Anaheim Ducks, Stanley Cup Favorites?
Maybe it's too soon to talk about this, but I figured why not start speculating? There's been a lot of movement this offseason, and some really big names have swapped cities. One of the biggest has to be Chris Pronger being traded to Anaheim. All Pronger did last year was help the Edmonton Oilers to within one game of winning the Stanley Cup.
The Ducks weren't slouches last year either. A team that no one expected much from marched all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they eventually fell to the Oilers. They already had one of the best defencemen in the NHL in Scott Neidermayer, a healthy and very productive Teemu Selanne, and star rookie goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Now add Chris Pronger to the mix. Neidermayer and Pronger as your top 2 defencemen? This is without question, the best pairing in the NHL.....and perhaps the best the NHL has ever seen? Expect Anaheim's powerplay to be ridiculous, and I would also expect to see Neidermayer and Pronger playing massive minutes (25-30 a game) and facing the top lines of opposing team.
Right now I'm having a really hard time finding reasons why they won't be at the big dance this year.
Yahoo's Top 10 Fantasy Draft
Thanks to my buddy Stache for this! Yahoo posted their Top 50, but for comparison's sake, I'm going to give you the Top 10 in their draft. You can see my picks here.
1. Joe Thornton
2. Miikka Kiprusoff
3. Alexander Ovechkin
4. Jaromir Jagr
5. Dany Heatley
6. Sidney Crosby
7. Jonathan Cheechoo
8. Daniel Alfredsson
9. Ilya Kovalchuk
10. Jason Spezza
It looks like Thornton may be everyone's #1 pick. Can't argue with that. What follows is a toss up of some very reliable talent. It's funny how Kipper is the only goalie to crack their Top 10. Oh and Stache, I don't see Forsberg being picked till the 2nd round. Unfortunately, he is the 'Swedish Lindros'....when he's in the game he's great.....when he's in the game. I'm really curious to see how Gagne responds without him....because he was awfully quiet when Forsberg was on the IR.
Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh
Comments
Thornton?? Pfft-- I'm going with Felix Potvin as a first pick...just like I did when I won the FOHSHL championship.
Posted by: Wazz | August 19, 2006 03:25 PM
Yeah, it's hard to argue against Anaheim...but I also see Calgary making a strong case for the West this year. I like the pieces they've added.
As for fantasy hockey, I'm going with Ian Moran personally as my #1 pick.
Posted by: Playoff Moustache | August 21, 2006 12:36 PM