Boston: Always a sure thing to make the playoffs, so you can count on them to have more wins then losses. Tukka rask should be taking over in nets and is no step down if anything more consistent than mr thomas. Offense: i hate to say has many different weapons a healthy bergeron, and their always improving with young players; marchand, seguin, lucic, the list goes on Defensively they are solid as always with a great pairing of chara and seidenberg, nthe new addition is dougie hamilton who is nhl ready and will fit in fine
My overall projected finish: 5th in eastern conference
Boston: Always a sure thing to make the playoffs, so you can count on them to have more wins then losses. Tukka rask should be taking over in nets and is no step down if anything more consistent than mr thomas. Offense: i hate to say has many different weapons a healthy bergeron, and their always improving with young players; marchand, seguin, lucic, the list goes on Defensively they are solid as always with a great pairing of chara and seidenberg, nthe new addition is dougie hamilton who is nhl ready and will fit in fine
My overall projected finish: 5th in eastern conference
Toronto: Year after year they are a dissapointment, and sorry fans but i cant see this year being much different, the only ignifcant off season change was schenn for JVR two strugling players looking for new beginnings. Offensively: they rey on kessel and lupul to carry most of the load, and it wont be any different this year. Defensively: very average, with dion never really living up to expctations, aside maybe last year. Komisarek is a pylon and should not be playin in the nhl of today. Goaltending: Lots of inexperience betwen reimer and scrivens. Luongo could improve them greatly, but that is only a rumour.
My overall projected finish: 13th in eastern conference
Toronto: Year after year they are a dissapointment, and sorry fans but i cant see this year being much different, the only ignifcant off season change was schenn for JVR two strugling players looking for new beginnings. Offensively: they rey on kessel and lupul to carry most of the load, and it wont be any different this year. Defensively: very average, with dion never really living up to expctations, aside maybe last year. Komisarek is a pylon and should not be playin in the nhl of today. Goaltending: Lots of inexperience betwen reimer and scrivens. Luongo could improve them greatly, but that is only a rumour.
My overall projected finish: 13th in eastern conference
Ottawa: In the process of rebuilding, they are a very interesting team that can finish on either side of the playoff border. I see this year as a rebuild still. Offensively: How much does Alfy really have left, he i sgettting older, and his games per season are slowly falling down, with a condensed season this can only make it tougher. However the sens do have many prospects, however this will translate into success in the upcoming years not yet. Defensively; They added marc methot a reliable 2nd paring d.This should improve them a little putting them in the middle of the pack Goaltending: anderson had a good year consistency will be the key
My overall projected finish 10th in the eastern conference
Ottawa: In the process of rebuilding, they are a very interesting team that can finish on either side of the playoff border. I see this year as a rebuild still. Offensively: How much does Alfy really have left, he i sgettting older, and his games per season are slowly falling down, with a condensed season this can only make it tougher. However the sens do have many prospects, however this will translate into success in the upcoming years not yet. Defensively; They added marc methot a reliable 2nd paring d.This should improve them a little putting them in the middle of the pack Goaltending: anderson had a good year consistency will be the key
My overall projected finish 10th in the eastern conference
Buffalo: This is another of those young and reforming teams. Again just like ottawa they can finish anywhere in the 7-12th spot. Offensively: they have lots of young talent, in adams, ennis, gerbe, hodgson, foligno but these guys are not ready fro big numbers yet. Vanek will need a bounce back season for them to be successful. Defensively: They are a defensive style team led by tyler myers, they should stay right aroudn the middle defensively. Goaltending: Ryan miller maybe the best goalie in the past few years, from aconsistency and games played standpoint. And with Enroth as a backup this teamm has 0 problems in nets.
Buffalo: This is another of those young and reforming teams. Again just like ottawa they can finish anywhere in the 7-12th spot. Offensively: they have lots of young talent, in adams, ennis, gerbe, hodgson, foligno but these guys are not ready fro big numbers yet. Vanek will need a bounce back season for them to be successful. Defensively: They are a defensive style team led by tyler myers, they should stay right aroudn the middle defensively. Goaltending: Ryan miller maybe the best goalie in the past few years, from aconsistency and games played standpoint. And with Enroth as a backup this teamm has 0 problems in nets.
Montreal: I will try to be as unbiased as possible. Montreal is a strange scenario with many older players: gionta, cole, markov, bouillon, plecanec and many younger players: desharnais, pacioretty, eller, subban, emelin...needless to say they have the veterans who have been their before, but will the young players produce at a high enough level Offensively: they were carried by the cole line, so he issue here is where does the secondary scoring come from! Defensively: Markov subban, gorges emelin, then kaberle and diaz, not the best but cetainly not the worst. Goaltending: The price is right, carry carried the team if not for him, there is no playoff hope at all.
Projected finish: 8th in eastern conference(thinking they can sneak in)
Montreal: I will try to be as unbiased as possible. Montreal is a strange scenario with many older players: gionta, cole, markov, bouillon, plecanec and many younger players: desharnais, pacioretty, eller, subban, emelin...needless to say they have the veterans who have been their before, but will the young players produce at a high enough level Offensively: they were carried by the cole line, so he issue here is where does the secondary scoring come from! Defensively: Markov subban, gorges emelin, then kaberle and diaz, not the best but cetainly not the worst. Goaltending: The price is right, carry carried the team if not for him, there is no playoff hope at all.
Projected finish: 8th in eastern conference(thinking they can sneak in)
If you have Boston winning the northest they cant be any lower then 3rd in the eastern conference. Bruins are just one physical team that id hate to play against. Built for the playoffs.
If you have Boston winning the northest they cant be any lower then 3rd in the eastern conference. Bruins are just one physical team that id hate to play against. Built for the playoffs.
That right but im going strictly points wise In terms of wins and points i believe they would be around 5th They are a physical team nobody wants to play them you are right
That right but im going strictly points wise In terms of wins and points i believe they would be around 5th They are a physical team nobody wants to play them you are right
One thing on Toronto if you remember back to last year they started off on a hot streak, I rode them til they burned, and am expecting to see this young leafs team start off hot again as Im sure a lot of the young guns have been keeping in shape in the long off season, look out for them at the beginning of of the season but aware they can crash at any moment..Great thread keep it coming bud
One thing on Toronto if you remember back to last year they started off on a hot streak, I rode them til they burned, and am expecting to see this young leafs team start off hot again as Im sure a lot of the young guns have been keeping in shape in the long off season, look out for them at the beginning of of the season but aware they can crash at any moment..Great thread keep it coming bud
Would expect Boston to get off to a better start than last year. Also a healthy Horton, better Seguin and Hamilton should help there scoring from the back end. Might take Lucic a while to get going, hearing he is a little out of shape.
Would expect Boston to get off to a better start than last year. Also a healthy Horton, better Seguin and Hamilton should help there scoring from the back end. Might take Lucic a while to get going, hearing he is a little out of shape.
jerzeyboy: very good point a young leafs team can get hot at some point, but they wont make it through the season, i would ride their streak when it comes but be careful
looch: agreed boston will get off to a quick start!
jerzeyboy: very good point a young leafs team can get hot at some point, but they wont make it through the season, i would ride their streak when it comes but be careful
looch: agreed boston will get off to a quick start!
Vancouver: The always intriguing Vancouver canucks, with no result being good enough for the fans until they win the cup. They are just as strong as always, expect a top 4 finish and probably make it to the 2nd round at least. Offensively: With the sedins, burrows, booth, raymond and possibly kessler this team is more than deep. The big question is will Kesler play, but play or not this team will still score goals. Defensively: Replaced an old salo, with garrison, no loss there. Look for their defense led by bieksa and hamhuis to be solid as always Goaltending: If luongo is traded, can Scheinder play a full season between the posts, only time will tell.
Vancouver: The always intriguing Vancouver canucks, with no result being good enough for the fans until they win the cup. They are just as strong as always, expect a top 4 finish and probably make it to the 2nd round at least. Offensively: With the sedins, burrows, booth, raymond and possibly kessler this team is more than deep. The big question is will Kesler play, but play or not this team will still score goals. Defensively: Replaced an old salo, with garrison, no loss there. Look for their defense led by bieksa and hamhuis to be solid as always Goaltending: If luongo is traded, can Scheinder play a full season between the posts, only time will tell.
Calgary: A very interesting team, refusing to buy into a rebuild, look for them to be an average team finishing inn that playoff borderline. Offensively: This team can be cahllenged at times offensviely, with very little secondary scoring after iginla, tanguay and cammaleri. They acquired european player Roman Cervenka, who should add a boost, but you never know how success translates from one league to another. Defensively: They acquired Wideman who should be a boost he is a solid 2 way player, theere d will be in the middle of the pack again. Goaltending: Mikka Kiprusoff, durable ad reliable enough said.
Calgary: A very interesting team, refusing to buy into a rebuild, look for them to be an average team finishing inn that playoff borderline. Offensively: This team can be cahllenged at times offensviely, with very little secondary scoring after iginla, tanguay and cammaleri. They acquired european player Roman Cervenka, who should add a boost, but you never know how success translates from one league to another. Defensively: They acquired Wideman who should be a boost he is a solid 2 way player, theere d will be in the middle of the pack again. Goaltending: Mikka Kiprusoff, durable ad reliable enough said.
Edmonton: On the upside of a rebuild, improving every day this team will only be heading up from 15th place. Look for them to finish close but not quite make it in just yet. Offensively: The nuge, hall and eberle, gagner, smyth, horcoff, yakupov hemsky, goals will not be the issue. Defensively: BIG issue, through the draft they have failed to assess their d needs. Acquiring justin shultz a bright future rookie should help, however andy sutton has gone out with an injury possibly season ending. With jeff petry and theo peckam as their 3rd pairing they could be in for a rough year on d. Goalie: Dubnyk and the bulin wall should be a good pairing possibly splitting the time, look for them to be average in this area.
Edmonton: On the upside of a rebuild, improving every day this team will only be heading up from 15th place. Look for them to finish close but not quite make it in just yet. Offensively: The nuge, hall and eberle, gagner, smyth, horcoff, yakupov hemsky, goals will not be the issue. Defensively: BIG issue, through the draft they have failed to assess their d needs. Acquiring justin shultz a bright future rookie should help, however andy sutton has gone out with an injury possibly season ending. With jeff petry and theo peckam as their 3rd pairing they could be in for a rough year on d. Goalie: Dubnyk and the bulin wall should be a good pairing possibly splitting the time, look for them to be average in this area.
Colarado: Look for this team to be a surprise finish just sneaking into the playoffs, matt duchene, landeskog, O"Reilly, Erik Johnson, and Stastny, you cant have a much betteer young core to build around. Offensively: Goals were never an issue in colarado, when your 3 centers are Duchene, Stastny and O'Reilly while having Downie, Parenteau, Landeskog and Hedjuk on the wings. Young players equal speed and skill. Defensively: Always an issue. besides erik Johnson leading the way there really isnt much to be excited about with maybe one fo the least know ds in the league,look for them to struggle in this area. Goaltending: The combo of Varlamov and Giguere, they both need to porve that they can play at the nhl level, therefore expect an average team between the pipes having here good and bad days.
Colarado: Look for this team to be a surprise finish just sneaking into the playoffs, matt duchene, landeskog, O"Reilly, Erik Johnson, and Stastny, you cant have a much betteer young core to build around. Offensively: Goals were never an issue in colarado, when your 3 centers are Duchene, Stastny and O'Reilly while having Downie, Parenteau, Landeskog and Hedjuk on the wings. Young players equal speed and skill. Defensively: Always an issue. besides erik Johnson leading the way there really isnt much to be excited about with maybe one fo the least know ds in the league,look for them to struggle in this area. Goaltending: The combo of Varlamov and Giguere, they both need to porve that they can play at the nhl level, therefore expect an average team between the pipes having here good and bad days.
Minnesota: Probably the most interesting team in the division due to their bold off season. With 2 proven nhlers it could be a recipe for instant success. Offensively: Parise, M Koivu, Heatley and Setoguchi, not a bad top 4. Goals should be easier to come by this year with teh addition of parise, they also have strong secondary scoring from bouchard, cullen and young Mikael Granlund this year. Defensivley: Ryan suter top 10 d in the league, improves any team greatly. However there are many question marks with a very young and inexperienced d remaining. Goaltending: Backstrom a good starting goalie will carry most of the load this year.
Minnesota: Probably the most interesting team in the division due to their bold off season. With 2 proven nhlers it could be a recipe for instant success. Offensively: Parise, M Koivu, Heatley and Setoguchi, not a bad top 4. Goals should be easier to come by this year with teh addition of parise, they also have strong secondary scoring from bouchard, cullen and young Mikael Granlund this year. Defensivley: Ryan suter top 10 d in the league, improves any team greatly. However there are many question marks with a very young and inexperienced d remaining. Goaltending: Backstrom a good starting goalie will carry most of the load this year.
Adding insight on vancouver, Kesler may be out until march, he doesnt want to come back til 100 percent and then he has to get into game shape. The Canucks lack depth in offensive centres, with kesler out they might use higgins as 2nd line centre. Sedins can only carry this team so far. When it comes to playoffs, nucks still have to answer the question of toughness, small team that got bullied by kings last year, kassian still young and needs to get moe physical.
Adding insight on vancouver, Kesler may be out until march, he doesnt want to come back til 100 percent and then he has to get into game shape. The Canucks lack depth in offensive centres, with kesler out they might use higgins as 2nd line centre. Sedins can only carry this team so far. When it comes to playoffs, nucks still have to answer the question of toughness, small team that got bullied by kings last year, kassian still young and needs to get moe physical.
The Nucks didn't get bullied by the Kings, they played conservative because of all the f*cking penalties called against them in game 1, your not going to win a series vs the Kings playing shorthanded half the game. Besides Kesler was on the shelf to start the season last year as well.
The Nucks didn't get bullied by the Kings, they played conservative because of all the f*cking penalties called against them in game 1, your not going to win a series vs the Kings playing shorthanded half the game. Besides Kesler was on the shelf to start the season last year as well.
Yup just trying to provide everyone with a good starting ground for all the teams and a general prediction of how they will do this season Lance i agree wth you on vancouver but we will worry about that when it comes!
Yup just trying to provide everyone with a good starting ground for all the teams and a general prediction of how they will do this season Lance i agree wth you on vancouver but we will worry about that when it comes!
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