How's Jeff Francis pitching ?
- golfingsince

Not as good as his catching




....not that there's anything wrong with that...

used to play soccer and baseball with him growing up in Delta. nicest guy you could meet...

only 9th overall MLB draft pick I know....

Jim Caple
@jimcaple


Canada beats U.S. for gold medal in baseball at Pan Am Games with three runs in bottom of 10th to win 7-6.

I'd have a team in Portland and Seattle, and Las Vegas (since Bettman is keen on it) and so my alignment for the Western Conference would be:

Pacific:
Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Jose, Anaheim, LA

Midwest:
Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado, Las Vegas, Arizona, Dallas

Central:
Chicago, Minnesota, St. Louis, Nashville, Columbus, Winnipeg.

Then I'd have Quebec City and a second Toronto team and possibly Halifax in the East and my Eastern conference would be:

Northeast:
Toronto, Toronto II, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, Halifax

Atlantic:
Washington, Detroit, Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Boston

Metropolitan:
New York Rangers, Brooklyn, Buffalo, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburg

That's 3Bil in the owners pockets, and in my scenario, the playoffs would be something like the MLB where there are 4 wild card teams who fight it out in a round before the actual playoffs to determine who the 7 and 8 seeds are in a best of 3 series. Playoffs proceed as normal from then on, now that makes tanking a lot sillier because there's a better chance of making the playoffs and earning a home date or two in the wild card round.
- DariusKnight

Love the all Canadian Northeast....interesting concept...all in all...

We need a new coach...

Our man

http://youtu.be/fPRLYRgs8Sc

Bettman. Any chance he gets to make sure the CDN teams don't make the playoffs he will take it. I'm sure he has the NHL scheduler on speed dial...


- LordHumungous

LA with the most rested of the B2B's.

There was some noise about how LA got the benefit of every Socal B2B last year. They got to play teams the day after they played the Ducks.

I think Lombardi has compromising pictures of Bettman.....

We need a new coach...

Our man

http://youtu.be/fPRLYRgs8Sc
- CanuckDon

Reminds me of my parenting style....

My names' PIP... And your a$$ ain't talking your way out of this.

We need a new coach...

Our man

http://youtu.be/fPRLYRgs8Sc
- CanuckDon

They filmed that at the rink in Harbor City. It used to be one of my regular stops.

Reminds me of my parenting style....

My names' PIP... And your a$$ ain't talking your way out of this.
- rugdnit

Haha nice...he is priceless. Wish I could get Him out for one of my beer league practices, our D is too soft

Good point. My concern may also have been fuelled by the fact that I spent most of yesterday breaking down my thoughts on the NHL's 10 most improved teams this offseason:

http://bleacherreport.com...ost-in-the-2015-offseason

I'm not completely sold on the idea that Calgary will be better; I think they could stumble as they move out of underdog status. But I'm concerned for the Canucks that the Stars and Avalanche are teams that finished below us last season and look like they could be on the upswing.
- Carol Schram

I agree the Flames will have a tough time holding on to a playoff spot in the crazy competitive WC. Not so much of a debate though, pertaining to the Canucks fate.

Love the all Canadian Northeast....interesting concept...all in all...

- Makita

It's just an idea, 36 teams with 20 teams making the playoffs and having the bottom four have to play a short 3 game series to make it to the actual playoffs. It'll make the bubble teams have more of a shot to make it and at the same time, keep more teams in the race for a lot longer which will make the tanking strategy less viable.

I agree the Flames will have a tough time holding on to a playoff spot in the crazy competitive WC. Not so much of a debate though, pertaining to the Canucks fate.
- ConnorMcDaigle

Who knows? Neither team was expected to do much last season but both did. The west is good but still pretty wide open.

Oduya was a good add, but Dallas's D is still horseshlt. Colorado too. The Wild will be as good as Dubnyk allows them to be. Nashville could easily fall back down a bit. LA looks scary, but if the circus that has been surrounding them all summer follows them onto the ice they could struggle. San Jose is in worse shape then the Canucks and have done less to address it. Edmonton is still Edmonton until proven otherwise. Columbus is a sleeper. If they stay healthy they could do some damage. Chicago is significantly worse than when they won the cup - still pretty damn good though. St. Louis will be good unless they are completely sick of Hitchcock.

Outside of Anahiem, who will probably win the President's Trophy, and Arizona, who will probably finish last, it should be pretty tight.

Who knows? Neither team was expected to do much last season but both did. The west is good but still pretty wide open.

Oduya was a good add, but Dallas's D is still horseshlt. Colorado too. The Wild will be as good as Dubnyk allows them to be. Nashville could easily fall back down a bit. LA looks scary, but if the circus that has been surrounding them all summer follows them onto the ice they could struggle. San Jose is in worse shape then the Canucks and have done less to address it. Edmonton is still Edmonton until proven otherwise. Columbus is a sleeper. If they stay healthy they could do some damage. Chicago is significantly worse than when they won the cup - still pretty damn good though. St. Louis will be good unless they are completely sick of Hitchcock.

Outside of Anahiem, who will probably win the President's Trophy, and Arizona, who will probably finish last, it should be pretty tight.
- CubanBuffet

Isn't Columbus in the east ?

Isn't Columbus in the east ?

- Redmile247

Oh yeah.

Point still stands though.

Oh yeah.

Point still stands though.
- CubanBuffet

I think they still get in the east

I do see improvements from many teams in the west that missed too

I think they still get in the east

I do see improvements from many teams in the west that missed too
- Redmile247

I think that both Calgary and Vancouver would get in if they were in the East. In the west, I'm not so sure.

Apollo Creed Clubberlang

It's just an idea, 36 teams with 20 teams making the playoffs and having the bottom four have to play a short 3 game series to make it to the actual playoffs. It'll make the bubble teams have more of a shot to make it and at the same time, keep more teams in the race for a lot longer which will make the tanking strategy less viable.
- DariusKnight

Why do we need 20 teams in the playoffs?

I think that both Calgary and Vancouver would get in if they were in the East. In the west, I'm not so sure.
- CubanBuffet

Definitely agree with them making it in the east

As for the west it will be tough ...if the Canucks can get solid goaltending from miller and have a few break through performances they have a shot for sure ... With the flames I'm confident they won't be a team that regresses like all the haters say ...whether that's enough to get them in we will see

Definitely agree with them making it in the east

As for the west it will be tough ...if the Canucks can get solid goaltending from miller and have a few break through performances they have a shot for sure ... With the flames I'm confident they won't be a team that regresses like all the haters say ...whether that's enough to get them in we will see
- Redmile247[/quote

They will regress a bit...but they will contend for a spot.

Twins news....kinda.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...e-their-no-trade-clauses/

Why do we need 20 teams in the playoffs?
- LordHumungous

I know numbers-wise it works so it often doesnt bother me, but I cant help but wonder what a poor accomplishment making the playoffs is today. Of 30 NHL teams more than half make it into the dance. Especially if you compare it to baseball who until recently only had the division winners and 1 wildcard make it in from each league (it was really a sore topic when LA was the 8th seed and won )

Twins news....kinda.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...e-their-no-trade-clauses/
- LeftCoaster

Perhaps we could absorb 40% of their salary at next years trade deadline (assuming we aren't in a playoff position) and trade them to a contender. At a $4.2MM cap hit they would be very attractive as a new second line. 2 1sts and an A- prospect back?

Perhaps we could absorb 40% of their salary at next years trade deadline (assuming we aren't in a playoff position) and trade them to a contender. At a $4.2MM cap hit they would be very attractive as a new second line. 2 1sts and an A- prospect back?
- CanuckDon

Combine that with 1st we are getting for Vrbata and Hamhuis at this deadline and that would 9 1st round pics in 4 years. If we can't acquire a new 1st line with all of those high end pics....tar and feather Delorme?

Twins news....kinda.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...e-their-no-trade-clauses/
- LeftCoaster

If they leave there is literally no-one for at least 4 years. it would speed up the process of rebuild with 4 bottom 5 finishes. You're damned if you do and slowed down if you don't.