[Clip-Clop]

[quote=MaTH716;928065]

Originally Posted by -BT-

I'll agree that the season would be a disappointment based on the pre-season expectations. Realistically though this was a team that was pretty bad at times during the season and needed a late run just to qualify for the playoffs. Nash has been a disappointment for me, no arguments, but he had been shadowed everywhere (ala Ovechkin). Richards has been an absolute failure all season and I expect him to be bought out at the end of the year (barring some miraculous turn around).

As far as loading up at the deadline:
Although the Gabby trade has helped them out in the short term immensely, this was a move for the future. Three players that fit three different needs for the team all under 26 years old.
The Clowe deal (possible rental player) was the so-called "playoff push" move and he's been hurt.
So I disagree with your bankroll statement. They gave up a few picks for Clowe and traded a 31 year old scorer who was going in to the last year of his contract that all of a sudden didn't fit in to the scheme that the current (God knows for how long) coach employs. The chatter was that Gabby was going to be traded in the off-season anyway cause they weren't going to end up paying what his probable asking price was going to be after next season.

My stance on this team is the same as it was before the playoffs, nothing would suprise me. When asked about predictions before the playoffs, my answer was, "it wouldn't suprise me if they were swept by the Caps and it wouldn't suprise if they won the Stanley Cup". I feel the same about tonight. The only thing that would suprise me tonight would be the Rangers winning in a blowout (I could see a scenario where the Caps light up the Rangers though). I truthfully expect another 2-1 (possibly OT) nailbiter, with the difference probably being whether the Rangers can finally score on the PP.

Hope you liked the surprise. I sure did.