Ice Hockey: biggest surpirses this year

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: OMoT
Lastly, I wouldn't be too worried about Ottawa. They have put up just as many points as last year, even with the lack of a starting goalie early on. Emery was capable of taking them to a 7th game in the 2nd round last year, and Ottawa is capable of shutting down Pittsburgh in the opener.

That was with Chara who is a great type of defensemen for the playoffs. The Sens didn't replace what he does so I think they will be hard pressed to do as well this year.

Ottawa's problem has always been defense and goaltending in the playoffs.

 

[JohnAn2112]

Originally posted by: jman19

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: GOSHARKS

Originally posted by: Garet Jax
Bad Surprises:
2) Jonathon Cheechoo

Certainly he had a drop off in goal production, but his 37 goals this past season still puts him in the top 20 of all goal scorers. Not bad by any means.

Not bad, but if my memory serves then he was drafted with the expectation of doing more. To put it in perspective, the top goal scorer got ~50% more goals even though Cheechoo played on the same line with the top assist man in the NHL all year. Including PP if I'm not mistaken.

If anything, you should have expected the numbers Cheechoo put up last year were too good to be true. There are very very few players drafted who can be expected to put up more than 37 goals in a season, let alone the 50 or so he had last year. I never heard the hype about him like I did about other players who do this. The guy is a very good player, and 37 goals is not bad at all.

Yeah, last year's numbers were more or less a fluke from being on a line with Thornton. Not to say Cheechoo isn't a good scorer or anything, but he went from a 3rd liner to a first liner with Thornton and had a breakout year. He's pretty much leveled off into a 30-40 scorer, which is where he will remain for the rest of his career. He's a solid winger IMO.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: iRONic
You didn't waste any time adding to your sig. Bastage...

Winning a sports pool is very difficult.

In my other pool, I had a very strong team, but was decimated with injuries and ended up towards the bottom of the pool.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: jman19
If anything, you should have expected the numbers Cheechoo put up last year were too good to be true. There are very very few players drafted who can be expected to put up more than 37 goals in a season, let alone the 50 or so he had last year. I never heard the hype about him like I did about other players who do this. The guy is a very good player, and 37 goals is not bad at all.

That is very hard to argue. I obviously gave too much value for his numbers two years ago and a full season with Thornton.

 

[JujuFish]

Originally posted by: OMoT
Emery was capable of taking them to a 7th game in the 2nd round last year

Emery was horrible in the playoffs last year, against Buffalo at least. As soon as you got him to move laterally, he was cooked. He seems to still be weak there this year, but not anywhere near as badly. And they didn't get to the 7th game, they were ousted in 5.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: sao123

Pittsburgh?

Not much of a surprise. They have been steadily getting better the last few seasons. Plus they added some good talent in the off season and have had two of the three best players in the draft the last two years.

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: iRONic
You didn't waste any time adding to your sig. Bastage...

Winning a sports pool is very difficult.

In my other pool, I had a very strong team, but was decimated with injuries and ended up towards the bottom of the pool.

It's very difficult. There's a congrats thread somewhere around here for you.

 

[b0mbrman]

I'd say Michigan State. Yowza, who saw that one coming?

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: iRONic
It's very difficult. There's a congrats thread somewhere around here for you.

I must have missed that. Can someone bump it please?

 

[VTHodge]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: sao123
Pittsburgh?

Not much of a surprise. They have been steadily getting better the last few seasons. Plus they added some good talent in the off season and have had two of the three best players in the draft the last two years.

I agree. Good job by the Pens. Not a surprise, just better than expected. I'll agree that J. Staal's progress has been great to see. Almost all predictions had him playing a handful of NHL games and having his rookie season next year. :thumbsup: Mr. Short-Handed.

 

[GoSharks]

as comparison:
Jarome Iginla
2002: 52 G 44 A 2003: 35 G 32 A
Milan Hejduk
2003: 50 G 48 A 2004: 35 G 40 A
Jonathon Cheechoo
2006: 56 G 37 A 2007: 37 G 32 A

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: GOSHARKS
as comparison:
Jarome Iginla
2002: 52 G 44 A 2003: 35 G 32 A
Milan Hejduk
2003: 50 G 48 A 2004: 35 G 40 A
Jonathon Cheechoo
2006: 56 G 37 A 2007: 37 G 32 A

Comes with the territory, in your breakout year you don't get too much attention; the year after, coverage is a lot tighter.

I would say it's not really fair to put Iginla in that group because he was by far the best forward Calgary had (and still is, even with Huselius' great year). He's the only guy other teams have to worry about, whereas the Avs also had guys like Sakic and Forsberg, and the Sharks have Thornton and Marleau.

 

[Molondo]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: GOSHARKS
as comparison:
Jarome Iginla
2002: 52 G 44 A 2003: 35 G 32 A
Milan Hejduk
2003: 50 G 48 A 2004: 35 G 40 A
Jonathon Cheechoo
2006: 56 G 37 A 2007: 37 G 32 A

Comes with the territory, in your breakout year you don't get too much attention; the year after, coverage is a lot tighter.

I would say it's not really fair to put Iginla in that group because he was by far the best forward Calgary had (and still is, even with Huselius' great year). He's the only guy other teams have to worry about, whereas the Avs also had guys like Sakic and Forsberg, and the Sharks have Thornton and Marleau.

Don't forget, he missed 10 games this season? he could have been easily in the race for the Rocket trophy this year imo.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Penguins. 'Nuff said.

 

[BCYL]

Canucks has to be one of the biggest surprises this year... being a fan, even I counted them out before this season began... making the playoffs would've been a real surprise, and winning the division was shocking...

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: BCYL
Canucks has to be one of the biggest surprises this year... being a fan, even I counted them out before this season began... making the playoffs would've been a real surprise, and winning the division was shocking...

Goes to show you the value of a game-breaker goalie.