Ice Hockey: Why will YOUR team win the Stanley Cup?

The Detroit Red Wings will, in my opinion, win the Stanley Cup. This was my belief at the start of the 2005-06 NHL season and it hasn't changed one iota.

The Detroit Red Wings simply have the most depth, experience and drive of any other team in the NHL. Well, all right, I must admit that there are "other" contenders for the "cup", but I am a Red Wing Fan, so what would you expect me to say? Nevertheless, on this prediction I feel that I am right and the stats for the season seem to support me.

With Detroit finishing at the top of their Division, their Conference and the overall standings, this certainly is an auspicious start. But where it seems to matter is with the "specialty teams" and with Detroit finishing the season with the best power play in the game and a penalty killing ability that is among the best, I have to say that it certainly looks good for Detroit.

The only weakness for Detroit lies between the posts. Manny Legace has certainly made this season the "stand up and take notice" season of his career. Called up to relieve Chris Osgood because of injuries, Manny has proven himself to be an able "first goalie". But his lack of experience in a play-off situation might be his undoing. There is simply a different mind-set that is necessary when the playoffs are underway and "Stanley" is at stake. Only time will tell whether he has the "right stuff". Of course, Osgood might take the net because of his "experience" in the playoffs but after the stellar season Legace had demonstrated, it would be difficult to justify any goalie change.

With Nick Lidstrom leading a dynamic defense and Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Shanahan leading the attack, Detroit seems have all the pieces in the right place to take Stanley back to Detroit as a symbol of their hockey dominance in the last decade. It would also be an apt and fitting tribute to "the Captain", Steve Yzerman who is, most likely, playing his last year in the NHL.

Hey BT, nice to see you on ST. Taking all things into consideration I think the Cup Finals will be Dallas and NJ. Then flip a coin. I don't have a team per say but I'd love to see a Canadian team bring the Cup home and I think the best bet there is Calgary. Ottawa will fold in the playoffs as usual.

Originally posted by truenorth
Hey BT, nice to see you on ST. Taking all things into consideration I think the Cup Finals will be Dallas and NJ. Then flip a coin. I don't have a team per say but I'd love to see a Canadian team bring the Cup home and I think the best bet there is Calgary. Ottawa will fold in the playoffs as usual.

Maybe not, remember they aren't playing the Leafs