Look at the last 20 games the Canucks have played ... Of those games ... Look at the ones against playoff teams .... Tell me what games they elevated their play ?
- Redmile247

One could argue that those team are not playoff teams because of the Canucks

I don't really care who we play
- VANTEL

I'd be okay with either Minny or SJ. Just want to avoid STL. They remind me a lot of LA minus the amazing center depth.

So canucks > blackhawks? What a franking joke
- XxHarounXx

Doesn't matter, neither of them are as good as the Leafs.

You mean the side that has Billy Dee Williams on it????
- ruttager17

By enjoy, do you mean riot?! I'm on it.
There's plenty of great playoff matches looking back a decade. A run to game 7 of the Finals and some great, long over time playoff games. Obviously not a Cup, but to say "there's nothing there" is absurd. I love playoff hockey and it's all the better when my favourite team is involved. I wasn't around during the Oilers hay days so in my lifetime it's been a lot better to be a Canucks fan than it is to have been an Oilers fan. Oilers are no doubt on the right track to returning to the playoffs but they're definitely nowhere near being contenders yet.
- hankthetank

I guess what I meant was that essentially from about 2008-09 to present, you guys have been bandied about as cup contenders year in, year out. Teams are lucky if they get 5 years or so of that kind of success per every 20.

I can really only lightly trash talk given what my own team has done, but maybe someday if the oil are on the upswing and the nucks are on the downswing i'll be able to get a shot in. Can't say I was doing a lot of walking and talking when the oilers won either, so it would be a new experience for me.

Last time I was in here you were convinced Canucks weren't making the playoffs. When did you move to Stepford?
- Canada Cup

I don't think they did enough but I don't see any other team head and shoulders above anyone. I think anything can happen.

Leafs could beat the Bruins
Canadians could come out of there .
In the West it could be anybody. I don't think the Hawks are tough enough physically.

One could argue that those team are not playoff teams because of the Canucks
- 1970vintage

Haha one could , but that is not the point

I guess what I meant was that essentially from about 2008-09 to present, you guys have been bandied about as cup contenders year in, year out. Teams are lucky if they get 5 years or so of that kind of success per every 20.

I can really only lightly trash talk given what my own team has done, but maybe someday if the oil are on the upswing and the nucks are on the downswing i'll be able to get a shot in. Can't say I was doing a lot of walking and talking when the oilers won either, so it would be a new experience for me.
- Morris

Ya, I think most Canucks fans are able to appreciate the "success" that they've been fortunate enough to go through over the last while. I know other fans laugh when Canucks fans say "You only hate us cause we're so good" but there's some truth to it. If the Canucks were sh!t then nobody would care about them or their fans. Realistically it seems like the Canucks "window" is closing in a real hurry so it will be interesting to see what happens with them over the next few years.

I don't think they did enough but I don't see any other team head and shoulders above anyone. I think anything can happen.

Leafs could beat the Bruins
Canadians could come out of there .
In the West it could be anybody. I don't think the Hawks are tough enough physically.
- VANTEL

I think the Bruins will finish ahead of Habs. HB will explode when Leafs/Habs play. If only we had picked up an elite goalie..........

I think the Bruins will finish ahead of Habs. HB will explode when Leafs/Habs play. If only we had picked up an elite goalie..........
- Canada Cup

That's be unreal.
After last year I'm just hoping for some exciting playoff hockey this year. Seems like there is a chance for some pretty decent rivalry series so hopefully it pans out.

I think the Bruins will finish ahead of Habs. HB will explode when Leafs/Habs play. If only we had picked up an elite goalie..........
- Canada Cup

Leafs are built for the playoffs . If Lupul is healthy you have two scoring lines ,a very tough team that can fight .The big question is goaltending. Leafs have done well against the Bruins and so have the Habs . Bruins are in tough this year. Pitt depends on Crosby .

The West, toss a coin .

That's be unreal.
After last year I'm just hoping for some exciting playoff hockey this year. Seems like there is a chance for some pretty decent rivalry series so hopefully it pans out.
- hankthetank

Last year kind of sucked.

More Canadian teams and more exciting teams please.

Last year kind of sucked.

More Canadian teams and more exciting teams please.
- Nucker101

I stopped watching after we were outed. Too boring the style

Leafs are built for the playoffs . If Lupul is healthy you have two scoring lines ,a very tough team that can fight .The big question is goaltending. Leafs have done well against the Bruins and so have the Habs . Bruins are in tough this year. Pitt depends on Crosby .

The West, toss a coin .
- VANTEL

I would be shocked if someone other than the Bruins or Pens comes out of the East. I know you've been high on the Leafs this year, but I would consider either MTL/TOR beating Pitt or Boston a big upset.

They have to move Hansen. Invisible

I stopped watching after we were outed. Too boring the style
- VANTEL

I still watched, but definitely not as interested as in years past. The way the games are officiated has a lot to do with it as well.

I think the Bruins will finish ahead of Habs. HB will explode when Leafs/Habs play. If only we had picked up an elite goalie..........
- Canada Cup

The Leafs could take that series. This may end up a pretty exciting postseason for you guys.

I would be shocked if someone other than the Bruins or Pens comes out of the East. I know you've been high on the Leafs this year, but I would consider either MTL/TOR beating Pitt or Boston a big upset.
- Nucker101

You think that Douglas Murray is the answer on D for the Pens? Same swiss cheese goaltending as last year.

They have to move Hansen. Invisible
- VANTEL

Yup. Funny how AV won't split him and Roy up, usually he loves scrambling his lines.

You think that Douglas Murray is the answer on D for the Pens? Same swiss cheese goaltending as last year.
- 1970vintage

Iggy and Morrow were really nice additions, both guys hungry for a cup. But they obviously need Crosby, Letang and Neal healthy.

I would be shocked if someone other than the Bruins or Pens comes out of the East. I know you've been high on the Leafs this year, but I would consider either MTL/TOR beating Pitt or Boston a big upset.
- Nucker101

If Crosby is healthy they are the team to beat.

How many games did Mtl beat Bruins this year? I remember 3 wins.

Bruins are big and bad , but not a fast team IMO . You can beat them with speed

I would be shocked if someone other than the Bruins or Pens comes out of the East. I know you've been high on the Leafs this year, but I would consider either MTL/TOR beating Pitt or Boston a big upset.
- Nucker101

I know it goes without saying but much of what could happen depends on injuries. Without Crosby the Pens are a totally different (and far less dangerous) team. LA were remarkably fortunate with injuries last season. As Boston were the year before, as Chicago were the year before...

If Crosby is healthy they are the team to beat.

How many games did Mtl beat Bruins this year? I remember 3 wins.

Bruins are big and bad , but not a fast team IMO . You can beat them with speed
- VANTEL

Yeah, Crosby, Neal and Letang need to be healthy to make up for the questionable d-core and goaltending. MTL does seem to have Boston's number, but I think the Bruins would wear them down over a full series.

Doesn't matter, neither of them are as good as the Leafs.
- hankthetank

^^

Agreed.

Ya, I think most Canucks fans are able to appreciate the "success" that they've been fortunate enough to go through over the last while. I know other fans laugh when Canucks fans say "You only hate us cause we're so good" but there's some truth to it. If the Canucks were sh!t then nobody would care about them or their fans. Realistically it seems like the Canucks "window" is closing in a real hurry so it will be interesting to see what happens with them over the next few years.
- hankthetank

I don't like the canucks mostly because they're rivals, and I don't like Bieksa, Luongo, Burrows, Kesler, or Vingeault. But I'll admit my dislike for them has probably increased because they're good. I don't like Sergei Kostitsyn either, but who cares? He's a no name player on a (generally) non-factor team.

No one likes to see the bad guy wrestler win. I'm sure lots of fans will feel that way about Yakupov, Hall and Schultz when the Oilers start winning. In fact I can guarantee that Kings, Wild and Duck fans already treat them like a bunch of bad guy wrestlers.

I think the Canucks will be okay for the next couple of years. The question is: a couple years after that, will they be able to know when to pull the plug or will they only get an Iginla-like return for the Sedins. You gotta believe a team like Nashville, if they had some owner willing to spend, would pay through the nose for both veteran Sedins in 3-4 years time. Offense in a box!