With the NHL announcing that they are returning January 13 at least everything is going strong at the moment despite no hiccups of COVID plus potential division realignments. What do these 16 teams in that loaded Eastern Conference have up their sleeves!
Boston Bruins: The last 3 years have been nothing but coming up short when championship glory was all but theirs. Once your city slayed the dragon known as New York a decade earlier. Now the snake known as Tampa Bay has gotten the best of you as of late. They took potentially 2 Stanley Cups, a World Series, and the GOAT from you. The quest for their first Cup in a decade is only getting harder thanks to Marchand and Pastrnak on IR to begin the year. Not to mention Zdeno Chara leaving for the Nation’s Capital. Also they are trying to play games at Fenway Park so that they can have fans this year. Considering the Boston governments restrictions of COVID as of late I doubt it.
Buffalo Sabres: This is a team that is desperately trying to overcome their walking mediocrity label every way they can. The Bills did it last year you can too! They got the big fish of Taylor Hall on a 1 year deal worth 8 million. Him, Eric Staal, and Jack Eichel on the same front line could be deadly! My biggest concern is goaltending and coaching. Carter Hutton is on the back end of his career and is in the last year of his contract. If they are going to end their playoff drought every single thing has to go their way even though they have an unproven coach in Kevyn Adams.
Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes are a team that is in a difficult position. Yes injuries cut their playoff run short last year but how much firepower do they have to compete with the big boys again. A healthy Dougie Hamilton, and Sebastian Aho have to be main priorities this year considering how banged up they were last year. The main dilemma is the mystery box of a goaltender in James Reimer. One year he plays like he did in 2013, the next he goes back to his meme form in Florida. The good news is they at least have a deep farm system with studs that have yet to be called up.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Columbus may be the team in their own division that may be the weakest but any team that has a coach like John Torterella should always be fighting for a playoff spot. This offseason the Jackets had enough cap space for Taylor Hall or Alex Petrangelo but struck out on both of them. The good news is that they got a potential franchise center in Max Domi. With him, Pierre Luc Dubois on the front line, and their own version of Elvis in net there could be upside but in that loaded division of yours nothing is guaranteed.
Detroit Red Wings: Well at least they nailed their draft picks this year and signed future pieces of the core I guess. I know it will be a long year for the Wings but the good news is that Yzerman has not done anything stupid since he returned home. Even if they once again are tanking once again, Stevie has been able to develop undersized skill players like Dylan Larkin, Frans Nielsen, and Tyler Burtuzzi. Because that worked for him in Tampa!
Florida Panthers: Thank goodness the Panthers despite axing Dale Talon have been trying to make themselves a playoff contender again. The thing they have going for them was that the depth emerged last year and Coach Q lived up to expectations in his first year in Sunrise. But for this team to keep up with Boston, Tampa, Toronto, and an up and coming team in Buffalo they need Sergei Bobrovsky to return to 2019 Playoff form. Last year was a trainwreck season for him and knowing him he won’t have back to back duds. At least Huberdeau, and Barkov are entering their primes.
Montreal Canadiens: Last year’s unexpected playoff berth was crucial in the Canadiens’ future plans. Bergevin tried getting Taylor Hall to come to Quebec but opted to join one of their rivals in the Sabres. In other words Montreal at least is returning most of their team from last year that could be dangerous thanks to their speed and skill but losing Max Domi is a huge loss and once again Berge Boy replaced a potential face of the franchise with a mystery box in Josh Anderson. If he doesn’t decline that should be a win win deal with Columbus.
New Jersey Devils: The good news for the Devils is that even though they had a disaster of a season last year they had multiple 1st Round Picks. Some of the moves they made in October never made sense. They didn’t trade PK Subban, they overpaid a declining Corey Crawford only for him to retire, and believed that they could keep up with the other powers in their division. At least they have youth and speed across their first 2 lines and on the defense excluding Subban who is only good at firing howitzers from the point now a days.
New York Islanders: It doesn’t matter what the contract situation is in Long Island, as long as they have Barry Trotz behind the bench the Isles will be a tough out. Anders Lee excelled in the first year of his long term contract and Varlamov even at Age 32 is their rock behind the net. If there is one thing about this team that is likeable (even as a fan of the team they knocked out in Round 2 last year) it’s their ability to put team goals ahead of individuals. And those groups are the ones you have to look out for.
New York Rangers: The Rags situation is very interesting. They drafted a generational talent in Alexis Lafreniere but King Henrik was exiled to DC. The good news for the organization is that their front line of Panarin, Ryan Strome, and Mika Sebanijad is one of the best in the NHL. The only concern for them is on the defense due to the signing of a fossilized Jack Johnson. As long as Jacob Trouba and Chris Krider are healthy then they won’t be left out to dry. This is a team that is playing NHL Blackjack and is so far beating the dealer.
Ottawa Senators: Not often do you see Eugene Melnyk go on a free agency spending spree to bolster his young core. The reasoning for all of his is the amount of cap space that they had this offseason. I know it will take another few years for them to return to playoff contention but at least they got their goalie of the future at the moment in Matt Murray. At least Thomas Chabot and Colin White look like promising players who could thrive in the future. The interesting thing with this organization is despite how much of a horrible owner Melnyk is at least they have a bright future unless he trades his current core in 2 years.
Philadelphia Flyers: Out of all of the teams that suffered humiliating defeats in the playoffs last year that I am a fan of in each of the 4 Major Sports the Flyers were the least victimized. The reasoning is that other than their trade deadline acquisitions last year everyone is back. Giroux, Hart, van Riemsdyk, Kevin Hayes, Sean Couturier, Jacob Voracek, and of course Travis Konecny. In my opinion this group looks like a solid Cup Contender if everyone plays up to their abilities or is healthy. The window has once again opened up for them and I hope they can get past the Ghosts of Billy Penn like their neighbors across the street.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Even though Jim Rutherford has made some questionable moves since the 2017 Cup Team the Pens once again have the makings of a team that has Title ambitions. Any team that has Crosby, and Malkin around even if they are in their early 30s should always be a lock for the postseason. The main reason for the Yinzers optimism is their generational talent in Tristan Jarry. Now that he has become the starting goaltender he should continue to dominate everyone in sight.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Defending Cup Champions are trying to forge a new empire over the NHL stratosphere. They locked up most of their depth this offseason and almost everyone is back for a chance at a repeat. Even though Steven Stamkos was injured for much of the Cup run last year I can only hope that he is at full strength. He is too special of a player to be hurt by his demons. FYI your division is only getting better because of the moves a certain rival North of the border has made. The good news is that they aren’t in your division this year and you will have other powers to face including the team you beat for the Cup last fall.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Behold the most overhyped team in all of hockey over the last 3 years. I know that they have John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews but what makes them a crowning favorite to the media again is what they did on the defense this fall. They brought in Wayne Simmonds, “Jumbo” Joe Thornton, Jimmy Vesey, and TJ Brodie who is entering his prime. The main concern with the Leafs is goaltending and coaching. Freddie Andersen is trying to get the playoff monkey off his back plus they have a 1st year coach in Sheldon Keefe. They are either going to the Cup or getting smacked by Boston again.
Washington Capitals: Once management threw “Mr Steamed Caps” himself in Todd Reirden under the bus after their first round exit the Capitals themselves are trying to make it back to 2018 form despite a loaded pack of competition. As long as Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nick Backstrom, TJ Oshie, and John Carlson are still around this team will be a contender for the Cup. The bad news for Washington is that King Henrik who they acquired this offseason from those Rags is out for the season thus they have to start Ilya Samsonov for here on out. The rest of the division just hopes that Phoenix Copley doesn’t develop quickly because if he does they could have a 2 headed monster in net! I don’t understand why you brought in Zdeno Chara as well. Are you trying to become the NHLs next boys club!?
Considering the Division Realignments for this season I will save all of the predictions for the Western Conference Preview so anything isn’t confusing. COVID has affected the restrictions in Canada so I honestly don’t know how long that’s going to take?
Bragging Rights Sports 