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News Article: THN Yearbook/season preview and they don't pick the Kings ...again

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deeshamrock

deeshamrock

Registered User
Jul 25, 2011
8,748
2,291
Philadelphia, PA
So the Hockey News Yearbook came today, and one of the articles inside was lining up the divisions and standings and picking the Cup winner. Although they pick the Kings to win the Pacific, they picked the Blues to beat the pens for the Cup.

I don't see the Pens getting there, not with that D or esp the goaltending. And although I like the Blues and think they will end up in the WCF, I can't see them beating the Kings.
Curiously, one of the reasons the THN gave the Blues the edge was their depth. On D, yeah, I'd agree with that but not on O and esp the top 6. TSN described Chris Stewart, Backus and Roy as leading the team's arsenal of weapons. Their top 6 is not what I'd call 'an arsenal' and that I think will once again be their downfall.
Anyway, the Kings, again, get no respect.

But at least they recognized some of the Kings individually, they ranked Drew Doughty as the 10th best player in the league. (Quick was 13, Carter 18 and Kopi 22)
Click to read more...
 
I understand their reasoning, but picking the blues over kings because of depth is stupid. The way they play and the lack of offensive game breakers will always be their Achilles heel.
 
I understand their reasoning, but picking the blues over kings because of depth is stupid. The way they play and the lack of offensive game breakers will always be their Achilles heel.
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Agree. And the hockey fans I know who've talked about next year, top teams, favorites, etc. all pretty much said the same thing. Blues are a tough team, great D, physical, etc. but they have little in the way of top line elite offensive players, esp the 1st line. And although they did dominate the Kings at times during this years playoffs, a lot of that had to do with the first line struggling and the 3rd line not being as effective as the year before. I can't see that happening again, and with Frattin and TT being in the fold, that should help.
Quick is the better goalie and that won't change.
 
Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.
 
While Quick didn't have a good regular season, that can be attributed at least in part to his injury issues. As such, as much as I think doughty is worthy of a top 10 selection, he should not be higher than Quick. Quick on his game, which he was in the past two playoffs, is arguably the most dominate player in the league. We'd have been picking in the top 5 in 2012, not winning a cup, if it wasn't for that guy.

As for the prediction, do they have a predicted finish to the regular season? Is it possible they think we'll face someone in round one or two that can beat us, but can't beat St. Louis? That'd be the lone reason I think they'd pick St. Louis over use, especially since we've beat them two straight playoffs. Did they add anyone other than Roy to that team? If not, then no, they aren't better than us.

And Pittsburgh will possibly win the cup if Fluery shakes his mental farts and plays like he did in 2008 and 2009. If he plays like the past two playoffs, the Penguins will be golfing well before the cup ever gets presented.
 
kingsfan said:
While Quick didn't have a good regular season, that can be attributed at least in part to his injury issues. As such, as much as I think doughty is worthy of a top 10 selection, he should not be higher than Quick. Quick on his game, which he was in the past two playoffs, is arguably the most dominate player in the league. We'd have been picking in the top 5 in 2012, not winning a cup, if it wasn't for that guy.

As for the prediction, do they have a predicted finish to the regular season? Is it possible they think we'll face someone in round one or two that can beat us, but can't beat St. Louis? That'd be the lone reason I think they'd pick St. Louis over use, especially since we've beat them two straight playoffs. Did they add anyone other than Roy to that team? If not, then no, they aren't better than us.

And Pittsburgh will possibly win the cup if Fluery shakes his mental farts and plays like he did in 2008 and 2009. If he plays like the past two playoffs, the Penguins will be golfing well before the cup ever gets presented.
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They got rid of Perron, but they added MPS. But he's not exactly an offensive juggernaut though.

I agree on you statement of the Penguins. They need to figure out their defense and goalie situation. I think Boston is the only team in the east that I see that has the best chance at the cup.
 
No disrespect meant by the following comment as your posts are much appreciated and you've dove in to the Kings head first, but you are showing your relative young age when it comes to the Kings when you say in the same breath that they are getting no respect but are also picked to win the "division", a division that is now larger than usual.

I don't know what THN was saying in the early 90s, but I can't imagine the Kings being picked to win their division by any publication other than prior to last season. Seeing them picked to win anything is still strange to see.

As for picking St. Louis, well, I just don't see that happening.
 
Only way St. Louis makes it out of the West is if someone else knocks us off first.
 
As for the prediction, do they have a predicted finish to the regular season? Is it possible they think we'll face someone in round one or two that can beat us, but can't beat St. Louis? That'd be the lone reason I think they'd pick St. Louis over use, especially since we've beat them two straight playoffs. Did they add anyone other than Roy to that team? If not, then no, they aren't better than us.
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They ranked the two conferences by division and final standings but not points:
EASTMetro
1. PItts
2. NYR
3. Flyers

Atlantic
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3.Ottawa
4. Montreal
5. Toronto


WESTPacific
1. LA
2. SJ
3. Vancouver
4. Ducks
5. Edmonton

Central
1 Chicago
2. Blues
3. Wild

And that the Blues would beat the Pens for the Cup.


Pittsburgh will possibly win the cup if Fluery shakes his mental farts and plays like he did in 2008 and 2009. If he plays like the past two playoffs, the Penguins will be golfing well before the cup ever gets presented.
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You're right in that if Fluery (and the Pens hired a sports psychologist to work with him) regains his lost confidence and the D (with new coach Jacques Martin) improves and the forwards learn to support the D better, they will be improived enough to give the Bruins a better challange. But that's a lot of if's.
And I think Ottawa could be a dark horse....
 
deeshamrock said:
They ranked the two conferences by division and final standings but not points
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What were the final standings and division winners? Should be fairly easy to see who we face in the first round and who St. Louis faces (and the other two match ups). Sorry to ask for all the info, I just would really like to see/figure out who they think we can't beat, but that St. Louis can beat, considering we are both fairly similar teams, just that the Kings have better top end skill upfront and better goaltending.

deeshamrock said:
You're right in that if Fluery (and the Pens hired a sports psychologist to work with him) regains his lost confidence and the D (with new coach Jacques Martin) improves and the forwards learn to support the D better, they will be improived enough to give the Bruins a better challange. But that's a lot of if's.
And I think Ottawa could be a dark horse....
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A lot of if's I agree, but then again Pitts chances always involved the iffy Fluery.

I honestly don't think their D is that bad, and they have a lot of depth to it. not to mention the pieces to make a trade to add to it if they see fit like they did last year with Murray. As you said, Martin should help as well.

I think the only real thing standing in Pittsburgh's way is Sid's and Malkin's health, and Fluery extracting his cranium from his rectal region.

Ottawa could be a good choice. They did well last year with a gimpy Karlsson and a still not 100% Spezza in the playoffs. The real issue is how much of an affect losing Alfie and Gonchar will have. While they replaced them on the ice, did they replace them in the locker room? That's 256 playoff games and 2,355 regular season games going out the door, not to mention one Stanley Cup and four Stanley Cup finals appearances as well, plus the team captain for the last 14 years.

The talent is there though. They have the goaltending for sure, and the defense has all the tools. Upfront, this is where a Chris Kelly or Mike Fisher would be really nice to get back.
 
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What were the final standings and division winners? Should be fairly easy to see who we face in the first round and who St. Louis faces (and the other two match ups). Sorry to ask for all the info, I just would really like to see/figure out who they think we can't beat, but that St. Louis can beat, considering we are both fairly similar teams, just that the Kings have better top end skill upfront and better goaltending.
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I listed them in the post above. If it finishes like they state, St Louis would face the Wild in round 1. And then if they win would play the winner of the CHicaco vs wildcard team. So they could face the Hawks in round 2.

Ottawa could be a good choice. They did well last year with a gimpy Karlsson and a still not 100% Spezza in the playoffs. The real issue is how much of an affect losing Alfie and Gonchar will have. While they replaced them on the ice, did they replace them in the locker room? That's 256 playoff games and 2,355 regular season games going out the door, not to mention one Stanley Cup and four Stanley Cup finals appearances as well, plus the team captain for the last 14 years.
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I like the Sens, a very fun team to watch ,so fast. And I thought given the fact they were without Spezza, Karlsson and Anderson for a good chuck of the year, McLean did one helluva job with them. All those guys are back healthy, you add Bobby Ryan on that line with Spezza and they'll finish near the top in the Conf.
But you're correct in the lack of a veteran presence. I wonder if they'll make a trade at the deadline. Anyway, should be an exciting year for them.
 
Biggest difference between the Kings and Blues...we have Quick and they don't.

Our forwards are still better than the Blues' forwards. When Carter and Kopitar are on their games the Blues don't have anyone that even comes close.
 
KINGS17 said:
Biggest difference between the Kings and Blues...we have Quick and they don't.

Our forwards are still better than the Blues' forwards. When Carter and Kopitar are on their games the Blues don't have anyone that even comes close.
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To me the x-factor is Richards. The Blues are really missing someone with his leadership and hate of losing.
 
deeshamrock said:
I listed them in the post above. If it finishes like they state, St Louis would face the Wild in round 1. And then if they win would play the winner of the CHicaco vs wildcard team. So they could face the Hawks in round 2.
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And we play whom? Anaheim? I don't see how they'd beat us honestly, their defense wouldn't hold up IMO and Bruce Boudreau is a coaching wizard in the regular season but doesn't get much for results in the playoffs.
 
Blues are gonna be good next year, along with the Minnesota Wild, whom I'm expecting big things from despite their lack of a real #2 Center. But hell, if Chicago won another cup with Handzus centering their 2nd line, I could see the Wild surprising the West in similar fashion. They have a decent crop of forwards.

Deesh is right about Richards, who seems to be at a crossroads. One where he either gets another concussion and folds, or has a comeback year. I constantly worry about his health because of his style of play. Hopefully Frattin will pick up some of the physical slack on that line and let Richie dish more pucks to Carter with the extra room Frattin makes.
 
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