[quote=Oilers42]My predictions

Can't be bothered to check if your division were correct, but if they are here's my predictions (not trolling).

1.LA
2.Sharks
3.Canucks
4.Ducks*
5.Coyotes*
6.Oilers
7.Flames

1.Hawks
2.Blues
3.Wild
4.Stars
5.Predators
6.Jets
7.Av's

1.Bruins
2.Senators
3.Red Wings
4.Leafs*
5.Montreal
6.Lightning
7.Sabres
8.Panthers

1.Penguins
2.Rangers
3.Capitals
4.Flyers*
5.Blue Jackets
6.Islanders
7.Devils
8.Hurricanes

Okay hate away.

[quote=Oilers42]My predictions

Can't be bothered to check if your division were correct, but if they are here's my predictions (not trolling).

1.LA
2.Sharks
3.Canucks
4.Ducks*
5.Coyotes*
6.Oilers
7.Flames

1.Hawks
2.Blues
3.Wild
4.Stars
5.Predators
6.Jets
7.Av's

1.Bruins
2.Senators
3.Red Wings
4.Leafs*
5.Montreal
6.Lightning
7.Sabres
8.Panthers

1.Penguins
2.Rangers
3.Capitals
4.Flyers*
5.Blue Jackets
6.Islanders
7.Devils
8.Hurricanes

Okay hate away.
- TheLeafsInsider

Makes sense. I think 3-6 in our division are up for grabs. Just my opinion, but I think the Oilers can start winning games against that tier of teams, especially with a more disciplined system and mature players.

I also see the Islanders slightly higher and the Rangers slipping.

Makes sense. I think 3-6 in our division are up for grabs. Just my opinion, but I think the Oilers can start winning games against that tier of teams, especially with a more disciplined system and mature players.

I also see the Islanders slightly higher and the Rangers slipping.
- Morris

Yeah I thought about that last playoff spot in that division the hardest. I have the edge to the Yotes only because they have a very solid D core and solid defensive system, and I like the addition of Ribeiro to actually add some scoring.

I could certainly see the Oilers, Stars, Yotes as legit threats to that last playoff spot.

And the Isles I just don't like their goaltending, Nabokov looked terrible in the playoff series. Rangers basically I put there because I didn't see anyone better, I think they finish an second place not by being a great team, just better than those behind them.

The NHL needed Gretzky to go to California, and it really did do wonders for the games growth

Would that be Fuhr on cocaine or not?
- nated81

doesn't matter he was awesome

What you guys think of something like Franson and first for yak?

What you guys think of something like Franson and first for yak?
- Yeti1181

- Reveen

Possible top 2 d man and first how's is that bad?

Possible top 2 d man and first how's is that bad?
- Yeti1181

For Yak I'd want a bonafide #1 dman.


Not possible top 2

what i find pretty interresting is the argument gretzky being traded to LA is what made hockey popular in the states most certainly the west coast. on the sportscenter mini doc, mcnall claimed that hockey would have not grown really at all in western US had gretz not come to LA, he went on to say even the florida teams would probably not exist.. kinda crazy to think that out of the history of the NHL there have been only a few players, say, gretz, lemieux richard that have done more for the game than just playing it. any ameerican born players even come close to that kind of influence?
- munky123

It's not an exaggeration at all. In fact, McNall was directly responsible, at least in part, for the initial wave of expansion because he was the chair of the BOG at the time (which he got after making the Gretzky deal.) People like to attribute that to Bettman but it was McNall's idea to begin with (him and a few others, before Bettman was hired), and McNall was the one who basically decided to hire Bettman. This is why people should never forget that Bettman is ultimately the agent of the owners (even though he also has significant personal agency) and that they keep him around because, from their perspective, he's done an incredible job. But I digest.

I've heard in another documentary ("King's Ransom" by Peter Berg, which I'm surprised TSN hasn't run yet) that if the LA deal had fallen through, Detroit of all teams was the next team they would have gone to. Interesting what if.

I find the Gretzky trade fascinating from a league history perspective but the one thing I don't buy into is this narrative that it was a "tragic day in Canadian hockey history", like all Canadians were outraged by this. Now, granted, the trade happened two years before I was born. But I'm pretty sure that, as a Flames fan, I would have probably just been laughing my ass off and/or celebrating the day it happened. I just think of the fact that I still laugh sometimes when I think of the Pronger trade to the Ducks...

For Yak I'd want a bonafide #1 dman.


Not possible top 2
- robin_steele264

Seguin didn't even fetch that, no way yak gets it unless your talking straight up.

good blog...... finally. I heard or saw somewhere that sather told him he could back out and not be traded but he declined. He had a say and he knew what he could do for hockey in the states, plus being the greatest player I bet he had something to prove to himself and wanted to go and try and take a basement team to the cup which he almost did. I still think Jari Kurri was the 2nd best oiler then fuhr then mess. When mess got older he really showed a lot of leadership and he deserves to be 2nd its just Kurri was my favorite besides of course the GREAT ONE
- time2produce

Sather asked him literally right before they were going to do the press conference that if he wanted to back out, they could cancel the deal. Gretzky said no. Apparently a major contributing factor was that, in one of the first major calls between Pocklington and McNall, Pocklington suddenly started to justify the trade to himself, making up a bunch of bullpoop about Gretzky not being a total team player and getting a bit selfish and whatnot. It was a conference call and Wayne was in the room with McNall at the time, and after he heard that he told McNall he would go along with the deal.

Also the first time Pocklington told Sather he intended to trade Gretzky, Sather threatened to resign. Well, according to Sather anyway.

My predictions

1.LA
2.Sharks
3.Canucks
4.Oilers*
5.Ducks
6.Phoenix
7.Flames

1.Hawks
2.Blues
3.Wild
4.Jets*
5.Stars
6.Predators
7.Av's

1.Bruins
2.Leafs
3.Senators
4.Canadians*
5.Red Wings
6.Lightning
7.Panthers
8.Sabres

1.Rangers
2.Penguins
3.Capitals
4.Islanders*
5.Flyers
6.Hurricanes
7.Blue Jackets
8.Devils
- Oilers42

It's gonna take awhile to get used to this new divisional setup is all I know.

Sather asked him literally right before they were going to do the press conference that if he wanted to back out, they could cancel the deal. Gretzky said no. Apparently a major contributing factor was that, in one of the first major calls between Pocklington and McNall, Pocklington suddenly started to justify the trade to himself, making up a bunch of bullpoop about Gretzky not being a total team player and getting a bit selfish and whatnot. It was a conference call and Wayne was in the room with McNall at the time, and after he heard that he told McNall he would go along with the deal.

Also the first time Pocklington told Sather he intended to trade Gretzky, Sather threatened to resign. Well, according to Sather anyway.
- S Kaspar Rollins

Yeah I remember hearing all that too. Pocklington (frank)ed himself

Seguin didn't even fetch that, no way yak gets it unless your talking straight up.
- Yeti1181

I don't think there's much motivation to trade Yakupov anytime soon.

Seguin didn't even fetch that, no way yak gets it unless your talking straight up.
- Yeti1181

Well then we won't trade him. Certainly not for a "could be #2 defenseman", we already have like, 4 of those.

For Yak I'd want a bonafide #1 dman.


Not possible top 2
- robin_steele264

Dion?

Yeah I remember hearing all that too. Pocklington (frank)ed himself
- Yeti1181

On the other hand, though, as much of a crook as Pocklington was, you have to wonder how realistic it was to expect an owner of a team like the Oilers to be able to afford to re-sign Gretzky at that point in his career. I mean, when you consider it still happens today in sports, despite revenue sharing and caps...Though I think most teams have learned the lesson from the Gretzky trade, that franchise players are franchise players and thus irreplaceable.

Well then we won't trade him. Certainly not for a "could be #2 defenseman", we already have like, 4 of those.
- Jack-artist

You have 4 yet your d is consistently your problem I'm just not seeing it.

I don't think there's much motivation to trade Yakupov anytime soon.
- robin_steele264

Whatever happened to MacT's "bold move" anyway? I remember the consensus speculation was that he would try and trade one of the young wingers for a stud young d or something. I actually like what MacT has done so far - he's surprised me - but it still doesn't strike me as a bad idea in principle.

On the other hand, though, as much of a crook as Pocklington was, you have to wonder how realistic it was to expect an owner of a team like the Oilers to be able to afford to re-sign Gretzky at that point in his career. I mean, when you consider it still happens today in sports, despite revenue sharing and caps...Though I think most teams have learned the lesson from the Gretzky trade, that franchise players are franchise players and thus irreplaceable.
- S Kaspar Rollins

I'm not saying he's horrible for it. Gretzky was supposedly asking for million a year no way pocklington could have done it he was already struggling

Whatever happened to MacT's "bold move" anyway? I remember the consensus speculation was that he would try and trade one of the young wingers for a stud young d or something. I actually like what MacT has done so far - he's surprised me - but it still doesn't strike me as a bad idea in principle.
- S Kaspar Rollins

Still time

I'm not saying he's horrible for it. Gretzky was supposedly asking for million a year no way pocklington could have done it he was already struggling
- Yeti1181

Well yeah, it's just that people commonly blame Pocklington solely for the deal and fail to acknowledge the basic economics behind it.

Still time
- Yeti1181

He won't be trading one of the core youngsters.


Firing the coach and trading PRV was bold enough especially compared to the last guy.