Who's the best Wost Team??

[lmanchur.]

Who, in your opinion, is the best Worst Team in the NHL?... in other words, who is the team that was not in the playoff hunt this year (and never WAS in the playoff hunt to begin with this year) that has the brightest outlook for the 2001-2002 season?

As you can see above, your choices are the Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and the Minnesota Wild.

I think the Tampa Bay Lightning have the brightest outlook. In two to three years, I expect them to, at the very least, be contending for seventh or eighth spot in the conference. I *would* say the same for the Panthers, but they REALLY need goaltending... can someone update me? -- what ever happened to Trevor Kidd!?!???

The Islanders... yeah... that's all I have to say about them.

(in other words, they're pathetic... Mike Milbury is the FIRST step to begin building a good team).

I'm not sure about the Thrashers, Blue Jackets, or Wild, though... I haven't really payed much attention to them this season other than seeing that they REALLY suck in the standings, so I can't really comment on what they need to improve... although, the Wild had a 10-game unbeaten streak in November or so, so it looks like they had a very good first season in the TOUGH Western Conference... they may need a better goalie and, overall, play more consistent hockey.

As for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim... they're finishing their season (without Teemu Selanne) very well, actually... J.S. Giguere has, all of a sudden, shone very good in goal lately... but, like they say, "Too little... too late!" The Canadiens also haven't played that badly lately... they now have their head office and coaches secured for at least 2 more seasons... hopefully some good trades and offseason moves can be pulled to push this team into playoff contention for next season.

I'm going with the Lightning as the best team out of these eight...

What does everyone else think of these?

[Wedge231]

I gotta go with the Islanders. They just plain stink. Too bad they beat the Rangers quite often. Taking that into consideration, they are good on my list :)

[lmanchur.]

Nice opinions, Chris!....

..but besides me and Chris, there have been two votes for Tampa Bay, and one vote for Columbus..... whoever's hiding -- you can come out!... its OK! :)

[budman2]

gotta go with the habs for the next season,reason, the lindon trade. looked bad for the habs from the first but closer scrutiny revealed that they may have been using there heads ( for once) the draft pick is the real clincher for them. barring another season of multiple injuries they will come out next season as a team to be wary of, maby not have a contender , thats a couple of years down the road , but they won't be a push over like this year.the expansion teams don't really belong on the list , no one expects an expaision club to have a shot at the cup. the thrashers did impress me a couple of times this year.florida is chin deep in "bure bucks " as far as i'm concerned he has not proven anything to me yet either except he will not play for certain things like less $$$$$$.:goof: ( just another yashen ). tampa was a team i thought would be better by now, they made a couple of bad trades and it set them back.lets just see how this year ends up and we'll let next year happen as it happens .

[Wedge231]

I used to think the Ducks were good but I'm not so sure anymore. They did have some good talent there but it's pretty much gone now.

[Peck]

The worst is of cource the habs...........

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by Peck
The worst is of cource the habs........... I don't think so.... the Habs are really a good team!.. REALLY!... once again (like last year), they lead the league in man games lost to injury with 508 so far... last year they set the ALL-TIME record in that category... (actually, now I think 508 is the all-time record!)

If they can stop getting injured so much, this is really a playoff team (even if it's only 7th or 8th spot)

[Peck]

Well its not our fault they make stupid choices!:) They could have kept Zubrus and Linden but noooooo they had to trade them for two young unproved players.....

[budman2]

i think that zubrus will turn out to be a late bloomer, like nedved or ( heaven forbid) peter klima . the habs can't afford to wait that long .lindon is a good aquisition for washington and just didn't seem to be a good fir in montreal . the habs are starting to look at the team , not so much as a french speaking canadian team anymore, and more of one team in 30 , which should help in the rebuilding process .don't get me wrong ,as a leaf fan i hate the habs, they have laughed at us leaf fans for years in there " who has won more cups then anyone" :p( worn out statment ). they deserve to be on the bottom to learn some humility. i do however support canadian teams and i want the ones we have left to be contenders with the league as a whole.