Detroit Will Not Win the Stanley Cup

My prediction: Some one from the Northwest Division will play for the Stanley Cup. Maybe not win it (I think Philly will win it), but at least be in the finals. Argue with me all you want. Tell me how the Red Wings have the best record in the NHL. Well, here is all I have to say to you.

You know why Detroit has the best record? It’s because they are in the absolute worst division in hockey, and with the new NHL, it's set up so nearly half of all the games played are against your division rivals. Yes, Detroit is a good team (that's hard to admit, being an Avs fan), and I will also give Nashville some credit; they are actually proving themselves this year. However, look at the other three teams Detroit plays the majority of their games against; St. Louis, Chicago, and Columbus, the three worst teams in the West, and three of the five worst teams in the whole league. Any team can rack up 122 points when 54 of those points were pretty much handed to you for no reason other than the location of your city in relation to other NHL cities.

Now you will probably say “the first place team in the Northwest is 18 points behind Detroit.” That is true. And it is because the Northwest division has to play the Northwest division for half of its games. When you have three of the best teams in hockey in the same division, there is not going to be one real winner or one real loser in the group. All the teams will win about the same amount, and lose the same amount. If Detroit switched divisions with Colorado, Calgary, or Edmonton, even Vancouver, I garuntee that that team would have 122 points right now, and Detroit would have around 96-105. Detroit is off parading about how they can beat the St. Louis Blues, while Colorado, Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton are just hanging in there battling it out with the toughest competitors in the sport, and still staying on track to make the playoffs. A week ago, four of the five Northwest division teams would have made the playoffs(only three ended up making it).

Detroit does have an impressive record against the Northwest Division, 13-5-1, but that record almost proves my point. Detroit played half the amount of games against the Northwest than the Central, and lost more than twice the amount of games than they lost against their own division. The NHL season is long and extreamly tough. By playing St. Louis and Columbus all season, Detroit saved themselves from really getting beat up and broken down like alot of the other teams in the league do, which greatly helped them when they played teams that have been getting beat up all year long.

I'm not saying Detroit is a bad team, because they aren't, they are a good team, a very good team. And I'm not saying that Calgary or Colorado or even Dallas is the best team. What I'm saying is the way the NHL scheduling is set up now makes the standings very decieving. I think that it's going to show in the playoffs, that Detroit took the easier road to get where they are, and won't last very long when they have to continuously play opponents who are much better than the ones they are used to playing for most of the year. I'll take Detroit losing in the second round, and Calgary winning the Western Conference.

Date

Mon 04/17/06, 2:39 am EST <pageTools></pageTools>

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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick

1323 days ago

Score 1

Detroit is damn good. I don't think the Flyers will win in the playoffs unless the NHL shifts how it is calling the game. Like every year, the Flyers are weak on the blueline and will be facing the better goaltender every game. Unless the NHL allows the cluthcing a grabbing it has been calling all season the Flyers big and slow defense will get beaten by the more talented teams like the Senators and Devils. Carolina has been great all season but you have inexperienced goalies in Gerber and Ward. SImilar for the struggling Rangers who are entering the playoffs going backward and have the rookie injured Lundquist playing in Net. You gotta figure if Hasek plays the Sens are to favorite out of the east. If Hasek misses the playoffs, the Sens go into the series with questionable Emery. Buffalo has been surprisingly good, and while their goaltending tandem of Biron and Miller is real good, again, they are not battle tested. I don't think Montreal has what it takes talent wise and am not sold on Huet and Aebischer. However, the Lighting are a real dangerous team. While I can't see them winning it all, Burke and Graham can backstop them to victory. Thus, looking at the east, if Hasek plays I would say Ottowa is the favorite followed by the surging, brodeur backstopped, playoff experienced Devils. If Hasek is out I would say the Devils become the favorite with Ottowa and Carolina right on their tales.

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Madproof9Red-Shirting

1323 days ago

Score 0

I know Detroit is good, but not as good as alot of people think. Still good though. You make some real good points though, the Flyers have inmproved defense, still not the best in the league, but they do have improved offense, which will hopefully ofset the lack of D. Forsberg should be back, and that alone is alot. I think Carolina is kind of in the sam boat as Detroit, alot of their points came against Florida and Washington, which makes it a little decieving, they are decent though. The Lightning aren't too bad, but I honestly see know way of a repeat (kind of of repeat, kind of not) happening. I would love to see the Devils win it, 10 in a row is not too shabby at all, and I think that besides Philly, NJ has the best chance. You have some real good points though, it's nice to hear from someone who knows a little bit about hockey, because no one does down here (Tempe).

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