Cherry Pickin': The 2008-09 NHL Season

With every new season, we make picks that will more than likely be very, very wrong. Play along with us in the comments if you'd like, we will be looking these over in the spring to see how we did.


Stanley Cup Finals Match Up
Chris: Sabres over Stars (Redemption 10 years later)
Jon: Wings over Canadiens
Ryan: Wings over PICK. Let's say Montreal.
Rich: Habs over Sharks

Hart Trophy
Chris: Sidney Crosby, PIT
Jon: Henrik Zetterberg, DET
Ryan: Alexander Ovechkin, WAS
Rich: Alexander Ovechkin, WAS

Vezina Trophy
Chris: Marty Turco, DAL
Jon: Roberto Luongo, VAN
Ryan: Luongo, VAN
Rich: Henrik Lundqvist, NYR

Calder Trophy
Chris: Steven Stamkos, TB
Jon: Stamkos
Ryan: Barry Melrose's new mullet, TB
Rich: Steven Stamkos, TB

Norris Trophy
Chris: Nicklas Lidstrom, DET
Jon: Dion Phaneuf, CGY
Ryan: Dion Phaneuf, CGY
Rich: Dion Phaneuf, CGY

Breakout Player
Chris: Brandon Dubinsky, NYR
Jon: Sergei and Andrei Kostitsyn, MON
Ryan: Daniel Paille, BUF
Rich: Peter Mueller, PHO

Jack Adams Trophy
Chris: Craig MacTavish, EDM
Jon: Guy Carbonneau, MON
Ryan: Wayne Gretzky, PHO
Rich: Denis Savard, CHI

Best Off-Season Acquisition
Chris: Brian Rolston, NJ
Jon: Olli Jokinen, PHO
Ryan: Marian Hossa, DET
Rich: Marian Hossa, DET

Surprise Team
Chris: Edmonton Oilers
Jon: Phoenix Coyotes
Ryan: Chicago Blackhawks
Rich: Chicago Blackhawks

Sabres Leading Scorer
Chris: Derek Roy
Jon: Jason Pominville
Ryan: Pominville
Rich: Thomas Vanek

Number of Games Connolly Plays
Chris: 6
Jon: 56
Ryan: 13
Rich: 47

Most Surprising Sabre:
Chris: Craig Rivet
Jon: Teppo Numminen
Ryan: Mike Weber
Rich: Drew Stafford

8 in 4: AFC North

By Jon

Last year we somehow convinced ourselves that we should do NFL previews. It wasn't the most accurate of experiments, but it was a nice concept at the time. We went through each division and predicted winners, then going back in January to examine how badly we did.

We weren't really planning on much for this week, but it was brought up by someone that we should do it again. Well, why not? We are a little short on time, however, so we present to you eight divisions in four days.

If you have learned not to believe the hype, please don't believe any of this, either.


4. Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis' senior portrait

Big shock here- the defense should be good. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrel Suggs, Samari Rolle, and Chris McAlister form one of the best defensive cores around. Too bad the offense blows. Joe Flacco was playing I-AA, err... FCS Subdivision ball last year, and his receivers were probably better there.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Innuendo much?

The Bengals have had buckets of talent for the last three or four years, and have nothing to show for it but a lengthy rap sheet. Carson will get his stats, but with a question mark in the backfield and an atrocious defense, don't expect much from the Bengals (again.)

2. Cleveland Browns

"I bet you I can throw this steak over that mountain."

The Browns are a bit of a mystery to me. In the course of a single season some no-name QB makes himself a lot of money, a past-his-prime, fresh out of the slammer running back resurrected his career, and the Browns became an offensive juggernaut. They've made some additions to the defense, but I don't expect their offense to perform to the same level this year. A wild card contender, but I don't see them taking the division.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

I saw someone wearing this shirt today. No joke.

The Steelers may hurt from the loss of Alan Faneca, but I don't think it will be enough of a blow to knock them from the top of the division. The passing game was strong last year, and the chemistry between Big Ben and Santonio Holmes should continue to evolve. Rashard Mendenhall should be a good compliment to Willie Parker, and the defense remains largely intact from last season.

Cherry Pickin': The 2007-08 Season Revisited and Repicked

Now we at the Roost take the time to revisit our October picks, do them over, and add a few new ones.

Stanley Cup Finals Match Up:

Chris:

October: Sharks over Senators
April: Sharks over Canadiens

Jon:

October: Rangers over Red Wings
April: Canadiens over Sharks

Ryan:
October: Rangers over Sharks

April: Sharks over Penguins

Rich:

October: Sharks over Penguins
April: Sharks over Penguins

Hart Trophy (MVP):
Chris:

October: Joe Thornton, SJ
April: Alexander Ovechkin, WAS

Jon:

October: Jaromir Jagr, NYR

April: Ovechkin

Ryan:

October: Sidney Crosby, PIT

April: Ovechkin (Is there any doubt?)

Rich:

October: Sidney Crosby, PIT

April: Ovechkin

Vezina Trophy (Top Goalie)

Chris:

October: Ryan Miller, BUF

April: Evgeni Nabokov, SJ

Jon:

October:Roberto Luongo, VAN

April: Nabokov

Ryan:

October: Luongo

April: Nabokov

Rich:

October: Roberto Luongo, VAN

April: Nabakov

Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year)

Chris:

October: Nick Foligno, OTT

April: Carey Price, MTL

Jon:

October: Jonathan Toews, CHI

April: Price

Ryan:

October: Nicklas Backstrom, WAS

April: Backstrom

Rich:

October: Jonathan Toews, CHI

April: Patrick Kane, CHI

Norris Trophy (Top Defenseman)

Chris:

October: Nicklas Lidstrom, DET

April: Lidstrom

Jon:

October: Lidstrom

April: Lidstrom

Ryan:

October: Chris Pronger, ANA

April: Lidstrom

Rich:

October: Nicklas Lidstrom, DET

April: Lidstrom

Breakout Player

Chris:

October: Brent Seabrook, CHI

April: Evgeni Malkin, PIT

Jon:

October: Anze Kopitar, LA

April: Malkin

Ryan:

October: Drew Stafford, BUF

April: Brad Boyes, STL

Rich:

October: Alex Radulov, NAS

April: Malkin

Best Offseason Acquisition

Chris:

October: Vesa Toskala, TOR

April: Brian Rafalski, DET
(What a weak free agent class that turned out to be)

Jon:

October: Kimmo Timonen, PHI

April: Ty Conklin, PIT

Ryan:

October: Dustin Penner, EDM

April: Conkblock

Rich:

October: Mathieu Schneider, ANA
April: Schneider

Best In-Season Acquistion:

Chris: Ilja Bryzgalov, PHX
Jon: Brian Campbell, SJ
Ryan: Cristobal Huet, WAS
Rich: Bryzgalov

Surprise Team
Chris:

October: St. Louis Blues
April: Washington Capitals

Jon:

October: Florida Panthers

April: Boston Bruins

Ryan:

October: Los Angeles Kings

April: Phoenix Coyotes

Rich:

October: Chicago Blackhawks

April: Washington Capitals

Sabres Leading Scorer

Chris: Thomas Vanek
Jon: Vanek
Ryan: Vanek
Rich: Tim Connolly
Correct Answer: Derek Roy

Total Goals by Sabres This Season
Chris: 239
Jon: 258
Ryan: 226
Rich: 246
Correct Answer: 251

Jack Adams Trophy (Coach of the Year)
(because we forgot to do it in October)
Chris: Bruce Boudreau, WAS
Jon: Boudreau
Ryan: Boudreau
Rich: Boudreau

Most Surprising Sabre:
Chris: Daniel Paille
Jon: Jason Pominville
Ryan: Drew Stafford (Surprised that he regressed so far...)
Rich: Daniel Paille