Rick’s Picks 

  

There may be different authors but there will only be Rick’s Picks. Jimmy the Greek here, prognosticator, speculator, and full on hockey junkie. I will provide my spin this year on the chances or otherwise of the 15 HHL franchises. It was a pleasure to have all 15 GM’s participate in the draft. To add a little suspense this year the Picks are presented worst to first. And the loser is…. 

  

  

Liberals  

Prediction: 15th  

  

The Liberals move down the leaderboard to start this season was a fast as Buzz working his way through an all you can eat buffet line (shameless, I know but it’s just too easy). My biggest worry is that was Buzz telling me he wanted all the same players I was drafting.  

  

The Good – Vanek, Erichson, Seguin 

  

The Bad – Great goalie, crappy team. Carey Price is overvalued as long as he suits it up for the Habs. This may be the lowest scoring D in the HHL. One week into the season the Libs are waiting to have seven forwards register a point, unfortunately a sign of things to come. 

  

The Future – Bobby Ryan is the stud to be on this squad, but needs a new venue.  

  

The Truth  - Still basking in the glory of his championship season two years ago, and drinking an entire Keg by himself rather than sharing it with the rest of the GM’s, Leeson will fail to make the post season. Sounds like the Liberal fans will be looking for a recall again this year. 

  

  

Rarr’s Rage  

Prediction: 14th 

  

I will never cheer for a team that has the Flames goalie. Considering how crappy the Flames look, the Rage can only hope that Kipper is on the move. Our pool host this year had the added stress of his dear wife’s raised eyebrows as the pool stretched into it’s fourth hour. As a result both Juri Hudler, and Tyler Bozak are on the roster. 

  

The Good – Having a superstar on your roster like Claude Giroux will keep you competitive. My cousin Vinny may have a revival, and Shea Weber is a flat out stud. 

The Bad – Early injuries and contract problems are crushing this team early. WE WANT PK – chanted the Rage faithful. Hold outs totally suck hey Stew. The curse of the Habs got worse for the Rage now that Pacioretty is out with appendicitis. Two big holes this roster can’t overcome 

  

The Future – Wow does Tarasenko look AWSOME. Clearly the best young scorer on a St. Louis team that needed just what he had to offer. It’s been a long while since a rookie produced a point per game, but I think that is about to change this year.  

  

The Deal – Missing two of his top six for a big chunk of the short season will only set up the Rage for a good draft position and loser tax. Sorry Rage, no playoffs this year. 

  

  

Tri City Flood  

Prediction: 13th 

  

The Nuge would be looking pretty sweet on this roster. Wideman and Whitney do not. Late and unprepared for the draft the Flood are in for a season that will feel much longer than 48 games. 

  

The Good – Hossa, D. Sedin, Edler, and Lundquvist will carry this team.  

  

The Bad – Wideman and Whitney instead of the Nuge 

  

The Really Bad – Jokinen, who may be the new Marco Sturm. Can anyone win the pool with him on their roster? 

The Future – Jamie Benn is the real deal. Missing the start of the season will almost guarentee poor production. He’ll be a top scorer some year, just not this one. 

  

The Reality Check – Should’ve kept The Nuge 

  

Walli’s Jets  

Prediction: 12th  

  

Did Walli actually take the first AHL MVP who is going to produce in the NHL? Cory freakin Conacher, great name to. Walli loosened the purse strings little this year, but we all are still waiting for the year when he plays Daddy Warbucks. 

  

The Good - Will Walli retire from the pool when Brodeur does? These two are tighter than Comish Livingstone’s thighs in suit pants. Chara is big, and mean, and good. 

The Jets – Lots of jets. Some good, some just Jets. Did you know Walli loves the Jets? He loves the Jets. 

  

The Verdict – The jury votes guilty on too many Jets. No playoffs. 

  

Team Chaos  

Prediction: 11th  

  

Has any single GM in the HHL taken more shots in Rick’s Picks than the Chaos GM Cole Reid? I say not. Jimmy the Greek will take a kinder and more gentle take, this year at least.  

The Good – The dynamic Motown duo of Zetterberg and Datsyuk will have to step it up with the retirement of Lidstrom. Hank Sedin should show up for a point a game, and Dan Boyle is off to a hot start like all the Sharks 

  

The Bad – Iginla is old and plays for the Flames, but the real weakness is in net. Hiller has a history of injury, and Ward has not put together a regular season in a few years. 

  

The Ugly – No depth, and a history of failure. 

  

The Cole Hard Truth – A few stars, but no meat in this lineup. Better luck next year. 

  

Kevlar  

Prediction: 10th  

  

Forever the envy of the HHL GM’s with the top two players in the league. Who the hell traded him Crosby? Nonetheless, it takes more that two, and unfortunately…… 

  

The Good – Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharpe join Kevlar’s dynamic duo as the only legitimate big leaguers on his roster.  

  

The Bad – Where do I start? Could it be Setoguchi, or Lucic, or Liles, or Coburn. Nice names, not much upside.  

  

The Future – Who the hell is Linden Vey, and how long will he stay on this roster? This guy is harder to find than Ramsbottom when it’s time to split the bill.  

  

The Draft – Eternal thanks to Kevlar for escalating the bidding on most players so we didn’t have to sit through Teddy and Kurgen bidding up each player a single dollar at a time. 

  

  

Kurgens Killer Krew  

Prediction: 9th 

  

$75 Mil for Cody Hodgson, and I get harassed for being a Nucks fan? Come on.  

  

The Good – Gaborik.  

  

The Bad – Gaborik’s games played 

  

The Future – Here is where the Triple K has it together. Young D men Ekman-Larsen, and Dougie Hamilton from the B’s look great. Couture is in year three, and is just getting better. Kadri, well, he plays for the Leafs, where nothing good ever happens. 

  

The Ugly – Thomas Kaberle? Makes Souray look like a good pick. 

  

The Deal – Gaborik will get hurt tying his skates and goaltending will let Triple K down, no playoffs this year. 

  

  

And now for the Playoff Teams…. 

  

Spanish Bitches  

Prediction: 8th 

  

After a terrible season last year, Mr. Happy has turned things around in a hurry. Kopitar is a superstar, and with the late start to the season, don’t expect any Stanley Cup hangover. 

  

The Good – Kopitar, Duchene, and a solid D core will carry this squad 

  

The Bad – Week on the wing. Perron, JVR, and Backes, Morrow, Stewart. These guys will score less than Buzz at the Pit Pub in 1992.  

  

The Ugly – Noseface 

  

The Future – No rookie defensemen has ever been given the green light to jump into the rush like Justin Schultz, ever. This guy is all over the ice, and early on looks like he is going to score. Nice to have the quarterback of one of the leagues top up and coming PP’s fall into your lap because your team was so shittty last year. 

  

The Inquisition – Despite a lack of star power on the wing, the stacked D will carry the Bitches all the way to the playoffs. 

  

  

Korean Assassins  

Prediction: 7th 

  

Only as a member of the Assassins could the Great 8 be on pace for 12 pts for the year. But this has to be the best lineup the aspiring Film Guru has ever put forward. Can it be? 

  

The Good – Despite the slow start, Ovechkin will produce. Richards is set to have his best year ever. The D lineup is the deepest in the HHL, and Halak plays for a team that nobody can score against. 

  

The Bad – It couldn’t be Rick’s Pick without a few shots at TK-O. History tells us that things will just not work out.  There are many reasons, some we understand, some we do not. All we know is that it will be entertaining along the way. 

  

The Future – Adam Larsson. Meh. 

  

The Oscar Goes To… - A playoff year for Teddy.  

  

Barney Hardcore  

Prediction: 6th  

  

The Hardcore have emerged from the Deep South resilient and ready to return to a higher standing in the HHL. GM Barney has come into some free time, and will be running the team in his velour track suit and bunny slippers for the foreseeable future.  

  

The Good – Many thought the Marleau was fading as fast as Barney’s hairline, but he has busted out of the gate with 11 points in four games to start the season. Heatly may get a boost playing with Parise in Minny. 

  

The Bad – Barney’s hairline. 

  

The Future – Did someone trade Nugent Hopkins to Barney and not win the pool last year? Yakupov, who spends as much time on his knees after scoring as most of Barney’s favorite film stars, is another sure star in waiting. The Hardcore may just be set for years to come 

  

The Reality Check – No depth on D will come to haunt them. Jagr, and Alfredson are older than Barney, really, they’re that old. With some good fortune, this team can stick in the top of the league. 

  

  

Greeks  

Prediction: 5th  

  

Hope is eternal for the Greek faithful. Perhaps an abbreviated season will be the answer to their prayers.  It was hard not to pick myself as the winner… 

The Good – The Greeks have had the good fortune of having players moved to good teams. Nash to NYR and Neal to the Pens in the past couple of seasons. Parise will be the go to guy in Minny, and the Canes have added some scoring to join Eric Staal. 

  

The Bad – This D core is not championship material. More flakes than a box of cereal. Souray? Really? 

  

The Future – Taylor Hall and Jeff Skinner may be ready for prime time. Rask has his chance in Beantown now that Tim Thomas is off to Lobby for more guns in schools.  

  

The Scorecard – Lots of potential point per game guys, but no superstar. The Greeks will need the youth movement to exceed expectations to challenge for a top spot.  

  

Los Diablos  

Prediction: 4th  

  

This team is stacked up the middle, just the way Ramma likes ‘em, and on the blueline. To bad you need wingers as well. The Diablos line up is set for years to come.  

  

The Good – Tavares, Toews, Getzlaf are as good up the middle as any in the HHL, and Big Buff with Pieterangelo and Suter is the best D-Core. Keep those six and Josh is in it for the long term.  

  

The Bad – Not a single winger who will tally a point per game.  

  

The Future – Pieterangelo looks to become one of the top scoring D-men in the HHL, Sven Bartchi = wasted pick. 

  

The Burning Question – Can Los Diablos move some strength to shore up his weak wingers, and will the Sabres and Ryan Miller produce enough wins to make them a contender. We think they will. 

  

  

Comox Crunch  

Prediction 3rd  

  

Once blessed with a stockpile of superstars, the aging Crunch are hoping for a boost from a youth movement to stay competitive.  

  

The Good – Spezza, Thornton, Kovalchuk, and Letang will carry this team. 

  

The Bad – They rest of the D’s and wingers. 

  

The Future – Ladeskog is a stud, but the weight of being captain will likely take the freedom away for developing into a pure scorer. Schneider looks ready for primetime, but will share minutes with Bobby Lou until Gillis can unload him. 

  

The Ugly – Drafting at your mother in laws birthday party is a dangerous move. Denton pulled it off, but did end up with PM Bouchard.  

Forecast – Another playoff year for the Crunch, but depth isn’t there for a title run. 

  

Dynasty  

Prediction: 2nd  

  

As much as it kills me to say it, Ramma had the best draft of any HHL GM this year, despite his bitching about to endure a fight to Bermuda the next day. Havlat, Tyler Myers, and Kunitz could all contribute. Sorry no sympathy for anyone flying to Bermuda on any occasion.  

  

The Good – Now that the frat party choking incident, and cab driver choking incident are in his past, Patrick Kane’s time has arrived. Erik Karlsson may not separate himself from the rest of the leagues D like he did last year, but he’ll still be the top scoring rearguard in the HHL. Average goalies, good teams. One of Howard or Crawford could do the trick. 

  

The Bad – The weakness his is at center ice. Mikko will get hurt, Krejci and Carter are not point per game guys. 

  

The Ugly – Corey Perry – I fucking hate that guy. Dirtiest player in the league. Hope he sucks. 

  

The Future – Brunner looks really good, but this GM once traded Sid the Kid, so we don’t expect to see him on this roster for long. 

  

The Real Deal? If Koivu and Havlat can get through the short season, and one of his young D step up the Dynasty could challenge for the title again.  

  

As if I would pick the Dynasty to win it. 

  

Disco Godfathers  

Prediction: 1st  

Not since the Bitches of ‘01 and ‘02 has the HHL seen a back-to-back champ. This may be the year. The self-proclaimed Disco Dynasty may have the goods to back it up, unlike another Dynasty we all love to hate.  

  

The Good – Loaded with superstar talent, the Godfathers are unmatched in high end talent. Stamkos, St. Louis, Eberle and Quick are all point machines.  

  

The Bad – Lack of depth. The Disco were picked as clean as a box of Timbits on Walli’s office desk on draft day. When your roster is loaded, the vultures will swarm. Only three D on the roster is an issue, and we’ll see if Barry can orchestrate a deal again this season to push him over the top. 

  

The Leaf – Can’t believe that Phil Kessel will show up like last year. Just not buying it. 

  

The Goods – Back to Back Titles. 

  

Enjoys the season lads. See you at the Re-draft. 

  

Yours truly, 

Jimmy the Greek