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Thanks to Stargate for sending meThis write up from the Hockey News as the Atlantic was hashed out. The beginning is about what you’d expect. Toronto and the two teams from Florida. Buffalo, Ottawa and Boston all took spots in front of Detroit, with only Montreal being ranked lower.

This is an interesting year. Yzerman had his 5th Detroit draft. Seider is still the top acquisition (opinion) and Raymond seems excited to try and move the needle. We’re also seeing how the 2019 draft is shaking out. Soderblom and Tuomisto are the names outside of Seider being bandied about, but there isn’t nearly the type of optimism for a depth role for Tuomisto as there is for Soderblom.

Yzerman has gutted the team, and it was what needed to be done. We’re in an interesting place of stop gap and development in what feels to be a bit of a mish-mash roster. Very curios to see chemistry with Debrincat and to see what the “Ghost” can do for special teams. Right now, I feel less familiar with this team than I have for almost 30 years when I first really started watching.

We saw a visibly deflated Larkin after Bertuzzi was moved. Now the news is out that he wanted a multi year deal with Toronto, but the club has a few hurdles cap wise. Boston lost the scrappy winger due to finances and I think ‘Bert wants to be in the post season mix. The team just seemed to lose a lot more than a player and it was obvious. Now it almost feels like a new team again and they need to mesh.

Prohockey Rumors cites a substandard blue line that looks to be without Chiarot on opening night as he stands to be the odd man out and thoughts that a healthy Edvinsson could step in when ready.

So, I promised a reader I’d touch on this. Patrick Kane. I don’t see a reason why this would be the place. Yes, he loved playing with Debrincat but unless top minutes are the priority over and above playing for a true contender that’s about where it stops. He’s from Buffalo, loves NYR, depending on the type of discount he would take any contender may well be on the table. If he’s in “record setting” mode for American born players, then it will be more about minutes. Never say never, but it feels like a stretch.

Detroit will need either to overperform or be gifted with a team underperforming based on what’s coming out in the pre season. This is a team we haven’t really met. It feels significantly different from last year and the could well be many moving parts. Injuries will play a part in who plays where at some point in the season. It feels safe to say that Detroit is going to have to force their way into the conversation. I’m excited to see if that can happen.

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