Dan Wallace: Big Offseason Changes in the Central Divsion

first again

I see Colorado missing, obviously, but after that it'll be the Blues and Wild battling for the final wildcard spot. Both teams regressed this off season so far.

I see Colorado missing, obviously, but after that it'll be the Blues and Wild battling for the final wildcard spot. Both teams regressed this off season so far.
- mnhockeyguy

The Blues didn't regress that much, they lost Shattenkirk, Lehtera, and Reaves this offseason right?
They added, Schenn, Sobotka, and Thorburn, plus will more than likely have Fabbri healthy for most of the year. They'll be better imo, slightly worse on D.

Not sure what your smoking the Blues are definitely improved over last years team. Fabbri will be back, got Schenn for Lehtera, Sobotka will be here all year, and Barbashev showed he can play. Only guys we lost were Upshall, Lehtera, and Reaves. None of which are important pieces.

With Shatty being gone Parayko gets more ice time. Our D was waaay improved after he left.

The Blues didn't regress that much, they lost Shattenkirk, Lehtera, and Reaves this offseason right?
They added, Schenn, Sobotka, and Thorburn, plus will more than likely have Fabbri healthy for most of the year. They'll be better imo, slightly worse on D.
- Discourse_

Shatty was at the trade line and as I said with him gone our D core played SIGNIFICANTLY better. Parayko took his spot on the PP and Petrangelo took Parayko's spot. Shatty was a huge defensive liability.

Rangers definitely helped your Flyers chances by signing him haha.

The Blues didn't regress that much, they lost Shattenkirk, Lehtera, and Reaves this offseason right?
They added, Schenn, Sobotka, and Thorburn, plus will more than likely have Fabbri healthy for most of the year. They'll be better imo, slightly worse on D.
- Discourse_

They added Sobotka last season. That's what I figure too, worse D and about the same at forward.

Why do opposing teams in the central think the blues got so much worse? THey upgraded their roster by adding Schenn and Fabbri to an already deep forward group and they brought back the same defense?

How are they worse?

Shatty was at the trade line and as I said with him gone our D core played SIGNIFICANTLY better. Parayko took his spot on the PP and Petrangelo took Parayko's spot. Shatty was a huge defensive liability.

Rangers definitely helped your Flyers chances by signing him haha.
- cuethenoise

Yeah I feel like Shatty wont be missed that much, will probably help the team to be better defensively. Will someone like Jordan Schmaltz make the team next year?

They added Sobotka last season. That's what I figure too, worse D and about the same at forward.
- mnhockeyguy

Sobotka only played 1 reg season game and looked pretty good in the playoffs. i meant they pretty much get a full season of him on the team

Why do opposing teams in the central think the blues got so much worse? THey upgraded their roster by adding Schenn and Fabbri to an already deep forward group and they brought back the same defense?

How are they worse?
- sycsam

Because Fabbri is coming off a bad injury, who knows how his skating will be? Schenn is basically replacing the scoring that they lost when Backes left two seasons ago. But they also lost Perron now and Berglund is hurt and will miss two months and they lost a lot of size and grit on the bottom two lines. Coburn stinks too. And Shattenkirk is nowhere near the dud that Blues fans think him to be. He provided a lot offense from the back end. But I dont think anyone feels they got significantly worse, but their depth did take a bit of a hit.

Because Fabbri is coming off a bad injury, who knows how his skating will be? Schenn is basically replacing the scoring that they lost when Backes left two seasons ago. But they also lost Perron last now and Berglund is hurt and will miss two months and they lost a lot of size and grit on the bottom two lines. Coburn stinks too. And Shattenkirk is nowhere near the dud that Blues fans think him to be. He provided a lot offense from the back end. But I dont think anyone feels they got significantly worse, but their depth took a hit.
- mnhockeyguy

You obviously know more about Shattenkirk than us Blues fans do haha. Most of his points came on the power play. He played severely sheltered minutes besides that. Parayko has already pretty much replaced his production and is solid defensively. Look at what happened to him on the Capitals? He was pretty much benched in the playoffs. He cost us so many games over the years it isn't even funny. Plus we have Dunn, Lindbohm, and Schmaltz ready to step up to the NHL as well. Tons of depth on D.

You obviously know more about Shattenkirk than us Blues fans do haha. Most of his points came on the power play. He played severely sheltered minutes besides that. Parayko has already pretty much replaced his production and is solid defensively. Look at what happened to him on the Capitals? He was pretty much benched in the playoffs. He cost us so many games over the years it isn't even funny. Plus we have Dunn, Lindbohm, and Schmaltz ready to step up to the NHL as well. Tons of depth on D.
- cuethenoise

Those are all unkowns though. They may all crap the bed for as much as anyone knows about them yet... Im just saying that's why some other central fans are looking suspectedly at the Blues team. But the Wild got significantly worse so don't take it the wrong way, haha.

Those are all unkowns though. They may all crap the bed for as much as anyone knows about them yet... Im just saying that's why some other central fans are looking suspectedly at the Blues team. But the Wild got significantly worse so don't take it the wrong way, haha.
- mnhockeyguy

Meh, I can see the perspective. But Blues had the best record in the Central starting in March until the end of the regular season. The March team swapped Fabbri for Perron, Schenn for Lehtera, Thorburn for Reaves, kept the same defense, and added Sobotka.

Blues, like any team, could crap the bed next year, much they like did under Hitchcock last year. But on paper, they are better than the post trade-deadline team that played extremely well.

Meh, I can see the perspective. But Blues had the best record in the Central starting in March until the end of the regular season. The March team swapped Fabbri for Perron, Schenn for Lehtera, Thorburn for Reaves, kept the same defense, and added Sobotka.

Blues, like any team, could crap the bed next year, much they like did under Hitchcock last year. But on paper, they are better than the post trade-deadline team that played extremely well.
- Antilles

We like the Blues team the way that it is. No changes necessary

Sadly, if there's any team in the central that actually got worse on paper it's the Wild. The Stars will probably be the most improved team next season. The Blues will be as good, if not better. The Hawks are still the Hawks. The Preds are now a very deadly team. The Avs and Jets are basically the same, but I can't see them being as bad as they were last season. It'll be much tighter next year. It's almost anyone's division next year.

Sadly, if there's any team in the central that actually got worse on paper it's the Wild. The Stars will probably be the most improved team next season. The Blues will be as good, if not better. The Hawks are still the Hawks. The Preds are now a very deadly team. The Avs and Jets are basically the same, but I can't see them being as bad as they were last season. It'll be much tighter next year. It's almost anyone's division next year.
- Isojoki

I think the Hawks are fared worse on paper than the Wild. Subtracting Hossa, Panarin, Kruger, Hjarlmasson & TVR, only adding Saad as a proven performer. Everyone else they added they need a big step forward from, even Murphy who struggled as a #4D in Arizona; and they are also relying on big steps forward from some of their young guys, return to form from guys like Toews, and can't afford for Keith to decline the way many top end D start to at 34. If everything goes right for them, they could win division; but if everyone on their team plays the way they did last year, they are definitely worse this year than last.

I think the Hawks are fared worse on paper than the Wild. Subtracting Hossa, Panarin, Kruger, Hjarlmasson & TVR, only adding Saad as a proven performer. Everyone else they added they need a big step forward from, even Murphy who struggled as a #4D in Arizona; and they are also relying on big steps forward from some of their young guys, return to form from guys like Toews, and can't afford for Keith to decline the way many top end D start to at 34. If everything goes right for them, they could win division; but if everyone on their team plays the way they did last year, they are definitely worse this year than last.
- Antilles

I hate to agree with Blues fan but you are spot on .

I think the Hawks are fared worse on paper than the Wild. Subtracting Hossa, Panarin, Kruger, Hjarlmasson & TVR, only adding Saad as a proven performer. Everyone else they added they need a big step forward from, even Murphy who struggled as a #4D in Arizona; and they are also relying on big steps forward from some of their young guys, return to form from guys like Toews, and can't afford for Keith to decline the way many top end D start to at 34. If everything goes right for them, they could win division; but if everyone on their team plays the way they did last year, they are definitely worse this year than last.
- Antilles

I think the Hawks are actually more balanced on the top two lines with the changes. Panek will net them 20 goals and having Saad back will be a boon for Toews. If theres anyone that can rejuvenate Sharp its probably Kane. The D did take a hit though, but I still think the Hawks end up with Franson or Markov and once they put Hossa on LTIR Bowman will probably swing a trade to acquire another good Dman.

I think the Hawks are actually more balanced on the top two lines with the changes. Panek will net them 20 goals and having Saad back will be a boon for Toews. If theres anyone that can rejuvenate Sharp its probably Kane. The D did take a hit though, but I still think the Hawks end up with Franson or Markov and once they put Hossa on LTIR Bowman will probably swing a trade to acquire another good Dman.
- mnhockeyguy

If Sharp can stay healthy he will be ok but I don't think he is anywhere near the player he was when he was traded to Dallas.

He isn't fast enough anymore to play with Kane I would be shocked to see him play with Kane

If Sharp can stay healthy he will be ok but I don't think he is anywhere near the player he was when he was traded to Dallas.

He isn't fast enough anymore to play with Kane I would be shocked to see him play with Kane
- sycsam

Anisimov isn't exactly a rocket on skates...

Wild are gunna finish on the bubble for a playoff spot, and not get past the 1st round if they do make it. Nashville will take the division, Avs and Jets won't make it, Blues will squeeze by, Stars will finish 2nd, and I have no idea what to expect of the Hawks.

Wild are gunna finish on the bubble for a playoff spot, and not get past the 1st round if they do make it. Nashville will take the division, Avs and Jets won't make it, Blues will squeeze by, Stars will finish 2nd, and I have no idea what to expect of the Hawks.
- Tweaterben

Yup pretty much sums it up. I have it shaking out like this:

#1 Nashville (although a lot of that depends on the play or Rinne)
#2 Stars
#3 Hawks
#4 Blues
#5 Wild
#6 Jets (although I could see the Wild and Jets swapping spots)
#7 Avs

We like the Blues team the way that it is. No changes necessary
- VopatsRash

Hasn't Nashville already forgotten they have a hockey team? I lived there on and off for three years and never met a single Preds fan.

Hasn't Nashville already forgotten they have a hockey team? I lived there on and off for three years and never met a single Preds fan.
- RobShouts

When you live in a cave and have BO, it's not surprising the two people you met didn't know hockey.