[F r 0 s t t]

Well, not struggling struggling..They're like Pittsburgh.. Growing/Struggling =x

[spyro]

wowie sens are up 3-0 against buffalo.. i never would have imagined that.. buffalo was the top team in the regular season

[F r 0 s t t]

I'd be surprised if they took it in a sweep, happy too xD Haha, anyways Ducks and Senators xD

[DOVAHKIIN]

Well, not struggling struggling..They're like Pittsburgh.. Growing/Struggling =x

Err... Pittsburgh finally came out of the ditches this year into the playoffs with a core of young guys only to get spanked by Senators. That's growing/struggling.

Canucks had a one year absence, and even with lackluster their offence, they've had terrific defense and goaltending all year long. They had the best penalty killing unit this year. And they ended up division champions this year with a franchise high 105 points. That's growing/struggling?

[F r 0 s t t]

^^No need to get all defensive just cause I said that lol.. But its true.. Only this year have they finally found a goalie, but that's all you got.. They really don't have a solid team like the Wings or the Senators have shown year in and out.. They have alot of room for improvement, and they need a real leading scorer to take them above and beyond.. Only then will I agree that they're an established team cause honestly.. They haven't been anywhere near the Cup for a while lol..

[DOVAHKIIN]

I'm just stating the correct to the incorrect.


I'll use a comparison of a similar team to the Canucks:

216 goals for, 201 goals against, (2.63 goals per game, 2.45 goals against per game) 06-07 season Devils.

222 goals for, 201 goals against, 06-07 season Canucks.

Hm, the Devils were slightly less productively offensively than the Canucks this seaso, considering that Brodeur carried the Devils in the whole season. Didn't the Devils take a 2nd round playoff exit early like the Canucks did with luckluster offense? But wait, don't many consider the Devils an established team because they've been near/won the Cup several times, have a couple of guys that put up flashier numbers...

If teams were considered "established" due to making it near the Cup, or even winning it, then I guess the Hurricanes, Lightning and even Oilers are established? Even though they pretty much sucked this year?

Besides I never said the Canucks were established. Yes their offence blows, but you should give them more credit than saying they're struggling/growing for all they've accomplished this season. You don't drop 105 points and raise a new division champion banner and be considered struggling. Growing/struggling are jank teams such as Phoenix, Columbus, Chicago and Washington. You know, the ones that don't even come close to making the playoffs.

Just for the record I have the right to defend my opinion all I want, I'm not being defensive of the Canucks, considering how I'm probably the last person in this topic who'd want to be a Canuck fan.

[F r 0 s t t]

Okay, you're totally takin' this the wrong way.. One decent season does not put the Canucks at the top.. Just like Brodeur, Luongo had a stellar performance this season yes, but he hasn't been doin' it for a DECADE like Brodeur and the Devils have..

If I used all the reasons you did, I could even say the Rangers are dominant, established team, but it's not the truth.. They're struggling/growing as well.. They have a few star players, a blooming goaltender, and some youngsters helpin' out, but they've only figured that out this year.. I'd give them another season before I even see them makin' the conference finals.. Can you say the same for the Canucks? Canucks will still have to make a few moves and deals before they'll be there.. Especially with the skaters they have now.. I'm not sayin' they suck, but I'm gonna say their much of a threat to other cup contenders..

I don't like comparing teams too much, especially when your talkin' division cause 1. All divisions are different, and have a different amount of clinching teams.. 2. Teams in the Eastern and Western conference play on a totally different schedule team-wise.. So it's hard to compare numbers..

If you wanna talk about an established contending team, you're lookin at a team with a franchise player, a well rounded offense/defense, and great goaltending.. Like I said man, one season does not put you at the top.. They've got some time to grow.. No need to rush it <.<

[DOVAHKIIN]

Season GP W L T1 OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2001-02 82 42 30 7 3 94 254 211 1342 2nd, Northwest Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2-4 (Red Wings)
2002-03 82 45 23 13 1 104 264 208 1178 2nd, Northwest Lost in Conference Semifinals, 3-4 (Wild)
2003-04 82 43 24 10 5 101 235 194 1274 1st, Northwest Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 3-4 (Flames)
2005-06 82 42 32 — 8 92 256 255 1477 4th, Northwest Did not qualify
2006-07 82 49 26 — 7 105 222 201 — 1st, Northwest Lost in Conference Semifinals, 1-4 (Ducks)

Just one decent season indeed...

[morgan.de.toi]

^^ Canucks are growing, but deffinetly not struggling.
perhaps we have a different understanding of the word "struggling" ?

i'm not trying to get defensive about my hometown team, and by no means am i calling them 'well established' ,
but if you've paid attention to the teams in the western conference, the canucks are actually considered as 'up there/comparable' to detroit/colorado/dallas/etc.

like Wil stated above, there was only 1 year in which the canucks did not make the playoffs.
sure, they usually got eliminated by the second round, but the truth is, they made it in and did pretty good in their division.


Pittsburgh a few years back is what I would call 'struggling'.
They were struggling to get a good team together, struggling to make the playoffs, struggling to not be in the bottom of their conference.
However, now, I would consider them as a growing team, but growing on a different level than the Canucks.

For sure, the Canucks will have to make some moves and trades to make it even further into the playoffs, but that does not denote struggling.

If you've payed attention to Luongo's game while he was in Florida, he's been standing on his head to keep the team where it's at.
If it weren't for him, the Panthers would probably be waayyyyy down in the bottom.
This wasn't a fluke season for him, nor was this the only season in which he played good in.
If i remember correctly, after this year, his stats are 160something wins - 190 something losses.
For being on a *not as good team* for so long, i'd say that's still not a bad resume.
He was on Team Canada as the back-up goalie for a reason.

[F r 0 s t t]

Season GP W L T1 OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2001-02 82 42 30 7 3 94 254 211 1342 2nd, Northwest Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2-4 (Red Wings)
2002-03 82 45 23 13 1 104 264 208 1178 2nd, Northwest Lost in Conference Semifinals, 3-4 (Wild)
2003-04 82 43 24 10 5 101 235 194 1274 1st, Northwest Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 3-4 (Flames)
2005-06 82 42 32 — 8 92 256 255 1477 4th, Northwest Did not qualify
2006-07 82 49 26 — 7 105 222 201 — 1st, Northwest Lost in Conference Semifinals, 1-4 (Ducks)

Just one decent season indeed...

Making it in the playoffs every year means your good, but not makin' it past the semifinals means they're lacking something.. Thank you for posting exactly what I meant when I say they haven't exactly been around the Cup..

And I totally agree with you that Luongo is a great netminder.. He was decent in Florida but found a better team to back him up in Vancouver..

Like I said before, it's hard to compare teams and their divisions since the Eastern and Western teams are playing on a seperate schedule.. Anyways I find it annoying to debate with someone whos stubborn and exaggerates what I'm actually saying.. We'll just see what happens next year <.<

[Chioster]

Isn't that hippocritical of you saying that? He could/or others could say you are being stubborn for not seeing, Vancouver is not a struggling team. More like a team that is not well bonded yet. Struggling is like the blackhawks or Panthers. With a few minor tweaks, Vancouver can become another cup contender like in the WCE days.

[F r 0 s t t]

That's why I said growing ' I wasn't degrating them or anything <.<

[Chioster]

You could've just said growing. But adding the word struggling makes the phrase a whole new meaning.

[Tuffcore]

Season GP W L T1 OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2001-02 82 42 30 7 3 94 254 211 1342 2nd, Northwest Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2-4 (Red Wings)
2002-03 82 45 23 13 1 104 264 208 1178 2nd, Northwest Lost in Conference Semifinals, 3-4 (Wild)
2003-04 82 43 24 10 5 101 235 194 1274 1st, Northwest Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 3-4 (Flames)
2005-06 82 42 32 — 8 92 256 255 1477 4th, Northwest Did not qualify
2006-07 82 49 26 — 7 105 222 201 — 1st, Northwest Lost in Conference Semifinals, 1-4 (Ducks)

Just one decent season indeed...

This current Canucks team is rather "new" and with Luongo in net, they've certainly entered into a "new" franchise era. Drop the 5-season stats. The current team has only 1-season under it's belt and it was inarguably a transitional season. This current Canucks team certainly did not struggle in it's first season together but it's hard to see this team take a step back next season. It appears to be a tight knit group with a good core of young players emerging into their primes (with the exception of Naslund). I see brighter days ahead for the Canucks and with the right moves this off-season, the Canucks can become legitimate Cup contenders next season.

[Volts]

The Sens are in the Stanley Cup Finals !

[Chioster]

See a trend coming along? Canadian teams in the playoffs each year. Its Canada vs US.

[Volts]

I just hope this year a Canadian team will win !

[F r 0 s t t]

See a trend coming along? Canadian teams in the playoffs each year. Its Canada vs US.

Considering it's only US and Canadian teams in the NHL.. It's not that uncommon lol

But good for the Senators, they've worked hard for years and hopefully it'll finally payoff.. Itching to see who they face off in the west though^^

[Chioster]

Well there is a 1/5 ratio. A 20% chance it could happen each year. Not 50/50 so its not as common.

[YUNA!]

YAY SENATORSSS i knew you would win~~~~~

did the redwings kick out anaheim??XD