NHL 2017 -Official Discussion Thread

[StCapps]

Nah, this team is a flash in the pan, it's not that good, they're just riding a hot Rinne, but he's very often not this hot, they're not going to be a perennial contender, they will be what they have been, a perenial playoff team maybe, but they're not going to be the new Chicago.

They need a hot goalie sure, but you can say that about any team who would be the new Chicago. A top four defense and a good goalie who is more likely than most to get hot down the stretch, that's a perennial cup contender right there, at least while the d-core is so cheap. Forsberg is also only making $6 million, that sure helps.

[Smitty-48]

Nah, this team is a flash in the pan, it's not that good, they're just riding a hot Rinne, but he's very often not this hot, they're not going to be a perennial contender, they will be what they have been, a perenial playoff team maybe, but they're not going to be the new Chicago.

Not unless they add pieces moving forward. They need a hot goalie sure, but you can say that about any team who would be the new Chicago.

They have absolutely no prospects though, I mean, their prospect pool is shit, what you see is what you get, there's nothing in the pipeline to restock with as they go, they're a budget team, they're not going to spend money, the only way to add, would be to add NHL ready top prospects, and the best way to add that, would be to trade Subban or Josi, and obviously they're keeping Josi.

[StCapps]

They have absolutely no prospects though, I mean, they're prospect pool is shit, what you see is what you get, there's nothing in the pipline, they're a budget team, they're not going to spend money, the only way to add, would be to add NHL ready top prospects, and the best way to add that, would be to trade Subban or Josi, and obviously they're keeping Josi.

I agree that their prospect depth is their biggest issue, but the core is sexy and cheap. Why wouldn't they spend money if they are winning, they weren't that far off the cap this year, they spent a decent amount this year and they had less success previously, so why would they spend less next year, especailly if they win a Cup? This isn't a decade ago, Nashville isn't quite so uber cheap anymore, you're living in the past man. This team is underrated, and their cap management has been elite, don't sleep.

The Preds have less prospects than most perennial contenders, but they are still perennial contenders as long as they get quality goaltending, the same can be said of the Pens, Hawks and Ducks.

[Smitty-48]

I don't think their core is that good, they're just the hot team this year who got lucky when Chicago didn't show up, but this is just a one off, they need to get way deeper, if they're going to make cup run after cup run.

[StCapps]

I don't think their core is that good, they're just the hot team this year who got lucky when Chicago didn't show up, but this is just a one off, they need to get way deeper, if they're going to make cup run after cup run.

Nonsense. They beat Anaheim last year too. The sweep was a fluke, but beating Chicago wasn't that surprising. Now they have serious playoff experience under their belt. You are sleeping on this core, they are having a good run sure, but they are still young, getting better and more experienced every year and they aren't expensive. That's a hell of a lot to work with and a leg up on the vast majority of teams, even with their lack of prospects.

People thought the Kings we're a flash in the pan because they were an eight seed too. How'd that work out? I think the Preds have a Kings-like window and if they make some smart moves they might even extend the sucker, though lack of prospect depth will likely limit their staying power as contender, as it did with the Kings.

[Smitty-48]

They're riding a hot Pekka Rinne, this is not the usual Pekka Rinne tho, you don't get this Rinne every year, and he's 34, with one year left on the contract, PK Subban is not the player he was, he's not worth $9 million anymore, they have Josi, they have Forsberg, other than that, it's not a perrenial contender, they are just this years Carolina Hurricanes circa 2006.

They don;t have anything like a King's window, the Kings were way deeper, and Jonathan Quick was/is way better than Pekka Rinne.

[StCapps]

They're riding a hot Pekka Rinne, this is not the usual Pekka Rinne tho, you don't get this Rinne every year, and he's 34, with one year left on the contract, PK Subban is not the player he was, he's not worth $9 million anymore, they have Josi, they have Forsberg, other than that, it's not a perrenial contender, they are just this years Carolina Hurricanes circa 2006.

Nah, you just think that because of Laviolette. This is the best team he's ever had, by a mile. They can sign a good backup, or even a good cheap starter, given this playoff performance, just in case Rinne falters in the future, and they have an awesome defense for the next little while. They can trade Subban and/or Rinne and improve the prospects pool. Don't let the 8th seed fool you.

[Smitty-48]

They're riding a hot Pekka Rinne, this is not the usual Pekka Rinne tho, you don't get this Rinne every year, and he's 34, with one year left on the contract, PK Subban is not the player he was, he's not worth $9 million anymore, they have Josi, they have Forsberg, other than that, it's not a perrenial contender, they are just this years Carolina Hurricanes circa 2006.

Nah, you just think that because of Laviolette. This is the best team he's ever had, by a mile.

I don't think so, Anaheim was actually dominating them in that game, the only reason Anaheim lost was goaltending, Pekka Rinne beat Gibson-Bernier, other than Rinne standing on his head and having an all world playoff run, I haven't found the Preds to be that impressive at all, it's just a Rinne Conn Smythe perfomance, but he's only ever done this once, in his whole career, which is about to end, because he's 34.

[StCapps]

I don't think so, Anaheim was actually dominating them in that game, the only reason Anaheim lost was goaltending, Pekka Rinne beat Gibson-Bernier, other than Rinne standing on his head and having an all world playoff run, I haven't found the Preds to be that impressive at all, it's just a Rinne Conn Smythe perfomance, but he's only ever done this once, in his whole career, which is about to end, because he's 34.

They beat the Ducks last year and Rinne wasn't playing this good. Just because the Preds had a real shitty game in Game 6 and Rinne stole it, that doesn't mean they weren't the better team this series. If beating Anaheim in back to back years and sweeping Chicago doesn't impress you, nothing will.

A big part this years success it is they are hot and Rinne is as hot as playoff goalies come, at least thus far, but that is far from the only reason for their success this year, and you are kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

[Smitty-48]

The sweep of Chigaco was abnormal, that appears to be a one off, then they got Jake Allen followed by Gibson-Bernier, they've just gotten lucky, they haven't been overwhelmingly good, they've just had the hot hand goaltender, against three teams whose goaltenders were really meh.

This is not the usual Rinne, Rinne blows hot and cold, he's no Price, Lundqvist, or Quick, he's not that good, year over year.

They have Josi, they have Forsberg, but other than that, going forward, they're not built to be a perrenial contender.