Quote: Originally Posted By andru2797 on 4/08/2010
Speaking of the Red Wings...incredible little stat...only 3 teams (Washington, Chicago and San Jose) in the entire NHL have fewer regulation losses than the Wings. One has to wonder how many of those 14 OT losses would turn into wins had they been healthy all year. In any case, someone at the top of the West is gonna have their hands full.

On the other hand they have the fewest wins of the playoff teams in the west.

If the Canucks hadn't lost Daniel and Roberto for such long stretches maybe we would be sitting on top of the division.

Point is, save the whatifs for the simulator and pay attention to reality. Of all the teams in the playoffs that we could meet in the 1st round Detroit scares me the most because of experience. I think we match up well with everyone else below us.

Vancouver can take the Wings if Luongo plays average only,I hope we get Detroit Kesler will kick it up a few notches against his boyhood team..

whoever plays the Sharks will kick their *** and ill be $20 richer ..thx to toddcommish

Quote: Originally Posted By andru2797 on 4/08/2010Ummm...have you been watching the Red Wings the last month or so

So everybody is supposed to curl up in the fetal position and beg for mommy? Come on I'm not scared of the Wings. Canucks are 1-2-1 against them and that includes a game way back in October that I was at where were mailed in a third period lead after chasing Osgood only to have Datsyuk play unreal, stealing a win from us. Trust me, if it is Detroit, we'll be ready and we won't be underdogs...shouldnt be anyway, but I'm sure all the Detroit Lovers of the world will have them as heavy favourites...Last game we played I almost got sick having to litsen to Kevin Weekes gush over them as if they were God's gift to hockey fans. Give me a break. The Wings are overated. Datsyuk is way over rated. Lidstrom is past his prime. Every team has hot streaks. If the Wings play the Canucks in the first round, Detroit's hot streak will stop after game 82. If they play the Hawks however they may just win a series.

Canucks need to have at least a partially healthy defensive core to go anywhere. I think the health of the D men will be the biggest factor in how far they go.

delta, last time I checked the "overrated" Red Wings have won 4 Cups and 5 Finals the last 12 years and have the best draft and development system in the league as evidenced by the fact that they have built a consistent winner with only 1 top 20 draft pick since 1991, and that was pick # 19 in 2005.

The Canucks have how many Cups in their history? How many finals in their recent history?? Delta, I'm not saying no one can beat the Red Wings, but of all the possible opponents in the West, they are the most dangerous team, similar to when a very good Anaheim team made it in as an 8 seed last season and steamrolled San Jose. To say they are overrated is ridiculous because the proof is in the Cups my friend.

And to say Pavel Datsyuk is overrated is just plain ridiculous. He plays against the other team's best forward every night and still managing to be a career point per game player, can stickhandle in a phone booth, has won Selke trophies, Stanley Cups, an Olympic Bronze Medal and was a finalist for the Hart trophy last season (which I believe he should have won). What more does he have to do to not be "overrated"?

I understand you're frustrated by all the love shown to the Red Wings. Believe me as a Hawks fan I've had to put up with it for many, many years. But you still gotta be realistic. They are the most consistent franchise in the NHL along with the Devils by a mile, and have been for nearly 20 seasons. How can you understate that?

Is there anybody out there in Canuck land that would like to back up their words?

I know randle won't, delta won't..

Detroit will work Vancouver over... if they match up head to head

the refs always side with Detroit

nickhead, if I was single, didn't have a family to support, mortgage to pay and so on I would have no trobule making a bet with you.

andru...who cares how many Cups Detroit has won? You can only put so much stock in team history. Using that logic, Montreal with all the rich history they have and can draw from should be cup favourites every year. Last season was the begin of the decline of Red Wing hockey. Yes they made the final, but in the final they were clearly done. If Helm is looked on as a player who will carry the team in the future, that future doesnt look to good. Detroit, this year, aside from a late spurt has been average. No other way to look at it. Heck, 2 weeks ago there was serious doubt as to even whether or not they would even make the playoffs. Detroit is fragile, physically. I'm not saying we aren't, but I would say we definitely handled our significant injuries this year better than the Wings did. About Datsyuk...maybe way overrated was too harsh, but he is not the same player he was offensively. Neither is Zetterberg. In my opion Van/Det would be an offensive series,and a great one to watch. I just don't think the Wings would be able to keep pace.

it doesnt have to be for cash man

gc's or teams are still cash...

If Canucks beat Detroit, I cant talk in the Canucks thread anymore for the rest of the summer once my bandwagon debt is paid off

If Detroit beats Vancouver, you have to stop blaming the refs for Vancouvers losses.

That should be easy for you to accept?

I have no use for GC's or teams... I dont play the sim anymore

I don't think Vancouver has had the injury problems Detroit has this season. The Wings played a game against Chicago this season with half their roster from the AHL. That would decimate any team. They had more man games lost by January than they did all last season.

And don't kid yourself, the Red Wings were inches from winning it all again last season. If Fleury doesn't make a great save in the dying minutes, who knows what happens. Pittsburgh, as great as their run was, won by the skin of their teeth. Lidstrom may be getting older, but Jimmy Howard, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Kronwall, Filppula and Jonathan Ericsson form a very solid young nucleaus that will be competitive for many years to come.

Also to consider, I would take Mike Babcock over Alain Vigneault in a 7 game coaching matchup any day of the week. I would also take the Datsyuk-Zetterberg duo over the Sedins come playoff time any day of the week. Let's not even talk about Luongo. It would be a tougher matchup than you think. When the Wings are healthy and rolling, they can beat anybody and I'm sure they are the last team of the bottom 4 that the top 4 want to play.

Quote: Originally Posted By nickhead on 4/09/2010
Is there anybody out there in Canuck land that would like to back up their words?

I know randle won't, delta won't..

Detroit will work Vancouver over... if they match up head to head

the refs always side with Detroit

I back up my words...Flames suck and wont be a contender for 7 years..you wanna bet on that Nickhead?..all of sudden he's turmned into Godmike and loves the Red Wings..WOW what a shocker!

your team blows ..get over it..its not 1989 any more ..let it go ..stop living in the past

Buy yourself a new pair of batting gloves for softball season...ha