I think Atlantic and Pacific will be tougher division.
- Tripple_B9

Want to trade? I would much rather face the big bad leafs and sens year after year.

Is Henrique or Stephan signed yet?

Hi Blizzard, hope all is well.

Well if Pens, CBJ and NYR makes the top 3 in Metro, who is top 3 in Atlantic in your opinion? Just so I have an idea who the Devils would be fighting with for 7th-8th spot.
- Tripple_B9

I havent really thought about any other divisions yet. I think Toronto is finally good as much as it kills me to say it I really like the Bernier Riemer goalie combo and I think JVR has a break out year. I also think MTL has not as great of a year but they are by no means a team I would pencil out, especially if Price picks up his game and becomes the goalie everyone knows he can be my question marks for them though is Gionta and Markov if they cant stay healthy/contribute how much does that effect the team? I like what Boston has done and they will be a threat so long as big Z is still going strong. Detroit you can never really count out and I dont watch much of them to really say much but I wasnt the biggest fan of a Filp for Weiss swapp and I dont know how much Alfie brings to the table but I know their D is young and improving and Z and Dats will make them good. One team I am very interested in is the Sens and seeing what Ryan can do in the east and them having a healthy team all together this season I guess what I really think is all in all is there is only about 3-5 teams you can put money on not making it right now and a lot of teams that could sink or swim we gotta see some games played first

Want to trade? I would much rather face the big bad leafs and sens year after year.
- mighty13duck

When you look at the Atlantic, we have 5 teams who makes the playoffs on&off. They never go 3-4 years being out of the picture.
Boston - Sens - Montreal - Detroit - Tampa

Now you have the Leafs who will be hard press to make it. The only teams that are completely out are Sabres and Panthers. Bruins are a lock so that leaves you with 5 teams that will battle until game#82.

IMO, the Metro have a bit more predictable opportunities.
In the case of the Isles, I think to much is relying on Tavares for the success. That's all I was trying to say.

Want to trade? I would much rather face the big bad leafs and sens year after year.
- mighty13duck

Sens will be good

When you look at the Atlantic, we have 5 teams who makes the playoffs on&off. They never go 3-4 years being out of the picture.
Boston - Sens - Montreal - Detroit - Tampa

Now you have the Leafs who will be hard press to make it. The only teams that are completely out are Sabres and Panthers. Bruins are a lock so that leaves you with 5 teams that will battle until game#82.

IMO, the Metro have a bit more predictable opportunities.
In the case of the Isles, I think to much is relying on Tavares for the success. That's all I was trying to say.
- Tripple_B9

I see what you are saying but you have to look at the age of players and up and coming stars. In that case. Detroit only has couple more years of competitiveness, Montreal and Sens are an avg team (NO offense) Boston is good, Tampa is bad. In terms of the next five years, I hate to say it but Toronto, Buffalo and Florida will be the three best teams in that division. As far as the Metro CBJ is building a good team, The Isles are building a good team, The Pens are built for years, Philly is building a good team, Canes are ok Caps are ok and the Rags always are willing to pay through the roof to be competitive. You need to think more than the next year, since these divisions will be this way for years.

Sens will be good
- Danformo

I don't think so. I think many are overrating some of their players. In fact they may not even make the playoffs. I think Toronto and Boston are at least two teams better than them in the division

I see what you are saying but you have to look at the age of players and up and coming stars. In that case. Detroit only has couple more years of competitiveness, Montreal and Sens are an avg team (NO offense) Boston is good, Tampa is bad. In terms of the next five years, I hate to say it but Toronto, Buffalo and Florida will be the three best teams in that division. As far as the Metro CBJ is building a good team, The Isles are building a good team, The Pens are built for years, Philly is building a good team, Canes are ok Caps are ok and the Rags always are willing to pay through the roof to be competitive. You need to think more than the next year, since these divisions will be this way for years.
- mighty13duck

I see what you are saying.
In all fairness, when I wrote the Metro standing earlier, I was answering the blog itself. This blog is about why the Devils will make the playoffs next season. So I obviously was talking for this upcoming season and not the next few years from now.

I agree with you that Isles, CJB and Panthers should look good in couples of years. Probably other teams may turn out surprisingly good in a few years to. Habs are heading that way for sure.

I don't think so. I think many are overrating some of their players. In fact they may not even make the playoffs. I think Toronto and Boston are at least two teams better than them in the division
- mighty13duck

That's the thing with Ottawa. With the injury list they had last year, they should of been out of the playoff picture... that didn't happen and they made it. Regardless if your a Sens fans or not, you can't sweep their performance under the carpet like dust. They prove last year to be a threat and not to be taken lightly.

Spezza, Karlsson, Ryan,Andersen, Depth and great coaching
They are a lock.

2nd in Atlantic

When is something exciting going to happen

I don't think so. I think many are overrating some of their players. In fact they may not even make the playoffs. I think Toronto and Boston are at least two teams better than them in the division
- mighty13duck

really? i personally think they're gonna contend for a conference finals appearance.

Three reasons why they won't:
1. Ryane Clowe
2. Ryane Clowe
3.. Marty's too old.

I see what you are saying but you have to look at the age of players and up and coming stars. In that case. Detroit only has couple more years of competitiveness, Montreal and Sens are an avg team (NO offense) Boston is good, Tampa is bad. In terms of the next five years, I hate to say it but Toronto, Buffalo and Florida will be the three best teams in that division. As far as the Metro CBJ is building a good team, The Isles are building a good team, The Pens are built for years, Philly is building a good team, Canes are ok Caps are ok and the Rags always are willing to pay through the roof to be competitive. You need to think more than the next year, since these divisions will be this way for years.
- mighty13duck

Youth is very unpredictable. Florida has missed the playoffs all but once in the last 10 years. How many high end picks do they need?

Youth is very unpredictable. Florida has missed the playoffs all but once in the last 10 years. How many high end picks do they need?
- rmdevil313

Agreed. You can bet on potential but it's not a good idea

I am kinda surprised that once we got new owners with deep pockets that Ek didnt use it to pick the rumours back up about us looking to go crazy with vanek, phaneuf, brunner, grabovski and every other ufa still available

IMO I agree that Devils do have a chance to make the playoffs. I am not sure about Metro being toughest division in hockey on the other hand.

IMO there is only 1 lock for playoffs in Metro and that being the Pens. The remaining of the division have big question marks.

NYR - We do not know how AV will do there on his first season. A couple of players need to have a strong bounce back year as Nash will need help.

Caps- If the Caps have a good season, they will clinch a playoff berth in top 3. If the Caps have a average season, they will be out of the playoffs. IMO the Caps will not be a bubble team.

NYI - They would like to built off of last season success but won't be able to make it. This is a one-man show team. Contain Tavares, an everything else should fall in place.

Columbus: Another team building from last year. Unlike NYI, they could actually make it. This is a team that Devils may be fighting with.

Cans: No

Phil: They will be in the bubble but without a #1 goalie, they will be competitive but Devils should be the better team in the standings.

So IMO the Devils have a shot to clinch a spot in top 3 in the Metro this year. If the Devils fail to do so, I do not give them a chance fighting for the last 2 spot as the Atlantic division have 6 teams that coake it.
- Tripple_B9

I really hope you're right and teams focus all of their energy of Tavares. That worked out well for us. Unfortunately I think most teams realized that when they did that okposo, Bailey, moulson, grabner and to a lesser degree martin, cizikas, and MacDonald were capable of picking up the slack. Doesn't work when you have depth which our team finally has. Add strome and nelson to that mix and we MAY have a pretty formidable team.
theif

I am kinda surprised that once we got new owners with deep pockets that Ek didnt use it to pick the rumours back up about us looking to go crazy with vanek, phaneuf, brunner, grabovski and every other ufa still available
- blizzzard

You spoke too soon.

You spoke too soon.
- rmdevil313

I really hope you're right and teams focus all of their energy of Tavares. That worked out well for us. Unfortunately I think most teams realized that when they did that okposo, Bailey, moulson, grabner and to a lesser degree martin, cizikas, and MacDonald were capable of picking up the slack. Doesn't work when you have depth which our team finally has. Add strome and nelson to that mix and we MAY have a pretty formidable team.
theif
- Cptmjl

My concerns about the Isles are the exact opposite of the Devils. The Devils are lacking top offensive talent, but I know they can put out a good defensive system and have a very good duo in net. I'm not sold on the Isles team defense or how well Nabakov holds up over 82 games.

You spoke too soon.
- rmdevil313

Thats unreal

My concerns about the Isles are the exact opposite of the Devils. The Devils are lacking top offensive talent, but I know they can put out a good defensive system and have a very good duo in net. I'm not sold on the Isles team defense or how well Nabakov holds up over 82 games.
- rmdevil313

Nabby was shot by the time playoffs came around
He's 38 and played 40/48 games.. I have faith in Nabby from 41/82 games.

But isles D has gotten better, nothing drastic, but better

I really hope you're right and teams focus all of their energy of Tavares. That worked out well for us. Unfortunately I think most teams realized that when they did that okposo, Bailey, moulson, grabner and to a lesser degree martin, cizikas, and MacDonald were capable of picking up the slack. Doesn't work when you have depth which our team finally has. Add strome and nelson to that mix and we MAY have a pretty formidable team.
theif
- Cptmjl

You may be right. I may be completely wrong on the Isles.
I will pay more attention to them this season for sure.

Nabby was shot by the time playoffs came around
He's 38 and played 40/48 games.. I have faith in Nabby from 41/82 games.

But isles D has gotten better, nothing drastic, but better
- Danformo

But then who plays the other 41 games? There is no one proven behind him.

Also, I see a problem with the system more than the personnel.

My concerns about the Isles are the exact opposite of the Devils. The Devils are lacking top offensive talent, but I know they can put out a good defensive system and have a very good duo in net. I'm not sold on the Isles team defense or how well Nabakov holds up over 82 games.
- rmdevil313

I think that's a concern for most isles fans? Nabakov was good during the reg season, playoffs not so much. Our defense is mediocre imo. If hamonic has another strong season and Donovan is truly ready and poulin can play a decent twenty or thirty games we will be ok... Those are the two areas snow really needed to address. I really wanted ferrence and either emery or bernier. There weren't many options unfortunately this offseason. From what I read/heard snow made a play for Schneider but Gillis was high on the kid he drafted at nine, he didn't want to take a chance at fifteen. If these kids are ready we will be in real good shape if not we will be battling for eighth or hoping for a decent draft pick. This conference to me is very up in the air this season. Nothing would surprise me.