(Know your enemy hockey fans, know him well)
Two days away from the first NHL game (Habs vs. Leafs kids, you know you love it deep down) of the season, I finally got a chance to look at ESPN's preseason team rankings. Needless to say, a close inspection of the 1 through 30 list left me a bit...well...I don't know. I can't call it surprise because that's too light. Can't call it shock because it's something beyond that. Maybe a long string of profanities that starts with "are you" and ends with "insane" could sum up the effect of reading the rankings.
Where to start? How about this beauty...
- #3. Philadelphia Flyers - WHAT?!?! Let me get this straight. The team that got absolutely railroaded out of the playoffs in the first round last season brings in Chris Pronger and Ray Emery and suddenly they're the 2nd best team in the East? Ray Emery might be the biggest head case in hockey, but his mere presence between the pipes makes Philly a massive favorite in the Atlantic Division? Gotcha.
- #10. Tampa Bay Lightning - ..........................right. So the Lightning go from 3rd worst record in hockey last season to the top 1/3 of teams in one season? What exactly has this team showed that proves that they will compete for the playoffs this season? Tampa Bay is in the same division as Washington and Carolina, both playoff teams from last season. Do you really think this team can leap frog one, or both, of these teams Scotty?
- #14. Los Angeles Kings - OK, now my head is starting to hurt. The team that finished with the same amout of points as the Phoenix Coyotes last season is now better than 5 playoff teams from last season? Someone really loves them some Alex Frolov and Anze Kopitar, and I think I know who it is (see title picture).
- #24. New Jersey Devils - ......huh?....where am I?....did I fall asleep for a few seasons and wake up after Martin Brodeur retired? So in one off season, the Devils go from #3 in the Eastern Conference, to bottom third of the entire NHL. Brodeur was out most of last season and they still had over 100 points! Something is off in ESPN-land.
- #27. Toronto Maple Leafs - That's it, I'm done! I don't even like the Maple Leafs and I'll tell you they're alot better than one spot ahead of the New York Islanders. Brian Burke has that team loaded with physical players in a league, and conference, that is generally lacking for tough guys (save Milan Lucic in Boston). Come on Scott, you can't honestly believe Toronto's going to be the second worst team in the East...can you?
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