Western Conference Finals at least.

 

[kenyg54]

The Cup.

Hearing the players talk as they have trickled back to town from their summer vacays, has let me know that they aren't happy and are more than determined to redeem themselves.

And we're finally rested after about 4 fucking years of playing more hockey than the law allows...

+1

 

[BOSSMANPC]

+1

I think the Wings will do fine. Or are you talking about the Sabres Keny?

 

[Automattic]

+1

It is upon us....You better be here when the season starts.

 

[kenyg54]

I think the Wings will do fine. Or are you talking about the Sabres Keny?

Wings

 

[kenyg54]

It is upon us....You better be here when the season starts.

and if I'm not?

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Wings

I didn't think you were talking about the Sabres but just hoping.