Comments on: 20 questions: PHT predictions for the 2013 NHL season

By: lrg51

lrg51 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:50:36 +0000

What’s that smell??!!!

Oh… Its the Flyers. They stink!!

By: basedrum777

basedrum777 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:47:47 +0000

I don’t disagree that Malkin has a better setup and should be better to start with his tearing up Russia but I don’t think its wise to bet against superior talent. 99% of the time it delivers. I agree with you but SC should be right there. Looking at the first few games (and their history) that team is going to score…

By: hatchseven

hatchseven — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 19:05:37 +0000

Most disappointing:
JB: Detroit Red Wings. Like their general manager, I wouldn’t be shocked if they missed the playoffs.

This is probably the most asinine statement I’ve seen. 21 strait years in the playoffs without a top 10 draft pick since 1991.
I bet the celebration article is already written if the Wings do miss the playoffs.
Keep on hatin Jason.

By: stakex

stakex — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:49:52 +0000

Crosby for heart? There is a VERY strong debate that hes not even the best player in a Pens jersey right now. Not to mention, despite a lot of 2nd assists last year that infalted his point totals, he was never quite 100% at any point last year. Throw in yet another layoff right when he was starting to get back into it, and hes lucky if hes in the top 5 this year. All that is IF he can manage to not get hurt again.

I think its far more likely Malkin is the MVP, and if not him Stamkos.

By: unclax41

unclax41 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:13:56 +0000

It was obviously edited after that was pointed out there boss

By: budvw14

budvw14 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:08:00 +0000

Hey numb nuts! You may want to re-read that! Yerdon picked Crosby to have more points than Giroux as he picked Crosby to win the Art Ross! He picked Giroux to win the Hart.

By: rockthered1286

rockthered1286 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:49:32 +0000

You forgot about Semin. Automatic loss of 5 games due to stupid penalties in the last 3 minutes of close games, and another 5 when he suddenly gets cold after scoring 6 goals in 3 games.

By: bcisleman

bcisleman — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:58:45 +0000

JB, JY: Here’s a clue….Isles finished last overall in 2009 and haven’t come close to doing so since. They are a MUCH better team than in 2009 and, in case you haven’t noticed, they have been supplementing their squad with veterans via FA and waivers recently. I can see you not predicting them for the playoffs, but predicting a last place overall finish just makes you look silly and clueless.

By: lonespeed

lonespeed — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:12:24 +0000

Carolina Hurricanes are a forgotten team. They will be much better this year. I would predict a top-4 seed in the playoffs.

By: phillyphanatic77

phillyphanatic77 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:44:03 +0000

And what has been the constant through those 20 years? Martin Brodeur, obviously. As I pointed out above he has to keep defying time. But there’s definitely signs he’s slowing down, as his regular season stats were almost identical to Bryzgalovs. Before the Stanley Cup run there were clear signs of decline in Brodeurs game (last few seasons), and it’s more likely he continues that trend than puts up another stellar campaign.

By: greatminnesotasportsmind

greatminnesotasportsmind — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:42:53 +0000

I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of goaltending. You know the goaltending that has won an Olympic medal and was an All-Star. They may have signed a defenseman that is an all-star and has an Olympic silver medal and played well without Shea Weber in those Olympics, probably the best defenseman on team USA. Tom Gilbert is a solid 2nd line defenseman as well. They also have a hight touted prospect on defense that will be playing within the next week or two. Defense is still a concern, but the depth is already better than last year. Their top line of Heatley, Koivu, and Parise is a good 1st line. What signing Parise does is actually put players on their correct lines unlike last year when role players were asked to do more than they could.

They now have forwards in Houston they can call up when injuries do happen, where the depth won’t be such a drastic drop off. Don’t forget before Koivu, Setoguchi, and Bouchard were hurt, the Wild did have the best record in the NHL at the time in mid December.

By: joeyashwi

joeyashwi — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:26:54 +0000

The Wild had the best record in the league last season until they were ravaged by injuries. We added Parise, Suter, Granlund, and a healthy Bouchard and Koivu. Our second line may not look great on paper but will surprise. Our third line is one of the best in the league and our goaltending is superb. Hate all you want but Minny will make the playoffs this season and contend for the cup within two years. There is tons of talent coming up in the minors and should be NHL ready sooner than later. Maybe I’m a bit of a homer but my first point stands, they were the BEST team in the league when they were healthy and that was with a new system being implemented.

By: phillyphanatic77

phillyphanatic77 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:25:30 +0000

You can’t argue losing Parise doesn’t hurt. You need Kovalchuk to have a big year, Elias to have a big year, Zajac to return completely to his old self, and Clarkson to catch lightning in a bottle again. Plus Brodeur, 40, has to keep defying time. By the way, Brodeur had almost identical stats (31W 2.41 GAA .908Sv%) as Bryz (33w, 2.48GAA, .909sv%) last season. And Henrique has to somehow fill Parise’s shoes. That’s a lot to hope for. I think the Devils are a bubble team, 7th or 8th at best.

By: phillyphanatic77

phillyphanatic77 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:14:31 +0000

Some say he’s the next St. Louis

By: gbar22

gbar22 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:01:30 +0000

Would also like to point out in regards to the devils I have read over the past decade almost every year analyst predict them to fall out after losing players this happened after Gomez and Gionta left before them when Neidermeyer left before him when Stevens retired etc the devils continued to make the playoffs win divisions and contend every single year but one season when they had the terrible start with john maclean as coach but over the second half were one of the best teams record wise and followed that up with last season 102 pts and a trip to the finals. For nearly 20 years everyone likes to write them off and they continue to thrive. They survived the losses of neidermeyer and Stevens arguably much much better players than Parise ever and certainly more impactful. People get to caught up in free agents and over glorify them in every sport Unless you’re getting a Lebron or Crosby where the hype is more than just hype. If wild fans are thinking Parise will come in and be year in year out top ten league scorer and put up 90-100pts you are mistaken. That is not what he is or has been in the past. He’s not giroux Crosby Malkin ect. In Fact I insist after watching him day in and day out there will be more than a few calling it a terrible contract.

By: gbar22

gbar22 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:50:12 +0000

Also to previous poster there is nothing wrong with just squeezing into the playoffs. Just have to get there and anything can happen.

By: nvillano

nvillano — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:48:27 +0000

^ agreed on the Devils point but I can’t wait for the Wild to not live up to expectations more
http://sportsenvy.blogspot.com/2013/01/hockey-is-back-northwest-division.html

By: gbar22

gbar22 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:47:03 +0000

I can’t wait for the season to begin and for the devils to make all these silly analyst look bad yet again as they’re done every other year they have been predicted to fall.

By: misterchainbluelightning

misterchainbluelightning — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:30:31 +0000

What are you Wild fans going to do and say when a team with a weak 2nd line like that and a team with Dany Heatley still on the first doesn’t make the playoffs?

Because they are not making the playoffs and if they do it will be as the 7th or 8th seed just squeezing in.

By: misterchainbluelightning

misterchainbluelightning — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:25:31 +0000

Granlund is a talented rookie
The end

Seto and Cullen add nothing because they are 3rd line talent

If Cullen and Seto are both top 6 on your team, your team lacks scoring depth.

But ya, Im the one lacking, or maybe Im just not a hometown fan boy that you are….

By: adlent

adlent — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:24:42 +0000

While I concede that a new system/more time in net could possibly cause Holtby to not look as good as he has in previous outings, I disagree that the fact that Oates says there is “active competition” means he isn’t ready. In reality, Oates said he will play whomever has the “hot hand” but that Holtby will probably start the season as the No. 1. Last season, Terry Murray of the Kings said something similar about Jonathan Quick and Bernier and it was pretty clear Quick was “ready.” This isn’t meant to compare the two and Quick definitely had much more ice time than Holtby has had.

Still, between his limited NHL regular season and playoff time and his AHL time, Holtby seems to consistently put up good numbers. I feel pretty confident he will be a solid goalie this year.

By: phillytommy

phillytommy — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:23:23 +0000

Soooooo since we are doing math, I figured I would throw some out here. If Letang assists on 75% of the Penguins goals (not points) in a regular season, lets say last year when they had 282, he would have had 211 assists. That’s a heck of a season genius. Based on that, he’ll average a little more than 2.5 assists per game this season, which would give him 120 assists in a a 48 game season. Shall I continue? I know. I know. You were being sarcastic. Epic Fail?

By: rockthered1286

rockthered1286 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:20:45 +0000

SA/G
Caps-30.2
Devils- 26.8

By: rockthered1286

rockthered1286 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:09:50 +0000

2011/12 GA/G
Caps- 2.75
Devils- 2.5

By: greatminnesotasportsmind

greatminnesotasportsmind — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:09:42 +0000

Granlund is starting out on the Wild’s second line. The only thing that is a joke, is your lack of hockey knowledge. Exactly how many rookies are going to be playing on any teams top line? If a rookie is starting on a teams top line, then clearly there is a huge depth issue on said team and won’t be good at all. Granlund is just as good of a player as any of those mentioned in the article. I wouldn’t surprise me if Granlund sees time on the power play with better players than Cullen and Setoguchi. Cullen did have 35 points last year on a team that had zero depth. Setoguchi did have 19 goals in a injury plagued season. I don’t believe I said he (Granlund) would win the Calder, but he should have at least been nominated. In case you haven’t seen, Granlund does have talent and has played against NHL players already.

By: misterchainbluelightning

misterchainbluelightning — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:33:09 +0000

Cory Conacher as Calder winner?
Another joke, my god

By: misterchainbluelightning

misterchainbluelightning — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:30:47 +0000

Is this a joke? Seto and Cullen? BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Oh yes, that should set up Granlund for a big year.
And this is nothing against the kid, but to name those 2 as some sorta reason why Granlund should catapult to the top is a massive joke.

By: misterchainbluelightning

misterchainbluelightning — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:28:38 +0000

Well it’s confirmed, Boroughs hasn’t a clue, I had my suspicions at along

By: ibieiniid

ibieiniid — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:52:55 +0000

Who will finish with more points – Sidney Crosby or Claude Giroux?
JY: Giroux

10. Who will win the Art Ross (most points)?
JY: Sidney Crosby

lol, i “don’t understand NHL personal statistics” he says. you don’t understand reading, my friend.

By: mahasw777

mahasw777 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:46:55 +0000

You don’t understand NHL personal statistics. “Points” are a combination of goals and assists. “Goals” are just that – goals.