HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Central Division Predictions

Chicago
St louis
Dallas
Colorado
minnesota
nashville
winnipeg

Chicago
St louis
Dallas
Colorado
minnesota
nashville
winnipeg
- RileyHaze

5 playoff teams again

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Central Division Predictions
- ToddCordellVAN

Avs fans are going to have a bone to pick with you guys

By far the strongest division in hockey. I predict a regression for the blues and an improvement for the wild.

Chicago
Minnesota
Colorado
Dallas
St Louis
Nashville
Winnipeg

Dallas
St. Louis
Chicago
Nashville
Minnesota
Colorado
Winnipeg

Colorado is def going to be hurting if Varly can't bail them out again.

I don't think the elliot/allen combo will do too well personally But we shall see

Chicago
Minn
Dallas
Col
St.Louis
Nash
win

I don't think we finish in first, but i think it will be close between us chi and stl. I'm looking forward to the next 3 years tho, our d prospects are going to be good.

I don't think the elliot/allen combo will do too well personally But we shall see

Chicago
Minn
Dallas
Col
St.Louis
Nash
win
- the_dough_boy

I think any goalie can do well in our system. Elliott has been a shutout machine with us. Plus we have potentially added 3-4 (Statsny, Lehtera, Mueller, Lindstrom) guys that can light it and set some guys up. We have TONS of depth on D and upfront now. The big question is can we finally do it in the playoffs? If Crawford can take a team to the cup Elliott can IMHO.

No prediction from Johnny Jaeckel so this is invalid.

Chicago and St. Louis seem like they're still the class of the division... Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota will probably have some kind of dogfight for 3rd-5th, though I think Dallas' defence is far more of a problem than is being acknowledged, and for whatever reason some people are underestimating Colorado. Regardless, it will likely be another rough go of it for Nashville and Winnipeg... who both have major question marks heading into the season.

I think any goalie can do well in our system. Elliott has been a shutout machine with us. Plus we have potentially added 3-4 (Statsny, Lehtera, Mueller, Lindstrom) guys that can light it and set some guys up. We have TONS of depth on D and upfront now. The big question is can we finally do it in the playoffs? If Crawford can take a team to the cup Elliott can IMHO.
- cuethenoise

I don't see the Blues falling beyond 3rd. You have two stellar defensive units that will play about 2/3 of every game. You then have two B/B+ forward lines anchored by Backes and Stastny. Good point on Elliot, although I think the solution is Allen or someone else who doesn't have the dreaded "yips" will take them to the promised land. I just am not sure that the solution presents itself this year.

Chicago and St. Louis seem like they're still the class of the division... Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota will probably have some kind of dogfight for 3rd-5th, though I think Dallas' defence is far more of a problem than is being acknowledged, and for whatever reason some people are underestimating Colorado. Regardless, it will likely be another rough go of it for Nashville and Winnipeg... who both have major question marks heading into the season.
- khawk

Obviously our D isn't the best, but I don't see how they make it to the playoffs last year with it and improve over the summer and now It isn't good. I guess I should be happy tho, people talking about what's going to keep us out of first and what our team looks like at least means we are relevant again.

Chicago will not take 1st in the Division.

St.Louis
Colorado
Chicago
Dallas
Minny
Nasville
Winnipeg

St.Louis still has a very strong team that added Colorado's 1st line center (Yes Stastny was COL 1st lice center last season, Duchene was on the 2nd line.) With the top 6 forwards St.Louis has added with their defence they will make a very strong team next season. I also Expect Jake Allen to surprise the team and win the starting position.

Colorado lost Stastny but replaced him with Iginla. The team still boasts a very good offence and while I do expect a drop off from last season, It will not be as much as people think. Also for those Advanced Stats junkies. Colorado won 52 games with piss poor CORSI stats so.... CORSI means jack****. Source TSN: Colorado Avs Season preview

Hawks are always considered a strong team but due to cap issues they are going to start a decline. Currently 2 mill over the cap with no injuries they have to shed some space and will have to shed even more when Toews and Kane's new contracts kick in. Cap did not go up much due to the Canadian dollar and I do not expect that to change within one year. Cap could go up slightly but I don't see it going up by much. The fact is this team is the exact same as last season. Richards will not rejuvenate his career but he will become an anchor to that 2nd line.

Dallas got quite a bit better offensively picking up Hemsky and Spezza however a lot of people are still not happy with the defence of the team. If they can upgrade that position, they could go far come playoff time.

Minnesota looks great on paper however goaltending is suspect at best. Harding has not been a reliable goalie since being diagnosed with MS and is now suspended because he is an idiot. Backstrom had a poor season last season and the season before. I don't think he is capable of holding the starting position anymore. As for Kuemper he is a 2nd year goalie this season. Too many young goalies hit roadblocks in the 2nd year after a great season in the NHL.

Nashville long story short. Patchwork Centermen will not help this team until Fisher is healthy. The defence will not be able to carry the team. Neal will struggle without Malkin or any good center. Also it remains to be seen if Rinne will be his old self. He struggled after he returned from injury.

Winnipeg just has too many issues atm. Pavalec is too inconsistent. Buffy puts up 56 points but still is on the ice for 20 more goals than he is on for. Obviously their is the Kane attitude issues. Winnipeg however could possibly be better than Nashville if their young players improved enough to be top 6 forwards and top 4 dmen.

.

Parise-Granlund-Pominville is a better line. Also it will be Vanek-Koivu-Vanek.

I very much doubt Jake Allen winning the starting job would surprise anybody.

Chicago will not take 1st in the Division.

St.Louis
Colorado
Chicago
Dallas
Minny
Nasville
Winnipeg

St.Louis still has a very strong team that added Colorado's 1st line center (Yes Stastny was COL 1st lice center last season, Duchene was on the 2nd line.) With the top 6 forwards St.Louis has added with their defence they will make a very strong team next season. I also Expect Jake Allen to surprise the team and win the starting position.

Colorado lost Stastny but replaced him with Iginla. The team still boasts a very good offence and while I do expect a drop off from last season, It will not be as much as people think. Also for those Advanced Stats junkies. Colorado won 52 games with piss poor CORSI stats so.... CORSI means jack****. Source TSN: Colorado Avs Season preview

Hawks are always considered a strong team but due to cap issues they are going to start a decline. Currently 2 mill over the cap with no injuries they have to shed some space and will have to shed even more when Toews and Kane's new contracts kick in. Cap did not go up much due to the Canadian dollar and I do not expect that to change within one year. Cap could go up slightly but I don't see it going up by much. The fact is this team is the exact same as last season. Richards will not rejuvenate his career but he will become an anchor to that 2nd line.

Dallas got quite a bit better offensively picking up Hemsky and Spezza however a lot of people are still not happy with the defence of the team. If they can upgrade that position, they could go far come playoff time.

Minnesota looks great on paper however goaltending is suspect at best. Harding has not been a reliable goalie since being diagnosed with MS and is now suspended because he is an idiot. Backstrom had a poor season last season and the season before. I don't think he is capable of holding the starting position anymore. As for Kuemper he is a 2nd year goalie this season. Too many young goalies hit roadblocks in the 2nd year after a great season in the NHL.

Nashville long story short. Patchwork Centermen will not help this team until Fisher is healthy. The defence will not be able to carry the team. Neal will struggle without Malkin or any good center. Also it remains to be seen if Rinne will be his old self. He struggled after he returned from injury.

Winnipeg just has too many issues atm. Pavalec is too inconsistent. Buffy puts up 56 points but still is on the ice for 20 more goals than he is on for. Obviously their is the Kane attitude issues. Winnipeg however could possibly be better than Nashville if their young players improved enough to be top 6 forwards and top 4 dmen.

.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Your argument against the Hawks is not very good. They went to the WCFs last year. Sure they are probably going to lose Leddy or Oduya but I really don't think you get how big of a change Richards will make on the 2nd line instead of Hanzus.
I'll go with
St. Louis
Chicago
Dallas
Minny
Colorado
Nashville
Winnepeg

Blues
Hawks
Stars
Avalanche
Wild
Predators
Jets

3-5 could be flip flopped as can 1-2

Chicago is built ofr Playoffs and will struggle a bit in the Regular season

Your argument against the Hawks is not very good. They went to the WCFs last year. Sure they are probably going to lose Leddy or Oduya but I really don't think you get how big of a change Richards will make on the 2nd line instead of Hanzus.
I'll go with
St. Louis
Chicago
Dallas
Minny
Colorado
Nashville
Winnepeg
- tokked

Hawks are going to have HUGE cap issues in the next couple years with those crazy ass contracts Kane and Toews signed. They are definitely going to be declining.

Avs fans are going to have a bone to pick with you guys
- blizzzard

not really, its just the recycled comments that most people have been tossing out about what the expect about the Avs.

Bad possession team, lost 2 strong possession players, instnat regression...and repeat.

not really, its just the recycled comments that most people have been tossing out about what the expect about the Avs.

Bad possession team, lost 2 strong possession players, instnat regression...and repeat.
- DDM-Coga

The Avalanche will continue to be a force but I just dont seem them being a 110 point team this year.

Around 99 is my guess

The Avalanche will continue to be a force but I just dont seem them being a 110 point team this year.

Around 99 is my guess
- sycsam

I think 95+ point season is a conservative number for them,

have Wild, Stars, and Avs all in the same boat. Solid group of forwards but question marks surrounding their Defense or Goalie stuation, can easily go on losing streaks bc of it.

I think 95+ point season is a conservative number for them,

have Wild, Stars, and Avs all in the same boat. Solid group of forwards but question marks surrounding their Defense or Goalie stuation, can easily go on losing streaks bc of it.
- DDM-Coga

I don't understand the Dallas argument as much. Colorado's D isn't any worse than Dallas', and they have an aging goaltender. I still like Colorado in 3rd behind Chi/StL, just above Dallas and Minny. Varlamov is the difference between those three teams IMO.

I don't understand the Dallas argument as much. Colorado's D isn't any worse than Dallas', and they have an aging goaltender. I still like Colorado in 3rd behind Chi/StL, just above Dallas and Minny. Varlamov is the difference between those three teams IMO.
- bluenoter

Those three teams are definitely playoff teams.

Just who finishes 3-5.

I dont see any team in the Pacific making the playoffs outside of California.

I think it will be the Blues in first again and then the Hawks second and maybe Dallas third. If you haven't notifed though, the Hawks don't particualrly need to be in first just healthy and ready going into postseason in April.

All the Blues fans predicting a "big decline" are you talking with your head or your heart?