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What Will Happen in the Metropolitan Division...I think... |
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Well if ever there was a more difficult year to predict standings it has to rival this one...a year coming off a 48 game season into a re-alignment... Here goes nothing...
My look at the Metro Division...hope you like the format. I was getting sick of the same old prediction formats. Cheers.
#8 The Carolina Hurricanes
Their best player is unquestionably... Eric Staal
The guy who will have a huge breakout season is... Justin Faulk (he will be heavy in the US Olympic team discussions)
The person with the most pressure on them has to be... Cam Ward. This team gave up the second most goals in the NHL last year and is already going into the season without enough Defensive, D
Their strongest suit is.... their speed and transition game
They are trying to cover up for the fact... they are soft on defense
They could surprise everyone by... seeing their youth come together and their speed make for hard points
That ticking you hear it is called... their shooting percentage. not good at all.
Their fate is changed by re-alignment because.... they were built to play in the Southeast and now will be faced with a harder and much more physical schedule. If the division can catch their speedy young players they will hit them more than they have ever been hit.
They focus/readiness going into the 2013-2014 season could best be described as... really strong. Despite changes this is a team which is very relaxed and ready to give it a go.
Some prognosticators are missing the simple fact that... the Islanders showed speed can win in this division.
Between the pipes they are.... HEALTHY (knock, knock, knock)
The expectations on this group are... realistic.
If all goes wonderfully right... they are part of a the wave of young speedy teams and the tough physical teams find themselves having to adjust to their game.
If all goes horribly wrong... they look out of place and struggle to find an identity.
If they are buyers at the deadline they will target... experience on D. lots of it.
If they are sellers at the deadline they will likely move... Hainsey, Komisarek, Sekara
My Craziest prediction (which could NEVER happen) is.. Anton Khudobin plays a MAJOR role in this season.
My Realistic Prediction (which you should absolutely not take to the bank!) is...
A tough year but a brighter future. And a top five points leading D man.
#7 The Columbus Blue Jackets
Their best player is unquestionably... Bobrovsky...for now..
The guy who will have a huge breakout season is... Cam Atkinson (draft him in your pools)
The person with the most pressure on them has to be... John Davidson. He brings with him a very positive outlook and an old-time hockey culture...also he is the kind of guy who will take the pressure on himself.
Their strongest suit is.... youth and being overlooked.
They are trying to cover up for the fact... they are a counter attack team that likes to sit back and wait for mistakes.
They could surprise everyone by... being way better than anyone in the East wants them to be.
That ticking you hear, it is called... “bob, bob, bob.” Can he repeat and stay healthy in a long season. No one works harder, but no one takes more of a beating and in his history Bob hasn’t been able to sustain.
Their fate is changed by re-alignment because.... nobody knows how to play them yet and they are already used to playing in maybe even a tougher division than this one.
Their focus/readiness going into the 2013-2014 season could best be described as... nervous enthusiasm
Some prognosticators are missing the simple fact that... they have signed Nathan Horton.
Between the pipes they are.... all Bob, all the time.
The expectations on this group are... a playoff push. They got too close last year not to be in the race.
If all goes wonderfully right... Bob continues to play at Vezina levels and Gaborik becomes a star again.
If all goes horribly wrong... the sun will rise tomorrow. This team is stil a few years away from being a powerhouse.
If they are buyers at the deadline they will target... Speed and Toughness up front.
If they are sellers at the deadline they will likely move... Gaborik
My Craziest prediction (which could NEVER happen) is.. They win the season series against the Penguins as the Ohio State/Pitt emotions take over.
My Realistic Prediction (which you should absolutely not take to the bank!) is...
They are consistently just below .500...but win games they shouldn’t while losing a few more they should.
#6 The Washington Capitals
Their best player is unquestionably... obvious.
The guy who will have a huge breakout season is... John Carlson
The person with the most pressure on them has to be... Adam Oates. He did manage to play a factor in motivating AO into his torrid second half, but prior to that there were many questioning if he was too nice of a guy to be a head coach. “More of an assistant” was the word.
Their strongest suit is.... they can explod and score quick and often
They are trying to cover up for the fact... they wouldn’t have made the playoffs were it not for the division they were in and the competition they played.
They could surprise everyone by... theirs defense hitting people
That ticking you hear, it is called... the Olympic Distraction.
Their fate is changed by re-alignment because.... they are no longer playing in the Southeast and now get to face their old Patrick Division rivals more often...which is awesome.
Their focus/readiness going into the 2013-2014 season could best be described as... “wait and see.”
Some prognosticators are missing the simple fact that... Holtby is able to steal games and is definitely one of their top five players.
Between the pipes they are.... very solid.
The expectations on this group are... very high. After many years of being a favorite in the East they aren’t getting the same sort of respect.
If all goes wonderfully right... Ovechkin gets a boost from Grabovski and Holtby keeps them in the thick of the top four spots in the division.
If all goes horribly wrong... Oates is gone and Ovechkin is going to dinners with Kovalchuk in Sochi...
If they are buyers at the deadline they will target... Defensive D. (see a trend here)
If they are sellers at the deadline they will likely move... Chimera, Grabovski, Ward
My Craziest prediction (which could NEVER happen) is.. Grabovski scores 40 goals and the Leafs fans are up in arms...
My Realistic Prediction (which you should absolutely not take to the bank!) is...
The Caps make a big move in December with another similar fated team out west swapping several players in hope of a spark.
#5 The NY Islanders
Their best player is unquestionably... John Tavares.
The guy who will have a huge breakout season is... John Tavares. Yes I know that sounds odd, but I could see John breaking the 50 mark.
The person with the most pressure on them has to be... Nabokov. It is really not talked about too much because of the play of MA Fleury but had Nabokov even played half decently the Islanders win that series.
Their strongest suit is.... their speed and ability to be opportunistic while attacking in waves.
They are trying to cover up for the fact... that they lost Mark Streit from the power play.
They could surprise everyone by... Kyle Okposo returning to form and giving them two really, REALLY good top lines.
That ticking you hear, it is called... injuries...newly acquired Clutterbuck is already out and they really need him.
Their fate is changed by re-alignment because.... they are stuck playing in this VERY tough division.
Their focus/readiness going into the 2013-2014 season could best be described as... “pumped.” As hard as the 7th game loss was to the Penguins the fact is this team is out of the tunnel.
Some prognosticators are missing the simple fact that... the Islanders play well within the division.
Between the pipes they are.... iffy long term..and by long term I mean, “December.”
The expectations on this group are... rising fast within what is easily one of the most under-rated fan bases in the NHL.
If all goes wonderfully right... they get off o such a flying start that they make life a bit easier on themselves
If all goes horribly wrong... they are searching for help on the Defensive end and in goal and pressured to move one of their many young forward guns.
If they are buyers at the deadline they will target...
an experienced Goaltending option.
If they are sellers at the deadline they will likely move... Bouchard, Visnovsky, Nabokov
My Craziest prediction (which could NEVER happen) is.. Bryzgalov is called upon to save the day and plays amazingly well for the Isles...
My Realistic Prediction (which you should absolutely not take to the bank!) is...
Bryzgalov is called upon to save the day and plays amazingly well for the Isles...
#4 The Philadelphia Flyers
Their best player is unquestionably... Claude Giroux
The guy who will have a huge breakout season is... Wayne Simmonds. He is quickly becoming a premier player. He is big and skilled and determined. If he drives to the net he is almost unstoppable.
The person with the most pressure on them has to be... Peter Laviolette. Last year the Flyers rightfully gave him a mulligan because 48 games and injuries muddied the test sample. No one questions his hockey intelligence or abilities. Lavy is a great coach. However his system requires certain types of players. Something has to give.
Their strongest suit is.... Their forward depth. Giroux, Lecavalier, Hartnell, Simmonds, Voracek, Couturier, Read, and Brayden Schenn make for a killer top 9.
They are trying to cover up for the fact... They get very little transitional passes from the defense.
They could surprise everyone by... having their goaltending be a strength. Emery and Mason are the best pairing they have had in....well, years.
That ticking you hear, it is called... Ed Snider pacing the pressbox and looking at the GM and coach.
Their fate is changed by re-alignment because... the Islanders are getting better, the Blue Jackets are getting better...
Their focus/readiness going into the 2013-2014 season could best be described as... hesitant. They have yet to show in any preseason games an ability to put up big goals.
Some prognosticators are missing the simple fact that... they are pretty much a young team and while they have some veterans they have very few players between the ages of 25 and 33.
Between the pipes they are.... cautiously optimistic.
The expectations on this group are... always very, very high.
If all goes wonderfully right... Giroux returns to form and Vinny and Streit add spark.
If all goes horribly wrong... Holmgren and Lecavalier are gone by US Thanksgiving and Hextall and ? are in.
If they are buyers at the deadline they will target... a powerplay D-man.
If they are sellers at the deadline they will likely move... Timonen and Emery
My Craziest prediction (which could NEVER happen) is.. Lecavailer is moved to the Wing with Giroux when the Flyers offense sputters. Couturier is the second line center and Brayden Schenn will be put on the third line.
My Realistic Prediction (which you should absolutely not take to the bank!) is...
The Flyers will start off well, but really be in a fight for their lives for a playoff spot.
#3 The New York Rangers
Their best player is unquestionably... Lundqvist
The guy who will have a huge breakout season is... Derick Brassard. He is about to become an NHL star in my opinion.
The person with the most pressure on them has to be... Vigneault.
Their strongest suit is.... Goaltending and Shot Blocking.
They are trying to cover up for the fact... that they don’t score timely goals and build substantial leads.
They could surprise everyone by... becoming a team that runs and guns.
That ticking you hear, it is called... the MSG roof if Lundqvist isn’t extended by Christmas.
Their fate is changed by re-alignment... because the players from the Nash trade get to play in so many more revenge games now.
Their focus/readiness going into the 2013-2014 season could best be described as... blurred. But now with Stepan signed, clearer.
Some prognosticators are missing the simple fact that... the Rangers need to get out of the gate strong or it could be a very log season.
Between the pipes they are.... awesome. Marty Biron, the team backup could start in many other cities.
The expectations on this group are... very, very high
If all goes wonderfully right... they continue their ability of finding ways to win bolstered by US Olympic hopefuls Callahan and Stepen. Nash returns to his regular season form.
If all goes horribly wrong... Sather could finally be looking at a change of venues.
If they are buyers at the deadline they will target... scoring/power play specialist.
If they are sellers at the deadline they will likely move... everyone and anyone. Of the 25 roster players only SEVEN are under contract for next year and only THREE are under contract for '15-16. And ONE of those guys under contract is Brad Richards.
My Craziest prediction (which could NEVER happen) is.. The Rangers are better suited than most to play any brand of hockey you throw at them. They could win this division because they can skate with Carolina, Pitt and the Isles, hit with Philly and NJ, and succeed at either.
My Realistic Prediction (which you should absolutely not take to the bank!) is...
The Rangers battle the Penguins early for the top of the division, but end up falling back in a fight with NJ and Philly.
#2 The NJ Devils
Their best player is unquestionably... debatable. But that’s what makes them scary.
The guy who will have a huge breakout season is... Adam Larsson.
The person with the most pressure on them has to be... Ryan Clowe. He signed quite the deal for a guy who has not really been all that consistent.
Their strongest suit is.... their team defense and their goalies...yes goalie(s)
They are trying to cover up for the fact... they don’t posses a true sniper (Elias posibly excluded) anymore and have to fight for each and every goal.
They could surprise everyone by... simply winning way more games than anyone expects
That ticking you hear, it is called... Are Lou and Marty Playing out their last season?
Their fate is changed by re-alignment because.... ....it’s the Devils...they don’t think about their opponents...I got nothing.
Their focus/readiness going into the 2013-2014 season could best be described as... extreme
Some prognosticators are missing the simple fact that... they are the best coached team in the division.
Between the pipes they are.... scary
The expectations on this group are... to play hockey and let the chips fall.
If all goes wonderfully right... the Devils are laughing at all those placing them at the bottom of the standings.
If all goes horribly wrong... the scoring dries up and everyone goes cold at the same time.
If they are buyers at the deadline they will target... no one. If the Devils are in the buying position they never make trades...they have been known to switch coaches....but not this coach...
If they are sellers at the deadline they will likely move... Jagr, Zidlicky, Brunner, (Marty?)
My Craziest prediction (which could NEVER happen) is.. The Devils struggle to get any scoring and have to explore a new system...I said “Crazy.”
My Realistic Prediction (which you should absolutely not take to the bank!) is... The Devils will be the most frustrating team to play against in the league. They are physically tough again and they are primed.
#1 The Pittburgh Penguins
Their best player is unquestionably... the best player in hockey. #87
The guy who will have a huge breakout season is... Brandon Sutter. Time to step up and take Staal’s vacated spot.
The person with the most pressure on them has to be... Bylsma. Votes of confidence are given because someone else questioned your validity.
Their strongest suit is.... dominance.
They are trying to cover up for the fact... many of their forwards are terrible defensively and don’t back check as hard as a team this good should.
They could surprise everyone by... learning to play defense and returning to their counter attacking style that saw them in two Cup Finals
That ticking you hear... it is called... MAF
Their fate is changed by re-alignment because.... they get two teams who are natural rivals in Columbus and Washington thrown at them...to go along with already bitter rivals in Philly and now all three NY Metro teams. No nights off.
Their focus/readiness going into the 2013-2014 season could best be described as... fine tuned vengence. When a team this talented and with this much pride goes down in such a disastrous manner revenge is a dish best served cold.
Some prognosticators are missing the simple fact that... the Penguins have much more to prove this year
Between the pipes they are.... better than people realize. I will continue to say I truly believe Fleury is NOT the problem. I believe his issue is positioning due to his over-compensating for a team that stops playing in front of him.
The expectations on this group are... Cup or nothing.
If all goes wonderfully right... Cup
If all goes horribly wrong... Bylsma is only coaching the Olympic team come February.
If they are buyers at the deadline they will target... way less than last year. while Shero filled holes he learned that the hit to team chemistry created even more holes.
If they are sellers at the deadline.... nope...not happening
My Craziest prediction (which could NEVER happen) is.. Tim Thomas dealt at from Florida to backup Fleury and then takes over and leads the team to a Cup.
My Realistic Prediction (which you should absolutely not take to the bank!) is...
The Penguins will use the regular season as a way to try out different shemes, and still win this division.
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