Who do you think is the team to beat in the NHL this year in each conference?

Question

Eastern Conference - i think its the New York Rangers. Not just because im a fan but of all their off-season moves. bringing in nikolai zherdev, dan fritsche, wade redden, markus naslund, and others.

Western Conference - Gotta be Detroit. defending champs. BIG target.

Answer 1

all the rangers did was pretty much change names

Jagr for Zherdev= Had similar amount of points, jagr brings experience

Straka for Naslund= Naslund is extremely streaky, and straka get nasty in the playoffs

Khalinin fo Malik= New scapegoat for the rangers

Redden for Backman+Tyutin=Depends on what game redden brings

Then they brought in 3-4th liners, such as voros, rissmiller, fristche, and lose shanahan(i dont think the rags are going to sign him, unless mats makes is desicion not going to the rags in the next few days) and avery

They changed names, have very little experince, and i see them as being incredibly inconsistent, whether naslund or he younger guys, i dont see them doing much different than last year

Answer 2

YES A BIASED RANGERS FAN

haven't seen one of these in a while

Rangers won't even make the playoffs this year

tuna, brodeur and slump can never again be used in the same sentence again, and i not once said anything about the devs in my statement so go eat some tuna ok

Answer 3

West- Sharks

East- Tampa Bay ( especially if Mike Smith could prove he's a top goalie)

Answer 4

East- Montreal

West- Detroit

Answer 5

Hi

I am going to say the two teams that went to the Stanley Cup finals. Though that is not taking anything away from teams like Dallas, San Jose, NY Rangers, Montreal and few more that I think will be very good teams.  Honestly, another regular on here and I were chatting about the Eastern Conference the other day and both agreed we could see the Rangers going to the finals very easily. Just when I hear team to beat I also hear biggest target, and who would not want to knock off the Wings or Pens.

Thank You

ps Kurdafle they have a lot better chance then your one man team. Broduer goes down or slumps and Devils are done.

Answer 6

Western Conference: Detroit.  Stanley Cup champs got stronger in the off-season.

Eastern Conference: Detr.....whoops.  Montreal.  They gained some grit.  Carey Price is a year older.  Didn't lose many pieces.  The core of the team seems to have been maintained.  I think they could finally get to another Cup final.

Answer 7

I'd Have to go

West: Detroit

East: Pittsburgh, Montreal (if they get schneider from the ducks or sundin they take the top spot in my mind), or the Rangers

Answer 8

West I take Detroit, because they have the same exact team that won the Cup plus a 40 goal talent in Hossa. How could they not be a heavy favorite again with an indisputable big upgrade?

East, I'm gonna have to go Habs. The Rangers just don't seem to give me a good feeling whenever I think about them, mostly because it seems every year, they seem to go after the biggest free agents there are, and they're a bit close to the cap as it is. Losing Jagr hurts BAD too.

Answer 9

Well not being a traitor to my favourite team, I do so hope Detroit take the trophy out again. I think in the eastern conference as you said NYR and I think Ottawa and Montreal are going to kick up a fight too ;)