Predictions for 2004 NLL Season

[Snarf]

Thought a good way to start the new forum off would be for some predictions for the 2004 season which starts Friday Dec 26 in Phoenix as the Arizona Sting open up the new Glendale Arena againts the Vancouver Ravens.

Here is the way I see it

West:
Colorado Mammoth
Vancouver Ravens
Calgary Roughnecks
San Jose Stealth
Arizona Sting
Anahiem Storm

East
Buffalo Bandits
Toronto Rock
Rochester Knighthawks
Philadelphia Wings

Bandits over Ravens in the Championship.


Some other things
Of the new cities, San Jose draws big crowds, Arizona draws average crowds, and if its not basketball no one cares in the Anahiem/LA area.

Calgary's Tracey Kelusky wins the MVP if the team can keep him out of fights for pizza at bars.

Bandits lead the league in penality minutes (I know, I am really going out on a limb here).

[Bandit]

I see things just a little bit differently than you, Snarf ...


West:

Colorado Mammoth
Vancouver Ravens
San Jose Stealth
Calgary Roughnecks
Arizona Sting
Anahiem Storm

East:

Buffalo Bandits
Toronto Rock
Philadelphia Wings
Rochester Knighthawks


Bandit

[BanditsRock11]

Ok here we go.......

Oh how the west was won:

Colorado Mammoth
Vancouver Ravens
San Jose Stealth
Calgary Roughnecks
Anaheim Storm
Arizona Sting

East:

Buffalo Bandits
Toronto Rock
Rochester Knighthawks
Philly Wings

[SJStealthJunkie]

<div align="justify">Okay, okay... just what's the issue with hating on MY squad, guys? <b><u>Third Place!!!</u> <u>Third Place?!?</u></b> That's the best you think the Stealth can do? Come on, now, let's get real here...

<p>This is a much improved and healthier squad from last year with many of the core players returning from the Champions' Cup Final 2 seasons ago. They've drafted for the one thing that they didn't have much of last season -- timely scoring -- to support a very solid defensive-minded squad. They are playing a relatively weak division against teams that San Jose matches up against favorably. With the new ownership and venue change, the San Jose Stealth are in a position to not only win the division but make a serious run for the Champions' Cup.

I'm so confident about this squad that I'm writing the San Jose Stealth Fan Club newsletter's Champions' Cup pregame preview against my pick for the east, Buffalo. I think we'll be hosting that game so be sure to start looking for plane flights to San Jose now

See ya in May...

~~the San Jose Stealth Junkie~~</div>

[buffmattky]

I hate to say it but I think I disagree with the Bandits leading the league in Penalty Minutes....now that Ogilvie is gone, that would mean that Hackel gets A LOT more floor time and Couling starts cracking EVERY skull he can find....not entirely out of the question but I would hope that with the change in the team by losing Ogilvie, that Darris will modify his game plan somewhat

[MacRazor]

Matt, you may be partially right. With losing Ogie it seems like the westcoast Bandits might not be back at all this season unless they move here. Kyle IS here and so is Sush. That's all I know of right now. Hack is another westcoaster and I'm think he's not moving east for the season. My spies have been busy with the holidays and such so i'm not positive on anything yet. If Hack stays out west we'll be OK. Darris isn't what a lot of people perceive him to be. When he coached the Power in DC he didn't have a roster full of muscle. He made do with the guys he has and gets them to play "for" the team as a team. Individuals will be terminated or benched or mailed off somewhere. Darris is about accountability too. If you blew a coverage or let in a softie you'd be advised to own up to it. The players respect Darris and he respects all the players that put it all out there on game day. PIM's will go down this season i'd bet. W's will go up as well. This is Darrisball 2.0.

I'm not one for predictions since anything can happen in this league but I will say the Bandits will be the sole survivor in the East. This could very well redefine the "Black and Blue" division.

Mac been thinkin lax 24/7 since the strike ended!