I think Pacific is indeed the toughest division in the league

[Leonardo87]

The ducks would be doing better if @ViD didn't jinx them earlier this year... they have been terrible since that thread.

Amen to that. Nah. J/K.

Ducks lost some key players in Zegras and Drysdale, and also McTavish more recently. Troy Terry has looked awful this year. Ducks are in games most of the time but have found ways to lose, but that is expected from a young team rebuilding with depth issues.

They are still 1-2 years away, imo. Another Top 10 pick in the draft can't hurt.

 

[Chairman Maouth]

Dont know if any other division has as strong of a top three as VGK/LAK/EDM. The bottom half of Pacific sucks though.

You forgot a team.

 

[jackjohnson]

Vegas
La
Avs
Dallas
Jets
Canucks(if you believe standings)
/oilers(if you believe in underlying numbers)

You can discount Oilers based off 10 games of bad goaltending an injuries. Others look at bigger picture

Oilers are automatic non contenders since they dont have a good goalie. Will see again this year. Am just happy Oilers will stick with Holland longer after their win streak. Hope they stick with Holland for a long time lol

 

[dirtydanglez]

Why are western fans so insecure?

seems like the other way around. hard to argue against the pacific being the best right now when 3 of the top 5 teams in the league are in the pacific.

 

[jackjohnson]

You forgot a team.

I think he is just replaying last seasons NHL games. Hasnt moved to 2023-2024 season yet

 

[Chairman Maouth]

I think he is just replaying last seasons NHL games. Hasnt moved to 2023-2024 season yet

Solid theory I had not considered. Thank you.

 

[TheOrangeDesk]

So you’ve listed 1 actual contender, where are the rest?

Gonna be honest. You aren't even worth replying to

Makes a lot of sense that the Jets and Oilers would be considered contenders but not the Bruins, Rangers, Panthers, Leafs. Perfect sense.

You can believe the Bruins and leafs are contenders if you want. For me, I think a team needs a top 6 centre or more than one NHL dman

 

[Mr Positive]

Another cup in the Pacific

The bottom is weak, sure, but the playoffs will be a different story

 

[TheNumber4]

Surely you know what a new coach bump is by now after your 5th coach in like 6 years.

Oh I do. That’s how I know this isn’t just a new coach bump.

 

[Golden_Jet]

To me its easily the best division. Vegas, LA, and Van all started like a house on fire, and Edmonton is the hottest team in the league over the last few weeks.

Yep best teams at the top, and worst teams in the league at the bottom

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

seems like the other way around. hard to argue against the pacific being the best right now when 3 of the top 5 teams in the league are in the pacific.

And for the Kings at least that's while largely not playing divisional games so they can't be accused of stacking up 'easy' points

The only Pacific teams LA has played are Vegas twice and Anaheim once

 

[snag]

Surely you know what a new coach bump is by now after your 5th coach in like 6 years.

That isn't the insult you think it is....

 

[Smif]

Gonna be honest. You aren't even worth replying to


You can believe the Bruins and leafs are contenders if you want. For me, I think a team needs a top 6 centre or more than one NHL dman

How about a #1 goalie, you know what that is?

 

[snag]

How about a #1 goalie, you know what that is?

You know how to sign one for us? Because every one of my personal attempts have failed....

And for the Kings at least that's while largely not playing divisional games so they can't be accused of stacking up 'easy' points

The only Pacific teams LA has played are Vegas twice and Anaheim once

The Kings are a tough team.

 

[Peasy]

Oh I do. That’s how I know this isn’t just a new coach bump.

You guys couldnt stop goin on about how amazing Woodcroft was after his first half season and imagine what a full year with him looks like!

Edmonton will crumble once again when they have to face a legit opponent in the playoffs.

 

[Golden_Jet]

That was the underlying point behind the joke I made. Those 3 teams are not, in fact, better than the other 3. Probably could've added a sarcasm emoji.

Ahh ok thanks

 

[snag]

You guys couldnt stop goin on about how amazing Woodcroft was after his first half season and imagine what a full year with him looks like!

Edmonton will crumble once again when they have to face a legit opponent in the playoffs.

Hopefully for them the Leafs aren't hogging all the tee times by the time they get there.....

 

[Muffin]

Oh I do. That’s how I know this isn’t just a new coach bump.

Everytime they've hired a new coach they've gone something around 7-3 in his first 10 games and everytime Oilers fans think he's "the guy". Two years later he's fired.

 

[TheNumber4]

Everytime they've hired a new coach they've gone something around 7-3 in his first 10 games and everytime Oilers fans think he's "the guy". Two years later he's fired.

That’s why you watch the games so you have an idea what you are talking about.

 

[Muffin]

That’s why you watch the games so you have an idea what you are talking about.

Funny that's what you guys said when Woodcroft was hired.

 

[TheNumber4]

Funny that's what you guys said when Woodcroft was hired.

Wood was an upgrade over Tip, Knob an upgrade on Wood. The evolution to powerhouse has been completed.

 

[Mathew Barzal]

From the eye test thus far as a Canucks fan it’s not so much that the Pacific is very good so much as no team has stepped up and looked like a juggernaut yet. Teams like the Sharks are getting wins because they’re hungrier and battling harder. The Canucks are a good team but we should not be a top 3 in the conference team, at least not in a regular year.

I think with this being the last year of a stagnant cap we’re seeing the implications of good teams having to shed weight and regress to the mean.

If there was ever a year to load up at free agency and go for it it’s this season.

 

[HanSolo]

The funny thing is Vegas is winning games while not even playing their best. In November, they couldn't buy themselves a goal and lost couple of 1 goal games and even getting shutout 3 times in 5 games.

Now these last 4 games, their offense has been saving their asses while they seem to not be able to keep the puck out of their own net.

The past few weeks have been maddening. Not because I'm heavily invested in first half results for the VGK. I kinda feel numb to all the winning after the highs of the cup win.

But my chicken little of a dad constantly texts me the most negative shit when the Knights face even the most minimal adversity. Transcription of my text conversation last night after Vegas goes down 1-0

Dad: "Are you f***ing serious? Getting f***ed by the Flames? The FLAMES?"

Me: "it's a one goal deficit. Relax"

Dad: "bunch of losers."

Fast forward to after Vegas wins

"yeah baby Stone da man"

Can't wait for Vegas to make the Ottawa game this Sunday close so I can get doom and gloom in person at Tmobile

 

[CupofOil]

Why move the goal posts with seeding?

Toronto lost to the finals team, Edmonton lost to the finals team

Toronto had to go through a tougher 1st round opponent than Edmonton did. Few teams would rather play Tampa over LA

Lol, instead of taking the L like any honorable poster would, you move the goal posts yourself saying that the Leafs lost to a finals team as well as the Oilers as if Florida and Vegas were equal even though the Oilers lost to the Cup champ that beat the team the Leafs lost to in 5 and did it with relative ease.
In terms of the L.A. vs. Tampa comparison. L.A. had 104 points while Tampa had 98 so.... wrong again.

Just take the L, you were wrong. It happens to all of us but it takes an honorable person to admit when they were wrong, are you going to take that path as any normal human would or are you going to take the dark path of being THAT guy that never admits he's wrong even when he knows he's wrong.

 

[Oilslick941611]

2022 Tampa made the Finals, 2023 Florida made the Finals, Colorado and Vegas won the Cup. You're arguing yourself into a circle as both Toronto and Edmonton lost to the eventual Conference champions.


Toronto has been beating that Edmonton ass pretty nice in the McDavid era. Leafs are 17-4-2 vs the Oilers since McDavid was drafted.

And where has that gotten them?