On predictions
Well, I suppose I should be flattered that so many people read my thoughts this time around.
Predictions are really just for fun. There's no wrong way to go about it, not when the league is so unpredictable, and I resent the fact that I'm being called everything from a knob to an idiot for my picks.
Last season, I spent all kinds of time defending picks. I was on the radio in B.C., explaining why I thought Vancouver would miss the playoffs after winning the Northwest in 2006-07. Tampa Bay was up in arms that I had them 14th in the East when the only big loss was Dan Boyle. At least Wild fans offered kind words when I said they would be the Northwest champs.
I had a few awful picks, but when it all shook out, my predictions were far and away the most accurate according to Hockey Numbers' year end comparison.
There were similar results a year earlier.
So there. Put your money on Buffalo folks. :-)
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Labels: Predictions
by James Mirtle @ 1:54 PM
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24 comments
24 Comments:
Is there really much room in between knob and idiot?
James, I've got your back. Your order might be a little out of whack, but Buffalo is definitely the main challenge to the Habs in the Northeast from my stand point.
And I commend you for thinking out of the stupid box that every other outlet uses for their predictions:
Last years standings + new additions - outgoing UFA's = Next year's finish.
Especially since the new additions are always based on their stats of the previous year, with their previous team.
I ribbed you pretty good for picking the Habs to finish 13th all last year but I pretty much agreed with almost all your other picks.
Well, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I like that the Bruins are making the playoffs this year. And according to you, they'll be meeting....the Caps. I can live with that.
Just posting my opinion.
But you had good predictions.
Don't get bugged by those idiots and knobs!
Hey dude, don't worry about the opinions of others. Remember, opinions are like assholes...everybody has one. Now, having said that, you're a (insert insult here) for placing the Flames 4th in the Northwest!
My problem with predictions has always been less to do with the predictions themselves, but more to do with the reason behind the predictions, ie. many picked Vancouver to miss the playoffs because of a lack of offense, not because of an injury-riddled blueline and a star goaltender who was distracted by his wife's troubled pregnancy all season.
Same thing goes for Ottawa: many people thought they'd make the playoffs, but just not in the way they did.
In that list of predictions from last season I posted, no one else said Vancouver was going to miss the playoffs. My reasoning was that they needed a lot of things to go right to do as well as they'd done a year earlier (you can't predict injuries).
I know James is very proud of the fact that he picked Vancouver to miss the playoffs last season when few others did. But when it comes to the Vancouver Canucks, James also predicted the team to win the division in 05-06 (when they missed the playoffs) and to miss the playoffs in 06-07 (when they won the division and won against Dallas in the first round, which James predicted them to lose). So I wouldn't count on James being accurate this time when he's following the crowd on Vancouver (the majority of predictions I've read have Vancouver miss the playoffs in 08-09). No offense intended, James, just pointing out some facts along with some wishful thinking on my part.
I'm not proud of any of this business — it'd just be nice not to be called a knob for posting a few predictions.
On the whole, in the past, my picks have always been fine. End of story.
People call other people idiots and knobs on the internet?
I think we're breaking new ground here.
I don't know why its such a surprise you ranked buffalo so high. They are the same high scoring team as last year, and during the off season they didn't make a huge splash, but they got exactly what they needed. The defense should be much stronger, the goal tending better, and when injuries hit, we have many promising rookies to step in. And all the core players are one more year into their prime.
I defended your honour on SA James, you're my internet hero!
everyone loves predictions...
until you pick against their favorite team
If you're only right about one thing I hope it's that the Habs and their arrogant fans finish 4th. One good year where everything broke right for them and you'd think it was 1976 again...
Oh, and you're an idiot for picking the Leafs in 14th...it'll be 15th.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ooops! Sorry -- clicked the wrong ones. Let's try that again:
Too bad everyone seems so slow to realize that those who label others (our JM for example) "an idiot" or "a knob" (how polite, JM) for their opinions are just such superior beings in every way that everyone should wake up and be grateful to be favoured with their wisdom and beneficence.
I certainly am. Aren't you?
(And they make their attacks from behind such cool anonymous webnames, too!)
I like to laugh at the overwrought comments in response to the predictions. :)
Predictions are a silly exercise, but harmless - and everyone does them.
ie. many picked Vancouver to miss the playoffs because of a lack of offense, not because of an injury-riddled blueline and a star goaltender who was distracted by his wife's troubled pregnancy all season.
Which wasn't at all compounded by a lack of offense.
I love Vancouver fans thinking that the 07/08 'nucks were the first team to ever have injuries and/or players dealing with personal issues. Neither of these have ever happened before in NHL history.
I'm not proud of any of this business — it'd just be nice not to be called a knob for posting a few predictions.
On the whole, in the past, my picks have always been fine. End of story.
I wasn't on the side of people calling you a knob or an idiot, just in case that's not clear. I agree with you that predictions are really guesses as lots of unknown factors can affect a team's final place in the final standings, such as injuries, trades, signings, surprise performances, etc.
By the way, if you think the personal attack is crazy, try posting "power rankings" every week once the season starts...
I'll pass.
What the Hell is a knob?
Anyhow, everyone's predictions have some things that don't pan out. I wouldn't worry much about it.
Dude, you're taking the internet to seriously. Lighten up.
For the record, I take no issue with your predictions for any of the six Canadian teams.
You're not a knob or an idiot.
/mom
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