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Todd Cordell
1. Toronto - They will be one of the highest scoring teams in the league. I think T.J. Brodie and Mikko Lehtonen, along with the continued development of young players like Rasmus Sandin and Travis Dermott, will make the defense noticeably better as well. They’re a tier above everyone else in this division.
2. Montreal - I really liked the Tyler Toffoli addition. I think Corey Perry and Michael Frolik were nice bargain bin depth pickups. While Jake Allen makes a lot of money, he should give them relatively stable goaltending behind Carey Price as well. The Habs will be solid.
3. Calgary - The Flames are forming key duos up front (Johnny Gaudreau+Sean Monahan, Elias Lindholm+Matthew Tkachuk, Andrew Mangiapane+Mikael Backlund) in effort to balance the lines this year. I think that, along with some nice depth additions on the wing (Josh Leivo, Dominik Simon, etc.) will give them more scoring depth. I didn’t like the Chris Tanev signing but they still have Mark Giordano, Rasmus Andersson and Juuso Valimaki, who I think is ready to enjoy a breakout. They also have a very good goaltending tandem in Jacob Markstrom/David Rittich. I see them as a playoff team in this division.
4. Edmonton - They are going to score a ton of goals. Their top-6 is lethal and they might have the league’s best power play. Still not sold on the goaltending but they should be solid.
5. Winnipeg - I don’t like the depth up front or on the back end. I think there is enough starpower up front that, with the help of Connor Hellebuyck, the Jets can be competitive.
6. Vancouver - Quite honestly, I don’t see much of a gap between 3-6. They could definitely get in on the back of Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes and company. I just don’t like the forward depth, I still see holes on the blueline, and I’m not exactly sold on Braden Holtby (.896 SV% last season) competently replacing Jacob Markstrom.
7. Ottawa - They have more talent than over the last couple years but I think there is still a ways to go before they compete for a playoff spot. Their core of young players should be fun to watch, though.
Sean Maloughney
1. Toronto - High end offensive depth throughout their forward core. Defense compared to the league is still not astounding but certainly strong in the North Division. Short of a complete cataclysm from Anderson in net Toronto is the team to beat.
2. Montreal - Very impressed with the roster additions this off-season and have the best defensive group in the division.
3. Edmonton - Holland made some smart decisions adding depth to an already potent top six. Biggest question mark in goaltending is not Koskinen but Mike Smith playing on back to back situations.
4. Vancouver - The core of Boeser, Pettersson, Horvat, Hughes will continue to shine and I like Schmidt on defense but Markstrom held this team afloat for long stretches during the regular season and I don\'t see Holtby or Demko doing the same.
5. Calgary - Downgraded on a defense that already wasn't strong last season and despite a poor playoff performance did very little up front. Markstrom needs to do what he did for Vancouver for this to be a playoff team.
6. Winnipeg - I really like the Jets and debated placing them above Calgary but this defensive group is by far the worst in the division and I think Hellebuyck cools off immensely leading to a big regression for this club.
7. Ottawa - Some nights they will be thrilling to watch and other nights they will stink up the joint. This is a young rebuilding team and I don\'t think anyone will argue about them being in last place here.
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