Paul McCann: Western preview

First

Now on to the Jets. I think a lot of people need to reign in the enthusiasm about them this season. A lot of young guys and two goalies that have never carried the reigns for an entire season. A lot of unknowns. There's going to be some growing/learning pains there. They'll be fighting for a wildcard spot. The Blues had to add Yaks after the Schwartz injury. There was a lack of scoring depth with the loss of Brower and Backus and the injury of Schwartz. But I think Yak will turn it on there and Blues will be top 3 in the central.

Preds
Stars
Blues
Hawks
Wild
Jets
Avs

First

Now on to the Jets. I think a lot of people need to reign in the enthusiasm about them this season. A lot of young guys and two goalies that have never carried the reigns for an entire season. A lot of unknowns. There's going to be some growing/learning pains there. They'll be fighting for a wildcard spot. The Blues had to add Yaks after the Schwartz injury. There was a lack of scoring depth with the loss of Brower and Backus and the injury of Schwartz. But I think Yak will turn it on there and Blues will be top 3 in the central.

Preds
Stars
Blues
Hawks
Wild
Jets
Avs
- mnhockeyguy

Avs wont be last, and Stars wont be second...I think the Avs are under rated and Stars are highly over rated

The last time a couple of years back you also picked the Blues to miss the playoffs they won the division. At least you are consistent in either your lack of hockey knowledge or disdain for the Blues. Look for the Predators to once again be a bridesmaid.

Avs wont be last, and Stars wont be second...I think the Avs are under rated and Stars are highly over rated
- DDM-Coga

Did the Stars offense from last season suddenly dry up? They are deep at center and boast one of the best wings in the league and scoring depth. Their defense will be improving due to the maturation of younger guys. I think they'll be there. The Avs defense is still suspect and no one knows which Varly will show up for the Avs. They will be better but the central is a hard division to gain ground in. Really though, spots 2-7 could be shuffled around and it wouldnt surprise me one bit.

Avs wont be last, and Stars wont be second...I think the Avs are under rated and Stars are highly over rated
- DDM-Coga

Rene Bourque...nuff said...

Did the Stars offense from last season suddenly dry up? They are deep at center and boast one of the best wings in the league and scoring depth. Their defense will be improving due to the maturation of younger guys. I think they'll be there. The Avs defense is still suspect and no one knows which Varly will show up for the Avs. They will be better but the central is a hard division to gain ground in. Really though, spots 2-7 could be shuffled around and it wouldnt surprise me one bit.
- mnhockeyguy

they have a good Top 9, but their D is worse than last year. They are really expecting a lot out of Johns, Jordie Benn, Nemeth, Oleksiak to fill out half of their pairings.

Those are not great or experience Dman making half a D Core...with their goalies too, I see them giving up more goals this year than last year.

Im not too concerned with varly, pickard is really good so if Varly is going down, they hav ea solid back up to pick up the slack

Rene Bourque...nuff said...
- geta02it

as a 12th/13th forward, whats wrong with that, he did enough in preseason to win a 650k contract, he isnt hurting anyone

they have a good Top 9, but their D is worse than last year. They are really expecting a lot out of Johns, Jordie Benn, Nemeth, Oleksiak to fill out half of their pairings.

Those are not great or experience Dman making half a D Core...with their goalies too, I see them giving up more goals this year than last year.

Im not too concerned with varly, pickard is really good so if Varly is going down, they hav ea solid back up to pick up the slack
- DDM-Coga

Johns was a stud last year. Nemeth was decent as well. I think the growth will be evident. Their goal tending is still somewhat suspect but they were the same goal tenders that allowed Dallas to win the west last season... so theres that.

Johns was a stud last year. Nemeth was decent as well. I think the growth will be evident. Their goal tending is still somewhat suspect but they were the same goal tenders that allowed Dallas to win the west last season... so theres that.
- mnhockeyguy

Klingberg is the only Dman that is a lock as going to be good next year.
Young but promising guys, could keep on progressing, could have a bad development year. Never know
Oduya and Hamhius are 34 and 35 years old..you never know when Dmen get that age, they seem to just drastically fall off a cliff.

On paper could be enough, just not sold on that D core as stable

Klingberg is the only Dman that is a lock as going to be good next year.
Young but promising guys, could keep on progressing, could have a bad development year. Never know
Oduya and Hamhius are 34 and 35 years old..you never know when Dmen get that age, they seem to just drastically fall off a cliff.

On paper could be enough, just not sold on that D core as stable
- DDM-Coga

On paper could be enough, just not sold on that D core as stable

Same can be said for the Avs D though...

[quote=mnhockeyguy]

which is fair. On paper I like the Avs D core

But outside EJ and Barrie, its boom or bust with Zadorov, Gelinas, and Weircoich as being the guy who are to improve that D core.

I just dont think they are the instant write off as 29th in the power rankings that the Talking Heads at TSN have them as. There is a chance they could be 7th just with how tough the division is, but some guys have them as a laughing stock in the league

Scott Cullen Ranks them, that guy is an idiot so there is that at least

which is fair. On paper I like the Avs D core

But outside EJ and Barrie, its boom or bust with Zadorov, Gelinas, and Weircoich as being the guy who are to improve that D core.

I just dont think they are the instant write off as 29th in the power rankings that the Talking Heads at TSN have them as. There is a chance they could be 7th just with how tough the division is, but some guys have them as a laughing stock in the league

Scott Cullen Ranks them, that guy is an idiot so there is that at least
- DDM-Coga

It'll come down to Varly. If he's in his Vezina trophy form than they could be top three in the central! If he's average they're going to have a tough time.

as a 12th/13th forward, whats wrong with that, he did enough in preseason to win a 650k contract, he isnt hurting anyone
- DDM-Coga

you'll see...

you'll see...
- geta02it

you signed grossman, you cant talk either. Our teams both did meh moves

Pekka Rinne should keep Nashville from attaining anything resembling success.

You really do not understand? The only real question about Allen would be his health.

First

Now on to the Jets. I think a lot of people need to reign in the enthusiasm about them this season. A lot of young guys and two goalies that have never carried the reigns for an entire season. A lot of unknowns. There's going to be some growing/learning pains there. They'll be fighting for a wildcard spot. The Blues had to add Yaks after the Schwartz injury. There was a lack of scoring depth with the loss of Brower and Backus and the injury of Schwartz. But I think Yak will turn it on there and Blues will be top 3 in the central.

Preds
Starss
Blues
Hawks
Wild
Jets
Avs
- mnhockeyguy

Why does everyone assume losing one forty point guy and ne who did not crack forty and could not play at bth ends hurts the Blues?

Backes had more than offense, but not icing a healthy line up the entire season led to him seeing more ice and the same could be said about Brouwer who would have found himself sitting in the press box.

Brouwer had probably the best olay offs of his career and even then he had issues.

Both are getting older and Backes had already begun to slow down a lot last year. Did you see him in the WC? Yeah he looks even slower.

Now players who are more deserving will get more ice time. So please.... Schwartz also missed most of last season and the Blues were battling for the top spot in the Cetral the entire season.

Elliott was a great back up goaltender, but only capable as a back up with short spurts at being the man. Too much reliance on him always caused his game to head south.

I think the Blues might struggle a bit as they form a new identity and fit in a different roster, but then again they did that pretty much all of last season with all of the injuries.

Why does everyone assume losing one forty point guy and ne who did not crack forty and could not play at bth ends hurts the Blues?

Backes had more than offense, but not icing a healthy line up the entire season led to him seeing more ice and the same could be said about Brouwer who would have found himself sitting in the press box.

Brouwer had probably the best olay offs of his career and even then he had issues.

Both are getting older and Backes had already begun to slow down a lot last year. Did you see him in the WC? Yeah he looks even slower.

Now players who are more deserving will get more ice time. So please.... Schwartz also missed most of last season and the Blues were battling for the top spot in the Cetral the entire season.

Elliott was a great back up goaltender, but only capable as a back up with short spurts at being the man. Too much reliance on him always caused his game to head south.

I think the Blues might struggle a bit as they form a new identity and fit in a different roster, but then again they did that pretty much all of last season with all of the injuries.
- BluemanGuruu

Yes hence why the Blues are in the top three...

Avs wont be last, and Stars wont be second...I think the Avs are under rated and Stars are highly over rated
- DDM-Coga

agreed!! janmark out for season, big russian kid gone, eakin and seguin miiss the first month, really young D with questionable goalies.. the stars will fall the most in the division

you signed grossman, you cant talk either. Our teams both did meh moves
- DDM-Coga

Meh, same week as Gaudreau...karma is on our side...

agreed!! janmark out for season, big russian kid gone, eakin and seguin miiss the first month, really young D with questionable goalies.. the stars will fall the most in the division
- gopherwildfan

Seguin is playing in the first game, Janmark is a bottom 6, Russian kid stunk and the D boasts one of the best young D men in the league, and those same goalies backstopped the Stars into the 1st seed in the west...

Seguin is playing in the first game, Janmark is a bottom 6, Russian kid stunk and the D boasts one of the best young D men in the league, and those same goalies backstopped the Stars into the 1st seed in the west...
- mnhockeyguy

all i've seen is he might play.. so bottom six doesn't affect a team? so if the wild lost nino or haula for the season it wouldn't matter? lastly hamhuis,lindell,johns are not as good as gologoski and demers so their D got worse and it wasn't good last year

all i've seen is he might play.. so bottom six doesn't affect a team? so if the wild lost nino or haula for the season it wouldn't matter? lastly hamhuis,lindell,johns are not as good as gologoski and demers so their D got worse and it wasn't good last year
- gopherwildfan

Take a look at Janmarks points total... Johns is young and was very effective last year and will continue to progress. Hamhuis is a fine replacement for Demers. Russell was garbage so that's addition by subtraction. Klingberg is already one of the best young D in the West. They're not taking a nose dive.

Take a look at Janmarks points total... Johns is young and was very effective last year and will continue to progress. Hamhuis is a fine replacement for Demers. Russell was garbage so that's addition by subtraction. Klingberg is already one of the best young D in the West. They're not taking a nose dive.
- mnhockeyguy

Goligoski was maybe their best all around dman last year, cant over look that lose.
Johns only played 27 games in the NHL last year...his only 27 games of NHL experience (14 regular season 13 playoffs in a limit 3rd pair role)
Oleksiak only 19 games in the NHL last year
Nemeth 68 games of NHL experience over 2 years.
Lindell 4 games of NHL experience.

That D core is banking on a lot of of hopes on young guys with hardly any NHL to be play big roles.

Not that they are taking a nose dive, but I dont see them repeating as one of the top teams in the division

Goligoski was maybe their best all around dman last year, cant over look that lose.
Johns only played 27 games in the NHL last year...his only 27 games of NHL experience (14 regular season 13 playoffs in a limit 3rd pair role)
Oleksiak only 19 games in the NHL last year
Nemeth 68 games of NHL experience over 2 years.
Lindell 4 games of NHL experience.

That D core is banking on a lot of of hopes on young guys with hardly any NHL to be play big roles.

Not that they are taking a nose dive, but I dont see them repeating as one of the top teams in the division
- DDM-Coga

Johns only played that amount because he was traded from the Blackhawks as one of their top D prospects to Dallas. Once in Dallas they plugged him in right away and he was good. In the playoffs he was very good, perhaps their third best D.