2013-14 NHL Season

Whalercanes officially out following loss to the Rangers. Apparently, Brad Richards doesn't have to be accounted for during the power play. Whalercanes' PK is embarrassing ... then again, the same could be said about an organization missing the playoff for the fifth consecutive season and seven out of the last eight.

Funnier still, an interview with Peter Karmanos was part of the first intermission timekill. Didn't suggest any sort of overhaul ... some tweaks, maybe a major tweak or two. So what is Ron Francis going to be allowed to do once JR (the Whalercanes' GM, not our esteemed poster) once he takes over?

2006 seems so long ago these days.

 

Good point regarding the offense. Yesterday, I erroneously assumed the Blues would win the Central Division. At the rate St. Louis is sinking and Colorado is rising, the Blues will lose to Chicago in the first round.

I'll take Los Angeles to win the Western Conference but maybe this is finally San Jose's year. No faith in Anaheim (yeah, a little bias may be involved). Minnesota's got some firepower and if Bryzgalov continues to play well, I think the Wild have a heck of a shot at bouncing the Ducks.

 

Did not realize it had been that long a drought.

 

They made the playoffs in 2008 and 09, but 2006 was the Cup year. Imagine what Edmonton Oilers' fans feel like.

 

St. Louis is just built as a defensive team. The offense seems to come and go, given there is no single dominant scorer. I agree that they won't make the Final and could get bounced in either of the first two rounds.

I'm picking the winner of the LA/San Jose series (probably LA) to win the West.

 

Now today, Halak's agent puts out a statement saying Halak said nothing of the sort and he was blindsided by Oates saying anything of the sort.

What a fucking dumpster fire. Can't wait to heckle Oates tomorrow in Raleigh. Time for a full house cleaning. Oates. McPhee. The entire organization needs a reboot, at least from a management standpoint.

 

Nice straw man. Edmonton native Dion Phaneuf begs to differ.

 

Thanks for enlightening me. Bet ya didn't even have to look that up.

 

Mike Keenan is wondering why Trevor Linden won't return his calls today. ;D

 

Actually, the Whalercanes missed the playoffs in 2008, becoming the first team to win the Cup and miss the playoffs the following two seasons.

They won the Cup, missed the playoffs the next two seasons, went to the Eastern Conference finals in '09 - with Cam Ward winning two Game 7s on the road in the process - then missed the playoffs the next five seasons.

Not the best of hockey times in Raleigh. The one bright spot? People are still walking through the turnstiles. Fan base hasn't proven to be fair weather. Still no excuse to be this consistently bad.

 

Thinking Sharks might shake it up for playoffs by putting rookie Alex Stalock in net. Niemi was absolutely terrible last night as Anaheim won the division. (Stalock wasn't much better for that night, but the damage was done before he came in.)

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2014/04/09/goaltending-contributes-heavily-to-sharks-5-2-loss-in-anaheim-and-raises-questions-for-the-upcoming-playoffs/

Chicago-San Jose is locked in as the West's 4-5 matchup, but I don't think Niemi is going to be facing his old team. Stalock's GAA is way lower (1.91 to 2.40), and in addition to his lower-echelon GAA and save percentage, Niemi has been very questionable and hesitant with puckhandling and challenging shots.

 

Thanks for the link, LTL. Nice to read Joe Thornton throwing his goalie under the bus.