NHL- Favorite Team and pick to win the Stanley Cup

[Genie of the Lamp]

Well it's that time of year again. Hockey is in full gear as the shortened season winds down and we are almost getting ready for the Hockey playoffs. There is no better team in hockey now then my beloved Pittsburgh Penguins as we have won a bakers dozen plus 1 and we just got the biggest named players at the deadline in Iginla and Morrow while giving up less than what other teams did and picked up a nice stay at home physical dman in Murray. So if we don't win the cup I'll be disappointed and frustrated. This is our year Penguins. O and to all you whiner......I mean cryer.....I mean Flyer fans like @GoofGoof out there, who's laughin now suckas. Last I checked you were in 13th place in the standings. However, having Briere out the lineup is a blow for you guys. So to all the other hockey fans out their, what's your take?

 

[GoofGoof]

Well it's that time of year again. Hockey is in full gear as the shortened season winds down and we are almost getting ready for the Hockey playoffs. There is no better team in hockey now then my beloved Pittsburgh Penguins as we have won a bakers dozen plus 1 and we just got the biggest named players at the deadline in Iginla and Morrow while giving up less than what other teams did and picked up a nice stay at home physical dman in Murray. So if we don't win the cup I'll be disappointed and frustrated. This is our year Penguins. O and to all you whiner......I mean cryer.....I mean Flyer fans like @GoofGoof out there, who's laughin now suckas. Last I checked you were in 13th place in the standings. However, having Briere out the lineup is a blow for you guys. So to all the other hockey fans out their, what's your take?

Pens have a good shot to win the cup this year since they won't have to face the Flyers in the playoffs again like last year. I actually like a few players on the Pens, just not Cindy. Flyers are playing for the first pick. There's a kid out there who is supposed to be the next Pronger. We'll see. Go Phils. Opening day right around the corner.

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

Pens have a good shot to win the cup this year since they won't have to face the Flyers in the playoffs again like last year. I actually like a few players on the Pens, just not Cindy. Flyers are playing for the first pick. There's a kid out there who is supposed to be the next Pronger. We'll see. Go Phils. Opening day right around the corner.

Yeah, it does help that we don't have to play you guys and excert too much energy in the first round if you were in the playoffs. The only flyer I really like is Briere. Everyone else on that team I hate with a burning passion. Yes, there is a defenseman out their that is supposed to be the next Pronger and that is Seth Jones from the U-18 or U-19 developement team that Philly would love to have and he definitely is good. Watched him in juniors and his playing style is very similar to Pronger. Yes, our buccos (Pirates) opening day is against the cubs. Another long and losing season abrewing I feel. Speaking of talent, here's how the Pirates and the Penguins operate on the issue of trading for impact talent:
Pirates: Neal Huntingdon(Senior Vice-President, General Manager): "Trading away prospects for impact talent is a bad thing because in doing that you are not growing nor improving your farm system". Okay Neal let me ask you this, in your 5-6 year plan, how many prospects exactly give our team hope in the future. I can only name 6 we have gotten in the last 6 years. Last I checked, your organization you belong to is the Pittsburgh Pirates, not the Altoona Curve so only give a damn about your big league ball club. So don't be taking our tax money and revenue from tickets sales and be putting them in yours, Frank's, or Nuttings pockets. Let alone use it on new uniforms every year or stadium enhancements that should only happen once every 5-10 years. INVEST IN THE TEAM! You wonder why we can't get over the hump. Save to say as well the Pirates are the worst run organization in all of sports as of right now
Penguins: Ray Shero(Executive Vice-President, General Manager): "We feel if there's a good deal on the table, we aren't going to pass it up and we are going for it as long as the player(s) fits and resembles the team chemistry that myself, the coach, and captain have for those standards. It's very diffucult to win in any sport, however when that chance is within reach, you do anything you can to make sure you can achieve your goal(s) whether it's winning the first 4 games or the Stanley Cup".
Penguins: Tom Mcmillan(Official Spokesperson) on 4% ticket price increases for next season: “One thing I think the fans know is that the money goes back into the team. Some of the best examples of that came with the trades of the past few days.”
Pirates: http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum...icket-Price-Increases-and-Post-Season-Tickets

 

[Hrudey3032]

My team is the Avs.We are going to win!!.........the #1 pick . Hopefully we also get a new coach/gm combo to move forward. Hard to believe we were Cup contenders for years as this franchise is being buried by mismanagement.

 

[jdmdisney99]

Let's go Pens!

 

[GoofGoof]

Yeah, it does help that we don't have to play you guys and excert too much energy in the first round if you were in the playoffs. The only flyer I really like is Briere. Everyone else on that team I hate with a burning passion. Yes, there is a defenseman out their that is supposed to be the next Pronger and that is Seth Jones from the U-18 or U-19 developement team that Philly would love to have and he definitely is good. Watched him in juniors and his playing style is very similar to Pronger. Yes, our buccos (Pirates) opening day is against the cubs. Another long and losing season abrewing I feel. Speaking of talent, here's how the Pirates and the Penguins operate on the issue of trading for impact talent:
Pirates: Neal Huntingdon(Senior Vice-President, General Manager): "Trading away prospects for impact talent is a bad thing because in doing that you are not growing nor improving your farm system". Okay Neal let me ask you this, in your 5-6 year plan, how many prospects exactly give our team hope in the future. I can only name 6 we have gotten in the last 6 years. Last I checked, your organization you belong to is the Pittsburgh Pirates, not the Altoona Curve so only give a damn about your big league ball club. So don't be taking our tax money and revenue from tickets sales and be putting them in yours, Frank's, or Nuttings pockets. Let alone use it on new uniforms every year or stadium enhancements that should only happen once every 5-10 years. INVEST IN THE TEAM! You wonder why we can't get over the hump. Save to say as well the Pirates are the worst run organization in all of sports as of right now
Penguins: Ray Shero(Executive Vice-President, General Manager): "We feel if there's a good deal on the table, we aren't going to pass it up and we are going for it as long as the player(s) fits and resembles the team chemistry that myself, the coach, and captain have for those standards. It's very diffucult to win in any sport, however when that chance is within reach, you do anything you can to make sure you can achieve your goal(s) whether it's winning the first 4 games or the Stanley Cup".
Penguins: Tom Mcmillan(Official Spokesperson) on 4% ticket price increases for next season: “One thing I think the fans know is that the money goes back into the team. Some of the best examples of that came with the trades of the past few days.”
Pirates: http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum...icket-Price-Increases-and-Post-Season-Tickets

Yep. Seth Jones. We'll probably get the 2nd pick again like the year Kane was the top pick.

The Pirates are run like a minor league team. The ballpark is actually really nice (kinda reminds me of a minor league park in a lot of ways) and they offer stuff to get people to go besides baseball like fireworks, concerts and other stuff. They get their share of national TV revenue no matter how bad they are. I bet the owners make more money than a lot of the middle of the pack team's owners since they spend next to nothing on payroll. It's a shame to see for a franchise with some pretty solid history (distant past history).

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

My team is the Avs.We are going to win!!.........the #1 pick . Hopefully we also get a new coach/gm combo to move forward. Hard to believe we were Cup contenders for years as this franchise is being buried by mismanagement.

New coach: Mike Keenan or Pat Quinn. If you go a little younger, maybe Tom Renney
New GM: Peter Foresberg (assitant gm of a Swiss powerhouse hockey team)

 

[GoofGoof]

New coach: Mike Keenan or Pat Quinn. If you go a little younger, maybe Tom Renney
New GM: Peter Foresberg (assitant gm of a Swiss powerhouse hockey team)

Keenan or Quinn? Maybe if it was 1986. Of course then the Avs would still be in Quebec. New blood needed. Foresberg could be an interesting pick for GM.

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

Yep. Seth Jones. We'll probably get the 2nd pick again like the year Kane was the top pick.

The Pirates are run like a minor league team. The ballpark is actually really nice (kinda reminds me of a minor league park in a lot of ways) and they offer stuff to get people to go besides baseball like fireworks, concerts and other stuff. They get their share of national TV revenue no matter how bad they are. I bet the owners make more money than a lot of the middle of the pack team's owners since they spend next to nothing on payroll. It's a shame to see for a franchise with some pretty solid history (distant past history).

For a philly guy, you know more about the Pirates than most of the people that live in my neighborhood. Yes, we are run like a minor league team and that's what management wants it to be like. PNC Park the best stadium in baseball. Although, I very much enjoy Citizens Bank Park (sat near bullpen area). Yeah, we get great promos every year like Skyblast Zambelli fireworks nights with bands like Kool and the Gang this year and bobbleheads,etc. I credit stadium management/marketing department for the pirates. Yes, from Root Sports (our local tv sports network) the team gets their fair share of tv revenue which will dramatically increase I believe in the next two years as they renewed and increased their revenue shair in the new deal. Yes, our ownership group makes the most money out of any teams in the MLB even the Yankees and that's what ticks me off in that they spend next to nothing on our $67 million payroll. Get it to about $115 million and I'll be okay with that. Ahhh yes, the Pirates of the past. You know, I love Baseball as it is my favorite sport and I played it from T-Ball (kindergarten) to Pony League (8th grade) but since I've been born in 1993, the Pirates have never had a winning season since I've been born. My dad has to take me to our Pittsburgh Sports Museum to remind me of the great Pirates of the past like Clemente, Stargell, Maz, and steroid bonds. Phillies had and still do have great talent like Schmidt, Roberts, Kruky, and Bowa to Rollins, Utley, and Howard.

 

[GoofGoof]

For a philly guy, you know more about the Pirates than most of the people that live in my neighborhood. Yes, we are run like a minor league team and that's what management wants it to be like. PNC Park the best stadium in baseball. Although, I very much enjoy Citizens Bank Park (sat near bullpen area). Yeah, we get great promos every year like Skyblast Zambelli fireworks nights with bands like Kool and the Gang this year and bobbleheads,etc. I credit stadium management/marketing department for the pirates. Yes, from Root Sports (our local tv sports network) the team gets their fair share of tv revenue which will dramatically increase I believe in the next two years as they renewed and increased their revenue shair in the new deal. Yes, our ownership group makes the most money out of any teams in the MLB even the Yankees and that's what ticks me off in that they spend next to nothing on our $67 million payroll. Get it to about $115 million and I'll be okay with that. Ahhh yes, the Pirates of the past. You know, I love Baseball as it is my favorite sport and I played it from T-Ball (kindergarten) to Pony League (8th grade) but since I've been born in 1993, the Pirates have never had a winning season since I've been born. My dad has to take me to our Pittsburgh Sports Museum to remind me of the great Pirates of the past like Clemente, Stargell, Maz, and steroid bonds. Phillies had and still do have great talent like Schmidt, Roberts, Kruky, and Bowa to Rollins, Utley, and Howard.

I have a good friend from college who lives in Pittsburg and is a huge Pirates fan. I've been up to a few games with him. Good time and cheap.

I remember Bonds when he played for the Pirates and he was a skinny top of the order type guy. Most years I think he stole more bases than HRs. He may have only had a season or 2 in Pittsburg with over 30 HRs. I think one year right before he left he had 30+ HRs and something like 50 SBs. I think he won the MVP that year. It wasn't until McGuire and Sossa put on their little show that Bonds roided up to top them. The worse part is Bonds was probably a hall of famer anyway without the roids, but we'll never know.

 

[Hrudey3032]

For a philly guy, you know more about the Pirates than most of the people that live in my neighborhood. Yes, we are run like a minor league team and that's what management wants it to be like. PNC Park the best stadium in baseball. Although, I very much enjoy Citizens Bank Park (sat near bullpen area). Yeah, we get great promos every year like Skyblast Zambelli fireworks nights with bands like Kool and the Gang this year and bobbleheads,etc. I credit stadium management/marketing department for the pirates. Yes, from Root Sports (our local tv sports network) the team gets their fair share of tv revenue which will dramatically increase I believe in the next two years as they renewed and increased their revenue shair in the new deal. Yes, our ownership group makes the most money out of any teams in the MLB even the Yankees and that's what ticks me off in that they spend next to nothing on our $67 million payroll. Get it to about $115 million and I'll be okay with that. Ahhh yes, the Pirates of the past. You know, I love Baseball as it is my favorite sport and I played it from T-Ball (kindergarten) to Pony League (8th grade) but since I've been born in 1993, the Pirates have never had a winning season since I've been born. My dad has to take me to our Pittsburgh Sports Museum to remind me of the great Pirates of the past like Clemente, Stargell, Maz, and steroid bonds. Phillies had and still do have great talent like Schmidt, Roberts, Kruky, and Bowa to Rollins, Utley, and Howard.

My hometown team the Indianapolis Indians are the AAA affiliate of the Pirates so we have benefitted greatly from Pirates losing so much.The Pirates have one of the top rated farm systems in baseball.

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

My hometown team the Indianapolis Indians are the AAA affiliate of the Pirates so we have benefitted greatly from Pirates losing so much.The Pirates have one of the top rated farm systems in baseball.

I'll answer your remark but to you and GoofGoof and future posters here, but I'll politely say I kinda want to focus on Hockey here since there's another MLB thread. Yes, the Pirates do contain some high quality prospects in all their minor league team affiliates even in their Dominican League. So about 4-5 good prospects per team. However, I don't believe they have one of the top farm systems like a Tampa Bay Rays or a St Louis Cardinals, but we rank somwhere in the top 10 or top 15 for sure going into this season. Keep me updated on Gerrit Cole to.

 

[erasure fan1]

Well I have to go with the Blackhawks. After the start they had, anything less than them winning the cup, is a letdown.

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

Well the NHL playoffs are around the corner (acutal NHL playoffs start on Tuesday, with my Pens starting on Wednesday) so plenty excitement to go all around. My prediction:
Pens over Ducks in 6 games.

 

[jw24]

Being from NJ, my favorite team is Devils. It stinks they're missing the playoffs for the 2nd time in three years but it's not how you start, it's how you finish and to be fair, I don't think we deserved a playoff spot with the inability to get results with the Kovalchuk injury. Hopefully, the Devils re-vamp the team and get another scorer to compliment Kovalchuk.

Cup wise, I'm cynical that it'll be Pittsburgh-Chicago considering how number one seeds in both conferences have choked in the playoffs in recent years. Believe it or not, the last number one seed to win the cup was Tampa Bay back in '04. Having said that, it's really to tough to pick a winner. No one in the East other than Pittsburgh looks unbeatable. I'm going Vancouver-Washington for the championship. It's crazy but I think the Caps have all the momentum and I really think Schenider for Vancouver is going to be make a huge difference over Luongo, who's known to be a playoff choker. Who wins the cup? I think the Canucks in six.

 

[openendedsky]

I'm a Lightning and Flyers fan, but obviously neither one of those are happening right now.

 

[wdwstateofmind]

Devils and Devils...oh wait...my fav. team is neither a playoff team as well...shows you what one week without Kovalchuk will do

 

[GeoDonJac34]

Ranger fan here. Really like the six seed and the chances against the Capitals. Not looking for the Blue Shirts to go much farther though. Predict Pens Blackhawks.

 

[wdwstateofmind]

Ranger fan here. Really like the six seed and the chances against the Capitals. Not looking for the Blue Shirts to go much farther though. Predict Pens Blackhawks.

Well at least ur a rational Rag fan...now only if you can convince your GM to stop acting like the Yankees when it comes to the names they sign / amount of money on contracts...

 

[plaz10]

LETS GO PENS!!!