Cup Winners? Rosen & Hradek make predictions

[germany00]

The world's most famous trophy. The ultimate goal. The dream.

Which team will spend the summer of 2012 celebrating with the Stanley Cup?

Rosen has the Penguins and Blackhawks competing in the Stanley Cup Final. Hradek has the Penguins and Sharks going after the big prize.

And the winner is...

ROSEN'S STANLEY CUP CHAMP
Chicago Blackhawks

They know how to do it because they've done it before. They know what it takes and they understand the grind. The Blackhawks also now have a greater appreciation for what they accomplished in 2010 and how difficult it will be to do it again.

It took a nearly missing the playoffs last season for the Hawks to fully appreciate how special it is to win in this League. When they were going through it, knocking off Nashville, Vancouver, San Jose and Philadelphia to win the franchise's first Cup in 49 years, it all seemed so easy, so right -- mostly because it was a team that didn't know failure.

They were supposed to be a team on the rise in 2008, and they were. They were supposed to be a playoff team in 2009, and they were, making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. They were supposed to be a Cup contender in 2010, and, of course, they were.

Last season, though, the Blackhawks left their playoff fate in the hands of another team and only got in because the Dallas Stars lost. Before they got their feet under them again, they were in a 0-3 series hole against the Canucks.

Chicago nearly dug all the way out of it, losing the series to Vancouver in overtime of Game 7, but the lessons learned then will come in handy now.

Appreciate your talent. Understand how good you can be. Don't let the moment pass you by.

The Blackhawks won't. Team captain Jonathan Toews said most of all, he learned last season how much he really hates to lose.

He won't. The Cup will return to the Windy City.

HRADEK'S STANLEY CUP CHAMP
Pittsburgh Penguins

After much thoughtful deliberation, I’ve got the Penguins and Sharks meeting in the Stanley Cup Final. That would be a heck of match, co-starring two pretty intense fan bases.

The Pittsburgh faithful would love to raise another banner, the first in new Consol Energy Center. San Jose supporters, on the other hand, have a desperate thirst to take that first-ever sip from the big silver Cup. I can't imagine how loud it would get in the Shark Tank (HP Pavilion) in the final minutes of a Cup-clinching victory.

Now I have to take one more peek into my pre-season crystal ball and give you a winner. It's tough because I think the two squads, when healthy, are very evenly matched.

In goal, Marc-Andre Fleury and Antti Niemi both bring championship experience to their respective crease. Fleury backstopped the Pens to the 2009 title, while Niemi was between the pipes for Blackhawks' championship run in 2010. Right now, I'd give Fleury an edge.

On defense, the Sharks made a big upgrade with the addition of Brent Burns, who'll fit nicely alongside Dan Boyle at the top of the team's blue-line depth chart. Hard-hitting Douglas Murray and veteran additions Jim Vandermeer and Colin White bring the necessary grit.

The Penguins have similar balance with clever young puck-mover Kris Letang and quietly effective Paul Martin leading the rush from the back end, while rugged Brooks Orpik and shot-blocking specialist Zbynek Michalek provide a physical presence.

In my view, both defensive units are championship quality. At this point, I'd give the Sharks a slight edge because of their experienced depth.

These teams also have world-class forwards. Up the middle, the Penguins can roll out Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal, while the Sharks counter with Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Michal Handzus.

On the wing, the Penguins have scorers like James Neal, Steve Sullivan, Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis. The Sharks, meanwhile, bring top guns like Patrick Marleau, Martin Havlat, Ryane Clowe and Joe Pavelski (who has been working alongside Thornton and Marleau in training camp).

In the end, because I value centers more than wingers in terms of helping teams win, I'd give the Penguins forwards a little bit of an advantage.

Both teams are very well coached by Dan Bylsma and Todd McLellan. Both guys have Cup rings, but McLellan's came as an assistant to Mike Babcock in Detroit. Bylsma earned his ring in his current role as Penguins coach. I guess that gives him an experience edge.

If things roll as I think, I know we'd have one heck of a Cup Final series. Who wins? While the Sharks would be a handful, I'd think Crosby, Malkin & Co. would find a way to raise the Cup for the second time in four seasons.

If i had to predict it would be something like:

West: San Jose

East: Penguins

Winner: Penguins

 

[dh1333]

Lol definitely won't be the Hawks, they basically got worse over the off season losing key role players and gaining pretty much just Brunette. They will probably finish 7th-8th in the west and lose in the 1st or 2nd round.

Finals will be Canucks - Penguins/Capitals
Nucks improved over the off season acquiring some 2nd line scoring for Kes and depth players like Nolan, Bitz, Pinizzotto, Mancari, etc... Also Hodgson, who finally got a full summer of training injury free and Tanev will be further developed. If Edler is able to stay healthy he and the improved Ballard will be able to make up for the loss of Ehrhoff in points.

 

[germany00]

why do you say Caps? they have notoriously bad playoff reputation

 

[dh1333]

why do you say Caps? they have notoriously bad playoff reputation

Acquiring Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer is really gonna help them with their playoff game. They have identified that they were a pretty soft team and went out and acquired grit. Also having a dependable goalie like Vokoun who has tons of experience could also help them.
I'll say that if the Penguins have Crosby they will be in the Finals but if they do not i can see it being the Caps.

 

[germany00]

IMO, if its not the pens, than it would have to be Boston or Philly, both teams are really good playoff wise, Boston last season and philly's 09-10 campaign. We know both teasm could very easily make it to the eastern finals, but Pens offense is just WAY more superior, Crosby, Malkin, Staal. All could be 1st line centers on alot of teams, and they are all on the same team. Philly is also a toss-up, there is no question that they will make the playoffs, but who knows how far? adding Bryzgalov will help alot, but they traded some of their more experienced players for younger guys like Schenn, Simmonds etc. So who knows about them.

 

[dh1333]

IMO, if its not the pens, than it would have to be Boston or Philly, both teams are really good playoff wise, Boston last season and philly's 09-10 campaign. We know both teasm could very easily make it to the eastern finals, but Pens offense is just WAY more superior, Crosby, Malkin, Staal. All could be 1st line centers on alot of teams, and they are all on the same team. Philly is also a toss-up, there is no question that they will make the playoffs, but who knows how far? adding Bryzgalov will help alot, but they traded some of their more experienced players for younger guys like Schenn, Simmonds etc. So who knows about them.

I really don't think Philly can make it past the 1st round of the playoffs since they have just a bunch of Inexperienced guys, maybe 2nd round at best. They will be a scary team in 2-3 years however. I agree with you on everything else though.

 

[germany00]

I really don't think Philly can make it past the 1st round of the playoffs since they have just a bunch of Inexperienced guys, maybe 2nd round at best. They will be a scary team in 2-3 years however. I agree with you on everything else though.

Also Tampa has a REALLY good chance. Even LA could go far in the playoffs, guess we'll just have to see

 

[Ao8]

Buffalo will be dangerous this year. Just watch

 

[germany00]

They added leino and Ehrhoff, not alot, but could help them up a spot or two in the east, Ehrhoff seems like he's only good with the Nucks, back when he was with San Jose, he wasnt even THAT good. But i guess we'll see if playing for the Canucks made him a better player, or if the Canucks carried him