Comments on: Battling in the Atlantic

By: big_booty

big_booty — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 14:23:18 +0000

There is no reason to believe that the Atlantic Division standings will be any different than last year.

The only team in the division that underwent any significant improvement this offseason is Pittsburgh, pending (of course) the Malkin signing. The rest of the division seemed to tread water. Their gains are offset by their losses. They only moved their rosters laterally.

1. NJ

2. Phila.

3. NYR

4. Pitts.

5. NYI

By: kamullia

kamullia — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 06:22:06 +0000

I still don't get why b-itch, c-ock, c-um are not allowed while shit and others are (is ***** allowed? I guess I'll find out soon). If you're gonna block offensive words, block them ALL. You can not be selective about it. Otherwise, take the blocks off.

Makes it impossible to use words like Hitchc-ock, doc-ument (and its derivatives), circ-umventing, and on.

The word bleeped was succ-umbing, for those interested, which means to quit fighting, to submit to or yield to.

By: kamullia

kamullia — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 06:04:28 +0000

Pittsburgh's defense this year is just very young, that's the real knock on them. Not that they're not capable. And with moving Melichar (or even Scuderi), Odelein, and Cairns out of the regular nightly lineup they have what Philadelphia still does not (and I forgot to mention): mobility. Being more specific, they have lateral mobility. In today's NHL that makes a world of difference.

But they are young in key positions and they will have to get over that fact. If they don't, they'll get trapped into taking penalties and that will throw everything out the window. But Whitney has showed his poise already and Welch certainly did, especially on the game he deflected an own goal and turned right back and strong-armed a few forwards and then scored one of his own (and had assisted on another). That is not suc*****bing under pressure.

By: flyerjim

flyerjim — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 23:32:57 +0000

Sorry dude, I hate….HATE the Rangers, but they are a better team this year. Lundqvist is better than Nitty and Esche & arguments can be made for Jagr and Forsberg as to whose better. They are both in similar spots right now with a solid veteran core and some real talented younger guys and prospects…..but the Rangers are SLIGHTLY better, for now.

By: Jrugges

Jrugges — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 23:00:24 +0000

I honestly think the Islanders have a chance at a playoff birth, the team went down hill after dipietro went down. 63 games also had a winning record. The deffense is much improved with tough gritty deffensemen in Hill and Witt, also a smooth passers in Zhitnik, and now poti. They went out and got Sillinger which will bring some leadership, also some scoring depth. They have a nice young deffense men in Joel Bouchard(one of the fastest in the nhl). Now you can only hope Satan, and Yashin can step up there play. While Blake needs to keep being well Blake. Atleast they’ve got to look better than the penguins. Fluery hasnt shown me he’s anywhere near a number one goalie yet. The pens also dont have much depth on wingers and what happens if something terrible happens to one of there key plays(Crosby). Then what do they have?

By: Pock_53

Pock_53 — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:44:15 +0000

it was gionta gomez parise

and elias langs and brylin which made the devils dangerous w/ 2 scoring lines

By: deuceswild

deuceswild — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:39:45 +0000

They dont have a huge edge in goaltending either though. Nittymaki will be solid. Offense has to be to the flyers side thought i mean yeah the rangers picked up a few nice additions but they dont have the great scoring depth that the flyers have.

By: nyrhockey094

nyrhockey094 — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:32:56 +0000

Rangers are better then the Flyers. They have the edge in goaltending. They dont have a slight edge in defense, they have a big one because not only is their defense good, but its young. And no philly isnt clearly better in offense. Yeah the Rangers will depend heavily on their top line of Jagr Straka Nylander, but Prucha, Shanny, Immonen, will contribute heavily. I do think Marcel Hossa will have a much better season and Adam Hall was a great acquisition who will put up a few goals. The Rangers will get more of a contribution from their 3rd and 4th line guys. Rucchin, Rucinsky= getting old. The only reall offensive threat we lost was Petr Sykora. But he was more of a clutch threat then an all around threat. The Rangers powerplay is going to be DEADLY this year, Jagr, Straka, Nylander, Shanny, And Rosival didnt get much PP time last year but he showed he could do a decent job of playing QB on the PP. Even if Philly does have the slight edge in offense, the Rangers havea huge edge in goaltending and defense.

By: deuceswild

deuceswild — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 16:42:31 +0000

How is the rangers better than the flyers other than in goaltending and slight edge in defense. Offense has to be better with philly. Rangers didnt change that much i mean they lost rucchin and rucinsky and got shanny cullena nd hall

By: BruMagnus

BruMagnus — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 14:27:14 +0000

I don't see Pittsburgh's defense being that bad this year. Yes I realize it isn't the top defense in the league, but it isn't the poorest anymore either. There may not be much depth, but if none of the top 5 get injured, I see a playoff year.

Kamullia said it best:

"The goal for this team is not winning a Stanley Cup this year, but everyone seems to feel more than capable to reaching the playoffs. If they do not, it won’t be by much. For the ones who do not know the players, it will be a surprise, but for the rest it will be a surprise if they do not battle for a spot at the end of the season (and if so Therrien will be long gone by that time)."

I think people will be surprised.