Carey Price—unless they have someone better in the farm system, keep him up.  If he’s really been that bad (I haven’t been watching that closely to know), I don’t really see the point of sending him down.  Maybe it would help his confidence (after the initial blow from actually being sent down), assuming he can handle the AHL guys better than the NHL players.

Brodeur—why does it have to be one or the other?  As a Rangers fan, of course I’ll instinctively say it’s the system and not Marty.  The system helps, sure, but I think its impact has been overblown.  Really, I think it’s mostly Marty that’s so great.  Greatest of all time?  I don’t know.  He’s not even finished yet, anyway.

Posted by K24 from NYC on 03/20/09 at 10:22 AM ET

What? No mention of the Flyers?
Though I bleed black and orange, I’ll be the first to admit I’m a Ove fan, an Avery fan (hey, looking @ him thru a Rangers eyes is much different than looking at him thru a Star’s eyes), and usually admire the Red Wings.

On St. Patty’s day, though I’d been celebrating since noon, I made it a point to be home to watch the Flyers / Red Wings game. To be honest, I was worried it might be embarrassing for me as a Flyers fan.

However. Not only did they do well (even though Red Wings out-shot them), I was actually wondering if the ref’s had been paid off after watching a few blatant missed calls. I’ve never once suspected ref’s on the take…but WOW, that was the first game I ever watched that I suspected it could occur.

That being said. Had the Flyers stepped it up a bit, there’s no doubt we could’ve won that game.

I’m sorry I had such little faith and owe the Orange and Black an apology.

Posted by Madison McGraw "Girl Arsonist" from Philly on 03/20/09 at 10:26 AM ET

- Who will finish first in the Eastern Conference? Why? New Jersey.  Few games in hand and with Marty to play the rest of the way no one will stop them from being 1st.

- Who will finish first in the Western Conference? Why? Detroit.  Osgood is playing better and San Jose is still having trouble getting back to form.

- Should Montreal Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price be sent down to the minors, as was suggested by NHL Network’s Craig Button? No.  Montreal hinged their bets Price and they have to go with him.  Sending him to the minors will do more damage.

- What’s going on with the Boston Bruins? Will they end up falling out of first in the East? Will they get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs? They won’t finish first but they’ll make it out of the first round.

- Is Martin Brodeur really the greatest goaltender of all-time or is he simply a product of the New Jersey Devils’ system? For longevity he’s the best and most consistent goalie of all time.

- Will Marian Hossa be a Detroit Red Wing next season? Yes, he’ll sign a 5 year 32m contract.

- What will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation next season? Giguere and Pogge.

- Will Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender Steve Mason turn into Carey Price next season or is he the real deal? He’s the real deal in a great system tailored to him.  Leclaire looked great but his downfall was injuries.

- Why all the criticism regarding Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Roberto Luongo? Last I checked, he’s peforming as a team captain should.  Out of all of the elite goalies Luongo has the most roller coaster rides.  He started slow (two seasons in a row) got hot, red hot, for a good stretch then finished as poorly as possible (getting pulled 3 out of his last 4 games I believe.)  This season he started slow, got red hot, got injured, came back really slow and now he’s red hot again.  Every goalie has their ups and downs but Luongo seems more hit or miss.  Luckily he hits a lot.

Posted by Heaton on 03/20/09 at 10:27 AM ET

Who will finish first in the Eastern Conference? Why?

Boston.  They will right the ship sson. 

- Who will finish first in the Western Conference? Why? 

San Jose.  I think it’s more important to them than it is Detroit.

- Should Montreal Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price be sent down to the minors, as was suggested by NHL Network’s Craig Button?

No.  It wouldn’t help anyone.

- What’s going on with the Boston Bruins? Will they end up falling out of first in the East? Will they get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs? 

They were just struggling a bit.  It happens to every team.  It happened to Detroit.  It happened to San Jose.  Sometimes the stretches are just longer than others.  I think they survive to at least the second round.

- Is Martin Brodeur really the greatest goaltender of all-time or is he simply a product of the New Jersey Devils’ system?

If not the greatest, one of.  I think he’s been too good for too long to simply be a “product of the New Jersey Devils’ system.”  He’s been a consistent world-class goalie for his entire career.

- Will Marian Hossa be a Detroit Red Wing next season?

I don’t think so.  Holland has already started backing off some of the things he was saying earlier in the season about signing Franzen and Hossa.  I think the uncertain economic times and the state of teams that have locked in three big ticket forwards for large, long term deals (e.g., Ottawa and Tampa) have made him a bit leary.  Hossa has always been an odd duck when it comes to contracts. 

- What will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation next season?

No clue, but I think the Leafs will try to sign a veteran goalie.  Not a big name, but someone who can help stablize.

- Will Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender Steve Mason turn into Carey Price next season or is he the real deal?

Hard question to answer.  There have been so many young, promising goalies who just flame out.  I don’t think we can answer this until the playoffs.  If he has a steady playoff run, I think there’s hope.  If not, then question marks will begin to rise.  Right now, I don’t see anything to imply he wont continue to perform well.

- Why all the criticism regarding Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Roberto Luongo? Last I checked, he’s peforming as a team captain should.

No clue.

Posted by Ajax19 on 03/20/09 at 10:33 AM ET

- Who will finish first in the Eastern Conference? Why?

New Jersey. Boston was always a fraud, in my mind. Not that they don’t have a good team, but they remind me of the Pens of last season—lots of talent up front, underrated in back, but short on the experience that wins Cups. Washington can’t play defense. The Devils can, and they finally have a threatening offense throughout all top 6 or 7 forwards.

- Who will finish first in the Western Conference? Why?

Did not think I’d say this at all this season… but Detroit. Osgood is slowly, but surely, looking like the goalie they need him to be. San Jose finally hit some adversity, and don’t seem to be handling it particularly well. It’s a tough call, because San Jose will get back on track, and has a couple games in hand on Detroit, but I have to say Detroit because they know a thing or two about winning the President’s Trophy (and the Stanley Cup).

- Should Montreal Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price be sent down to the minors, as was suggested by NHL Network’s Craig Button?

I heard him say this the other night. Only reason I agree with him is because that team is toast any way you look at it. They can make the playoffs, sure, but they’ll get throttled in the first round by any opponent, unless they match up with Washington and Ovechkin gets injured, and Green stays hurt. But that doesn’t seem likely.

- What’s going on with the Boston Bruins? Will they end up falling out of first in the East? Will they get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs?

Yes to the first part. I gave reasons above in the first question. No to the second part because they’ll probably play a pretty pathetic team in the first round. The East doesn’t have a threatening lower seed with a hot goalie like the West does with Columbus, and even St. Louis and Anaheim. Miller and Vokoun are good, but Miller is hurt, and Vokoun was outdone by his backup earlier in the season.

- Is Martin Brodeur really the greatest goaltender of all-time or is he simply a product of the New Jersey Devils’ system?

Greatest ever, if for nothing more than I hate Patrick Roy. But seriously, What’s been the constant since 1995? Broduer. Danyeko retired—Broduer kept winning. Stevens retired—Broduer kept winning. Neidermayer left town—Broduer kept winning. Rafalski left town—Broduer kept winning.

- Will Marian Hossa be a Detroit Red Wing next season?

Ehhhhh… here’s my guess—Hossa wants nothing more than to be a Wing. Holland wants nothing more than to keep him a Wing. But the state of the economy, and the fundamental principal that has let the Wings succeed over the last 15 years—depth—will win out. Hossa will have to leave, Franzen and Hudler will stay. Unless Hossa takes $2 or $3 million per year…

- What will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation next season?

Crappy. Honestly though, they have bigger problems. Toskala isn’t a bad player. Neither was Raycroft. Neither is Gerber. But admittedly, they aren’t great goalies, so yeah, they’ll look pretty bad playing behind that circus in Toronto…

- Will Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender Steve Mason turn into Carey Price next season or is he the real deal?

He’ll just be a victim of his own success, more than anything. I think he’ll have a great season, but some people won’t see it as such because they will expect MORE from him once he’s not a rookie. I say he has a “dip” in number the next two seasons, then pushes back. But not a Carey Price situation. When I say “dip”, I mean he might only have 6 shutouts for the entire season, and might finish with a 2.50 GAA. He’ll still be great, but expectations will be unrealistically high for him.

- Why all the criticism regarding Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Roberto Luongo? Last I checked, he’s peforming as a team captain should.

I have no idea. I didn’t realize people were criticizing him. It’s like when people say us Wings fans are psycho for the things we’ve said about our team this season—a team that’s been top three in the league all year long. Yeah, we’ve overreacted. Well, perhaps Canucks fans should step back and appreciate Luongo a little more, and realize that nobody is afraid of their team if they don’t have him. Without Luongo, Vancouver is just a cute little team that squeaks in the playoffs and has their Ginger Twins locked down and embarrassed by the likes of Thornton, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Marleau, Iginla, Jokinen, Hossa, and the other higher quality two-way forwards in the West.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 03/20/09 at 10:44 AM ET

Who will finish first in the Eastern Conference? Why?

New Jersey.  Brodeur will play the games from here on out and Boston will continue to play .500 hockey.

- Who will finish first in the Western Conference? Why?

Detroit.  With Hossa getting more comfortable after his injuries they are gonna keep piling up the wins.  SJ won’t catch em (even with Blake coming back)

- Should Montreal Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price be sent down to the minors, as was suggested by NHL Network’s Craig Button?

No. His teammates should start playing some team defense.

- What’s going on with the Boston Bruins? Will they end up falling out of first in the East? Will they get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs?

See question 1.  They will make it to the conference finals.  they are too good not to.  NJ comes out of the east again though.

- Is Martin Brodeur really the greatest goaltender of all-time or is he simply a product of the New Jersey Devils’ system?

Both.

- Will Marian Hossa be a Detroit Red Wing next season?

Nope.  Too much cap space to tie into one player.  Don’t want a tri-fecta like TB or OTT.  Plus they are going to need the space to sign some youth and theres the uncertainty over where the cap will land next year.

- What will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation next season?

Toskala with Gerber as back-up to start, it will be similar to osgood and conklin this year with whoever wins keeps starting.

- Will Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender Steve Mason turn into Carey Price next season or is he the real deal?

Nope.  Big, Fast and solid.  (like mike smith)

- Why all the criticism regarding Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Roberto Luongo? Last I checked, he’s peforming as a team captain should.

I dont read about it, its stupid. Maybe if they were in last it would be a different story.

Posted by DrW from Detroit on 03/20/09 at 10:59 AM ET

- Who will finish first in the Eastern Conference? Why? 

Its a tough call, but I have to give the edge to the Bruins.  As good as the Devils are, I think Boston is just going through that mid-late season struggles (like the wings did last year in February-march)

- Who will finish first in the Western Conference? Why? 

The Wings will.  San Jose is good enough and has a couple games in hand, but I really see the Red Wings staying consistent until the end, and that means they win the conference.  Also possibly the Presidents trophy.  I think the west is a better conference overall and that makes for a better playoff run for every team, because they have been playing playoff hockey for a month now.

- Should Montreal Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price be sent down to the minors, as was suggested by NHL Network’s Craig Button? 

No way.  Price is a great goalie.  These so called Hockey cities like Toronto and Montreal tend to over-react.  I say so called not because they arent great hockey cities fan wise, but because the hockey media is kinda like the U.S. in terms of football.  They have to much time and over analyze EVERYTHING!

- What’s going on with the Boston Bruins? Will they end up falling out of first in the East? Will they get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs?

I dont think you will see a first round fall but I am not sure if they have what it takes to get through the Devils.  I think they may need a failure this year to be a better team in the future anyway.  All the great teams went through it.

- Is Martin Brodeur really the greatest goaltender of all-time or is he simply a product of the New Jersey Devils’ system?

Thats a bit of a two sided question.  He is a great goaltender who has benefited from the team in front of him.  I give him the edge of over Roy in terms of greatness, but all time is way to tough to judge.  Its a different league then 20-30-40 etc years ago.

- Will Marian Hossa be a Detroit Red Wing next season?

Yes I predict he will sign a 40 year 100 million dollar contract, where as the Wings will only see a 2.5 million dollar a year cap hit.  I mean who else could pull that off but Kenny Holland.  I also predict once Hossa signs that Gary Bettman will start a cult and will end up drinking the tainted punch. 

Ok seriously, yes I think Hossa will re-sign.  Franzen will not.  Hossa has shown he is willing to take a discount to play here.  Franzen, if everyone remembers was difficult to sign on his last contract.  And that was before he was the player we see today.  Hossa will sign a contract similar to Zetterberg, thats front loaded and low at the end to lower the cap hit say around (cap hit) 6-6.5 a year.  Franzen will be asking for the same price and Holland will say no way.  Some team out there (Rangers, Oilers, Candians) will over pay the Mule who will go on to never score 20 goals a year again.  And I love the Mule, but I think he is a product of our system here in Detroit.  See such players as Marty Lapointe, (granted an aging) Sergi Federov etc.  Guys who got over payed else where and never produced. 

- What will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation next season?

Toronto has a goaltender?  I think Brian Burke will sign every RFA goaltender in the league until he gets one, fights that teams GM and Kevin Lowe in a three way winner takes all matchup live on pay-per-view.  My point is who cares.  I love the Maple Leafs, and I love the city of Toronto.  I hate the Toronto Media and therefore I am boycotting giving a rats behind about the maple leafs goaltenders.

- Will Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender Steve Mason turn into Carey Price next season or is he the real deal?

I think he is the real deal, however I think the sophomore slump is a real thing and depending on what the BJ’s do in the playoffs next year could be a let down. 

- Why all the criticism regarding Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Roberto Luongo? Last I checked, he’s peforming as a team captain should.

The criticism is two fold.  Number one, he hasn’t done anything in the play-offs and thats where it matters.  Chris Osgood gets way more crap then Luongo and he has won 3 (2 as a starter) Stanley Cups.  Number 2 it comes down to the Canadian media again.  What Toronto didnt have any goal tending stories to talk about?  Sidney Crosby isnt punching anyone in the balls (oh wait I dont think that got to much coverage, but there is a lot of talk about how tough he is because he took his visor off for a shift or two)  Suck it Canadian media.

Posted by AxeMaster9 on 03/20/09 at 11:11 AM ET

- First in East—The Bruins.  They have an easier schedule left, with only one tough game left—against the Devils.  That said, if the Devils win that game, their chances improve significantly.

- First in West—The Sharks.  Detroit’s got a pair of games against Chicago to close out the season.  They’ll win first overall if they get 4 points in those games, but I’ll say they get 2 and lose it by a whisker.

- Price to minors—This is the suggestion the Canadiens needed last season, before they traded Huet.  They’ve made their choice, now they need to stick with it.

- Bruins—All the success they’ve had this season has been based on pucks going in for them and not for the opposition.  With Thomas in net, that’s not such a bad strategy, but it’s still a fickle one.  It’s relatively easy for a team to get 40 shots per game consistently, but it’s real tough to hit that top corner every time.  They’re not the best team in the East, and they never were, but they’ll be fine.

- Brodeur—He’s certainly not the all-time most skilled goaltender.  He’s made a bigger impact on a single organisation than any other goalie in history, though, so that’s nothing to sneeze at.  Still, there’s no question the Devils have helped make his numbers look good (GAA by playing tight defence for so long, save% by taking so few penalties).

- Hossa a Wing—No.  He wants term, and that’s just too risky for the Wings to give out right now.

- Leafs goaltending—Probably terrible.  I don’t really care, though.

- Steve Mason—I don’t think the gap between Mason and Price is all that large.  But if Columbus decides not to ride Mason to exhaustion next season, I could be wrong and his numbers could see a nice jump.

- Luongo—Because Brodeur’s been getting all the love lately, and there’s only so much goalie-love to go around.

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 03/20/09 at 11:34 AM ET

- Who will finish first in the Eastern Conference? Why?

Devils.  Brodeur.  Parise.  Big Mo.  Nuff said.

- Who will finish first in the Western Conference? Why?

Wings.  Isn’t it obvious?

- Should Montreal Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price be sent down to the minors, as was suggested by NHL Network’s Craig Button?

Um, no. 

- What’s going on with the Boston Bruins? Will they end up falling out of first in the East? Will they get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs?

I think the B’s will finish second in the East, and will get knocked out in the second round. 

- Is Martin Brodeur really the greatest goaltender of all-time or is he simply a product of the New Jersey Devils’ system?

Yes and yes.

- Will Marian Hossa be a Detroit Red Wing next season?

Heart says yes, head says no.  :(

- What will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation next season?

Who cares?  They’re still gonna suck.

- Will Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender Steve Mason turn into Carey Price next season or is he the real deal?

Yes and yes (why all the Carey Price hate?  He’s still a pretty good goalie, last I checked.  After Toronto, Montreal’s probably the hardest environment to play in in pro hockey).

- Why all the criticism regarding Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Roberto Luongo? Last I checked, he’s peforming as a team captain should.

Um, he’s a giant tool?

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 03/20/09 at 12:46 PM ET

Who will finish first in the Eastern Conference? Why?

Boston.  They have had their little slump as they had locked up the division a long time ago but now that that playoffs are in sight, they will be better

- Who will finish first in the Western Conference? Why?

Detroit.  Even with shaky goaltending, they are still a better team then SJ

- Should Montreal Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price be sent down to the minors, as was suggested by NHL Network’s Craig Button?

Yes.  Halak has played well and the Habs need to start winning to make the playoffs.  Give Price 5-6 games with inferior minor league shooters and hope that his confidence improves

- What’s going on with the Boston Bruins? Will they end up falling out of first in the East? Will they get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs?

Every team goes through a slump.  Check out Detroit’s record last February.  Look at the Sharks this year.  Boston will win at least one round in the playoffs but I am not sure if they have guns and overall team to beat the Devils.

- Is Martin Brodeur really the greatest goaltender of all-time or is he simply a product of the New Jersey Devils’ system?

He has been excellent his entire career but he is the product of a system.  Simply look at how good Clemmenson’s numbers are this year and that should answer this question pretty definitely.  Wins come from being on a good team. 

- Will Marian Hossa be a Detroit Red Wing next season?

Not unless he takes an even bigger discount then this year.

- What will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation next season?

They will sign a free agent goalie.  Pogge isn’t ready (and might not ever be), Gerber isn’t very good and Joseph is done.

- Will Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender Steve Mason turn into Carey Price next season or is he the real deal?

Real deal.  See Martin Brodeur.  I am not saying he isn’t good but playing in a Hitchcock system means few shots and scoring chances against.  If LeClaire wasn’t hurt all the time, he would have been just fine in CBJ. 

- Why all the criticism regarding Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Roberto Luongo? Last I checked, he’s peforming as a team captain should.

He is absolutely horrible when playing the puck out of his net.  He is one of the worst goalies in the league at that.  There are two problems with this.  One is he isn’t getting any better (seems like he is getting worse), and two, the bad puckhandling is leading to opposition goals.  Combine this with the fact he has been letting in some soft goals lately and there is why the criticism.  As a huge Canucks fan, I watch every game and the criticism is deserved.

Posted by Mayor Quimby from Langley BC on 03/20/09 at 02:46 PM ET

- What will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation next season?

I forgot about Toskala.  He will still be the starter.

Posted by Mayor Quimby from Langley BC on 03/20/09 at 02:49 PM ET

- Who will finish first in the Eastern Conference? Why?

The Devils.  All the goaltending and team defensive skill they’ve always had, plus offensive depth they’ve never had.

- Who will finish first in the Western Conference? Why?

Wings, but only if they want to.

- Should Montreal Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price be sent down to the minors, as was suggested by NHL Network’s Craig Button?

I haven’t seen him really since he sucked against Philly in last years playoffs.  If he’s still playing that badly, yes.

- What’s going on with the Boston Bruins? Will they end up falling out of first in the East? Will they get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs?

They will be knocked out of first, but they have the size, depth at all positions, and skill to right the ship and be very dangerous in the playoffs.

- Is Martin Brodeur really the greatest goaltender of all-time or is he simply a product of the New Jersey Devils’ system?

Hasek in his prime was still the most amazing goaltender I’ve ever seen, but Brodeur’s body of work places him at the top of the list.  When they’ve lost playoff series, its usually the team getting beat, but he never gives up the bad, back-breaking, demoralizing goal in a big game.

“Greatest ever, if for nothing more than I hate Patrick Roy. But seriously, What’s been the constant since 1995? Broduer. Danyeko retired—Broduer kept winning. Stevens retired—Broduer kept winning. Neidermayer left town—Broduer kept winning. Rafalski left town—Broduer kept winning. “
Couldn’t agree more, Nathan.

- Will Marian Hossa be a Detroit Red Wing next season?

If (when?) the Wings win the cup, no-he’ll go for the money.  If they don’t win the cup I say he stays and tries again. But then again, who the heck knows what pro athletes are ever really thinking.

- What will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation next season?

Who?

- Will Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender Steve Mason turn into Carey Price next season or is he the real deal?

Was Price ever really that good, or did players just not have a book on him? I haven’t seen Mason, does he have a very weak high glove too?

- Why all the criticism regarding Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Roberto Luongo? Last I checked, he’s performing as a team captain should.
East of the Mississippi (or at least Detroit)  Luongo hating goes unheard.

Posted by dip from philly on 03/20/09 at 04:24 PM ET