31 Teams, 31 Days - Catching Up to Start the Season

[dudacek]

Detroit has too many faded, fading or mediocre players.

Will be among the league's bad teams.

 

Here's some food for thought:

Seguin Eichel

Benn O'Reilly

Spezza Reinhart

Radulov Okposo

Hanzal Kane

Klingberg Ristolainen

Methot Scandella

Lindell McCabe

Bishop Lehner

 

Comparable, no?

[WildCard]

I'll bet Chicago doesn't win a playoff round again.

As in this season, or until Kane and Toews are done?

 

They drew the Preds round 1 last year, that's tough. Odds are they'll end up 2nd / 3rd in their division this year. I think they're pretty much done, but I think they can win one series. 

 

Stan Bowman, not good

Detroit has too many faded, fading or mediocre players.

Will be among the league's bad teams.

Holland before the cap era => HoF GM

 

Holland in the cap era => Garth Snow

[Randall Flagg]

Edmonton Oilers

Record last season: 47-26-9, 103 Points, 2nd in the Pacific

Playoffs: Lost in the second round, game 7 to Anaheim

Coach: Todd McLellan

GM: Peter Chiarelli

Captain: Connor McDavid

GF: 243 (8th)
GA: 207 (8th)
PP: 22.9% (5th)
PK: 80.7% (17th)

 

Top 5 G:

1.) Connor McDavid (30)

2.) Leon Draisaitl (29)

3.) Patrick Maroon (27)

4.) Milan Lucic (23)

5.) Jordan Eberle (20)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Connor McDavid (70)

2.) Leon Draisaitl (48)

3.) Jordan Eberle (31)

4.) Milan Lucic (27)

5.) Andrej Sekera (27)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) Connor McDavid (100)
2.) Leon Draisaitl (77) 

3.) Jordan Eberle (51)

4.) Milan Lucic (50)

5.) RNH (43)

 

Key Additions: Jussi Jokinen (LW), Ryan Strome ©

Key Losses: Jordan Eberle (RW), Benoit Pouliot (LW), David Desharnais ©

 

Projected Lineup:

Patrick Maroon - Connor McDavid - Ryan Strome

Milan Lucic - Leon Draisaitl - Drake Caggiula 

Jussi Jokinen - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jesse Puljujarvi 

Jujhar Khaira - Mark Letestu - Zack Kassian

Oscar Klefbom - Adam Larsson

Kris Russell - Matt Benning

Darnell Nurse - Eric Gryba

(Sekera out for a while)

Cam Talbot

Laurent Brossoit

 

Top Prospects:

Jesse Pulujuarvi, RW, taken 4th overall in 2016. Had a good year in the AHL when he was finally sent back down.

Kailer Yamamoto, RW, their first rounder this past year. 
Laurent Brossoit, G. Their fans are very high on him.
Tyler Benson, LW, 2nd rounder 2016.

Caleb Jones, D, 4th rounder in 2015.

 

 

My thoughts: 

I'm not a huge fan of their roster outside of McDavid and Draisaitl, but those two will be the Crosby-Malkin of the next 15 years. Anything is possible with them. I think Cam Talbot is a very good starter, and I think he'll peak as a top 5 goaltender in the NHL. This team is a cup contender to some degree for the next 15 years. Puljujarvi looked pretty bad to start the season last year but redeemed himself in the AHL after being sent down. They're still rightfully high on him. RNH is a mess and a shell of his early career self. Lucic is only getting worse and rode the coattails of Connor last season. Klefbom is damn good, some defensive metrics had him top 10 in the NHL. Larsson may not have been worth Hall but is a huge stabilizing presence. Matt Benning broke out as a solid defenseman last year, so when Sekera comes back and Nurse gets properly sheltered the defensive unit will again be good. The only question is how much McDavid boosts Strome's numbers and how Leon does spending most of the season anchoring his own line instead of playing with Connor, the Edmonton brass wants them on separate lines. These guys should win one round, and I have them winning 2. Could win the cup. I think McDavid breaks 110 this year.

[Randall Flagg]

Florida Panthers

Record last season: 35-36-11, 81 Points, 6th in the Atlantic

Playoffs: None

Coach: Bob Boughner

GM: Dale Tallon

Captain: Derek MacKenzie 

GF: 205 (23rd)
GA: 231 (21st)
PP: 17.0% (24th)
PK: 85.3% (2nd)

 

Top 5 G:

1.) Jon Marchessault (30)

2.) Vincent Trocheck (23)

3.) Aleksander Barkov (21)

4.) Jaromir Jagr (16)

5.) Reilly Smith (15)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Keith Yandle (36)

2.) Vincent Trocheck (31)

3.) Aleksander Barkov (31)

4.) Jaromir Jagr (30)

5.) Reilly Smith (22)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) Vincent Trocheck (54)

2.) Aleksander Barkov (52)

3.) Jon Marchessault (51)

4.) Jaromir Jagr (46)

5.) Keith Yandle (41)

 

Key Additions: Evgeny Dadonov (RW), Radim Vrbata (RW)

Key Losses: Jaromir Jagr (RW), Jonathan Marchessault (RW), Reilly Smith (RW)

 

Projected Lineup:

Jonathan Huberdeau - Aleksander Barkov - Evgeny Dadonov

Henrik Haapala - Vincent Trocheck - Radim Vrbata

Jayce Hawryluk - Nick Bjugstad - Denis Malgin

Jared McCann - Derek MacKenzie - Colton Sceviour

 

Keith Yandle - Aaron Ekblad

Michael Matheson - Jason Demers 

Mark Pysyk - Alex Petrovic

 

Roberto Luongo

James Reimer

 

Top Prospects:

Owen Tippett, 10th overall 2017. I'm glad the Sabres didn't pick this guy (and that could bite me in the butt)

Henrik Borgstrom, C, 1st round 2016

Ian McCoshen, D, 2nd round 2014

Sam Montembeault, G, 3rd round 2015
Jayce Hawryluk, RW, 2nd round 2014

 

 

My thoughts: 

Florida rode a high-scoring group of forwards to their best regular season in franchise history two seasons ago, but leaning heavily on a line of Jussi Jokinen - Reilly Smith - some other vet I can't remember is pretty unsustainable. Those guys are all gone now, along with Jagr, and the roster looks pretty bad. We'll have to watch and see how those forwards we've never heard of perform. Marchessault was dumped unceremoniously by Tampa after they didn't give him any NHL time, then scored 30 for Florida, and then was left exposed for Vegas to take. Kinda strange. If Ekblad, Barkov and Huberdeau can stay healthy, though, they have a playoff shot. Ekblad's potential is still sky high, Barkov is one of the best 2-way C in the game, and Huberdeau is a legitimate first liner. Trocheck emerged as a very good 2nd line center. The defense group isn't the worst in the division. They'll need to find another answer in net very soon, Luongo is oooooooooold and Reimer is Reimer. I predict them being 2nd worst in the division this year.

[LGR4GM]

Not taking Tippett will no matter. Casey Mittlestadt has already scored more NHL goals than Tippet ever will. How? Casey can access the 4th dimension at will, that's how. 

[rakish]

I read somewhere that Marchessault was left available as part of the deal to dump cap (Reilly Smith).

[dudacek]

Florida really messed up what looked like a promising team prior to last year. A team we can and should be better than.

Love me some Barkov though.

 

I don't quite buy the Western Conference favourite hype (you'd think the Oilers and Leafs are already in the final if you only followed Canadian media) but Edmonton is a good, dangerous team and will remain that way for awhile.

[Randall Flagg]

Los Angeles Kings

Record last season: 39-35-8, 5th in the Pacific

Playoffs: None

Coach: John Stevens

GM: Rob Blake

Captain: Anze Kopitar

GF: 199 (25th)
GA: 201 (6th)
PP: 19.1% (15th)
PK: 84.5% (5th)

 

Top 5 G:

1.) Jeff Carter (32)

2.) Tanner Pearson (24)

3.) Tyler Toffoli (16)

4.) Dustin Brown (14)

5.) Anze Kopitar (12)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Anze Kopitar (40)

2.) Jeff Carter (34)

3.) Drew Doughty (32)

4.) Alec Martinez (30)

5.) Dustin Brown (22)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) Jeff Carter (66)

2.) Anze Kopitar (52)

3.) Drew Doughty (44)

4.) Tanner Pearson (44)

5.) Alec Martinez (39)

 

Key Additions: Mike Cammalleri (LW), Christian Folin (D)

Key Losses: Ben Bishop (G), Brayden McNabb (D), Devin Setoguchi (RW), Matt Greene (D)

 

Projected Lineup:

Mike Cammalleri - Anze Kopitar - Tyler Toffoli 

Tanner Pearson - Jeff Carter - Marian Gaborik 

Dustin Brown - Nic Dowd - Adrian Kempe 

Kyle Clifford - Nick Shore - Trevor Lewis

 

Derek Forbort - Drew Doughty

Jake Muzzin - Christian Folin

Kevin Gravel - Alec Martinez 

 

Jonathan Quick

Darcy Kuemper

 

Top Prospects:

Gabe Vilardi (W), fell to 11th overall in 2017 after being considered top 5 most of the year 

Adrian Kempe, LW, 1st round 2014

Kale Clague, D, 2nd round 2016

Cal Petersen, G, Buffalo goalie 

 

My thoughts: 

This is another roster that is facing the consequences of a short brilliant run of success. So many old guys on crippling contracts they no longer are worth. It's certainly worth it, but I predict another ugly season of scoring woes out in LA. They're still a team that can be a nightmare in the playoffs IMO, but they've had a very hard time getting there recently. Hopefully Kopitar bounces back, he had a putrid statistical season. 

[dudacek]

Kings? See Hawks, only worse.

Paying the price for success. No playoffs for you.

Edited September 16, 2017 by dudacek

[Randall Flagg]

Minnesota Wild

Record last season: 49-25-8, 106 Points, 2nd in Central

Playoffs: Lost 4-1 in Round 1 against St. Louis

Coach: Bruce Boudreau

GM: Chuck Fletcher

Captain: Mikko Koivu

GF: 263 (2nd)
GA: 206 (7th)
PP: 21.0% (9th)
PK: 82.9% (8th)

 

Top 5 G:

1.) Eric Staal (28)

2.) Mikael Granlund (26)

3.) Nino Niederreiter (25)

4.) Jason Zucker (22)

5.) Zach Parise (19)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Mikael Granlund (43)

2.) Mikko Koivu (40)

3.) Charlie Coyle (38)

4.) Eric Staal (37)

5.) Jason Pominville (34)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) Mikael Granlund (69)

2.) Eric Staal (65)

3.) Mikko Koivu (58)

4.) Nino Niederreiter (57)

5.) Charlie Coyle (56)

 

Key Additions: Marcus Foligno (LW), Tyler Ennis (RW), Kyle Quincey (D), Ryan Murphy (D), Cal O'Reilly ©

Key Losses: Martin Hanzal ©, Jason Pominville (RW), Marco Scandella (D), Erik Haula ©, Alex Tuch (RW), Darcy Kuemper (G), Jordan Schroeder (RW), Tyler Graovac ©

 

Projected Lineup:

Jason Zucker - Mikko Koivu - Mikael Granlund

Zach Parise - Eric Staal - Nino Niederreiter

Tyler Ennis - Joel Eriksson Ek - Charlie Coyle

Marcus Foligno - Matt Cullen - Chris Stewart

 

Ryan Suter - Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin - Mathew Dumba

Gustav Olofsson - Kyle Quincey

 

Devan Dubnyk

Alex Stalock

 

Top Prospects:

Joel Eriksson Ek, 1st round pick from 2015. Excellent prospect. 

Kirill Kaprizov, LW, 135th overall 2015. Watch out for this guy. Has contract in Russia, but when he gets here I predict Panarin/Tarasenko level impact. Incredible talent.

Luke Kunin, C, 1st rounder 2016. Another great forward prospect. These guys have certainly been addressing their issues in the draft.

Jordan Greenway, LW, 2nd round 2015. Standout in WJC last season for team USA.

Mike Reilly, D, 24 years old and if he's going to stick long term this would be the year to show it.

 

 

My thoughts: 

I did not realize how much I liked their forward prospects until now. Eriksson Ek will have a positive impact this season and will likely be a very good top 6 player. He's in an ideally sheltered situation, because their forward lines are so deep. There will be a rapid decline in the ability of a bunch of their top six guys in the next few seasons, but with Kunin/Kaprizov/Joel in the mix they won't miss a beat there. Mikko is still a Selke-level center, and Granlund is awesome. They likely won't have the batch of career years this season that they had last year, but they will still be elite defensively and a high-octane offensive team. Probably won't be 2nd in GF again, but they can afford to slip a little. Bruce is a great coach, playoff failures aside. His PDO in Game 7s is like 89%. Suter is a beast and Spurgeon is a hell of a number 2. Good team that I could see in the WCF if things go perfectly. 

[Randall Flagg]

I missed 9-18 so I'll do 2 tomorrow, my apologies - 15 hours of physics and grading today and I wasn't feeling great to boot

[pi2000]

I missed 9-18 so I'll do 2 tomorrow, my apologies - 15 hours of physics and grading today and I wasn't feeling great to boot

 

[Randall Flagg]

Montreal Canadians

Record last season: 47-26-9, 103 Points, 1st in Atlantic

Playoffs: Lost to NYR in Round 1, 4-2

Coach: Claude Julien

GM: Marc Bergevin 

Captain: Max Pacioretty

GF: 223 (15th)
GA: 198 (4th)
PP: 19.6% (13th)

PK: 81.1% (14th)

 

Top 5 G:

1.) Max Pacioretty (35)

2.) Paul Byron (22)

3.) Alexander Radulov (18)

4.) Artturi Lehkonen (18)

5.) Alex Galchenyuk (17)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Alexander Radulov (36)

2.) Max Pacioretty (32)

3.) Andrei Markov (30)

4.) Alex Galchenyuk (27)

5.) Philip Danault (27)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) Max Pacioretty (67)

2.) Alexander Radulov (54)

3.) Alex Galchenyuk (44)

4.) Paul Byron (43)

5.) Shea Weber (42)

 

Key Additions: Jonathan Drouin (RW), Ales Hemsky (RW), Peter Holland (RW), Karl Alzner (D), David Schlemko (D), Mark Streit (D) (Not a single center for a team dying for centers)

Key Losses: Alexander Radulov (RW), Andrei Markov (D), Nathan Beaulieu (D), Alexei Emelin (D), Mikhail Sergachev (D), Brian Flynn (RW), Nikita Nesterov (D), Steve Ott ©

 

Projected Lineup:

Max Pacioretty - Jonathan Drouin - Ales Hemsky (Hah - Claude has Jonathan at wing by October 10th)

Alex Galchenyuk - Philip Danault - Brendan Gallagher

Charles Hudon - Tomas Plekanec - Artturi Lehkonen

Paul Byron - Torrey Mitchell - Andrew Shaw

 

David Schlemko - Shea Weber

Karl Alzner - Jeff Petry 

Mark Streit - Jordie Benn

 

Carey Price

Al Montoya 

 

Top Prospects:

Noah Juulsen, D, couldn't tell you anything about him. 2015 first rounder

Ryan Poehling, C, 1st round 2017

Nikita Scherbak, RW, 1st rounder 2014

Josh Brook, D, 2nd rounder 2017

 

 

My thoughts: 

I hate almost everything about that roster, from the center depth to the defensive depth, but Price-Montoya is as good a tandem as you'll ever see. Byron is a nice piece, but Drouin is going to flop at C IMO. I guess Galchenyuk will never play there. Shea Weber is still very good but the rest of the group is fairly ugly. I could see these guys winning the Atlantic again on the back of Price, and I can see him struggling and them missing the playoffs altogether. 

[Randall Flagg]

Nashville Predators

Record last season: 41-29-12, 94 points, 4th in the Central

Playoffs: Lost in the SCF to Pittsburgh, 4-2

Coach: Peter Laviolette

GM: David Poile 

Captain: None at the moment

GF: 233 (11th)
GA: 220 (15th)
PP: 18.9% (16th)

PK: 80.9% (15th)

 

Top 5 G:

1.) Viktor Arvidsson (31)

2.) Filip Forsberg (31)

3.) James Neal (23)

4.) Mike Fisher (18)

5.) Ryan Ellis (16)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Ryan Johansen (47)

2.) Roman Josi (37)

3.) Viktor Arvidsson (30)

4.) PK Subban (30)

5.) Filip Forsberg (27)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) Ryan Johansen (61)

2.) Viktor Arvidsson (61)

3.) Filip Forsberg (58)

4.) Roman Josi (49)

5.) Mike Fisher (42)

 

Key Additions: Scott Hartnell (LW), Nick Bonino ©, Alexei Emelin (D)

Key Losses: James Neal (RW), Colin Wilson (LW)

 

Projected Lineup:

Filip Forsberg - Ryan Johansen - Viktor Arvidsson

Kevin Fiala - Nick Bonino - Craig Smith

Scott Hartnell - Calle Jarnkrok - Pontus Aberg

Miikka Salomaki - Colton Sissons - Austin Watson

 

Mattias Ekholm - PK Subban

Roman Josi - Ryan Ellis (INJURED)

Matt Irwin - Alexei Emelin 

Yannick Weber

 

Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros

 

Top Prospects:

Dante  Fabbro (D) 1st rounder 2016

Eeli Tolvanen (RW) 1st rounder 2017

Vladislav Kamenev (LW) 2nd round 2016

Samuel Girard (D) 2nd round 2016

 

My thoughts: 

Let's see if they can pull off a Duchene trade, because their center depth is their only real weakness. Solid team that won't necessarily be a regular season stalwart but can be a cup contender come April. Rinne scares the crap out of me, and they'll be a lot more stable when Saros is ready (Saros is my favorite young goalie out there). I don't think Arvidsson is going to be as good this year. Ryan Ellis is going to be out for a while which is a big blow. 

[WildCard]

My thoughts: 

I have a hard time deciding whether or not to believe in Columbus this year. I like their depth offensively and defensively long term, but I feel last season's success was a tad unsustainable (they won't win 16 games in a row with regularity). They have some of the characteristic red flag stats and it's hard to rely on goaltenders repeating Vezina seasons. That said, I love the addition of Panarin and while they lost a few good depth pieces, those aren't anything they can't replace from within. I think they should be a playoff team, and being a WC team versus a divisional one might actually help them avoid Pittsburgh for once and give them a better chance at winning their first ever playoff series. 

 

Long term, Jones-Werenski is drool-worthy, hell it is right now. Savard is very solid, Murray - Nutivarra is as good a third pair as you'll find in the NHL. We'll see if they made the right decision with Dubois. One more top end center could cement these guys as contenders for the long run. 

Curious, what are those stats?

 

My thoughts: 

As you can see, there's not a whole lot on that roster or in that cupboard to envy. Their first time out of the playoffs in over 20 years will not be their last time in the bottom ten in the foreseeable future. They were bad and made essentially no changes other than to get older and hope that Larkin gets better. Ken needs to bite the bullet and rebuild. 

Detroit won't be good again until 3-4 years after Holland is replaced

 

My thoughts: 

Florida rode a high-scoring group of forwards to their best regular season in franchise history two seasons ago, but leaning heavily on a line of Jussi Jokinen - Reilly Smith - some other vet I can't remember is pretty unsustainable. Those guys are all gone now, along with Jagr, and the roster looks pretty bad. We'll have to watch and see how those forwards we've never heard of perform. Marchessault was dumped unceremoniously by Tampa after they didn't give him any NHL time, then scored 30 for Florida, and then was left exposed for Vegas to take. Kinda strange. If Ekblad, Barkov and Huberdeau can stay healthy, though, they have a playoff shot. Ekblad's potential is still sky high, Barkov is one of the best 2-way C in the game, and Huberdeau is a legitimate first liner. Trocheck emerged as a very good 2nd line center. The defense group isn't the worst in the division. They'll need to find another answer in net very soon, Luongo is oooooooooold and Reimer is Reimer. I predict them being 2nd worst in the division this year.

Ekblad is quietly struggling. The allure of his Calder season still hasn't worn off, but I'm not sold on him being the Doughty type All Star everyone has him as. I'm not saying he's bad, but there's concern there

 

GAR = Goals Above Replacement

 

 

 

To the surprise of no one, Ekblad has also played his best while playing with the team’s better forwards; When on the ice with the first and second lines, his Corsi For percentage is at or above 54 percent. The interesting information here is how poorly he plays apart from those high-end forwards. With third-line center Nick Bjugstad, that number drops to 49 percent; with fourth line center Derek Mackenzie, that number plummets to a shocking 40 percent.

 

https://www.fanragsports.com/another-year-aaron-ekblad-cause-concern/

[dudacek]

Montreal should suck but I can't confidently say that about a team with Claude Julien and Carey Price.

Nashville will disappoint somewhat in the regular season, but still be good.

[Randall Flagg]

Josi just named captain of Nashville. 

[Sabel79]

Montreal should suck but I can't confidently say that about a team with Claude Julien and Carey Price.

Nashville will disappoint somewhat in the regular season, but still be good.

It's 100% on Price in Montreal. If healthy we get the Habs of las season. If not, we get the zeppelin crash that was the year before. Either way, if they win a playoff series I'll be amazed.

[Randall Flagg]

New Jersey Devils

Record last season: 28-40-14, 70 Points, 8th in the Metro

Playoffs: None

Coach: John Hynes

GM: Ray Shero

Captain: Andy Greene

GF: 180 (28th)
GA: 241 (25th)
PP: 17.5% (22nd)
PK: 79.6% (23rd)
 

Top 5 G:

1.) Kyle Palmieri (26)

2.) Taylor Hall (20)

3.) Adam Henrique (20)

4.) Travis Zajac (14)

5.) P.A. Parenteau (13)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Taylor Hall (33)
2.) Travis Zajac (31)

3.) Damon Severson (28)

4.) Kyle Palmieri (27)

5.) Mike Cammalleri (21)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) Taylor Hall (53)

2.) Kyle Palmieri (53)

3.) Travis Zajac (45)

4.) Adam Henrique (40)

5.) Damon Severson (31)

 

Key Additions: Nico Hischier ©, Marcus Johansson (RW), Brian Boyle ©, Mirco Mueller (D), Drew Stafford (RW)
Key Losses: Mike Cammalleri (LW), Jon Merrill (D), Devante Smith-Pelly (RW), Beau Bennett (RW)

 

Projected Lineup:

Taylor Hall - Marcus Johansson (don't ask me, ask hfboards) - Kyle Palmieri

Pavel Zacha - Adam Henrique - Drew Stafford

John Quenneville - Nico Hischier - Blake Speers

Miles Wood - Brian Boyle - Stefan Noesen
Zajac hurt

 

Andy Greene - Damon Severson

John Moore - Will Butcher (eh)

Mirco Mueller - Ben Lovejoy

 

Cory Schneider

Keith Kinkaid

 

Prospects:

Nico Hischier, C, 1st overall 2017

Michael McLeod, C, 12th overall 2016

Mirco Mueller, D, traded for from SJ. 

Jesper Boqvist, RW, 2nd round 2017

John Quenneville, C, 1st rounder 2014

 

My thoughts:

Jersey is probably in for another rough year that wastes Cory Schneider's prime, but the long-term outlook is considerably brighter with Nico in the picture and with young McLeod developing solidly. I have no idea what to expect from them other than they'll likely be bottom 2 or 3 in their division. 

[Randall Flagg]

New York Islanders

Record last season: 41-29-12, 94 points, 5th in the Metro

Playoffs: None

Coach: Doug Weight

GM: Garth Snow

Captain: JohnTavares

GF: 239 (10th)
GA: 238 (23rd)
PP: 14.9% (28th)
PK: 81.9% (11th)
 

Top 5 G:

1.) Anders Lee (34)

2.) John Tavares (28)

3.) Andrew Ladd (23)

4.) Brock Nelson (20)

5.) Jason Chimera (20)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Josh Bailey (43)

2.) John Tavares (38)

3.) Nick Leddy (35)

4.) Brock Nelson (25)

5.) Calvin de Haan (20)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) John Tavares (66)

2.) Josh Bailey (56)

3.) Anders Lee (52)

4.) Nick Leddy (46)

5.) Brock Nelson (45)

 

Key Additions: Jordan Eberle (RW)
Key Losses: Travis Hamonic (D), Ryan Strome ©, Mikhail Grabovski ©, JF Berube (G)

 

Projected Lineup:

Anders Lee - John Tavares - Jordan Eberle

Andrew Ladd - Mathew Barzal - Josh Bailey

Brock Nelson - Anthony Beauvillier - Josh Ho-Sang

Nikolay Kulemin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

 

Nick Leddy - Ryan Pulock 

Calvin de Haan - Johnny Boychuk 

Thomas Hickey - Adam Pelech

 

Thomas Greiss

Jaroslav Halak

 

Prospects:

Mathew Barzal, C, first rounder 2015.

Kieffer Bellows, LW, 1st rounder 2016.

Ilya Sorokin, G, 3rd round 2014. 
Michael Dal Colle, LW, 5th overall 2014.

Ryan Pulock, D, 1st round 2013. 
Joshua Ho-Sang, super skilled and super enigmatic, 1st round 2014.

 

My thoughts:

This is a critical season for the franchise. It's possible that Eberle meshes very well, their defense doesn't miss Hamonic, the goaltending gets sorted out and a real coach gets them into the playoffs and past round one, prompting Tavares to stay. They could fall apart in an empty barn with some horrible contracts and have their franchise leave July 1st, 2018. Josh Ho-Sang could flame out of the league or could find a way to translate his skill and be a Calder candidate. Mathew Barzal, the same thing. Will be a very interesting team to watch going forward. 

[Randall Flagg]

New York Rangers

Record last season: 48-28-6, 102 Points, 4th in the Metro

Playoffs: Lost to Senators in game 7 of round 2

Coach: Alain Vigneault

GM: Jeff Gorton

Captain: Ryan McDonagh

GF: 235 (4th)
GA: 216 (13th)
PP: 20.2% (11th)
PK: 79.8% (19th)
 

Top 5 G:

1.) Chris Kreider (28)

2.) Michael Grabner (27)

3.) Rick Nash (23)

4.) JT Miller (22)

5.) Derek Stepan (17)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Mats Zuccarello (44)

2.) Derek Stepan (38)

3.) Ryan McDonagh (36)

4.) JT Miller (34)

5.) Brady Skjei (34)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) Mats Zuccarello (59)

2.) JT Miller (56)

3.) Derek Stepan (55)

4.) Chris Kreider (53)

5.) Kevin Hayes (49)

 

Key Additions: David Desharnais ©, Kevin Shattenkirk (D), Anthony DeAngelo (D), Ondrej Pavelec (G)
Key Losses: Derek Stepan ©, Antti Raanta (G), Dan Girardi (D), Oscar Lindberg ©, Brandon Pirri ©, Kevin Klein (D), Adam Clendening (D)

 

Projected Lineup:

Chris Kreider - Mika Zibanejad - Pavel Buchnevich

JT Miller - Kevin Hayes - Mats Zuccarello 

Jimmy Vesey - Lias Andersson - Rick Nash 

Jesper Fast - David Desharnais - Michael Grabner

 

Ryan McDonagh - Kevin Shattenkirk

Brady Skjei - Brendan Smith 

Marc Staal - Nick Holden

 

Henrik Lundqvist

Ondrej Pavelec

 

Prospects:

Lias Andersson, C, the Rangers' highest pick in many years from this past draft. They think he's NHL ready, I guess. Two-way guy.

Igor Shesterkin, G, 118th overall 2014. 

Anthony DeAngelo, D, may or may not be a major jerk

Adam Huska, G

Filip Chytil, C, their other first rounder from this year. Rangers using first rounders?? What universe is this??

 

My thoughts:

Everyone (especially me) picks these guys to disappoint and finally crumble every single year, and every single year we're wrong. I really like AV, he's had success coaching very different teams. Their defense isn't very deep but doesn't look bad at all if Holden shows that last year wasn't a fluke. I really like Brady Skjei. Shattenkirk will be interesting in that system. The big thing that sticks out to me is the Rangers' forward depth. I mean, it's debatable that David Desharnais, a legitimate NHL 3rd liner, is their worst forward. They don't have a lot of top end guys but they have 9-10 second liners, it seems. I love Pavel Buchnevich and he's going to break out this year if he can stay healthy. Zibanejad is looking good too, and he has to be since their center depth took a hit losing Stepan. These guys are slowly getting younger without missing a beat, I wouldn't be surprised at all with another ECF appearance. Could just miss the playoffs too, but I'm not getting burned on that for the sixth year in a row so I won't predict it. Lundqvist is definitely back to earth now, they'll need his replacement sooner rather than later.

[dudacek]

All three big apple teams seem to carry the same rep every year, whether it's deserved or not. I see three teams that are all going to need growth from kids to make the playoffs. I like Vigneault too, but they are going to need Henrik to be the king.

They are also teams the Sabres need to be better than, and can be better than.

[North Buffalo]

New Jersey Devils

Record last season: 28-40-14, 70 Points, 8th in the Metro

Playoffs: None

Coach: John Hynes

GM: Ray Shero

Captain: Andy Greene

GF: 180 (28th)

GA: 241 (25th)

PP: 17.5% (22nd)

PK: 79.6% (23rd)

 

Top 5 G:

1.) Kyle Palmieri (26)

2.) Taylor Hall (20)

3.) Adam Henrique (20)

4.) Travis Zajac (14)

5.) P.A. Parenteau (13)

 

Top 5A:

1.) Taylor Hall (33)

2.) Travis Zajac (31)

3.) Damon Severson (28)

4.) Kyle Palmieri (27)

5.) Mike Cammalleri (21)

 

Top 5 PTS:

1.) Taylor Hall (53)

2.) Kyle Palmieri (53)

3.) Travis Zajac (45)

4.) Adam Henrique (40)

5.) Damon Severson (31)

 

Key Additions: Nico Hischier ©, Marcus Johansson (RW), Brian Boyle ©, Mirco Mueller (D), Drew Stafford (RW)Key Losses: Mike Cammalleri (LW), Jon Merrill (D), Devante Smith-Pelly (RW), Beau Bennett (RW)

 

Projected Lineup:

Taylor Hall - Marcus Johansson (don't ask me, ask hfboards) - Kyle Palmieri

Pavel Zacha - Adam Henrique - Drew Stafford

John Quenneville - Nico Hischier - Blake Speers

Miles Wood - Brian Boyle - Stefan Noesen

Zajac hurt

 

Andy Greene - Damon Severson

John Moore - Will Butcher (eh)

Mirco Mueller - Ben Lovejoy

 

Cory Schneider

Keith Kinkaid

 

Prospects:

Nico Hischier, C, 1st overall 2017

Michael McLeod, C, 12th overall 2016

Mirco Mueller, D, traded for from SJ. 

Jesper Boqvist, RW, 2nd round 2017

John Quenneville, C, 1st rounder 2014

 

My thoughts:

Jersey is probably in for another rough year that wastes Cory Schneider's prime, but the long-term outlook is considerably brighter with Nico in the picture and with young McLeod developing solidly. I have no idea what to expect from them other than they'll likely be bottom 2 or 3 in their division.

 

You left out Santini on D, called up late last year and played a bunch games. Hear Devil high on him and played as a D partner with Butcher previously...

[Randall Flagg]

You left out Santini on D, called up late last year and played a bunch games. Hear Devil high on him and played as a D partner with Butcher previously...

Perhaps - I use a hfboards thread where they got fans to sort of organize their lineups for everyone to see. 

[North Buffalo]

yeh he sort of flies under the Radar, but was first D call up and really good skater.