Stanley Cup Picks

[sweetcell]

well THAT was embarrassing.

[godsshoeshine]

i dont know if i'll be even able to watch any of the ecf. cant stand to see philly succeed

fans of o6 teams rooting for other o6 teams always confuse me. shouldnt your fan base have more pent up hate for teams youve played for so much longer?

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

fans of o6 teams rooting for other o6 teams always confuse me. shouldnt your fan base have more pent up hate for teams youve played for so much longer?

I think it's hatred of forced Sunbelt teams taken to its natural conclusion.

No talk about Backstrom signing a 10 year/67million-ish contract? Pretty good deal.

[DeathFromAbove1979]

DC teams + big contracts, not really my bag.


Will Ovie and Backstrom be as useful in 10 years? Or just filthy rich and weekend warriors?

[godsshoeshine]

its a bargain

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

Will Ovie and Backstrom be as useful in 10 years? Or just filthy rich and weekend warriors?

Backstrom's 22. Ovie is 24. Yeah, I think they'll be just as useful in 10 years. IDK where this ridiculous idea has come from over the past few years that any player over 28 is somehow in decline. Elite forwards and centermen stay fairly consistent thru 35, minimum.

[godsshoeshine]

its well worth the risk. some guys hit the wall, but i would say with ovie and backstrom the only major risk is a long term injury that is never fully recovered from

maybe if backstrom walked another team would run the risk of buying a guy that has numbers artificially inflated by skating with ov all the time, but backstrom is legit in my opinion. just glacing around i cant think of anyone that is that good, that young and that (relatively) inexpensive

[DeathFromAbove1979]

Will Ovie and Backstrom be as useful in 10 years? Or just filthy rich and weekend warriors?

Backstrom's 22. Ovie is 24. Yeah, I think they'll be just as useful in 10 years. IDK where this ridiculous idea has come from over the past few years that any player over 28 is somehow in decline. Elite forwards and centermen stay fairly consistent thru 35, minimum.

It's pessimism, Im a DC fan. Disappointment runs through my blood when it comes to sports teams. I don't think they'll be old men or anything, look at Gonchar. There are still well aged great players in the NHL, I'd just hate them to turn into.....Shaq

[sweetcell]

CRISSE DE TABARNAQUE DE CANNE-A-RIEN DE SAINT-SACRAMENT D'OSTIE VIARGE DE CALISSE

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

Chicago in... well, I'm not going to say 4 but not many anyway...

[godsshoeshine]

jesus, i hope so

cant believe philly got in without playing a team that can score. amazing

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

jesus, i hope so

cant believe philly got in without playing a team that can score. amazing

Yeah. I mean, congrats to the Philly fans, it's no doubt exciting, but they kind of had the entire eastern conference fall down in front of them.

[godsshoeshine]

if it was almost any other franchise, the fan of entertaining hockey fan in me would give them props for being the only team in the east that can beat the trap

but the pens fan in me trumps all and i hope horrible things happen to them

[vansmack]

Sorry, I've been ignoring the hockey thread 'cause I thought it was over.  Turns out the finals are just starting, who knew?

Anyhow, the only danger in the Backstrom deal is that we're in salary cap time now, and we have no idea what the salary cap will be in 10 years given that the TV contracts will have to be renewed by then.  This will have a dramatic effect on the cap.  The Caps are banking on the new young players revitalizing the in US interest in Hockey, thus making this a bargain. 

If they're wrong, the support cast around Backstrom and Ovie will make LeBron's team look like the greatest ever.   

[xneverwherex]

Lets go Hawks! Hopefully in 5 (as I think the Flyers will manage at least one win at home).