Let me guess without reading..

Flyers?

Let me guess without reading..

Flyers?
- StargateSG1

Flyerbuzz.

Did the Devils really loose that much in losing Larsson? At the time of the trade seemed like people were quite fine with letting him go. Like the Rangers... its the back stop, Schneider, that will and carry them into a playoff position. Unlike Greiss, Schneider can and has stolen games, and I think theyll be a lot closer to the 3rd spot in the Metro than people think.
- aecliptic

Devils fans were fine letting Larsson go based on the return. As to how the D will function without him (and Schlemko and adding Lovejoy) is something we are curious about. We have plenty of guys to plug in and good prospects so numbers aren't a problem but no knows if we have anyone able to play next to Greene on the top pair. The hope is Severson...and as you put it, a lot of faith in the goaltender.

The Islanders lost Okposo and Nielsen, but gained Ladd, Chimera and Parenteau. That not only adds spread out scoring for the Isles, they also got physically tougher to play against with Ladd and Chimera.

The Rangers on the other hand? The things you point out are all question marks. I agree Nash SHOULD have a stronger season, but will Girardi? Will Staal be a force? Will Henry have a better season or has he really hit the back-nine of the career? Will Vesey have ANY impact?

I like the Gerbe and Grabner signings to bolster your bottom six, but to say the Rangers got better is more questionable than the Isles who added/replaced the team with proven talent.
- Rinosaur

The most physical player the isles lost was Martin. Chimera is 37 or 38 yrs old.
Okposo/Nielsen/Martin is a bigger loss than getting Parental/Ladd/Chimera

Dont see how that makes Isles a tougher team.

Probably the Leafs.
- weirdoh

The Leafs aren't in the metro...

How did the flyers under achieve?
How are the isles better when every free agent the signed is worse than one they lost?
- muffin_man

The Leafs aren't in the metro...
- Bruiniak

I'm pretty sure he was trying to be humorous.
Sorry about all the flack you've been getting on here regarding your JV prediction, but it was a tad bold.
I thought he'd sign at home as well.

3579 votes. That seems like a decent amount of traffic on this site.

The Leafs aren't in the metro...
- Bruiniak

Vesey is not on the bruins.....

The Islanders lost Okposo and Nielsen, but gained Ladd, Chimera and Parenteau. That not only adds spread out scoring for the Isles, they also got physically tougher to play against with Ladd and Chimera.

The Rangers on the other hand? The things you point out are all question marks. I agree Nash SHOULD have a stronger season, but will Girardi? Will Staal be a force? Will Henry have a better season or has he really hit the back-nine of the career? Will Vesey have ANY impact?

I like the Gerbe and Grabner signings to bolster your bottom six, but to say the Rangers got better is more questionable than the Isles who added/replaced the team with proven talent.
- Rinosaur

Martin led league in hits with 365. Chimera and Ladd combined had only 265. Isles lost 2nd and 3rd leading scorers. There's no way of saying they're a better team this year! I don't see them in playoffs this year. Their biggest concern should be signing Tavares. I'd be worried after the way they just let Okposo walk

The Leafs aren't in the metro...
- Bruiniak

I'm surprised you're still posting here after vesey's decision.

Martin led league in hits with 365. Chimera and Ladd combined had only 265. Isles lost 2nd and 3rd leading scorers. There's no way of saying they're a better team this year! I don't see them in playoffs this year. Their biggest concern should be signing Tavares. I'd be worried after the way they just let Okposo walk
- junaka3

If you're thinking "tough" means only "hits" then there's really not much to talk about. These are physically imposing players who use their size for more than something one-dimensional like "hits." You know, like battling for pucks, making space and heading to the net.

I also never said they got better. I said they took steps in the right direction in comparison with the Rangers. Less question marks and more of knowing what you're getting. The Rangers are a few too many "what ifs."

I'm surprised you're still posting here after vesey's decision.
- Isles_since_6

I still say he signs with Buffalo. After all, Eichel is his buddy.

I still say he signs with Buffalo. After all, Eichel is his buddy.
- Rinosaur

He signed with the Rags!!

He signed with the Rags!!
- Mr.FunFacts

Yes, I know. It was humor. Poking fun at all the silly reasoning behind the rumored teams.

Yes, I know. It was humor. Poking fun at all the silly reasoning behind the rumored teams.
- Rinosaur

Well excuse ME!!!!

Is Garf still crying that Vesey didn't sign with Buffalo? After Pittsburgh and Chicago who wins the Cup next year? Flyers? Mike Augello is 0 for 2. No Stamkos or Vesey to Leafs. He did call Matthews to Leafs though.

Is Garf still crying that Vesey didn't sign with Buffalo? After Pittsburgh and Chicago who wins the Cup next year? Flyers? Mike Augello is 0 for 2. No Stamkos or Vesey to Leafs. He did call Matthews to Leafs though.
- gergeswillems

Augello is 0 in general. He's a fanboy with no sense who for some reason is liked by Eklund.

Augello is 0 in general. He's a fanboy with no sense who for some reason is liked by Eklund.
- Rinosaur

I could say some things here to echo your sentiments but it will just get deleted. Same as the Vesey Garf thread.

The most physical player the isles lost was Martin. Chimera is 37 or 38 yrs old.
Okposo/Nielsen/Martin is a bigger loss than getting Parental/Ladd/Chimera

Dont see how that makes Isles a tougher team.
- lileapers

If the best argument for the isles is they are a tougher team then they are in trouble. I think Ladd for this year can be comparable to okposko, chimera is good, but when will his age catch up. I think the Rangers will finish in the 3rd spot, but after the pens/caps, it's a drop.

If you're thinking "tough" means only "hits" then there's really not much to talk about. These are physically imposing players who use their size for more than something one-dimensional like "hits." You know, like battling for pucks, making space and heading to the net.

I also never said they got better. I said they took steps in the right direction in comparison with the Rangers. Less question marks and more of knowing what you're getting. The Rangers are a few too many "what ifs."
- Rinosaur

Yes. You said the Rangers being better is more questionable than Isles. Rangers got younger and faster and Isles got older. Ladd Chimera and other guy are has beens. Okposo wasn't tough? He had 6 fewer points than Tavares and letting him walk was a big mistake. Only reason Isles went further last year is because they tanked end of season so they wouldn't have to play Penguins. No matter how you try to spin it, Rangers are much improved and Isles are worse. And Rangers where better team last year!

I'm not sure Pens are #2... Team is getting older and with short summer will have hard time repeating success of last season. They got hot at right time and stayed healthy. They understandably haven't made changes and are currently over the cap. Rangers have made some nice moves to get younger and faster. Nash never came back fully from leg injury and should have bounce back year. Girardi had a lot of health issues and played with concussion. With Skjei up at seasons end he should have a regular spot on d and hopefully they let McIlwrath play more. Still possible they deal for Shattenkirk. Rangers easily 3rd, if not 2nd best team in division.

I'm not sure Pens are #2... Team is getting older and with short summer will have hard time repeating success of last season. They got hot at right time and stayed healthy. They understandably haven't made changes and are currently over the cap. Rangers have made some nice moves to get younger and faster. Nash never came back fully from leg injury and should have bounce back year. Girardi had a lot of health issues and played with concussion. With Skjei up at seasons end he should have a regular spot on d and hopefully they let McIlwrath play more. Still possible they deal for Shattenkirk. Rangers easily 3rd, if not 2nd best team in division.
- junaka3

The Rangers were all over the place last year. Playing really well a times (mostly early in he season) and some pretty dreadful stretches. So it'll be an interesting year to see where they are at. But if you think they're better then the Pens, I don't think you're being objective. They traded Brassard for a talented kid who's struggled to hold down a 2nd one center position on the Sensators. With the pick, this was a good trade but Rangers didn't get stronger down the middle with this. Even Hank had some problems last year. Meanwhile penguins are sitting with Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Kessel, the Stanley Cup and have lost nothing.

I'll give the Rangers the benefit of the doubt over the Islanders for 3rd but not by much.

I'm not sure Pens are #2... Team is getting older and with short summer will have hard time repeating success of last season. They got hot at right time and stayed healthy. They understandably haven't made changes and are currently over the cap. Rangers have made some nice moves to get younger and faster. Nash never came back fully from leg injury and should have bounce back year. Girardi had a lot of health issues and played with concussion. With Skjei up at seasons end he should have a regular spot on d and hopefully they let McIlwrath play more. Still possible they deal for Shattenkirk. Rangers easily 3rd, if not 2nd best team in division.
- junaka3

Time will tell if what you think is true.

Younger, faster??? Are they better? That's the biggest question. Are the players they have better than their opponents? Is their D that lost experience & will be unknown better than last season as you say they will?

If I was a betting man, I wouldn't be betting on the Rags being better than last season. Maybe after a season to blood their youth & pick up that Dman they lost & still need, they will be better.

If you have a house please don't put it on the Rags!

The Leafs aren't in the metro...
- Bruiniak

This guy and humour just don't go well together. Kinda like Vesey and a B's uniform.