Season Preview Recap
October 8th, 2008, 7:32 am
I hope you’ve been listening to the podcasts where we talk about each team in a bit of detail, but for those heathens that didn’t, here’s a recap of my picks this season:
Southeast
- Washington – Ovechkin + Green + decent supporting cast = another division win.
- Tampa Bay – Swapping half the roster out for new players is a risky move, but there’s a helluva lot of talent here, even with a weak defense.
- Florida – Trading Jokinen will hurt, but the defense looks good. If some young forwards can step it up, the Panthers will be on the bubble to make the playoffs.
- Carolina – The Canes, with only one superstar in Eric Staal, will struggle. They needed to get some help this offseason, and didn’t.
- Atlanta – Kovalchuk will be sent packing, which means the Thrashers will likely get the #1 pick next year.
Northeast
- Buffalo – Plenty of scoring, steady D, and great goaltending will shock most of the people that have picked Montreal to win this division.
- Montreal – I think the power play will struggle this year with Streit gone and Kovalev one year older. This team lives and dies with the man advantage.
- Boston – They’ve managed to keep things together pretty well, and if Bergeron can stay healthy, the Bruins may squeak in as the #8 again next spring.
- Ottawa – A team in turmoil, they’ve lost two good defensemen, a goaltender, and replaced one retread coach with another.
- Toronto – Ron Wilson may get all the players looking in the same direction this year, but there just isn’t enough talent to win many games.
Atlantic
- Pittsburgh – Hard not to win a lot when you have the second and third best players in the league.
- New Jersey – I like what they did in the offseason in bringing back Ralston and Holik, and if Brodeur can steady the D, the Devils could get the #4 seed.
- Rangers – Despite Gomez and Drury, this success of the Blueshirts will depend on young guys like Dubinsky, Callahan, and Girardi. Having Lundqvist in net doesn’t hurt either.
- Philadelphia – I’m predicting a goalie meltdown in Philly this year, and after Coburn and Timonen, they will be thin on D as well. Not a good combination.
- Islanders – They stink. Period.
Central
- Detroit – Not fair that the Stanley Cup champion can get better in the offseason. Jerks.
- Chicago – A very dangerous young team in the future, we will see this inexperienced young team make the playoffs in a weak division.
- Columbus – After making a lot of changes, there’s still no consensus #1 center for Rick Nash, but they are still better than the alternatives.
- Nashville – Some excellent young defensemen, and not much else.
- St. Louis – Having Erik Johnson out for the year with a knee injury just kills a team that was going to be in the cellar anyway.
Northwest
- Calgary – I’m not certain about any of these picks, but with Iginla a perennial Hart candidate and Phaneuf a perennial Norris candidate, if Kipper can get anywhere close to his Vezina candidate performance, this team can win this middling division.
- Edmonton – A great youthful team with a lot of changes and question marks. They could run away with the division or stumble and fall miserably, so I’m spitting the difference.
- Vancouver – They’ll be in every game every night with Bobby Lou and a strong defense, but I don’t think they have enough scoring to put them in the playoffs.
- Minnesota – The Gaborik sweepstakes will derail a team that was on a train to no place.
- Colorado – With subpar goaltending, and only Stasny to assume Sakic’s inevitable dropoff, this team will have to retool next year.
Pacific
- Sharks – I almost have to pick them, don’t I? They went all-in with the defensive moves this summer, and I think it’ll pay off this year. Next year I’m not so sure.
- Dallas – If Zubov comes back early enough and healthy enough, the Stars has no weaknesses.
- Anaheim – Counting on aging but award-winning stars, they are very vulnerable to injuries. I just can’t see Pronger, Niedermayer, and Selanne healthy all year, which is what it’ll take for the Ducks to contend for the division title.
- Phoenix – In a different division, the Coyotes could beat up on the weaker teams enough to make the playoffs, since they have good talent all over the roster.
- Los Angeles – Plenty of good youngsters, but allowing them to flounder all alone this year may hurt the franchise more than help it.
Comments Off on Season Preview Recap
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Mike,
Like your picks! From an outsider, I think the Sharks made some great off-season moves, even though they had to deal a pretty solid guy in Rivet to Buffalo. You got three pretty strong team in your division and an up-and-comer, but I like your chances. (Plus I hate Dallas!)
I’ll be rooting for the Sharks through most of the season, except Feb 13th, where I’ll be in the stands at HSBC arena rooting against them.
You heard it here first! Word is Rivet Gets the ‘C’ in Buffalo.
First down with the heathens!
I decided I wanted to throw my 2 cents in so here it is
Southeast: The winner of this division often makes the playoffs and no one else does I’m not sure if that trend will change this year.
1 – Washington: I totally agree Ovechkin and Green make this team great my concern is that I am not sold on Jose Theodore being the answer to real success in the post season and could be their downfall they really should have kept Huet.
2 – Florida: If Vokun can have a good season and they can find some goals this team could finish 2nd but like the rest of their divisionmates probably miss the post season.
3 – Tampa Bay: Alot of offence but not alot of proven comodities behind the blueline or between the pipes with all due respect to Kolzig his best days are behind him. I don’t know what to make of this team at all but the next two are so awful that they should finish ahead of them.
4 – Carolina: Mike basically sumed it up I don’t have a whole lot to add to whats already been said.
5 – Atlanta: This team is horrible so many question marks and missmanagement of assets should make this team horrible for a few more years to come.
Northeast: This division could go alot of ways the only thing thats for sure here in my mind is that the leafs are going to suck, and that makes me happy.
1) Montreal – I don’t think they are going to win the east but they have a great team with a great young goaltender. I agree that special teams could be the difference but I think they can take the division.
2) Buffalo – I’m kinda torn here I think that this spot could easly be held by Ottawa if they rebound the way I think they might but Buffalo does have a solid team that if this trend of actually signing their players continues will only get better.
3) Ottawa: Hartsberg is a god coach in my opinion hes going to demand the one thing that the Senators lacked last season and thats accountability. With emery gone and a sorted out goaltending situation which is their big Weakness this team may not be a cup favorite but they can contend with some of the easts toughest teams.
Boston – I’m with mike they could sqeek in but I am not expecting big things from Boston.
Toronto – The rebuilding leafs are going to lose alot but Vesa will steal them some games and if they somehow get Sundin back they will finish just high enough to lose a good draft pick…
To be continued…
Blah Hartsberg is a good coach not a god coach :-p
Atlantic: This is going to be a very tight division, 4 of the 5 teams are all capable of taking the division but here is how I see it stacking up.
1 – Pittsburgh: This team will be nearly unstopable healthy, its getting healthy that concerns me. If they take top seed in the east no one will be shocked including me.
2 – Philadelphia: This is a good team in my mind although I question this pick after they lost too their own farm team. This is why I comment on blogs and not write them I suppose, It may also be my horrible skills in the english language.
3 – New Jersey: Good offseason signings and Martin Broduer ’nuff said.
4 – New York Rangers: This team might actually preform with Jagar and Avery gone but I think they have long been over rated and have mostly underachieved.
5- New York Islanders: Ted Nolan coached this team to over achieve. Ted Nolan is now gone and this team is definatly no better, probably the worst in the east.
Central: Not even fair, Detroit and Chicago are going to padd their points on the rest of their division.
1 – Detroit: To hell with them and their everything see you in the Western Finals.
2 – Chicago: This is the most improved team in the league as long as they move the ‘Bulin wall they are easily in one of the bottom 5 seeds.
3 – Columbus: I don’t know about a playoff spot if they switched divisions with Pheonix they’d miss for sure.
4 – Nashville: Losing Radulov for nothing is a huge blow to an already bad team that was gutted before its sale for less money of which some was not even real then the offer put in by Basillie. (Sorry had to go there).
5 – St. Louis: I have no idea what happend to this team they once where at least consitantly in the playoffs and now sit in the gutter I can’t believe Paul Kariya got suckerd into signing there.
Northwest: This should be a competative division at least with each other the rest of the west is gonna beat up on most of these teams.
1 – Edmonton: I think if Garon plays well and Hemsky has another good year (and for my fantasy team he better) The Oilers could be the top team in this division.
2 – Vancouver: The Loungo in net this team can win any given night and if the Sedins are in the last year of their contract look for them to light the lamp alot to make up for all the goals they don’t score after they sign on the dotted line. If the canucks are serious about keeping Loungo then they have to add peices which I think they will.
3 – Calgary: I’m going with Doug Keenan is not going to last the season especially if Kipper does not improve. If Kipper does improve they could easily win the Division but I think there is termoil here.
4 – Minnisota: The Gaborik distraction will take its toll on this team but at least they have goaltending they will finish low and make 2 selections in the first round once Gaborik is delt.
5 – Colorado: Oh how the mighty have fallen, they downgraded in net going from Theodore to Raycroft Sakic is the man but father time is knocking and Forsberg will probably distract them with another comeback. Its a mess.
Pacific: Time to get horridly biased!!
1 – San Jose: Its now or never for the Sharks, they are not going to continue spending this money for anything short of a cup and unless we want to be the leafs in a few years we can’t sacrafice anymore draft picks or prospect the time is now and everyone knows it.
2 – Anaheim: The Ducks are going to start the year with their full team on their own continent. This team is as dangerous as any in the west and I hate them for it.
3 – Dallas: I’m not super high on the Stars like alot of other people seem to be I like Marty Turco alot and last year he proved he can play the big game in the playoffs at our expense.
4 – Pheonix: I think they did pretty good last year in their division if they can win enough games in their own divison and combine that consistantly beating teams they should beat this is a playoff team
5 – Los Angeles: I wounder how many farm teams would beat the Kings or if they could have a winning record in the AHL. Yes they are that bad but do have a few peices in the foundation for a positive future.
Flame away :-p
Only thing I can say is the Flyers lost to their own farm team. At first I felt foolish to picking them so low, but now I feel a bit better about it. Of course, one preseason game means nothing, but how are those two teams even in the same ballpark?
Its insane I agree my jaw hit the floor when I read that they lost too their own farm team. I’m just going to base the pick on the fact that they can be a tough team to play, Pittsburgh is hurting on their blue line and I’m not totally sold on the Devils being better although Doug might be on to somthing. I have no faith in the Rangers they have just disapointed to many times. I guess time will tell.