Thank you. Finally someone who sees nothing major changed in the metro, teams will be basically the same. Isles and Caps got a bit better but the rest are just as good as last season. The only Question mark to me is if Flyers and NYR. Do they do better since they struggled quite a bit at the start of the season? If the Rangers don't struggle for as long as they did last season I think they actually would have challenged for 1st in the Metro.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

They will challenge the Pens , personally I'm not a big fan of the Neal trade , just like the cbj challenged Philly last season,meaning they will go back and forth until one of them will put an exclamation mark on the first place, so yeah it should be a tight race.

1. Pens
2. Isles
3. Rangers
4. Flyers
5. Jackets
6. Devils
7. Caps

9. Canes

OK that philly fans logic is so flawed neither one of volchenkov or Salvador are better then any of the three kids that is fact contracts was the reason they played over the kids not because of talent neither one of those two have a transition game which absolutely killed us early on and Schneider will receive more goal support you are absolutely delusion if you think one of the most inconsistent goalies in Steve mason has zero shot of having an absolute crap year this season but Schneider playing twenty more games and being able to get on a roll won't make the devils better like gve me your dealers number right now let's not even begin to factor how drastically vl is dropping talent wise and you defense even with bigger names then nj will still be worse because of the system alone plus adding a proven goal scorer you know not like a kid who might get better the guy is 32 and you act like he can hardly play despite being on pacefor thirty goals last year wake the fuxk up guy

OK that philly fans logic is so flawed neither one of volchenkov or Salvador are better then any of the three kids that is fact contracts was the reason they played over the kids not because of talent neither one of those two have a transition game which absolutely killed us early on and Schneider will receive more goal support you are absolutely delusion if you think one of the most inconsistent goalies in Steve mason has zero shot of having an absolute crap year this season but Schneider playing twenty more games and being able to get on a roll won't make the devils better like gve me your dealers number right now let's not even begin to factor how drastically vl is dropping talent wise and you defense even with bigger names then nj will still be worse because of the system alone plus adding a proven goal scorer you know not like a kid who might get better the guy is 32 and you act like he can hardly play despite being on pacefor thirty goals last year wake the fuxk up guy
- blizzzard

How do you expect anyone to take you seriously when you don't use proper paragraphs or sentences.

How do you expect anyone to take you seriously when you don't use proper paragraphs or sentences.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Just because you put periods and paragraphs doesn't make what you say anymore true

Just because you put periods and paragraphs doesn't make what you say anymore true
- blizzzard

No but it tends to get people to actually read it

Just because you put periods and paragraphs doesn't make what you say anymore true
- blizzzard

Fact is last season was the 1st time Cammy hit 20 goals since 09-10. NJ devils play a defensive style game which will hinder his production just like Kovalchuk. Cammalleri is not the most consistent guy and it doesn't matter if he is good or not, if there is no chemistry he wont do well regardless.

Fact is last season was the 1st time Cammy hit 20 goals since 09-10. NJ devils play a defensive style game which will hinder his production just like Kovalchuk. Cammalleri is not the most consistent guy and it doesn't matter if he is good or not, if there is no chemistry he wont do well regardless.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

All of this has the potential to be true, that's why they play the games. I feel like with Cammalleri it all comes down to health. If he's healthy I think he'll be a really nice addition.

Last season the Zubrus-Zajac-Jagr line created tons of chances but there just wasn't enough finish. I think the initial plan is to put Cammalleri in Zubrus' spot there. Camm is a finisher, I like the potential of that line to generate a lot of goals because of the combination of Zajac+Jagr's possession game and Cammalleri's finishing ability.

Kovalchuk's production was "hindered" because in Atlanta he literally didn't play defense at all. Scored 50 goals every year but was like -400 or something. I still maintain that in the end Kovy was a much better all around player on NJ than he was in Atlanta. Still put up great offensive numbers but also became a good penalty killer, etc.

Wooooooooooooo

Flyers, Devils and Capitals fighting for 5th, 6th and 7th place.

You don't like my prediction?

Bite me Flyers fans

Only real move the Flyers made was trading Hartnell for Umburgers. Although Hartnell is obviously more offensively better, Umberglers is better defensively and can skate faster/better. Umbigelers a better fit for Berube's system.
- Streit2ThePoint

It's so easy for CBJ fans to pick out the Flyer fans who have clearly not seen Umberger play in a couple years. Let's clear a few things up about RJU.

1. His skating is awful, he is not even a decent skater.
2. He is no stud defender, again probably below average here
3 I know you didn't mention this in your post, but Flyer fans seem unaware of this fact, RJU hasn't played C in over 3 seasons. There is no way on God's green earth that he has the foot speed to play in the middle anymore.
4. Flyer fans love to say "look who he played with", again a flawed argument. He was on Johansen's line for at least half the year, to the point where it was painfully obvious he was holding Joey back.

I'm not saying Harnell is Jesus on skates, but he's at least a legit NHL player, who happens to have a playing style that fits the way the CBJ play. RJU hasn't been the same player since the lockout, and now is barely a fringe NHL player.

Penguins
Rangers
Blue Jackets
Devils
Flyers
Islanders
Caps
Canes

The Penguins: Still one of the best teams. Ehrhoffwill be a serviceable replacement for Niskanen. They also added depth in Spalling and Hornqvist. Team should win the division. Only question is will they collapse once again in the playoffs.

The Rangers: Still a solid team with a good nucleus. Tanner Glass won't help them at. Dan Boyle is a question mark at that age. Losing Richards will hurt the leadership. But when you have Lundqvist he a lock for 30 plus wins. 2nd seed, barley. Playoff team

The Jackets: Need one more scorer to get closer to the Penguins. But this is a deep team. 3 solid forward lines. Hartnell is going to bring a great edge. 8 solid defenseman and Bob. If the Penguins or Rangers falter,the Jackets will be right there. 3rd seed, playoff team.

The Devils: Havlat and Cammalleri will help, especially the shootouts. Getting rid of one traffic cone in Volchenkov will also help. Still think they lack a hole on the 2nd line at center. Will Battle for that final wild card spot.

The Flyers: Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek and Mason will carry this group. Timmonen and Coburn will have the dubious duty of trying to carry the load on D. Not enough depth on the blueline to be a playoff team.

The Islanders: Very similar to the Flyers. Grabovski and Kulemin give them a legimate 2nd line. Definitely have enough balance up front. When you have rely on two Carkner, Hickey, Donovan or Strait to fill out your defensive pairings, that 's a huge problem. Reinhart would help the likes of those 4. Not a playoff team.

The Caps: Actually respect the the group of Green, Carlson, Niskanen and Alzner. Team has very little depth up front. Also think they will have a tough time adjusting to Trotz. Holtby and Peters between the pipes is scary. Not a playoff team.

The Hurricanes: The bottom 6 is a mess. Jordan Staal has start living up to his contract. Gleason, Harrison and/or Bellemore playing is going to be a disaster. Cam Ward ever going to stay healthy? Not a playoff team.

It's so easy for CBJ fans to pick out the Flyer fans who have clearly not seen Umberger play in a couple years. Let's clear a few things up about RJU.

1. His skating is awful, he is not even a decent skater.
2. He is no stud defender, again probably below average here
3 I know you didn't mention this in your post, but Flyer fans seem unaware of this fact, RJU hasn't played C in over 3 seasons. There is no way on God's green earth that he has the foot speed to play in the middle anymore.
4. Flyer fans love to say "look who he played with", again a flawed argument. He was on Johansen's line for at least half the year, to the point where it was painfully obvious he was holding Joey back.

I'm not saying Harnell is Jesus on skates, but he's at least a legit NHL player, who happens to have a playing style that fits the way the CBJ play. RJU hasn't been the same player since the lockout, and now is barely a fringe NHL player.
- Jimmys7

Johanson is not even close to Giroux's skill level yet. When he starts posting a PPG a season then put Umberger there to compare. Other little info you are leaving out Johansson and Giroux play different styles. Giroux is a playmaker, Johanson is not.

What you listed is Hartnell. He is a poor skater (can barely stay on his feet), stands around in the defensive end, makes poor passes and does not have a great shot.
His only contributions are screening and forchecking. Difference is we only have to deal with RJ for 3 years, you guys have Hartnell for 5.

Johanson is not even close to Giroux's skill level yet. When he starts posting a PPG a season then put Umberger there to compare. Other little info you are leaving out Johansson and Giroux play different styles. Giroux is a playmaker, Johanson is not.

What you listed is Hartnell. He is a poor skater (can barely stay on his feet), stands around in the defensive end, makes poor passes and does not have a great shot.
His only contributions are screening and forchecking. Difference is we only have to deal with RJ for 3 years, you guys have Hartnell for 5.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Both are coming off two season each of individual play. But even on down years Hartnell put up 63 points in 110 games. Umberger, 52 points in 122 games. Also add in 2011-12 season for each player. It's not even close that the Jackets are getting the better end of this deal.

Devils? The same team that missed the playoffs last year is going to be better why? Because of Cammaleri and Havlat? Havlat has been garbage since he left Ottawa, Cammaleri isn't that good. Jagr is what 42, age is going to start becoming a factor.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

And now you lose all credibility. He had 3 of his best seasons after he left Ottawa. 2 with Chicago and one with Minnesota. Goodbye.

1) Cory will likely play at least 20 more games this year. That's a pretty big factor when you missed the playoffs the year prior by 5 points.

2) Okay...but Calgary was by no means a "good" team. Cammalleri spent most of his time playing with Backlund, Zajac is a better version of Backlund. Zajac and Jagr being the possession machines they are having Cammalleri to set up instead of Zubrus is a big difference.

3) I totally disagree with this. Sometimes young players simply play/are better than their veteran counterparts. This was the case most of last year in NJ. Volchenkov could be a physical force at times but was usually just slow and ineffective.

4) I agree that doesn't "make them better" but my point is I think everyone can agree there is a bit of luck/chance involved in a lot of aspects of hockey and in my opinion shoot-out performance is up there in that respect, and the Devils simply couldn't have done worse last year, so simply the chances are, going purely on luck/probability/whatever you want to call it that the Devils will have better luck in the shoot-out next year because it simply can't be worse, and again a little bit goes a long way when you missed the playoffs by 5 points.
- MannySilvers

At this point in his career, Volchenkov is far from a physical threat anymore, he throws average hits, obviously nothing like his days with the senators, and Cory played about 3 games more than Marty, this team will be better this year, but nothing extraordinary

And now you lose all credibility. He had 3 of his best seasons after he left Ottawa. 2 with Chicago and one with Minnesota. Goodbye.
- blacksheep1

I looked it up and that is true, I literally have no memory of his time in Chicago... I remember his time in Minny and even so he hasn't had a good season in years. You cant just expect him to flip a switch and be good again.

I looked it up and that is true, I literally have no memory of his time in Chicago... I remember his time in Minny and even so he hasn't had a good season in years. You cant just expect him to flip a switch and be good again.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

If he's healthy you can expect 15-20 goals and 35-40 points. For 1.5 million, I'd take that.

If he's healthy you can expect 15-20 goals and 35-40 points. For 1.5 million, I'd take that.
- blacksheep1

I like this guy

Johanson is not even close to Giroux's skill level yet. When he starts posting a PPG a season then put Umberger there to compare. Other little info you are leaving out Johansson and Giroux play different styles. Giroux is a playmaker, Johanson is not.

What you listed is Hartnell. He is a poor skater (can barely stay on his feet), stands around in the defensive end, makes poor passes and does not have a great shot.
His only contributions are screening and forchecking. Difference is we only have to deal with RJ for 3 years, you guys have Hartnell for 5.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Screaning and forechecking is what we need something RJU hasn't been doing, sure RJU is good in his own end but he plays one game out of 4.

Penguins
Rangers
Blue Jackets
Devils
Flyers
Islanders
Caps
Canes

The Penguins: Still one of the best teams. Ehrhoffwill be a serviceable replacement for Niskanen. They also added depth in Spalling and Hornqvist. Team should win the division. Only question is will they collapse once again in the playoffs.

The Rangers: Still a solid team with a good nucleus. Tanner Glass won't help them at. Dan Boyle is a question mark at that age. Losing Richards will hurt the leadership. But when you have Lundqvist he a lock for 30 plus wins. 2nd seed, barley. Playoff team

The Jackets: Need one more scorer to get closer to the Penguins. But this is a deep team. 3 solid forward lines. Hartnell is going to bring a great edge. 8 solid defenseman and Bob. If the Penguins or Rangers falter,the Jackets will be right there. 3rd seed, playoff team.

The Devils: Havlat and Cammalleri will help, especially the shootouts. Getting rid of one traffic cone in Volchenkov will also help. Still think they lack a hole on the 2nd line at center. Will Battle for that final wild card spot.

The Flyers: Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek and Mason will carry this group. Timmonen and Coburn will have the dubious duty of trying to carry the load on D. Not enough depth on the blueline to be a playoff team.

The Islanders: Very similar to the Flyers. Grabovski and Kulemin give them a legimate 2nd line. Definitely have enough balance up front. When you have rely on two Carkner, Hickey, Donovan or Strait to fill out your defensive pairings, that 's a huge problem. Reinhart would help the likes of those 4. Not a playoff team.

The Caps: Actually respect the the group of Green, Carlson, Niskanen and Alzner. Team has very little depth up front. Also think they will have a tough time adjusting to Trotz. Holtby and Peters between the pipes is scary. Not a playoff team.

The Hurricanes: The bottom 6 is a mess. Jordan Staal has start living up to his contract. Gleason, Harrison and/or Bellemore playing is going to be a disaster. Cam Ward ever going to stay healthy? Not a playoff team.
- blacksheep1

Both had great Corsi % and played much better when Amac left and without Carkner. Donovan was also a rookie. Hickey may not be a top 4 but he is without a doubt a bottom pair on most teams.

Hartnell sucks, I was so mad when the flyers resigned him. Can't skate, can't puck handle, takes dumb penalties, out of shape. Enjoy that Columbus

Hartnell sucks, I was so mad when the flyers resigned him. Can't skate, can't puck handle, takes dumb penalties, out of shape. Enjoy that Columbus
- flyerscup2011

You know you got an even worse player back in the deal right?

OK that philly fans logic is so flawed neither one of volchenkov or Salvador are better then any of the three kids that is fact contracts was the reason they played over the kids not because of talent neither one of those two have a transition game which absolutely killed us early on and Schneider will receive more goal support you are absolutely delusion if you think one of the most inconsistent goalies in Steve mason has zero shot of having an absolute crap year this season but Schneider playing twenty more games and being able to get on a roll won't make the devils better like gve me your dealers number right now let's not even begin to factor how drastically vl is dropping talent wise and you defense even with bigger names then nj will still be worse because of the system alone plus adding a proven goal scorer you know not like a kid who might get better the guy is 32 and you act like he can hardly play despite being on pacefor thirty goals last year wake the fuxk up guy
- blizzzard

Steve Mason is the definition of a player who needed a change of scenery, the bjs were so bad for so long when he was there. He's been awesome for us in basically every game he's played in orange and black. I think much of that is due to working with Jeff Reese and the team he plays for actually scoring goals. Get a clue, pal.

You know you got an even worse player back in the deal right?
- Jimmys7

I don't agree with that. But he'll be on our third line anyway

Penguins
Rangers
Blue Jackets
Devils
Flyers
Islanders
Caps
Canes

The Penguins: Still one of the best teams. Ehrhoffwill be a serviceable replacement for Niskanen. They also added depth in Spalling and Hornqvist. Team should win the division. Only question is will they collapse once again in the playoffs.

The Rangers: Still a solid team with a good nucleus. Tanner Glass won't help them at. Dan Boyle is a question mark at that age. Losing Richards will hurt the leadership. But when you have Lundqvist he a lock for 30 plus wins. 2nd seed, barley. Playoff team

The Jackets: Need one more scorer to get closer to the Penguins. But this is a deep team. 3 solid forward lines. Hartnell is going to bring a great edge. 8 solid defenseman and Bob. If the Penguins or Rangers falter,the Jackets will be right there. 3rd seed, playoff team.

The Devils: Havlat and Cammalleri will help, especially the shootouts. Getting rid of one traffic cone in Volchenkov will also help. Still think they lack a hole on the 2nd line at center. Will Battle for that final wild card spot.

The Flyers: Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek and Mason will carry this group. Timmonen and Coburn will have the dubious duty of trying to carry the load on D. Not enough depth on the blueline to be a playoff team.

The Islanders: Very similar to the Flyers. Grabovski and Kulemin give them a legimate 2nd line. Definitely have enough balance up front. When you have rely on two Carkner, Hickey, Donovan or Strait to fill out your defensive pairings, that 's a huge problem. Reinhart would help the likes of those 4. Not a playoff team.

The Caps: Actually respect the the group of Green, Carlson, Niskanen and Alzner. Team has very little depth up front. Also think they will have a tough time adjusting to Trotz. Holtby and Peters between the pipes is scary. Not a playoff team.

The Hurricanes: The bottom 6 is a mess. Jordan Staal has start living up to his contract. Gleason, Harrison and/or Bellemore playing is going to be a disaster. Cam Ward ever going to stay healthy? Not a playoff team.
- blacksheep1

At least try and have your descriptions fit.