DEVILRAYS 2002-03 NHL picks

[DEVILRAYS]

Well, here goes nothing again, with me creating more hockey controversy, but here's how I say it's going to be, read 'em and disagree (in projected order of finish, by conference:)<
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>EASTERN CONFERENCE<
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>1: New Jersey Devils - win early, win often, or don't win at all<
>2: Toronto Maple Leafs - NHL's version of Rasputin rises again with Belfour<
>3: Carolina Hurricanes - won't be surprising anybody this year<
>4: New York Rangers - nothing but improvement in this offseason<
>5: Philadelphia Flyers - Hitchcock gets more than two goals in five games<
>6: Montreal Canadiens - a great goalie like Theodore can take a team far<
>7: Ottawa Senators - the Senators have done it before, and they can do it again<
>8: Washington Capitals - as good as they are, they should finish higher<
>9: New York Islanders - no longer room for three New York teams at top<
>10: Boston Bruins - no Dafoe, no go<
>11: Pittsburgh Penguins - to make a playoff run, you have to reach the playoffs<
>12: Tampa Bay Lightning - a merely good goalie like Khabibulin is handcuffed in Tampa<
>13: Buffalo Sa
es - oh, how the somewhat-mighty have fallen<
>14: Florida Panthers - a few years away, and by that, they are not there this year<
>15: Atlanta Thrashers - insert comment here in five years<
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>WESTERN CONFERENCE<
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>1: Detroit Red Wings - new coach, new goalie, same firepower<
>2: San Jose Sharks - if theres a "best of the rest in the West", they are it<
>3: Colorado Avalanche - not sure what the logic was on trading Drury<
>4: Phoenix Coyotes - for the regular season, they are there; for the playoffs...<
>5: St. Louis Blues - now stuck competing for 4-seed, they fail in that<
>6: Calgary Flames - Drury-to-Iginla...or vice versa...<
>7: Dallas Stars - should be higher, but there's no Hitchcock<
>8: Vancouver Canucks - with Cassels in Columbus, there's a hole to fill<
>9: Edmonton Oilers - move Edmonton to East so they can get into playoffs<
>10: Chicago Blackhawks - no Amonte, no luck...you need offense<
>11: Los Angeles Kings - for those who can't see it getting tougher in the West...<
>12: Columbus Blue Jackets - ...welcome to what's possibly the next rising team<
>13: Anaheim Mighty Ducks - not that they will bomb or anything<
>14: Minnesota Wild - good fans, but tough division<
>15: Nashville Predators - what happened to this team?<
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>CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS<
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>1) New Jersey over 8) Washington in 6<
>2) Toronto over 7) Ottawa in 7<
>6) Montreal over 3) Carolina in 6<
>4) NY Rangers over 5) Philadelphia in 6<
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>1) Detroit over 8) Vancouver in 6<
>2) San Jose over 7) Dallas in 7<
>6) Calgary over 3) Colorado in 7<
>5) St. Louis over 4) Phoenix in 6<
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>CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS<
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>1) New Jersey over 6) Montreal in 7<
>2) Toronto over 4) NY Rangers in 7<
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>1) Detroit over 6) Calgary in 7<
>2) San Jose over 5) St. Louis in 5<
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>CONFERENCE FINALS<
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>2) Toronto over 1) New Jersey in 6<
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>1) Detroit over 2) San Jose in 7<
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>STANLEY CUP FINALS<
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>Detroit over Toronto in 7 <B>God bless America, land that I love; stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam; God bless America, my home sweet home; God bless America, my home sweet home.</B><
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><B>"I read people fairly well, and I think I'm reading Elavia. I could be wrong; somebody at home right now is going, 'You ain't reading nothing well. You're way off. It's Bill!'...Maybe it is; I don't know..." Al from Mole 2: The Next Betrayal in a confessional long before he learned Bill was the Mole.</B><i></i>

[Tanthalasis]

So pretty much what you're saying, is that this season is going to be almost exactly like LAST season....<
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>Hmmm...<
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>I don't know....<
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>I don't really think that New Jersey is gonna pull off that high of a rank... they'll be high up, yeah, but not quite THAT high...<
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>I actually believe that Carolina's gonna be in first for the East... they're still high off their last season, and they've been pulling off some amazing shizam in the pre-season, so don't expect them to be low.<
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>As for my team, Vancouver, if they get LESS than 4th, I'll be annoyed at em. Just cause Cassels is gone doesn't mean they're gonna do badly... Cassels wasn't even that good of a player (IMHO). <i></i>

[rayeanne33]

Yeah, what was up with us trading Drury? Never have figured that out. Cheerful, optimist and possessed of a sense of justice, you're definitely the sort who sees the cup as half full. Selfless and considerate of others, you often give those you're close to the benefit of the doubt, and before you go and point fingers you first gain solid proof against them rather than outright accuse them. Chances are, however, that you trust people sometimes a bit too much, and in doing such are shocked to discover you've been deceived. However, in the end your strong will and determination prevail, and you right the wrongs, should such actions be necessary. And fanboys love your tube top and miniskirt.What Biohazard character are YOU most like?quiz by kotoludi<i></i>

[Tanthalasis]

They wanted a good, young defenseman.<
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>Calgary wanted a player to give Iginla a hand.<
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>So both teams got what they wanted....<
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>I guess...? <i></i>

[Nakor BlueRider]

The only thing I'm going to touch for now is lower half of the west conference. I think you've got Calgary too high, and there's a couple other changes I'd make...<
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>4) St. Louis<
>5) Phoenix<
>6) Dallas<
>7) Vancouver<
>8.) Edmonton<
>9) Calgary<
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>Which, if correct, and assuming your top 3 were correct, would mean the following conference quarters:<
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>EDM @ DET<
>VAN @ SJO<
>DAL @ COL<
>PHO @ STL<
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>I'll play around more later maybe.<
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>...<
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>Oh, and before I forget... Toronto is going to OWN teh Devils!!!!! <
><i>Time passes, people move...<
>Like a river's flow, it never ends...<
>A childish mind will turn to noble ambition...<
>Young love will become deep affection...<
>The clear water's surface reflects growth...<
>(In memorium of the Wild Wolf Society.)</i><i>Edited by: Nakor BlueRider  at: 10/9/02 4:00:15 pm<
></i>

[Ryder on the Storm]

I don't really follow hockey but being from Michigan I'd have to go for the Detroit Red Wings to win it all! <i></i>

[Nakor BlueRider]

Ooh, just noticed. You're placing the Rangers in 4TH!? That's one hell of an improvement after being out of the post season so long... You sure about that one? I'd never think of putting 'em higher than 6th... Too unreliable. <
><i>Time passes, people move...<
>Like a river's flow, it never ends...<
>A childish mind will turn to noble ambition...<
>Young love will become deep affection...<
>The clear water's surface reflects growth...<
>(In memorium of the Wild Wolf Society.)</i><i></i>

[DEVILRAYS]

Calgary has a shot, most definitely...the middle of the West may largely be interchangeable to some degree, since they were so packed last year and could be packed agains this year.<
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>I don't necessarily see another Detroit hegemony during the regular season like last year, when they won the conference by about 15 points. It's going to be closer for them, and the Sharks might even be on their heels.<
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>And no, I am not sure about the Rangers, but they are better than last year and they will be improved. At least I didn't pick them to go to the Finals like that dumb shizam Barry Melrose (who also has the Avs going all the way...last time he gets a spot in RCA, that's for sure...) <B>God bless America, land that I love; stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam; God bless America, my home sweet home; God bless America, my home sweet home.</B><
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><B>"I read people fairly well, and I think I'm reading Elavia. I could be wrong; somebody at home right now is going, 'You ain't reading nothing well. You're way off. It's Bill!'...Maybe it is; I don't know..." Al from Mole 2: The Next Betrayal in a confessional long before he learned Bill was the Mole.</B><i>Edited by: DEVILRAYS at: 10/9/02 5:58:03 pm<
></i>

[Commcorranhorn]

im with nakor, i dont see NYR going too much farther than 6th. but i do see both edmonton and calgary in the playoffs with this new obstruction thing. maybe not vancouver so much though... MTFBWY ~Commander Corran Horn[xxxxxx]>>>>>>>>>>>>>><
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>:: how jedi are you? ::<i>Edited by: Commcorranhorn at: 10/13/02 12:06:52 am<
></i>

[Tanthalasis]

Vancouver will make it for sure, so will Edmonton, as for Calgary, I wouldn't be too sure...<
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>Even with Iginla and Drury, they still have a ways to go from their finish last season.<
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>NYR won't make it though. <i></i>

[NOAImawario]

San Jose will NOT beat Dallas! not this year.. <i></i>

[DEVILRAYS]

They won't beat anybody if they don't fix their goaltending situation... <B>God bless America, land that I love; stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam; God bless America, my home sweet home; God bless America, my home sweet home.</B><
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><B>"I read people fairly well, and I think I'm reading Elavia. I could be wrong; somebody at home right now is going, 'You ain't reading nothing well. You're way off. It's Bill!'...Maybe it is; I don't know..." Al from Mole 2: The Next Betrayal in a confessional long before he learned Bill was the Mole.</B><i></i>

[TempMatt]

I hope my team will take the cup again this year! ;D <i></i>

[Commcorranhorn]

ya, SJ needs to invest in a goalie, i'd personally like to see a goalie like Schwab go to SJ for the experience.c MTFBWY ~Commander Corran Horn<
>[xxxxxx]>>>>>>>>>>>>>><
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