NHL: Flyers get Amonte!

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by cinch
Also, Osgood goes to St. Louis... That's an interesting one. Improves their chances a bit, I'd say.

What a horrible day for Blues fans. V. Bure and Osgood. blah. Folks around this area aren't too happy...Osgood isn't going to get them past the big three, thats for sure. Burke, maybe. Osgood, nope.

[Guynemer]

Don't discount Osgood. He is at his best in the playoffs, and at his best he is very, very good. The only problem is that St. Louis' likely first-round opponent is Colorado, the one team that Ozzie never had much success against. If the Avs pass Vancouver, though, it will be an interesting series. Previously, I thought the Canucks would beat the Blues in 4 or 5 games; but with Ozzie, it's a seven game series, a coinflip.

Flyers? Ppppttt. Big whoop. Good luck advancing out of the first round with Keith Primeau as captain. Even if they last long enough to meet Jersey or Toronto, they're in for an asswhoopin.

Toronto seems to have really broke the bank, going for it all this year--or bust. Much hinges on Crazy Eddie. If his mental stability cracks, the Leafs are in trouble. But if he holds it together, they are very, very dangerous, especially with experienced leaders like Gilmour and Housley.

I'm not thrilled with the Detroit trade--not too worked up over losing Avery and Kuznetsov, but I'm tired of seeing us give away draft picks. We seem to draft so well (see Datysuk and Zetterberg), it'd be nice to have twice as many promising youngsters as we already do. I'd also rather have gotten a more defensive-minded defensemen as opposed to Schneider, but really, what the hell do I know? Ken Holland has won three Cups doing risky stuff like this.

Colorado didn't really roll the dice this year, which may have been the biggest gamble of all...

Can not wait for the playoffs!

[Ben Kenobi]

Previously, I thought the Canucks would beat the Blues in 4 or 5 games; but with Ozzie, it's a seven game series, a coinflip.

I hope we don't get a Blues/Canucks matchup.

Anaheim sounds much better.

Brad May?

That's what you do when you are trying to save money.

We should start predictions,

round matchups/etc.

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by Guynemer
Don't discount Osgood. He is at his best in the playoffs, and at his best he is very, very good. The only problem is that St. Louis' likely first-round opponent is Colorado, the one team that Ozzie never had much success against. If the Avs pass Vancouver, though, it will be an interesting series. Previously, I thought the Canucks would beat the Blues in 4 or 5 games; but with Ozzie, it's a seven game series, a coinflip.

I was a tad too critical of Osgood earlier, he is an upgrade over the six goalies featured this year for the Blues. And with Phoenix asking for Jackman and 3 1st round picks!!! Ozzie was the best available for the price. As I'm typing this, b. Johnson allowed two goals in maybe 15 seconds, so......help is needed.

I think the Blues can defeat Vancouver in the first round, in 6 games I would say. Of course, a lot of the Blues' future is dependent on Pronger's return. The question is: which round are we losing in this year? first or second?

Originally posted by Guynemer
Flyers? Ppppttt. Big whoop. Good luck advancing out of the first round with Keith Primeau as captain. Even if they last long enough to meet Jersey or Toronto, they're in for an asswhoopin.



Toronto seems to have really broke the bank, going for it all this year--or bust. Much hinges on Crazy Eddie. If his mental stability cracks, the Leafs are in trouble. But if he holds it together, they are very, very dangerous, especially with experienced leaders like Gilmour and Housley.

I was hoping the Blues would get Gilmour (back, we've forgotton about that little incident with the baby sitter ) Hasn't Housely missed a bit of the season due to injury? the hawks have been so bad I haven't paid attention.

Originally posted by Guynemer
I'm not thrilled with the Detroit trade--not too worked up over losing Avery and Kuznetsov, but I'm tired of seeing us give away draft picks. We seem to draft so well (see Datysuk and Zetterberg), it'd be nice to have twice as many promising youngsters as we already do. I'd also rather have gotten a more defensive-minded defensemen as opposed to Schneider, but really, what the hell do I know? Ken Holland has won three Cups doing risky stuff like this.

They did spend a lot, but they got a hell of a defenseman. But who knows where you will be in 2-3 years with the old timers retiring and lots of picks sold off.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Isles traded Osgood?! For what reason have they decided to throw away any chance of going deep in the playoffs? Garth Snow is not a playoff goaltender, and DiPietro isn't ready yet!

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

I know you Yanks are rich, but when did an $18 million contract become a song and a prayer.

Look at what Philly gave up. $18 mill isn't that much for a star of Amonte's stature.

Amonte might be worth $18 mill. but I was just saying that 18 mill. ain't a song and a prayer, well, except for New York.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by asleepathewheel
I was hoping the Blues would get Gilmour (back, we've forgotton about that little incident with the baby sitter ) Hasn't Housely missed a bit of the season due to injury? the hawks have been so bad I haven't paid attention.

Killer apparently vetoed going to St. Louis. Probably still hasn't forgiven the Blues for the way they treated him.

He wanted to be a Leaf again.

Housely is out with a foot injury, but he's supposed to be back before the end of the regular season. The main benefit he brings is his experience. He can keep the D's calm, cool and collected.

[Imran Siddiqui]

but I was just saying that 18 mill. ain't a song and a prayer

No, but what Philly gave up was.

[Pekka]

Flyers shouldn't buy Amonte.. they should buy the HANSON BROTHERS! From Slap Shot.. with Paul Newman in it.. now those brothers can really play the game

[Tingkai]

The Amonte deal is minor and he's not going to change the puny Flyer offense.

The Osgoode deal is good for a laugh. The Blues have been suffering because their goalies keep getting injured so they trade for a goalie who is injured. That tells you how desperate they are.

Still, Osgoode's experience could make a difference, but not enough to overcome the Avs.

I can't figure out why the Oilers dumped Carter. He's a great player.

The Leafs come out the big winners in the trade deals and are now the favourite to win the East. They needed support for their young and inexperience defence and that's what they got. Wesley and Housely are veterans with Cup Final experience.

Adding Gilmour adds more character to the team and he's a proven playoff performer creating a third-line threat. He's also a fan favourite and deserves a chance to be with the Leafs when they win the Cup.

The Leaf offence is more powerful with Nolan already proving his effectiveness.

This is it boys. Hells freezing over and the Leafs are going to win the Cup.

[Guynemer]

I'm also wondering what was going on with the Islanders and Oilers. Trading Osgood and Carter didn't make a whole lotta sense for either team. The Isles need a playoff goalie; up four points with three games in hand, there is little chance of the Rangers catching them for the last playoff spot. But the Oilers are in a much shakier position as far as getting into the playoffs; trading your number one scorer, a stand-up guy and team leader, while in a playoff race and especially if you'll need the firepower to win in the first round... I don't like that trade one little bit.


I wouldn't say the Leafs are going to win the Cup--I still think they would need a lot of luck to beat the Avs, Wings, or Stars in the Finals--but they are definitely the team to beat in the East. It'll be nice to see a Canadian team make it to the Finals for once.

EDIT: With that said, I also predicted that Toronto would play for the Cup last season; I also said, before the playoffs began, that we ought to drop the pathetic Hurricanes from the playoffs and invite the far-more-worthy Oilers in their stead. I then predicted that in the first round the Devils would beat the 'Canes in 4 games, "only because they can't do it in three."

So, apparently, what I don't know about the Eastern Conference could fill up all the empty space between George W. Bush's ears.

[Agathon]

Yeah, the Leafs managed to get a great deal for not much.

Owen Nolan is without doubt the best player traded and the Leafs got him for basically an underacheiving roster player and a good prospect (not like they haven't got a lot more of those).

Calgary traded well and Philly are a joke.

[Tingkai]

Doug Gilmour is my kind of hockey player, someone who truely loves the game.

According to the Star, Gilmour has season tickets to the Leafs.

I read a story years ago, that Gilmour used to put on a ski mask and play street hockey just for fun.