It's called improving from within

Johanson might stay at the same level, but Jenner will probably pick up where he left off last year and improve on that, same for Murray, and that is without saying that Rychel or Wennberg might make the team.

If your saying that were bad because where the same team then based on your logic your Rangers will have a hard time this year because they lost some pieces.
- Alexzanki

By your logic, every team has improved because every team's players develop and should have better seasons than last years. It's a wash.

It's called improving from within

Johanson might stay at the same level, but Jenner will probably pick up where he left off last year and improve on that, same for Murray, and that is without saying that Rychel or Wennberg might make the team.

If your saying that were bad because where the same team then based on your logic your Rangers will have a hard time this year because they lost some pieces.
- Alexzanki

In his mind, all of the young players for the Rangers will vastly improve and be difference makers, but all of the young players for other teams will do nothing but make the team worse.

That's the problem. Sometimes they act like you just called their mom a skank or something
- Vukota

I can't really evaluate whether your mom is or isn't until I am able to see the advanced stats -- Corskanki or something like that.

Don't look now, but the Isles actually have the best forward depth in the division by a mile and are up there with the Lightning and Bruins for the conference.
- Snowblind

I love their depth but lets take it easy. Depends on whether the kids take the next step or not. Lets let it play out before we start making predictions

Things have certaintly turned in the East, insofar as through the first half of last year, the Metro was seen as the weakest Division in the league. Now, when you look at the Atlantic, you have the Bruins, Habs, Lightning, and to a lesser extent Detroit, and then some huge question marks after that (although I see some teams there that will be good in a couple of years).

We will see I guess. Right now, I think the Canes are probably the worst team in the Division, but I also don't see it as beyond the realm of possibility that they can contend for a playoff birth. No doormats in the Metro.
- Pete V

Carolina has another move or two up it's sleeve, I think. At least one defenseman is getting traded now that Bellemore has signed, and a legitimate 3rd line center seems to be the most pressing need.

E.Staal-J.Staal-Semin
Tlusty-Skinner-Lindholm

Then you have Nathan Gerbe and a whole bunch of ????? in Boychuk, Riley Nash, McClement, Malone, Dwyer, etc. for the rest of the lineup. It's less than ideal, but it's not a terrible situation. Adding at least one solid 3rd liner would help a lot, though.

I can't really evaluate whether your mom is or isn't until I am able to see the advanced stats -- Corskanki or something like that.
- Pete V

Awesome Pete

I love their depth but lets take it easy. Depends on whether the kids take the next step or not. Lets let it play out before we start making predictions
- Vukota

If you let it play out, it wouldn't be a prediction! Jeez, Mick!

I just want to know what the (frank) is going on with Ryan carter and Eric gelinas

In his mind, all of the young players for the Rangers will vastly improve and be difference makers, but all of the young players for other teams will do nothing but make the team worse.
- cap1681

I just recognize that young players don't develop linearly. They sometimes take 1 step back before taking 2 steps forward, or 1 step back and no steps forward. A lot of Rangers fans had the same logic that everyone on their team will improve after the ECF run 2 years ago. The Islanders had a similar mindset last offseason. It just doesn't work like that and players you expect to take the next step regress.

If you let it play out, it wouldn't be a prediction! Jeez, Mick!
- Pete V

I should have said before making bold statements. You happy?

Carolina has another move or two up it's sleeve, I think. At least one defenseman is getting traded now that Bellemore has signed, and a legitimate 3rd line center seems to be the most pressing need.

E.Staal-J.Staal-Semin
Tlusty-Skinner-Lindholm

Then you have Nathan Gerbe and a whole bunch of ????? in Boychuk, Riley Nash, McClement, Malone, Dwyer, etc. for the rest of the lineup. It's less than ideal, but it's not a terrible situation. Adding at least one solid 3rd liner would help a lot, though.
- BINGO!

Trade you Brandon Sutter for Tlusty.............

I just want to know what the (frank) is going on with Ryan carter and Eric gelinas
- blizzzard

Ryan Carter will be traded to Carolina for Jay Harrison.

Ehrhoff's possession numbers were bad because he played on a dreadful team. His possession numbers relative to the team were much better, meaning they got a lot more shot attempts when he was on the ice than on the bench. He's a driver, not an anchor.
- Todd.Cordell

Ah, picking and choosing advanced stats when it helps or defeats your argument. Classic.

Ryan Carter will be traded to Carolina for Jay Harrison.
- BINGO!

We'll trade you his UFA rights for a 6th round pick.

Trade you Brandon Sutter for Tlusty.............
- cap1681

Nah.

I like Sutter, but Jiri would be scary good playing with Malkin. He's almost the same player as Kulemin.

Trade you Brandon Sutter for Tlusty.............
- cap1681

Not a fan of Sutter? I think that guy is a real good third line center, but perhaps I am overrating him based on his play against the Rangers. He always seems to play well against the Rangers. He's still un-signed, right?

Nah.

I like Sutter, but Jiri would be scary good playing with Malkin. He's almost the same player as Kulemin.
- BINGO!

Sutter is a "possession anchor".

Ah, picking and choosing advanced stats when it helps or defeats your argument. Classic.
- rangerdanger94

No?

We'll trade you his UFA rights for a 6th round pick.
- MannySilvers

Trying to dump some money here.

Sutter is a "possession anchor".
- rangerdanger94

His number were poor last year, though not disasterous. It's unclear how much of that can be attributed to the fact that he often played with TERRIBLE linemates.

No?
- BINGO!

I see it all the time.

"Phaneuf's terrible Corsi should be ignored because he plays the toughest QoC!"

or

"Stralman is an elite possession play."
"But he plays the easiest QoC of any player on the Rangers when adjusted for zone starts."
"QoC doesn't matter."

or

"Glass is the worst player in the NHL because of his Corsi."
"But he played on the worst 4th line in the league."
"That doesn't matter!"

or

"Erhoff's possession numbers were terrible."
"That's because he played on the worst team in the league!"

Not a fan of Sutter? I think that guy is a real good third line center, but perhaps I am overrating him based on his play against the Rangers. He always seems to play well against the Rangers. He's still un-signed, right?
- Pete V

Yeah, he is a decent 3rd line center, but with Spaling and Goc, he could be expendable, especially for a top 6 forward. I also agree with Bingo, Tlusty would be scary good with Malkin.

His number were poor last year, though not disasterous. It's unclear how much of that can be attributed to the fact that he often played with TERRIBLE linemates.
- BINGO!

Ah there it is again. We can excuse Sutter's terrible Corsi because he played with bad linemates. Tanner Glass' Corsi though? Nope, inexcusable.

I see it all the time.

"Phaneuf's terrible Corsi should be ignored because he plays the toughest QoC!"

or

"Stralman is an elite possession play."
"But he plays the easiest QoC of any player on the Rangers when adjusted for zone starts."
"QoC doesn't matter."

or

"Glass is the worst player in the NHL because of his Corsi."
"But he played on the worst 4th line in the league."
"That doesn't matter!"

or

"Erhoff's possession numbers were terrible."
"That's because he played on the worst team in the league!"
- rangerdanger94

Glass and Adams were two of the worst possession players in the league. It's all relative and relevant.

Ah there it is again. We can excuse Sutter's terrible Corsi because he played with bad linemates. Tanner Glass' Corsi though? Nope, inexcusable.
- rangerdanger94

Let's just not play the season, and put the eight teams with the best combined Corsi numbers into the playoffs. That would save us a hell of alot of time, I'll tell you.