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Richdg

EC on paper for 15/16.....

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Ok we have made it past the UFA rush. So how do you rank the EC teams? Who is better? Worse? The same? Predit your PO teams.

just some thoughts...

Habs-about the same.

TB-no major changes but they should be better with experience gained.

BJ's-destroyed by injuries last year. A couple of big moves in the off season. Should be much better.

OTT-young team that made the PO's. still 1 or 2 players from being a great team. slightly better due to experience gained.

Isles-better.

Rangers-slightly worse but still very good.

Caps-better.

Pens-better

RW-slightly better overall

Panthers-young and improving, just shy of a PO team.

These are the ten teams that will be fighting for the PO's. In our division it still looks like TB, Habs, RW's, and OTT in that order. Getting to 3rd is key this year. The other division is very strong and could get both at large births.

of course all of this is as of today before any further trades, injuries, etc......

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I don't want to go through them all, so I'll respond to just a couple of your assessments.

I disagree that Ottawa is better. They lucked their way into the playoffs, on the back of an insane goalie performance, after sucking all year. Hammond falls back to earth and the Sens go back to the cellar next season.

Panthers and Blue Jackets BOTH make the playoffs next season. Boston and Pittsburgh drop out.

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Eastern Conference teams I predict will be in the playoffs, in no particular order:

New York - making it ain't their problem. Winning it is.

Montreal - seriously needs a 1st line center. Not winning anything until that is addressed.

Tampa Bay - expect to see them in the Conference finals. Capacity to go all the way.

Washington

Pittsburgh-they will make it. ill bet anyone for some dollars if asked.

Florida (yep you read right).

Detroit - I predict us dropping in rather late as we have done recently.

And one "bubbler" yet unknown team. (Islanders)

Edited by Jacksoni

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Eastern Conference teams I predict will be in the playoffs, in no particular order:

New York - making if ain't their problem. Winning it is.

Montreal - seriously needs a 1st line center. Not winning anything until that is adressed.

Tampa Bay - expect to see them in the Conference finals. Capacity to go all the way.

Washington

Pittsburgh

Florida (yep you read right).

Detroit - I predict us dropping in rather late as we have done recently.

And one "bubbler" yet unknown team.

I agree except replace pitt with the isles and add in CBJ as the "bubbler" team.

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My way too specific predictions for the east

Atlantic:

1. Tampa (should win the east, compete with Anaheim for presidents trophy)

2-3. Detroit and Montreal (pretty much a toss up as Detroit got better and Montreal didn't. Depends on if Price can be a hart candidate again)

Metro:

1. Rangers (Didn't lose too much. Lundqvist will be very motivated to win a cup)

2-3. Washington or Pittsburgh (both got better. Neither will go far in the playoffs. Pittsburgh has no depth and Washington always disappoints)

Wild cards:

Columbus, Islanders, Ottawa, Florida (probably in that order)

Again, way too specific but wouldn't this set up some intriguing playoff match ups? Tampa and NYI are built pretty similarly, Det and Mtl is an original 6 matchup I've wanted to see for a while, Wsh and Pitt is NBC's dream match up and NYR vs CBJ would be fast and physical and tough to top!

Edited by wingsfan4795

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I think detroit finishes second to Tampa in the division, 3rd or 4th over all. Top four will be Tampa, Detroit, Washington and rangers. In no particular order.

Islanders, Montreal, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Florida, Ottawa will fight for the last four spots. Sabres and flyers won't be far behind.

Edited by marcaractac

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I don't want to go through them all, so I'll respond to just a couple of your assessments.

I disagree that Ottawa is better. They lucked their way into the playoffs, on the back of an insane goalie performance, after sucking all year. Hammond falls back to earth and the Sens go back to the cellar next season.

Panthers and Blue Jackets BOTH make the playoffs next season. Boston and Pittsburgh drop out.

I don't know if Ottawa goes back to the cellar but I don't think they're a playoff team.

I'd also be surprised if Montreal stays the same. They were 23rd on the PP and 20th in Goals For. Their success required a Vezina/Hart/Lindsay award-worthy season from Price. He doesn't necessarily even have to come back down to earth but just by sheer bounce of the puck they probably won't win as many games unless they find some desperately needed offense.

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I think detroit finishes second to Tampa in the division, 3rd or 4th over all. Top four will be Tampa, Detroit, Washington and rangers. In no particular order.

Islanders, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Florida,Ottawa will fight for the last four spots. Sabres and flyers won't be far behind.

Agreed, but you forgot Montreal

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I agree about Ottawa.

I also think the Habs rode a hot goalie ALL season. Price is going to have a mortal year and the Habs don't have the line-up to be any better than the 6-8th spot.

Pittsburgh will miss, Boston will miss.

Florida's not quite there yet. Neither are the Sabres.

Columbus will make it in.

Hopefully Detroit has home ice in the first round, but I'll settle for making it in.

Going to be tight

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I think it is too soon for an overall prediction but teams that are still better than the Wings would be:

Tampa obviously best team in the east

Rangers - defense and well they have King Henrik

Washington - offense with the addition of Oshie, Williams plus a very good defense

Islanders - they are for sure a team on the rise

Montreal - thanks to Mr. sweeping the awards Price

Pittsburgh - with the addition of Kessel this offense is unreal Kessel - Crosby

Columbus - I'm sure they are hungry for more after the injury rattled season last year and Columbus really did finish strong

So - let's see which team will make the better changes - Ottawa, Detroit, Florida and maybe even Buffalo are going to fight for the last playoff//wildcard spots

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Pittsburgh's roster is certainly better with Kessel, I just do not think scoring was their problem. They still have not addressed the concerns of roster depth or defensive deficiencies. You could argue they made their depth worse with the Kessel trade. And I don't buy into the belief that the Pens will all of a sudden be better this year because Dupuis, Letang, and Maata are supposedly healthier. They haven't had an even halfway decently healthy season as a team since Crosby suffered his first concussion. I don't see why one would think this season will be any different.

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Pittsburgh's roster is certainly better with Kessel, I just do not think scoring was their problem. They still have not addressed the concerns of roster depth or defensive deficiencies. You could argue they made their depth worse with the Kessel trade. And I don't buy into the belief that the Pens will all of a sudden be better this year because Dupuis, Letang, and Maata are supposedly healthier. They haven't had an even halfway decently healthy season as a team since Crosby suffered his first concussion. I don't see why one would think this season will be any different.

Also it was clearly noticable that the team had serious "psychological" problems. Strange penalties, arguing with the refs, they just didn't feel right. Especially late in the season (last 3 games) it played a part in them missing the playoffs. I would attribute a major part of this to lack of leadership, be it the captain or more probably mostly the coach.

*However* i do feel that they are sharp enough to get a playoff spot if they straighten up and red meatball Kessel goes bezerk with 1 of the 2 top line centers in the league.

Theyre not the wings, but i'll keep tabs on their games for sure.

Edited by Jacksoni

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Also it was clearly noticable that the team had serious "psychological" problems. Strange penalties, arguing with the refs, they just didn't feel right. Especially late in the season (last 3 games) it played a part in them missing the playoffs. I would attribute a major part of this to lack of leadership, be it the captain or more probably mostly the coach.

*However* i do feel that they are sharp enough to get a playoff spot if they straighten up and red meatball Kessel goes bezerk with 1 of the 2 top line centers in the league.

Theyre not the wings, but i'll keep tabs on their games for sure.

Its the captains job to reel his team on on the ice.

Sidney Crosby, for all the talent that he has, is not a good captain.

The way matt Cooke, James Neal, and a multitude of other players on those teams that would go out of their way to hurt players...

Its on the captain.

And when you see Crosby whining and crying to the refs, diving, and doing stupid stuff it sets the tone for the rest of your players...

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Mtl takes a step back...TB...who knows? Conventional wisdom says they'll be better with experience, but is there a rift between Stamkos and Cooper? Sometimes a team that comes close and loses needs the boost of adding someone. Wings adding Shanny is a prime example. They didn't do that...yet. We're a wildcard...new coach, injured superstar, new defense pairings, lots of young talent coming along up front. Could be good...could really struggle if Pavel's ankle is an ongoing issue, Hank's cold streak down the stretch is his new reality and Green doesn't click or gets hurt again.

The Rangers...meh They skate beautifully, but something just isn't there.. Columbus coud be really good, Pittsburgh is a potential mess with Malkin seemingly a very unhappy camper. The Caps got Oshie so they're going to be unbeatable in shootouts. Boston will e terrible....and that will make me so very happy.

Right now, I'd say Tampa takes the east because they seem to have the fewest question marks.

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Agreed, but you forgot Montreal

Thank you for pointing that out!

Mtl takes a step back...TB...who knows? Conventional wisdom says they'll be better with experience, but is there a rift between Stamkos and Cooper? Sometimes a team that comes close and loses needs the boost of adding someone. Wings adding Shanny is a prime example. They didn't do that...yet. We're a wildcard...new coach, injured superstar, new defense pairings, lots of young talent coming along up front. Could be good...could really struggle if Pavel's ankle is an ongoing issue, Hank's cold streak down the stretch is his new reality and Green doesn't click or gets hurt again.

The Rangers...meh They skate beautifully, but something just isn't there.. Columbus coud be really good, Pittsburgh is a potential mess with Malkin seemingly a very unhappy camper. The Caps got Oshie so they're going to be unbeatable in shootouts. Boston will e terrible....and that will make me so very happy.

Right now, I'd say Tampa takes the east because they seem to have the fewest question marks.

That would be depth down the middle

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