Breaking> Sami Vatanen has signed back with the NJ Devils...
Since you all so strongly agreed with my picks yesterday for the North Division here ya go....spoiler alert.
#8. The Arizona Coyotes
It’s hard to really express how lousy I feel for the fans of this team and Rick Tocchet. This team had been building a solid young core, until the recent shift from ownership and the pandemic the future trajectory looked perfect. It hasn’t really worked out that way however. The Coyotes are selling as they rebuild. That’s unheard of. The hope here is that Arizona’s players and Toch take an “us against the world… mentality and they over perform. That does happen in the NHL sometimes...but if it doesn’t happen I fear 8th.
#7. The San Jose Sharks
The Sharks struggled terribly last year and yet they acted this off-season like last season was just some sort of anomaly...They really did very little to address the situation...Their key additions? Marleau, Dubnyk, and Donato. Dubnyk is an upgrade in goal, but how could they not be more aggressive elsewhere? I don’t see the Sharks improving much...if at all.
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#6. The Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks have a bright future and anyone who watch Trevor Zegras at the WJC knows they have a complete star in the making there...It is hard to image that Trevor won’t find a way to make an impact this season. They also are stacked with other prospects and made a key signing by adding Shattenkirk to help out in their own end...
#5. The LA Kings
The Kings ended last year on fire and the question is was that a sign of things to come or an anomaly? I believe they are for real and could easily sneak into the playoffs. Much depends on the goaltending of Quick and if the young speed can continue to catch teams by surprise... As of now, it sounds like prospect Byfield WON’T be on the roster, but that could change quickly. Blake has a ton of prospects and has shown to be a VERY patient GM. However, where will Byfield play if not on LA? I think he will find his way into the lineup at some point...
#4 The Minnesota Wild
The Wild and Billy Guerin have done an amazing job at re-tooling, while also moving veterans out which allows the young core to claim this team as their own... Kiprizov is finally here and that along with the shift in leadership makes the Wild very intriguing, but quite difficult to place in the standings... I think they could finish anywhere from 3rd to 6th...But I do see them as a playoff team... #3. Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is another tough one. Are they a team on the way up or are they on the way down? Is there still enough magic here to keep them from starting to look more like a team still in their infancy? I could see the Knights missing the playoffs, but this division is just not that strong...They are closer to the Wild and Kings though, than they are to the Blues or Avalanche.
#2. The St Louis Blues.
They were Cup Champs not that long ago and while they struggled in the bubble they are still a VERY strong team. They lost their captain, but added Krug, so they will be fine in their own zone. Hoffman could turn out to be an upgrade over Steen..I expect a big bounce back in goal...The Blues are going to be a serious contender...especially in this division.
#1. The Colorado Avalanche
Had they stayed healthy I think they would have given Tampa a serious challenge for the Cup. And they continue to get better by adding more and more depth. They have it all and I feel that they are set in goal. MacKinnon found another level last year and he may still have more. Makar will only get better and he was as good as it gets last year. The Avs are going to be battling for the President’s Cup.
What say you?
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