Predict The 2011 BBKL Winner, Overachiever & Underachiever

[MSP4LYFE]

As the title states, predicit your 2011 BBKL Winner, Overachiever and Underachiever, and provide reasoning for your selections.

[hong57]

Champ: LAK

Overachiever: Stars

Underachiever: Flames (too tempted to jinx my rivals)

[Scott]

2010/2011 Overachiever: Looking at everyone's roster I'll have to say the Minnesota Wild will take this award. With not the strongest competition in the West, Roberto Luongo, and a very competitive lineup (when healthy).. the Wild will pose some strong competition this season. Playoffs look like a real possiblity.

2010/2011 Underachiever: Again, goin through the rosters and where team's should be, my choice for this not so desirable award will go to the Chicago Blackhawks. Solid goalie, very good top 6 forwards.. but injuries do happen. Zero depth, very thin on defense and a really young team. In my opinion, Chicago will barely sneak into the playoffs when they were thought to be a favourite.

2010/2011 Champions: This award was tough for me to chose because it seems there are a lot of competitive teams but I selected the Washington Capitals to edge out the St. Louis Blues for the championship. Washington made a very smart trade acquiring veterans Mike Knuble & Eric Belanger from the Detroit Red Wings to really balance their lineup. An offensive powerhouse lineup, decent periphery stats, amazing goaltending, & a lot of depth. The Caps will be your BBKL '10-'11 champs

2010/2011 Dead Last: The Detroit Red Wings - need I say more? I'll just link you the team and you see for yourself --> http://bbkl.hockey.cbssports.com/teams/page/18/1/

[shooker]

Overachiever: Minnesota. I believe of all of the rebuilders that hong has made the best decisions and landed top end talent in his dismantal instead of just picks and mid tear prospects. With a few of those bigger pieces set to not only make the NHL this year but have an impact, things could really turn around for him.

Underachiever: Ottawa Senators. After a conference change this offseason and his goaltenders moving on to a less promising role, we might see the decline of the 2nd overal team in the west last season. With a massive youth movement this team might struggle out of the gates and struggle to make up ground through out the year. I think they will still be a playoff team but it will be in the bottom half of the east which will likely lead to a match up vs NJD PIT or WASH which would most likely lead to an early exit. This team has too much talent to be denied forever and will likely be my pick for the major break out team in 2011-2012 if their goaltending is locked up aka markstrom is a starter next season.

Winnning it all: Washington Capitals. Offensive powerhouse with the reigning Vezina winner between the pipes.....need I say more?

Dead Last: Philly and not because of our arguments. Look at his roster, there are more red crosses there than at the clean ups in Haiti. Starting the year with all his main pieces on the IR will be too much for him to overcome.

[bills09]

Overachiever: Minnesota. - very young and loads of skill i think this team makes the playoffs

Underachiever: Pittsburgh Penguins, 2 very key injurys before the season has started and zero depth I think Shivs dreams might come up a little short.

Winnning it all: Washington Capitals. Teams Stacked nuff said.

Dead Last: Florida Panthers, extreme youth movement in the wings.
Sean Couturier is in the cards.

[Tony]

Over: Phoenix

Under: Pittsburgh (injuries) ... sorry Shiv

Winner winner chicken dinner: New Jersey - Scott always finds a way to win ... son of a bitch.

Last: Philly, Detroit or Carolina ... goaltending!

[MSP4LYFE]

Overachiever: Calgary Flames, I believe they have the right pieces to make a run in the West this season, but will likely drop off in the future due to the age of their top players.

Underachiever: Tampa Bay Lightning, already lost two key players to long term injury, if last season was any indication, this talented team can't stay healthy. Combined with youth and inexperience and it could be a tough year in Tampa.

Winner: New Jersey Devils, I can't choose myself, and the only other team I consider to be in the same class is NJ, therefore they are my choices to win it all.

Last: Philadelphia, worst team in the BBKL by a wide margin, and no goaltending. He is going to take last place, and it won't even be close.

[armandtanzarian]

Overachiever - MIN, could be a big turnaround on the horizon. Would not be surprised to see a playoff appearance.

Underachiever - WAS, one or two injuries and this team won' t be the top team in the league like a lot of people seem to think it will be. BBKL is blinded by youth, imo. Amazing team but I do not consider it that much ahead of the top 5 or 6 teams. In H2H she comes down to luck and anyone who sneaks into playoffs has a chance.

Winner - Think it will be a surprise from SJS. Good all around team in all stat cats. I can also see Shiv going against SJS for the cup.

Last - PHI/NYI I hope these teams own there first rounders in 2011!!

[Scott]

Overachiever - MIN, could be a big turnaround on the horizon. Would not be surprised to see a playoff appearance.

Underachiever - WAS, one or two injuries and this team won' t be the top team in the league like a lot of people seem to think it will be. BBKL is blinded by youth, imo. Amazing team but I do not consider it that much ahead of the top 5 or 6 teams. In H2H she comes down to luck and anyone who sneaks into playoffs has a chance.

Winner - Think it will be a surprise from SJS. Good all around team in all stat cats. I can also see Shiv going against SJS for the cup.

Last - PHI/NYI I hope these teams own there first rounders in 2011!!

Nice pick with the Sharks.. definitely going under the radar but his team is quite could!

[Tony]

Of course I don't own my pick Kyle ... you bastard.

[MSP4LYFE]

Underachiever - WAS, one or two injuries and this team won' t be the top team in the league like a lot of people seem to think it will be. BBKL is blinded by youth, imo. Amazing team but I do not consider it that much ahead of the top 5 or 6 teams. In H2H she comes down to luck and anyone who sneaks into playoffs has a chance.

Yeah Kyle...One or two injuries and I'm done...Maybe your team is done after one or two, but I'm so deep an argument can be made that I get better with injuries, my bench includes: Zenon Konopka, Peter Schaefer, Teddy Purcell, Carl Gunnarsson, Magnus Paajarvi, Phillipe Dupuis, Kirk Maltby, Noah Welch, P.A. Parenteau, and potentially Nazem Kadri and Travis Hamonic.

As for periphery stats, I dominate those as well, the only player in my lineup with no previous experience/stats to draw on is John Carlson, and based on his playoff stats (ppg, second in shtoi) and team he plays for (WSH) it stands to reason that he will contribute, and in the event he does I can easily call up Carl Gunnarsson in his stead. I have no idea where this notion of blinded by youth comes into play, I don't have a bunch of prospects on my team, I have proven superstars that are young, big difference, as you will come to see week 2.

I have no problem if you think my team is overrated, but if your going to criticize my team do so with logical and well reasoned arguments.

[anton]

Underachiever - WAS, one or two injuries and this team won' t be the top team in the league like a lot of people seem to think it will be. BBKL is blinded by youth, imo. Amazing team but I do not consider it that much ahead of the top 5 or 6 teams. In H2H she comes down to luck and anyone who sneaks into playoffs has a chance.

Yeah Kyle...One or two injuries and I'm done...Maybe your team is done after one or two, but I'm so deep an argument can be made that I get better with injuries, my bench includes: Zenon Konopka, Teddy Purcell, Carl Gunnarsson, Magnus Paajarvi, Kirk Maltby, Noah Welch, P.A. Parenteau, and potentially Nazem Kadri and Travis Hamonic.

As for periphery stats, I dominate those two, the only player in my lineup with no previous experience/stats to draw on is John Carlson, and based on his playoff stats (ppg, second in shtoi) and team he plays for (WSH) it stands to reason that he will contribute, and in the event he does I can easily call up Carl Gunnarsson in his stead.

I have no problem if you think my team is overrated, but if your going to criticize my team do so with logical and well reasoned arguments.

annnnnnd here we go...

[MSP4LYFE]

annnnnnd here we go...

MEH

[Shep]

Of course I don't own my pick Kyle ... you bastard.

I do

[Tony]

Of course I don't own my pick Kyle ... you bastard.

I do

You're welcome

[armandtanzarian]

hehe...so easy....

[armandtanzarian]

But your Probably Right Kareem, We should just write this one down as a 1A and 1B for WAS and PIT. No point in playing this year because you guys already have won the cup. I don't do well with predictions because 9 times out of 10 they are wrong. You do have an amazing team, and you know i know that but i just think the self gloating will always come back to haunt you. Scott never said anything until he finished his mastery. Even in the cup finals he still played the underdog cards. I can't wait for week 2. Should be fun.

[MSP4LYFE]

But your Probably Right Kareem, We should just write this one down as a 1A and 1B for WAS and PIT. No point in playing this year because you guys already have won the cup. I don't do well with predictions because 9 times out of 10 they are wrong. You do have an amazing team, and you know i know that but i just think the self gloating will always come back to haunt you. Scott never said anything until he finished his mastery. Even in the cup finals he still played the underdog cards. I can't wait for week 2. Should be fun.

Scott and I are different personalities, I'm a gloater, always have been, always will be. That being said, it has nothing to do with the final outcome of the season, whether I brag about Steven Stamkos, or Scott is humble in regards to Jeff Carter have no bearing on their performances. Our work up to this point will, and frankly I've been better, therefore it stands to reaosn that I will ruin this league to the tune of 25-0-0.

[inferno31]

The more and more Kareem talks, the more and more I see him going undefeated ALL regular season. Then getting beat in the final by some surprise team out of the West.

There are your orders Honger, get it done.

[MSP4LYFE]

The more and more Kareem talks, the more and more I see him going undefeated ALL regular season. Then getting beat in the final by some surprise team out of the West.

There are your orders Honger, get it done.

A patriot like run eh? I actually wouldn't mind that, truth be told I would rather go undefeated in the regulaur season, than win it all. Obviously I'd prefer to do both, but the former is more indicative of a strong team, IMO.

On a side note, you know what they say about upsets in the finals don't you?