Hockey News rates the teams

On Aug 30, 8:54 am, xpene....TakeThisOut@earthlink.net wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:44:33 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
>
> wrote:
> >Latest issue - a look ahead to the upcoming season. Wings rated "A" and
> >Avs rated "C" - this is on the overall capability of the team (not front
> >office, etc.).....players and talent. The wings a bit of a shock -
> >however they gave due to the run last year with basically a rebuilding year
> >and no second or third line. As for the avs - it can best be summed up
> >as .....Keep hope alive, Keep hope alive, Good lord Jesus Keep hope
> >alive....
>
> Didn't read the article but find it hard to believe Colorado got a c
> rating.

They did, I didn't go through the other grades but I did see that
Dallas got a C-.
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On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:44:33 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
wrote:

>Latest issue - a look ahead to the upcoming season. Wings rated "A" and
>Avs rated "C" - this is on the overall capability of the team (not front
>office, etc.).....players and talent. The wings a bit of a shock -
>however they gave due to the run last year with basically a rebuilding year
>and no second or third line. As for the avs - it can best be summed up
>as .....Keep hope alive, Keep hope alive, Good lord Jesus Keep hope
>alive....
>
Didn't read the article but find it hard to believe Colorado got a c
rating.
 >> Stay informed about: Hockey News rates the teams 

wrote in message

> On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:44:33 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
> wrote:
>
>>Latest issue - a look ahead to the upcoming season. Wings rated "A"
>>and
>>Avs rated "C" - this is on the overall capability of the team (not front
>>office, etc.).....players and talent. The wings a bit of a shock -
>>however they gave due to the run last year with basically a rebuilding
>>year
>>and no second or third line. As for the avs - it can best be summed up
>>as .....Keep hope alive, Keep hope alive, Good lord Jesus Keep hope
>>alive....
>>
> Didn't read the article but find it hard to believe Colorado got a c
> rating.

If I remember correctly it was heavily influenced by the 5.5M boat anchor of
a backup goaltender and the promise of the rookies last year and Sakic.
Boy it is easy to see who the die-hards are in this group. In NYC area
they are replaying the top 15 games of the devils over the last 10 years -
makes you long for hockey season to begin.....
 >> Stay informed about: Hockey News rates the teams 

"Hockeyguy" wrote in message

>
> wrote in message
>
>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:44:33 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Latest issue - a look ahead to the upcoming season. Wings rated "A"
>>>and
>>>Avs rated "C" - this is on the overall capability of the team (not front
>>>office, etc.).....players and talent. The wings a bit of a shock -
>>>however they gave due to the run last year with basically a rebuilding
>>>year
>>>and no second or third line. As for the avs - it can best be summed
>>>up
>>>as .....Keep hope alive, Keep hope alive, Good lord Jesus Keep hope
>>>alive....
>>>
>> Didn't read the article but find it hard to believe Colorado got a c
>> rating.
>
> If I remember correctly it was heavily influenced by the 5.5M boat anchor
> of a backup goaltender and the promise of the rookies last year and Sakic.
> Boy it is easy to see who the die-hards are in this group. In NYC area
> they are replaying the top 15 games of the devils over the last 10 years -
> makes you long for hockey season to begin.....

As a Canuck fan, I'm a little concerned about how the Avs got stronger
free-agentwise. 'Course, as a Canucks fan I'll be concerned about the Avs
until someone lops a foot off each of their defensemen.
They're replaying old hockey games through the summer? That's a hockey
market! Here, we have to catch snatches of the Junior series against Russia
for our fix.
 >> Stay informed about: Hockey News rates the teams 

"Grande Mal" wrote in message

>
> "Hockeyguy" wrote in message
>
>>
>> wrote in message
>>
>>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:44:33 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Latest issue - a look ahead to the upcoming season. Wings rated "A"
>>>>and
>>>>Avs rated "C" - this is on the overall capability of the team (not front
>>>>office, etc.).....players and talent. The wings a bit of a shock -
>>>>however they gave due to the run last year with basically a rebuilding
>>>>year
>>>>and no second or third line. As for the avs - it can best be summed
>>>>up
>>>>as .....Keep hope alive, Keep hope alive, Good lord Jesus Keep hope
>>>>alive....
>>>>
>>> Didn't read the article but find it hard to believe Colorado got a c
>>> rating.
>>
>> If I remember correctly it was heavily influenced by the 5.5M boat anchor
>> of a backup goaltender and the promise of the rookies last year and
>> Sakic. Boy it is easy to see who the die-hards are in this group. In
>> NYC area they are replaying the top 15 games of the devils over the last
>> 10 years - makes you long for hockey season to begin.....
>
> As a Canuck fan, I'm a little concerned about how the Avs got stronger
> free-agentwise. 'Course, as a Canucks fan I'll be concerned about the Avs
> until someone lops a foot off each of their defensemen.
> They're replaying old hockey games through the summer? That's a hockey
> market! Here, we have to catch snatches of the Junior series against
> Russia for our fix.

You have to remember this is NY - with lots of cable sports channels and
programming to fill. Hell they replay Yankees games.....
 >> Stay informed about: Hockey News rates the teams 

On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:36:55 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
wrote:

>
> wrote in message
>
>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:44:33 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Latest issue - a look ahead to the upcoming season. Wings rated "A"
>>>and
>>>Avs rated "C" - this is on the overall capability of the team (not front
>>>office, etc.).....players and talent. The wings a bit of a shock -
>>>however they gave due to the run last year with basically a rebuilding
>>>year
>>>and no second or third line. As for the avs - it can best be summed up
>>>as .....Keep hope alive, Keep hope alive, Good lord Jesus Keep hope
>>>alive....
>>>
>> Didn't read the article but find it hard to believe Colorado got a c
>> rating.
>
>If I remember correctly it was heavily influenced by the 5.5M boat anchor of
>a backup goaltender and the promise of the rookies last year and Sakic.
>Boy it is easy to see who the die-hards are in this group. In NYC area
>they are replaying the top 15 games of the devils over the last 10 years -
>makes you long for hockey season to begin.....
>
Considering that they've got the complete team signed with a $5
million to spare the boat anchor means little. I'd assume the rookies
will continue to develop and no radical drop off in Sakic's
production. FRee Agent signings of Smyth and Hannan by themselves
should move them up. Goaltending is their big question mark.

I don't know about Detroit being an "A" either. While
Schneider-Rafalski might be a wash, Markov has been adequately
replaced, Kronwall appears to injury prone, Lidstrom an Chelios are a
year older. They'll be counting a lot on the continued improvement of
the young guys,and Grigorenko etc
 >> Stay informed about: Hockey News rates the teams 

wrote in message

> On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:36:55 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
> wrote:
>
>>
>> wrote in message
>>
>>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:44:33 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Latest issue - a look ahead to the upcoming season. Wings rated "A"
>>>>and
>>>>Avs rated "C" - this is on the overall capability of the team (not front
>>>>office, etc.).....players and talent. The wings a bit of a shock -
>>>>however they gave due to the run last year with basically a rebuilding
>>>>year
>>>>and no second or third line. As for the avs - it can best be summed
>>>>up
>>>>as .....Keep hope alive, Keep hope alive, Good lord Jesus Keep hope
>>>>alive....
>>>>
>>> Didn't read the article but find it hard to believe Colorado got a c
>>> rating.
>>
>>If I remember correctly it was heavily influenced by the 5.5M boat anchor
>>of
>>a backup goaltender and the promise of the rookies last year and Sakic.
>>Boy it is easy to see who the die-hards are in this group. In NYC area
>>they are replaying the top 15 games of the devils over the last 10 years -
>>makes you long for hockey season to begin.....
>>
> Considering that they've got the complete team signed with a $5
> million to spare the boat anchor means little. I'd assume the rookies
> will continue to develop and no radical drop off in Sakic's
> production. FRee Agent signings of Smyth and Hannan by themselves
> should move them up. Goaltending is their big question mark.
>
> I don't know about Detroit being an "A" either. While
> Schneider-Rafalski might be a wash, Markov has been adequately
> replaced, Kronwall appears to injury prone, Lidstrom an Chelios are a
> year older. They'll be counting a lot on the continued improvement of
> the young guys,and Grigorenko etc

As to the avs, I forgot about smith signing being mentioned.

As to the wings - what is the latest on Markov? I think that team is still
strong all things considered - the Hasek situation has to work...
 >> Stay informed about: Hockey News rates the teams 

<snip>
>
>As to the wings - what is the latest on Markov? I think that team is still
>strong all things considered - the Hasek situation has to work...
>
Nothing on Markov. Supposedly Detroit is still interested in him at
about last year's money ($2.5 million) but he wants $3 million plus.
Training camps are rapidly approaching and he's still unsigned so who
knows. Liljas who was bad in the playoffs and if IRRC played with
Lidstrom the season before last, could replace him or possibly a young
guy from Grand Rapids (Meech, etc).
 >> Stay informed about: Hockey News rates the teams 

wrote in message

> <snip>
>>
>>As to the wings - what is the latest on Markov? I think that team is
>>still
>>strong all things considered - the Hasek situation has to work...
>>
> Nothing on Markov. Supposedly Detroit is still interested in him at
> about last year's money ($2.5 million) but he wants $3 million plus.
> Training camps are rapidly approaching and he's still unsigned so who
> knows. Liljas who was bad in the playoffs and if IRRC played with
> Lidstrom the season before last, could replace him or possibly a young
> guy from Grand Rapids (Meech, etc).

Thanks. Lilga scares the hell out of me also. Meech (I think it was
meech who was called up late in the play-offs) played pretty well under that
kind of pressure - I would not mind seeing him much more this year.
 >> Stay informed about: Hockey News rates the teams 

Hockeyguy wrote:
> "Grande Mal" wrote in message
>
>> "Hockeyguy" wrote in message
>>
>>> wrote in message
>>>
>>>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:44:33 -0400, "Hockeyguy"
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Latest issue - a look ahead to the upcoming season. Wings rated "A"
>>>>> and
>>>>> Avs rated "C" - this is on the overall capability of the team (not front
>>>>> office, etc.).....players and talent. The wings a bit of a shock -
>>>>> however they gave due to the run last year with basically a rebuilding
>>>>> year
>>>>> and no second or third line. As for the avs - it can best be summed
>>>>> up
>>>>> as .....Keep hope alive, Keep hope alive, Good lord Jesus Keep hope
>>>>> alive....
>>>>>
>>>> Didn't read the article but find it hard to believe Colorado got a c
>>>> rating.
>>> If I remember correctly it was heavily influenced by the 5.5M boat anchor
>>> of a backup goaltender and the promise of the rookies last year and
>>> Sakic. Boy it is easy to see who the die-hards are in this group. In
>>> NYC area they are replaying the top 15 games of the devils over the last
>>> 10 years - makes you long for hockey season to begin.....
>> As a Canuck fan, I'm a little concerned about how the Avs got stronger
>> free-agentwise. 'Course, as a Canucks fan I'll be concerned about the Avs
>> until someone lops a foot off each of their defensemen.
>> They're replaying old hockey games through the summer? That's a hockey
>> market! Here, we have to catch snatches of the Junior series against
>> Russia for our fix.
>
> You have to remember this is NY - with lots of cable sports channels and
> programming to fill. Hell they replay Yankees games.....

Boston is even worse. I forget what the network is called, but it's all
BoSox, all the time.

-Thomas
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