The OFFICIAL Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[bbor]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Trivia question: the pick used to draft Scott Neidermayer originally belonged to the Leafs. Who did they trade the pick to the Devils for, straight up?

Tom Kurvers?....i think?

[Fidatelo]

oh god if that's true, that's terrible! And its not like Niedermayer was some 4th round pick that just happened to blossom. Who trades the 3rd overall pick for Tom Kurvers???

In fact I'm almost thinking that can't be it... that would be the worst trade of all time.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

In fact I'm almost thinking that can't be it... that would be the worst trade of all time.

I'm sure Bobby Clarke has done worse.

[bbor]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

oh god if that's true, that's terrible! And its not like Niedermayer was some 4th round pick that just happened to blossom. Who trades the 3rd overall pick for Tom Kurvers???

In fact I'm almost thinking that can't be it... that would be the worst trade of all time.

Pretty sure the GM was Floyd Smith.

[Pyser]

i think the pick turned out to be the 3rd overall...but at the time it was juts for TOR's 1st rounder?

[Pyser]

dola, some quick research shows toronto traded their 91 first round pick to the devils in 1989.

so it wasnt THAT bad...for devils fans

[Fidatelo]

ok, so trading the pick two years in advance makes it a little better. Still, how in any way, shape, or form, did Tom Kurvers warrant a first rounder, even if it was like 28th or something? Yes, it looks as though he had a decent year in '88-'89... but wow.

[Maple Leafs]

Yes, it was Kurvers.

It was a terrible trade... yes the draft was two years away, but:
a.) The Leafs were always terrible back then so it was always going to be a high pick
b.) Even bigger, 1991 was the Lindros draft. So they lost any hope of getting a potential franchise player.

It gets even worse... mid-way through 1990-91 the Leafs were in last place and everyone was panicking that they were going to be the team that traded Eric Lindros for Tom Kurvers. So they made even more trades to make sure they wouldn't finish last. They traded a prospect and two second round picks to the Nordiques for three veterans (Aaron Broten, Michel Petit and Lucien DeBlois). That trade improved the Leafs just enough and weakened the Nords just enough that Quebec finished last instead of Toronto, and the rest was history.

(Toronto finished second last, but San Jose got the #2 pick that year as a quasi-expansion team. They could have taken Neidermayer but decided on Pat Falloon instead.)

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Yes, it was Kurvers.

It was a terrible trade... yes the draft was two years away, but:
a.) The Leafs were always terrible back then so it was always going to be a high pick
b.) Even bigger, 1991 was the Lindros draft. So they lost any hope of getting a potential franchise player.

It gets even worse... mid-way through 1990-91 the Leafs were in last place and everyone was panicking that they were going to be the team that traded Eric Lindros for Tom Kurvers. So they made even more trades to make sure they wouldn't finish last. They traded a prospect and two second round picks to the Nordiques for three veterans (Aaron Broten, Michel Petit and Lucien DeBlois). That trade improved the Leafs just enough and weakened the Nords just enough that Quebec finished last instead of Toronto, and the rest was history.

(Toronto finished second last, but San Jose got the #2 pick that year as a quasi-expansion team. They could have taken Neidermayer but decided on Pat Falloon instead.)

Wow. I can't believe I don't remember any of that. I wonder if it shows just how much less 'global' sports news was back in the day. I knew everything about the Jets, but a story like that somehow escaped me, yet in todays landscape it would be all over the place.

Or maybe I was just under a rock :P

[B & B]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

The correct answers are:

EAST
Sabres over Islanders in 4
Devils over Lightning in 5
Rangers over Thrashers in 6
Senators over Penguins in 5

WEST
Red Wings over Flames in 5
Ducks over Wild in 6
Canucks over Stars in 6
Sharks over Preds in 7

Stanley Cup pick: Anahiem over Ottawa.

Nice pick Maple Leafs!


RendeR said in the very next reply to your prediction from April 11th that Ottawa had no heart.

Bitter Buffalo face?


Bills still better in 07' than before 06' with Clements, Spikes, McGahee, and Fletcher?

Sheesh.

[Dr. Sak]

Quack, Quack, Quack...

[Hurst2112]

down 3 with 20 left...even I can say 'uncle'.

Gotta root for Ottawa.

[Chief Rum]

Well, we made it interesting by playing hockey's version of the prevent defense in the third period, but we escaped with the win. Take that, Brett Hull.

The Wings are a very, very good team, and I think that if they start the process of replacing an aging defense/net game, they will remain a force in the West with their forwards.

Of course, maybe they don't need to do anything. Apparently, Chelios/Lidstrom/Schneider/Hasek can play forever.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by B & B

Nice pick Maple Leafs!


RendeR said in the very next reply to your prediction from April 11th that Ottawa had no heart.

Bitter Buffalo face?


Bills still better in 07' than before 06' with Clements, Spikes, McGahee, and Fletcher?

Sheesh.

A) Clements == old and overrated, spikes == injury killed his ability, McGahee == mental case with no guts to run hard inside, Fletcher == Old and S lll ooooo wwwwwwwwww.

B) Better in 07? absolutely

C) get the fuck off this already, take it elsewhere, it doesn't belong here. Yer like a fucking stupid dog, you grab onto anything you can and you won't let go until someone beats you with a stick.

[RendeR]

Grats to the Ducks, good luck VA the Sens.


Sens in 6

Fucking Ottowa.

[Hurst2112]

and in better news...

Melrose had his last night on ESPN. I guess there is a silver lining

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by RendeR

A) Clements == old and overrated

...

He's 27 years old!!!!!

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

and in better news...

Melrose had his last night on ESPN. I guess there is a silver lining

I think Melrose rocks. Where's he going?

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

He's 27 years old!!!!!

Yes he is, but he plays like he's 35, he gets beat regulary by mediocre recievers, he makes some great plays based on timing and the fact that he studies his ass off for each opposing QB, but frankly, good riddence, the niners can have him. He really wasn't worth that contract, not even half of it.


and Again, start a new thread if you guys want to keep on with this, but leave it off here, the hockey people don't need this tripe.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

I think Melrose rocks. Where's he going?

To get a haircut. Word is it's expected to take a while.

[Hurst2112]

i don't mind him but he's gotten a little strange in his old age.

they didn't say. maybe vs for the cup finals?

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Sens in 6

Congrats to the Anaheim Ducks, the 2006-07 Stanley Cup Champions!

[Dr. Sak]

Conference FInals Results

1t. Honolulu Blue 2-0-1
1t. Bsak16 2-0-1
3t. Bbor 2-0-0
3t. Maple Leafs 2-0-0
3t. Karim 2-0-0
6. Fidateo 1-1-1
7t. Travis 1-1-0
7t. NoSkillz 1-1-0
9t. Hurst2122 0-2-0
9t. Draft Dodger 0-2-0
9t. RendeR 0-2-0

[Dr. Sak]

Overall Standings

1. Maple Leafs 14-0-3
2. Bsak16 13-1-8
3. Karim 11-3-5
4. Honolulu_Blue 10-4-3
5. Travis 10-4-2
6. Hurst2122 8-6-4
7. Draft Dodger 6-8-2
8. RendeR 5-9-1

Honorable Mention (Didn't Enter the first round): Fidateo 5-1-2, NoSkillz 4-2-1

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by bsak16

Congrats to the Anaheim Ducks, the 2006-07 Stanley Cup Champions!

Asshat

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by bsak16

1. Maple Leafs 14-0-3

When are you people going to realize, if there's one thing a Leaf fan knows how to do, it's watch other teams in the playoffs.

Wait, that didn't come out right...

[Dr. Sak]

Ottawa vs Anaheim - Ottawa 4-1

[Travis]

I'll take the Sens in 6, Canada has to get one right one of these years.

[Fidatelo]

Well, I'm gonna stick with my pre-season pick of Anaheim winning the cup. Although just like with my pick last round, Ottawa has me thinking I should reverse course... but I won't :P

[Hurst2112]

Ottawa in 5

Win, Lose, Win, Win, Win

[Honolulu_Blue]

A disappointing series. The Wings really could have won this one. The Wings should have won at least one, if not both, of Games 4 and 5. They rallied as best they could in the third period of Game 6, but they were completely out-classed and out-played in the first two periods. Too little, too late.

All in all, I think it was a successful season for the team. They did better then I had anticipated in the regular season and playoffs. Unlike the last few years prior, I consider the season a success overall. They could have gone further, but after they reached the Western Conference Finals, it was all pretty much gravy.

Some interesting subplots to the off-season as always. Hasek is the biggest question mark. I don't think there's a better option out there, but it'd be a huge gamble to keep him. He was amazing this year, probably the best free agent signing in the league, but he's a year older, still flighty, and still has a wonky groin. Hitching the Wings' wagon to his star for another year is risky proposition. Still, if the option is Hasek and Osgood (with Howard in the wings) or just Osgood and Howard, the former is better than the latter.

Robert Lang is gone. I think the Wings will count on Filppula take over his role. Filppula really impressed. He will be asked to play many more minutes next year.

Kyle Calder was a mystery. Came on like gangbusters when he first got here, played fewer and fewer minutes in the playoffs until he was a healthy (presumably) scratch. I don't see them bringing him back. I think the Wings would like to re-sign Schneider and Markov, but I am not sure both are an option.

I don't know about Bertuzzi. He had flashes of old Bertuzzi, but at other times he looked timid and broken-down. I think the only way the Wings keep him is if he signs a Lindrosesque deal at a low price and full of incentives. That may happen, since Bertuzzi seemed to be happy here. I'd be happy enough with it.

[Hurst2112]

HB,

Good points. I would agree that this year was a positive one (all things considered. I was pleased with the playoffs and can actually look back at this playoff year as one of their better ones of late.

Is Fischer coming back or is he gone for good? Didn't know if he was rehabbing after last year's heart thing.

I am interested in what Bert can do after a full off season of rest. Oh, wait, he had that before this year.

I would still accept him if they re-signed.

My initial concern is for the D

[Hurst2112]

Is Fischer coming back or is he gone for good? Didn't know if he was rehabbing after last year's heart thing.

Found my answer on wikipedia.

[Draft Dodger]

geez, out of people who know anything about hockey, I was dead last.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

geez, out of people who know anything about hockey, I was dead last.

You only beat me by one buddy, don't go talking smack all off the cuff like that

[B & B]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

geez, out of people who know anything about hockey, I was dead last.

Actually, incorrect.

Originally Posted by bsak16

7. Draft Dodger 6-8-2
8. RendeR 5-9-1

But if you're only including people that know anything about hockey, then yes, you are correct. Still, Id be willing to bet that you arent last on the list for football knowledge.

[Maple Leafs]

Hmmm.... I'm sort of torn here. On the one hand, based on the last six weeks Ottawa should probably be the pick. And by picking them, I'd lock up first place in the FOFC competition since everyone else is picking them too.

On the other hands, my original post included a Ducks-over-Sens prediction, so if I stick with that and they win it would be the greatest prediction post in the history of the internet.

Decisions, decisions...

[Draft Dodger]

what's with the month-long break before the finals?

I'll go Ottawa in 6. like it matters.

[Fidatelo]

Ya this break is beyond stupid. What is the rationale? I can't see why the NHL wouldn't have started the series saturday night and gone like this:

Game 1: Sat
Game 2: Mon
Game 3: Thurs
Game 4: Sat
Game 5: Tues
Game 6: Thurs
Game 7: Sat

[Fidatelo]

dola

And when I say "sat", I mean "saturday NIGHT". Fuck you NBC.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Ottawa in 6.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

what's with the month-long break before the finals?

I'll go Ottawa in 6. like it matters.

Sorry, guys. Join in me in a hatred of all things Disney. Those bastards still have their occasional tendrils into their former hockey club.

Some dumbass at the Honda Center agreed to schedule a Disney on Fucking Ice (title may not be correct) for this weekend. Are you freakin' kidding me?

It no doubt happened months and months ago, maybe even a year, but a passing look at the calendar would have shown the possibility of "issues".

[Chief Rum]

I love it that everyone is picking Ottawa. I am waiting for Maple Leafs' pick.

I was waiting for two picks: Maple Leaf's and render's. render's went the way I wanted it to. I am crossing my finger with Maple Leaf.

[Chief Rum]

Oh, and I'm not counting my eggs before they're hatched but there's a possibility I could be in the stands for Game Two. I am waiting to hear from the season ticket holder who suddenly has a spot open.

Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease...

[Maple Leafs]

OK, I've made up my mind...

Spoiler

Ducks in seven.

They win games 2, 4, 5 and 7.

[Chief Rum]

I would react, but no matter what I say one way or another it would give away the spoiler. So I'll clam up.

[Milton]

is it next season yet? only the nhl could kill whatever momentum they had by waiting this long.

[Dr. Sak]

That was the worst rendition of the Star Spangled Banner since Enrico Palazzo. I think he forgot some of the words and hummed them.

[st.cronin]

Wow, that was some bad defense by the Ducks. Somebody screwed up.

[Maple Leafs]

Wow, not only do we have Chris Pronger vs. Mike Comrie, but now Oiler fans have to watch a Ryan Smyth interview. I think CBC wants the city of Edmonton to riot.