Post by Yzerman Is The Man on Sept 13, 2015 22:07:36 GMT -6
A final thanks to Dangles for part 4/4 of his Puck Luck series. With that, if you'd like to write a blog, just PM me.
What can make or break a team's season? A big injury, a struggling player, a bad locker room? There a few things that can really sink a team and some things that can make a season roll smoothly for another team. I am going to go over a few possible red flags and/or positives for the teams in the Atlantic Division and predict how I see their seasons going.
Boston Bruins
Is Zdeno Chara pissed and motivated enough to get the Bruins back up into the playoffs? The Bruins are in a transition and have made some questionable moves this offseason that may have left them in a bad spot. Tuuka Rask is one of the best goalies in the NHL and can almost get the Bruins a wildcard spot but he needs help. The forward depth in Boston is not what it once was and the defence is aging with Chara playing out his final seasons but if he can bounce back and play with the skill that made him a favourite for the Norris only a few seasons ago then I see the Bruins as a playoff team.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are quickly stockpiling a nice collection of skilled youth in every position. Buffalo has too much youth to make the playoffs right now but within 5 years they will be atop the Atlantic every season. Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart will be a powerful one-two punch down the middle but with lacklustre goaltending they are likely headed for another season in the basement.
Detroit Red Wings
Does anybody even care about the Red Wings anymore? This team has made the playoffs in almost more consecutive years than I have been alive and people are sick of their dickitry, let another team make the playoffs you selfish dicks. I can't see the Red Wings missing the playoffs unless the injuries start pilling up, not that that isn't a possibility given the age of some of their stars.
Florida Panthers
This is another team that suffers from the "Blue Jackets" syndrome, everybody writes them off based on reputation but people shouldn't sleep on the Panthers. Luongo is still a good goalie and their forward depth is only getting better as their players get closer to their primes. The defense is led by rookie phenom and man-child Aaron Ekblad and is rounded out by a few other good players that should enable Florida to make the playoffs.
Montreal Canadiens
The Habs might as well rename themselves the Montreal Carey Prices, he's so good that he became only the 7th goalie to win the Hart trophy as league MVP. If Price goes down then Montreal goes down to the bottom of the standings, there just isn't enough depth to be considered a playoff team. The Canadiens lack a true number one centre but do have a very good goal scorer in Max Pacioretty and an offensive dynamo on the back end in P.K. Subban who combined with Carey Price make this team a playoff threat.
Ottawa Senators
How in the Hell did this team make the playoffs? Oh right, Andrew Hammond went from a goalie with a .898SV% in the AHL to a 20-1 record with a .941SV% in the NHL, like WTF Ottawa? The reality is that Craig Anderson is a very good goalie and there is plenty of depth in Ottawa that could see them making the playoffs without needing a magical run from the Hamburglar.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lighting rock and they will make the playoffs. They can lose any player and it likely won't cost them the season, except for Bishop especially while backup Andrei Vasilevski is on the IR. They made the Stanley Cup finals last year and I don't see a reason that they can't do it again and possibly win this time.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs are on the right track to not being a laughing stock in the league. Sure they are in for some tough seasons while they wait for their rebuild to come full circle but they likely will be a powerhouse when they get there. If Babcock and Shanahan's plan goes forward then you could expect to see some moves that will keep the Leafs in the bottom of the league this year.
What can make or break a team's season? A big injury, a struggling player, a bad locker room? There a few things that can really sink a team and some things that can make a season roll smoothly for another team. I am going to go over a few possible red flags and/or positives for the teams in the Atlantic Division and predict how I see their seasons going.
Boston Bruins
Is Zdeno Chara pissed and motivated enough to get the Bruins back up into the playoffs? The Bruins are in a transition and have made some questionable moves this offseason that may have left them in a bad spot. Tuuka Rask is one of the best goalies in the NHL and can almost get the Bruins a wildcard spot but he needs help. The forward depth in Boston is not what it once was and the defence is aging with Chara playing out his final seasons but if he can bounce back and play with the skill that made him a favourite for the Norris only a few seasons ago then I see the Bruins as a playoff team.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are quickly stockpiling a nice collection of skilled youth in every position. Buffalo has too much youth to make the playoffs right now but within 5 years they will be atop the Atlantic every season. Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart will be a powerful one-two punch down the middle but with lacklustre goaltending they are likely headed for another season in the basement.
Detroit Red Wings
Does anybody even care about the Red Wings anymore? This team has made the playoffs in almost more consecutive years than I have been alive and people are sick of their dickitry, let another team make the playoffs you selfish dicks. I can't see the Red Wings missing the playoffs unless the injuries start pilling up, not that that isn't a possibility given the age of some of their stars.
Florida Panthers
This is another team that suffers from the "Blue Jackets" syndrome, everybody writes them off based on reputation but people shouldn't sleep on the Panthers. Luongo is still a good goalie and their forward depth is only getting better as their players get closer to their primes. The defense is led by rookie phenom and man-child Aaron Ekblad and is rounded out by a few other good players that should enable Florida to make the playoffs.
Montreal Canadiens
The Habs might as well rename themselves the Montreal Carey Prices, he's so good that he became only the 7th goalie to win the Hart trophy as league MVP. If Price goes down then Montreal goes down to the bottom of the standings, there just isn't enough depth to be considered a playoff team. The Canadiens lack a true number one centre but do have a very good goal scorer in Max Pacioretty and an offensive dynamo on the back end in P.K. Subban who combined with Carey Price make this team a playoff threat.
Ottawa Senators
How in the Hell did this team make the playoffs? Oh right, Andrew Hammond went from a goalie with a .898SV% in the AHL to a 20-1 record with a .941SV% in the NHL, like WTF Ottawa? The reality is that Craig Anderson is a very good goalie and there is plenty of depth in Ottawa that could see them making the playoffs without needing a magical run from the Hamburglar.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lighting rock and they will make the playoffs. They can lose any player and it likely won't cost them the season, except for Bishop especially while backup Andrei Vasilevski is on the IR. They made the Stanley Cup finals last year and I don't see a reason that they can't do it again and possibly win this time.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs are on the right track to not being a laughing stock in the league. Sure they are in for some tough seasons while they wait for their rebuild to come full circle but they likely will be a powerhouse when they get there. If Babcock and Shanahan's plan goes forward then you could expect to see some moves that will keep the Leafs in the bottom of the league this year.
