Which NHL team might surprise you this season? Tue, October 2, 2007
Every team in the NHL made off-season moves in an effort to bolster their lineup, but only some will end up liking what they got.
The Philadelphia Flyers hit a home run by signing centre Daniel Briere and the Florida Panthers were wise to acquire goaltender Tomas Vokoun via trade.
The New York Rangers also made a splash by signing Scott Gomez and Chris Drury in the off-season. Sidney Crosby, now 20, looks to defend his scoring title and lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to new heights.
In the West, the Anaheim Ducks will defend their Stanley Cup title without Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne in the lineup due to talk of retirement. The Ducks also lost Dustin Penner to the Edmonton Oilers.
The Detroit Red Wings are likely to continue their dominance of the weak Central Division.
Another season, another run to the title. Give us your thoughts on which team might surprise in the NHL this season and why that will happen.
YOU SAID
15 Comments
The suprise team of this year is the Oilers.Better defence this year and better group of forwards who will suprise a lot of people with their skill.Only questions are can Roloson hold up all year and can Garon be an upgrade in the backup position? "LEAFS SUCK" oh yah nobody is suprised about that.Redwings win the cup.
robin, 2007-10-02 17:24:34
All teams mentioned are the obvious choices and I'm going to go out on a limb and say Montreal may surprise everyone. I don't think you can count a Gainey team out. Last year they definitely were overachieving at the beginning of the season, they were more like the Ottawa Senators than the Sens were for the first 2-3 months of the year. They were in every game even with Kovalev taking the year off and unfortunately it turned off like a light switch when the Laura Gainey tragedy happened. That's my perception and who can blame the guy.
Then when Huet went down he was not the same player after coming back.
No, I'm not in denial like Toronto fans and I think there'll be no cup in Montreal this year, but I still think they'll surprise and may finish the year in the playoffs and with a new number 1 goalie.
Rick W., 2007-10-02 16:21:51
I think the biggest surprise this year will be that the Leafs haven't gotten any better maybe they are even worse and I expect Edmonton will have a better record probably due to the demise of the Calgary Flames who will be a whole lot worse.
Mark, 2007-10-02 15:19:48
The Leafs will surprise everyone by not making the playoffs again.
Now on a serious note, I think you'll see the Flyers jump from worst in the league to the top of the league. They've made a number of big moves during the off season and are definitely a contender.
Simon Pedersen, 2007-10-02 14:48:13
I think Washington and Florida could make the playoffs.
Washington has a 50 goal scorer in Ovechkin and is always a threat to score.
Florida has good young talent in Nathon Horton, Steven Weiss and Jay Bouwmeester and added a top flight goalie in Tomas Vokoun.
I would bet one or both will make the playoffs this year.
Jimmy, 2007-10-02 14:43:12
Which NHL team might surprise you this season?
robin, 2007-10-02 17:24:34
Then when Huet went down he was not the same player after coming back.
No, I'm not in denial like Toronto fans and I think there'll be no cup in Montreal this year, but I still think they'll surprise and may finish the year in the playoffs and with a new number 1 goalie.
Rick W., 2007-10-02 16:21:51
Mark, 2007-10-02 15:19:48
Now on a serious note, I think you'll see the Flyers jump from worst in the league to the top of the league. They've made a number of big moves during the off season and are definitely a contender.
Simon Pedersen, 2007-10-02 14:48:13
Washington has a 50 goal scorer in Ovechkin and is always a threat to score.
Florida has good young talent in Nathon Horton, Steven Weiss and Jay Bouwmeester and added a top flight goalie in Tomas Vokoun.
I would bet one or both will make the playoffs this year.
Jimmy, 2007-10-02 14:43:12