The Ducks will repeat as Cup champs AND pick first in the draft.

[Dr. Naysay]

25 Florida Panthers 53GP 51P
26 Edmonton Oilers 54GP 51P
27 Chicago Blackhawks 51GP 50P
28 Toronto Maple Leafs 53GP 49P
29 Tampa Bay Lightning 52GP 47P
30 Los Angeles Kings 53GP 45P

The Oilers are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and their schedule doesn't get any easier. They're the only team in their division not currently occupying a playoff position. They're a very young team and they just got rid of veteran Dick Tarnstrom for 25 year old Curtis Glencross. Roloson is 38, Sanderson is 36 and a UFA at the end of the season.

The Oilers have already started being "sellers" and can still move 29 year old Shawn Horcoff to ANY playoff team looking for a high scoring center with 1 year left of a $3.6 Mil cap hit left on his contract.

They're not going to finish strong. They're going to continue to drop.

As for the Ducks...

When healthy they boast a lineup featuring Niedermayer, Pronger, Schneider, Bertuzzi, Selanne, Giguere, Getzlaf, Perry, Pahlsson and Weight.


Look out NHL... The Anaheim Ducks are going to win the Stanley Cup AND pick first in the NHL draft.

[Hrudey92]

Nah, Burke will trade Edmontons pick to Chi for a waived Koci

[gescom]

the last three weeks of the season doesn't get any 'easier' for any team, particularly the bottom feeders. all teams will be playing games against their division rivals to end the season and the Kings are the only other team (in the West) besides the Oilers who have a losing record within their own division... a division which also features the other 4 teams vying for a playoff spot.

Vancouver currently holds the 8th seed, are only a point ahead of Nashville, who is playing very well lately, two points ahead of both Columbus and Phoenix, and are 2-6-2 in their last 10 after having lost 3 straight (worse than Edmonton)... the Colorado Avalanche (58 points) may also be in trouble as well.


and the Eastern Conference IS really that bad.


if i were a betting man, i'd say that #1 pick will go one of those original six teams currently occupying one of those spots in the bottom-5 of the league... i'd probably lay money on Toronto.

[Dr. Naysay]

Originally Posted by gescom

if i were a betting man, i'd say that #1 pick will go one of those original six teams currently occupying one of those spots in the bottom-5 of the league... i'd probably lay money on Toronto.

We'll see.

[gescom]

additionally, how good would Steven Stamkos look centering Ilya Kovalchuk?

Marian Hossa IS on the market, and Brian Burke has said that that #1 pick IS in play.

[PPharoah]

Yea they are off and running:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey...ck=2&cset=true

[Dr. Naysay]

Originally Posted by gescom

Marian Hossa IS on the market, and Brian Burke has said that that #1 pick IS in play.

I will be shocked.... SHOCKED if the Ducks trade that pick.

[PPharoah]

Originally Posted by Dr. Naysay

I will be shocked.... SHOCKED if the Ducks trade that pick.

True that Doc, but if Burke thinks he can win another Cup by trading it, he will probably do it.

[Dr. Naysay]

Originally Posted by PPharoah

True that Doc, but if Burke thinks he can win another Cup by trading it, he will probably do it.

Barring some horrible injury, there is no one player that would solidify their chances enough to justify trading the first overall pick in the draft.

[gescom]

Originally Posted by Dr. Naysay

We'll see.

absolutely. it's just a guestimation at this point.

anything is possible... Burke acquired a first rounder last season with the sole intention of dealing it. sure you can say "well that draft was considerably 'weaker' than this draft is purported to be" but Burke has always displayed a pretty balls to the wall mentality. he doesn't exactly have the reputation of a builder.

i don't know from Sean Horcoff being on anyone's radar or any internet prognosticator's commodity list or not, so i don't expect them to move their best centerman... and Dick Tarnstrom was essentially Edmonton's Kevin Dallman all season. the Oilers are also without a first round pick this year, so i would think any other move they look to make would be an attempt to get them one. i'm not positive Horcoff could, despite an All-Star selection fresh on everyone's mind.

you also have to consider the fact that this isn't a vacuum. what about how the other bottom feeders will fare once THEY cut bait?

what happens to Toronto if they deal Sundin and (maybe) Darcy Tucker?

what happens to Los Angeles if they deal Blake, Nagy, Stuart...?

etc etc.

we can't just assume that the demand for Edmonton's tradees will outweigh the demand for other team's available players on the block, and one or some of these teams MAY eventually find themselves ass-out and unable to deal a player (Aaron Miller) simply because the demand is no longer there.

finally, for someone who is unconvinced that Steven Stamkos will amount to much other than a likely NHL player, you seem to be fairly interested in the notion that Anaheim will be selecting first overall.