I think the Pens took a little hit losing Neal, but the improvements far exceed what they lost. I still hate Downie.......with a passion.

Just dumping that turd Bylsma is a major improvement. Everything I've read about HCMJ system is music to my ears. "puck support", "puck support", and "puck support". No more stretch passes into a trap.
- madmike71

The Penguins will be fine at F, the real concern will be the D since losing some FA's but the overall F lines became better bc of adding more defensive guys to help fill out the lines.
The C position is deep w/Crosby, Malkin, Sutter, Goc for damn sure.

The Devils are "deep" in the sense that they could ice 5 quality 3rd lines.
- MannySilvers

I have gotten some heat for this but I feel the Devils will be a playoff team this season. Obvious key is how the aging veterans endure the grind of the season. If they do though I think Jersey can get in there, finishing third in the division.

Because unlike the Isle we have a defence and a goalie .....there! start throwing your rocks at me
- Alexzanki

I don't throw rocks buddy. I'll give you the G part but might argue the D part and definitely the F part....

So it is a good thing that those younger players will be sprinkled throughout the lineup then playing on lines with two more-established players then.

Show me a team in the Metro that is deeper at forward right now.
- Snowblind

Your young players are unproven.

And sure, here's Philly:
Umberger - Giroux - Voracek
Read - Schenn - Simmonds
Lecavalier - Couturier - Raffl
Rinaldo - Laughton - Akeson

Columbus:
Hartnell - Johansen - Horton
Calvert - Dubinsky - Atkinson
Foligno - Anisimov - Jenner
Tropp - Letestu - Boll

Carolina isn't deeper, but their top-6 is a lot better overall.

Need I remind you your defense is still Visnovsky, Hamonic, Hickey, de Haan, Strait, and Donovan?

Hornqvist is not a good skater and how do you know he will mesh with either Crosby or Malkin?

How about Bennett, how will he adjust to playing a full time top six role? Will Kunitz, despite getting up there in age, continue to produce at his all star clip?

There are more questions than people are willing to admit in Pittsburgh.
- MidnightMarauder

Every team has questions, and the Rangers have just as many as the Penguins.

Columbus should be right on the playoff bubble. There is a lot of young talent there but offensively they will struggle.
- MidnightMarauder

7 Players scored more then 15 goals last year, assuming Horton stays healthy and either Rychel or Wennberg have an impressive training camp , I don't see offence as being a problem.

The Penguins will be fine at F, the real concern will be the D since losing some FA's but the overall F lines became better bc of adding more defensive guys to help fill out the lines.
The C position is deep w/Crosby, Malkin, Sutter, Goc for damn sure.
- Ur Not Me

Out: Niskanen, Orpik

In: Ehrhoff

What that does is give the opportunity to the glutton of young defensemen that are on the cusp of making the NHL. The D will be stronger this year.

I tend to agree. I personally see them as a bubble team. But honestly I see pretty much every team in this division besides the Pens as a bubble team.
- MannySilvers

The Rangers wont be a bubble team bc they still have 3 very good Dmen & G. There top 6 is still good. Its the bottom 6 of how it will mesh for them.

Your young players are unproven.

And sure, here's Philly:
Umberger - Giroux - Voracek
Read - Schenn - Simmonds
Lecavalier - Couturier - Raffl
Rinaldo - Laughton - Akeson

Columbus:
Hartnell - Johansen - Horton
Calvert - Dubinsky - Atkinson
Foligno - Anisimov - Jenner
Tropp - Letestu - Boll

Carolina isn't deeper, but their top-6 is a lot better overall.

Need I remind you your defense is still Visnovsky, Hamonic, Hickey, de Haan, Strait, and Donovan?
- rangerdanger94

Jenner plays with Johanson and Horton, same as last year.

7 Players scored more then 15 goals last year, assuming Horton stays healthy and either Rychel or Wennberg have an impressive training camp , I don't see offence as being a problem.
- Alexzanki

I think your offense takes some heat because you lack any players that are money for 30+ goals. Horton could be that guy but who knows with the injuries he's had recently?

Every team has questions, and the Rangers have just as many as the Penguins.
- cap1681

Never said the Rangers are assured of anything either. It's that Barry Melrose old reliable theory of Pittsburgh always being the lead horse that makes me shake my head.

Will they miss the playoffs? That's taking it too far but they are by no means assured of having a really good regular season.

Out: Niskanen, Orpik

In: Ehrhoff

What that does is give the opportunity to the glutton of young defensemen that are on the cusp of making the NHL. The D will be stronger this year.
- cap1681

Sorry but I'll disagree if you think that kids on D are not going to make mistakes. Majority of rookie D makes mistakes and that your D will not be stronger next year, maybe in a couple of years bc of gaining experience, but cant suggest that now.........

I think your offense takes some heat because you lack any players that are money for 30+ goals. Horton could be that guy but who knows with the injuries he's had recently?
- rangerdanger94

30 goals today is about 6 mil , I think there will be scoring through the line up.

The Rangers wont be a bubble team bc they still have 3 very good Dmen & G. There top 6 is still good. Its the bottom 6 of how it will mesh for them.
- Ur Not Me

JT Miller grabbing a third line spot this September is going to go a long way on how good the bottom two lines look for the Rangers.

The Rangers wont be a bubble team bc they still have 3 very good Dmen & G. There top 6 is still good. Its the bottom 6 of how it will mesh for them.
- Ur Not Me

Yea. Our 3rd line is a huge ? as it looks like it will be Hagelin - Miller - Lombardi. It has the potential to mesh and be productive for a 3rd line, or it has the potential to be completely inept offensively.

The 4th line is all new players outside of Dominic Moore but these players are at least young and can play in Stempniak and Fast. Glass will most likely be a healthy scratch more often than not. After the ECF run a couple years ago, we lost Prust and Fedetenko and replaced them with pylons like Asham, Powe, and Halpern. Stempniak and Fast are much better than those guys.

Jenner plays with Johanson and Horton, same as last year.
- Alexzanki

Hartnell-Dubinsky on the "Let's Hit Crosby" line.

Never said the Rangers are assured of anything either. It's that Barry Melrose old reliable theory of Pittsburgh always being the lead horse that makes me shake my head.

Will they miss the playoffs? That's taking it too far but they are by no means assured of having a really good regular season.
- MidnightMarauder

I think they will start off poorly like most teams do with a new coach. It usually takes longer than many people expect too. But then they will start rolling. Like the Rangers last year or the Caps under Oates. The Caps under Oates were terrible for half a season before rolling into the playoffs as the hottest team in the league.

Sorry but I'll disagree if you think that kids on D are not going to make mistakes. Majority of rookie D makes mistakes and that your D will not be stronger next year, maybe in a couple of years bc of gaining experience, but cant suggest that now.........
- Ur Not Me

Nope Pouliot, Maata and Doumolin(sp?) are all going to dominate from September until they hoist the cup in June.

Not a single mistake will be made at all.

I'm sorry but that isn't as deep as you think it is. Nelson, Strome, and Lee are all grossly unproven. Strome tore up the AHL last season and many of you expected him to tear up the NHL once he got called up and while he did look good out there, it rarely led to production. Who's to say he starts producing now? Gabovski and Kulemin are again good players but they would be 3rd liners on a true contender.
- rangerdanger94

16 points in his last 22 games is rarely producing??

Rangers adjusted to a new system... with less talent they are better...

Pens will have a new system, with better talent, but will be worse.

So Rags are still better... rofl. Who doesn't love Ranger fan's attempt at logic

Yea. Our 3rd line is a huge ? as it looks like it will be Hagelin - Miller - Lombardi. It has the potential to mesh and be productive for a 3rd line, or it has the potential to be completely inept offensively.

The 4th line is all new players outside of Dominic Moore but these players are at least young and can play in Stempniak and Fast. Glass will most likely be a healthy scratch more often than not. After the ECF run a couple years ago, we lost Prust and Fedetenko and replaced them with pylons like Asham, Powe, and Halpern. Stempniak and Fast are much better than those guys.
- rangerdanger94

Instead of pointing it out 2 me, you should of just agreed...

Guys you're all forgetting about when Adam Larsson wins the Norris.

Hartnell-Dubinsky on the "Let's Hit Crosby" line.
- MannySilvers

NY and Philly combine to take down Sid.

I see the lineup like this :

Jenner-Johanson-Horton
Hartnell-Dubinsky-Atkinson
Foligno-Anisimov-Letestu
Calvert-Gibbons-Tropp (or Boll)

I think they will start off poorly like most teams do with a new coach. It usually takes longer than many people expect too. But then they will start rolling. Like the Rangers last year or the Caps under Oates. The Caps under Oates were terrible for half a season before rolling into the playoffs as the hottest team in the league.
- rangerdanger94

No they won't, they will all assimliate seamlessly. From the first game of the season they will run like a well oiled machine. Many fans will confuse these Penguins with the old Soviet Red Army teams that dominated international hockey for over two decades.

Nope Pouliot, Maata and Doumolin(sp?) are all going to dominate from September until they hoist the cup in June.

Not a single mistake will be made at all.
- MidnightMarauder

I get how some stand behind the homerism but come on and lets be realistic, well that's how I see things...