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Staal ranks 19th, THN says
Submitted by ldecock on 08/16/2008 - 08:23
The Hockey News' preview magazine has hit newsstands, and in addition to their predictions, the magazine's staff ranked the top 50 players in the game.
Carolina's Eric Staal was the Hurricanes' only representative, coming in at No. 19. (He was 18th last season.) Rod Brind'Amour, who was 38th last season, fell off the list. (Sidney Crosby is No. 1 and Alex Ovechkin No. 2.)
Southeast Division players in the top 50: Ovechkin (2), Vincent Lecavalier (5), Ilya Kovalchuk (18), Staal (19), Martin St. Louis (25).
THN picks the Hurricanes for eighth in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals to win the Southeast Division and the Detroit Red Wings to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
(Full disclosure: I contributed the Carolina preview for the magazine, but I was not involved with the player rankings or predictions.)
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Luke DeCock
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or luke.decock@newsobserver.com.
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Comments
Pre-season predictions
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 10:46 — Robert Gilday (not verified)Washington and the 'Canes should fight it out for the division title. Remember that while we had our fair share of injuries last year, so did the Caps. They were without their captain Chris Clark and also Michael Nylander for most of the season. The one thing they have that most teams don't, including us, is the guy who puts the fear of God into opposing teams. Alexander Ovechkin. Say what you want about him, but he is a scorer first and foremost. He is willing to shoot from anywhere on the ice. Our forwards have a tendency some times to hole the puck for that split second too long and that gives everyone on the other team a chance to make a play. It will all come down to the goalies. Whichever team gets the most timely and consistent goaltending will be the division winners.
Wash Division Champs?
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 16:48 — Anonymous (not verified)By one game they win the division after the Canes faultered down the stretch. Now all of a sudden they're the team to beat? If the Canes had any type of dee last year no one would be saying Washington is the top team. Just wait and see how motivated the Canes will be having missed out on the playoffs 2 years in a row. There should be plenty of hunger for the team to prove they are deserving of the top spot in the SE... Go Canes!!!
In Stores?
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 15:50 — Jonathan Hawkins (not verified)Anyone seen this in any stores in the Triangle yet? Last year I played the game of calling the stores and having them tell me it was in only to go and find out that it was just the fantasy guide or something else. The exact same thing happened yesterday with Borders on Six Forks.
Is this the same as the THN
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 13:32 — Anonymous (not verified)Is this the same as the THN magazine that makes all the point predictions for the upcoming season?
i dont think so
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 11:33 — Anonymous (not verified)carolina played their best hockey after they got corvo. Now they have pitkanen and RB back and alot more mobile adn younger defense. I dont see why we arent the conf champs and maybe top 2 in the eastern conf.
They played their best
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 16:23 — Anonymous (not verified)They played their best hockey of the season, that is arguable for sure. Remember the start of the season? Yeah, it seems like a totally different year doesn't it. Even if they did play their best down the stretch, they still got run down by Washington. I agree with the other poster that the Canes or the Lightning will win the division, but best in the East? Please, the Canes have a lot of work to do before you call them that.
seriously...what is with
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 10:14 — Anonymous (not verified)seriously...what is with everyone picking washington to win the division? Their defensse sucks and their goaltending is gone. all they have are 2 scoring lines. my pick for se champs are the canes or the lightning.
Caps aren't all bad
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 17:44 — Biff_BeersThe Caps got Keith Aucoin, didn't they? So they have at least one good player!
Staal 19th
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 08:48 — Opie (not verified)How can you be 19th and be the all-star MVP?
How?
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 12:41 — JRs_Fault (not verified)Well, there's 40 players in the All-Star game, so 19th best gets in. Score a couple of goals in a game where nobody gets and nobody plays defense..... OK?