Have we at all talked about realistic expectations by the team and individual players this summer? Looking at the team’s stats, I would argue only three players met their quota this past season. Giroux, Couturier and Konecny. I suppose you could add Sanheim to that argument but I’m not sure we’ve seen his ceiling yet.

-Jake Voracek, 66 point, not good enough.
-Ivan Provorov, 26 point, major step back from his 30 point rookie season, followed by his 41 sophomore season.
-Shayne Gostisbehere, 37 points, amazing enough is his worst of his career. In my opinion 37 point isn’t so bad. It’s being a minus 20 player every other season that concerns me.

So my question is, what is your realistic expectations of this team in a tough division? What do you expect from JvR in his second season back and what do you think Hayes should do?

I haven’t brought up Nolan Patrick because he’s stayed idle. He hasn’t gone up or down, which is really what makes this season so important. Oskar Lindblom is also a player who looks primed to score 20.

Thoughts.
- SuperSchennBros

JVR paced a 30+ goal season last year. I'd expect the same. I am expecting between 50-60 points from Hayes.

I dont see the Flyers in a tough division. Devils and Rangers are being overrated due to some sexy moves they made. Penguins, Columbus and Islanders are all due for a decline. Washington and the Caps should be strong. I'm expecting a top 3 finish in the division. Beyond that its tough to say because who knows what happens in playoffs.

JVR paced a 30+ goal season last year. I'd expect the same. I am expecting between 50-60 points from Hayes.

I dont see the Flyers in a tough division. Devils and Rangers are being overrated due to some sexy moves they made. Penguins, Columbus and Islanders are all due for a decline. Washington and the Caps should be strong. I'm expecting a top 3 finish in the division. Beyond that its tough to say because who knows what happens in playoffs.
- Baxter27

I think it’s ridiculous to call a team overrated when you haven’t seen what the moves could do for them yet.

Why are the Islanders and Jackets due for declines? They’re young teams. This makes no sense to me.

Have we at all talked about realistic expectations by the team and individual players this summer? Looking at the team’s stats, I would argue only three players met their quota this past season. Giroux, Couturier and Konecny. I suppose you could add Sanheim to that argument but I’m not sure we’ve seen his ceiling yet.

-Jake Voracek, 66 point, not good enough.
-Ivan Provorov, 26 point, major step back from his 30 point rookie season, followed by his 41 sophomore season.
-Shayne Gostisbehere, 37 points, amazing enough is his worst of his career. In my opinion 37 point isn’t so bad. It’s being a minus 20 player every other season that concerns me.

So my question is, what is your realistic expectations of this team in a tough division? What do you expect from JvR in his second season back and what do you think Hayes should do?

I haven’t brought up Nolan Patrick because he’s stayed idle. He hasn’t gone up or down, which is really what makes this season so important. Oskar Lindblom is also a player who looks primed to score 20.

Thoughts.
- SuperSchennBros

Assuming they all stay healthy and Provy and TK are signed prior to opening night ( top 9F and top 5D):
Giroux 27/62/89
Coots 32/46/78
TK 26/28/54
Lindblom 22/20/42
Hayes 19/34/53
Voracek 22/50/72
JVR 32/21/53
Patrick 17/27/44
Laughton 12/18/30

Provy 9/30/39
Niskanen 6/22/28
Sanheim 11/32/43
Braun 3/14/17
Ghost 12/42/54

Hart 52 starts 2.65 gaa .918 sv pctg.
record(W/L/ OTL/SOL/PTS:
30/15/5/2/67

Elliott 30 starts 2.92 gaa, .906 Sv pctg
14/10/4/2/34

Team Record
44/25/9/4/101; 2nd place in Metro

I think it’s ridiculous to call a team overrated when you haven’t seen what the moves could do for them yet.

Why are the Islanders and Jackets due for declines? They’re young teams. This makes no sense to me.
- SuperSchennBros

CBJ lost Bob, Panarin and Duchene, hard to believe that doesn’t hurt them some.

FWIW, I see the Metro finishing:

Washington
Philly
Carolina
NY Isles
Pittsburgh
NY Rangers
Columbus
New Jersey

If the agents are looking further out than the next deal, they are certainly looking to raise or break the cap. Anyone that's even halfway committed to their work is thinking about the future of their industry. These aren't soccer player agents here...
- BadCowboyDan

Tell me specifically what an agent can do to raise or break the cap?

I think it’s ridiculous to call a team overrated when you haven’t seen what the moves could do for them yet.

Why are the Islanders and Jackets due for declines? They’re young teams. This makes no sense to me.
- SuperSchennBros

So you're asking for expectations but call my opinion ridiculous for not waiting to see the results?

Columbus lost Panarin, Bob and Duschene. A decline makes no sense to you? Islanders are far from a young team and IMO drastically over achieved last season. They also lost Lehner who had a major hand in their success.

I think it’s ridiculous to call a team overrated when you haven’t seen what the moves could do for them yet.

Why are the Islanders and Jackets due for declines? They’re young teams. This makes no sense to me.
- SuperSchennBros

Honestly how can you not say the jackets will decline? They lost three top players including a two time vezina winner and didn't really replace them.

I would say its not even really a stretch at all to say they will decline .

Honestly how can you not say the jackets will decline? They lost three top players including a two time vezina winner and didn't really replace them.

I would say its not even really a stretch at all to say they will decline .
- MBFlyerfan

The Jackets were a good team before Duchene and Panarin got there. If anything, Bob is the only major loss.

So you're asking for expectations but call my opinion ridiculous for not waiting to see the results?

Columbus lost Panarin, Bob and Duschene. A decline makes no sense to you? Islanders are far from a young team and IMO drastically over achieved last season. They also lost Lehner who had a major hand in their success.
- Baxter27

No, I think your assessment of the Rangers and Devils is ridiculous. How can they possibly be “overrated” when we haven’t seen what they’ve done yet.

The Islanders are not far from a young team.

Assuming they all stay healthy and Provy and TK are signed prior to opening night ( top 9F and top 5D):
Giroux 27/62/89
Coots 32/46/78
TK 26/28/54
Lindblom 22/20/42
Hayes 19/34/53
Voracek 22/50/72
JVR 32/21/53
Patrick 17/27/44
Laughton 12/18/30

Provy 9/30/39
Niskanen 6/22/28
Sanheim 11/32/43
Braun 3/14/17
Ghost 12/42/54

Hart 52 starts 2.65 gaa .918 sv pctg.
record(W/L/ OTL/SOL/PTS:
30/15/5/2/67

Elliott 30 starts 2.92 gaa, .906 Sv pctg
14/10/4/2/34

Team Record
44/25/9/4/101; 2nd place in Metro
- BiggE

I like this

No, I think your assessment of the Rangers and Devils is ridiculous. How can they possibly be “overrated” when we haven’t seen what they’ve done yet.

The Islanders are not far from a young team.
- SuperSchennBros

As per my original post they made some sexy moves that created a buzz causing many to over rate them.

The islanders roster had the 6th highest average age last season. Didnt realize they found the fountain of youth in the off season.

The Jackets were a good team before Duchene and Panarin got there. If anything, Bob is the only major loss.
- SuperSchennBros

Talk about ridiculous. You dont think the team has changed over the course of 2 seasons? Losing thier MVP isnt considered a major loss because they had a good season before he got there?

Tell me specifically what an agent can do to raise or break the cap?
- MJL

I agree, any contract that “ broke” a teams cap would be voided by the league. This is not a realistic possibility under the CBA.

As per my original post they made some sexy moves that created a buzz causing many to over rate them.

The islanders roster had the 6th highest average age last season. Didnt realize they found the fountain of youth in the off season.
- Baxter27

Islanders made the playoffs (and swept the Pens) because their goalies and defensive system had a ridiculous season. I don't expect that to be repeated. They don't have the horses up front to compete with most Metro teams (sorry Barzal), and I just don't see them repeating last year.

Also agree on Columbus, their farm system too a beating to bring in guys like Duchene and Dzingel, plus they lost a top-5 winger in Panarin and lost 2-time Vezina winner Bob. As for their seasons before last, they had won a grand total of 5 playoff games before last year, and never won more than 2 playoff games in any other year. I wouldn't call that "good" I'd call it "decent" at best.

I agree, any contract that “ broke” a teams cap would be voided by the league. This is not a realistic possibility under the CBA.
- Djapana

What do you mean by "broke?" Teams are allowed to exceed the cap by 10% during the offseason, they just have to make the roster compliant by opening night. I'm not sure what definition of "broke" is being used here.

Young defenseman who is used in all situations, eats the most ice time. Yeah, kind of a big deal to not have him on the team.
- SuperSchennBros

Is Provorov used in these situations because he is out there killing it? Or is he used in these situations because he is the strongest defender amongst a group of weak defenders?

Is Provorov used in these situations because he is out there killing it? Or is he used in these situations because he is the strongest defender amongst a group of weak defenders?
- acd513

No, he's pretty terrible. He's really not that good at all, super over-hyped. They had no one else to put there because all of our other defenseman stink, and he just drew the short straw to be thrown out to the wolves 82 times a season. At best he's an underachieving 2nd pairing player.

Is this really a serious question? Until last season (granted, 1/3 of his career), he was being hailed by most North American hockey analysts as a potential future Norris winner.

So, no, it's not because he's the tallest midget.
- jmatchett383

The poster has a point. Provorov has been used as the teams best defenseman since he came into the league at 19. That's not a normal situation. He usage is definitely due to in part the lack of top pairing defenseman on the team since he's been here.

The poster has a point. Provorov has been used as the teams best defenseman since he came into the league at 19. That's not a normal situation. He usage is definitely due to in part the lack of top pairing defenseman on the team since he's been here.
- MJL

all true, speaks to how the D needed a full overhaul, way to much to put on Provy.

Bill...


should be a bigger week with news right??????

you are around the players this week??????


need hockey

all true, speaks to how the D needed a full overhaul, way to much to put on Provy.
- wcorvette

True, he is nothing more than a #5 of a team full of #6 and 7s.

I have edited my original response to reflect this.

True, he is nothing more than a #5 of a team full of #6 and 7s.
- jmatchett383

That's not at all what is being said and you know that.

I wouldn't sleep on the Jackets.

I'm not even sure that they're really lacking talent. Bjorkstrand and Texier have the skill and upside to step into Panarin's minutes. Dubois and Anderson should get a little bit better. They still have two of the best dmen, and a proven goalscorer in Atkinson. It's still conceivable that Wennberg could get on his feet again. And Torts has a track record with underdog teams.

They didn't suddenly become the Ottawa Senators of the Metro or anything.

I wouldn't sleep on the Jackets.

I'm not even sure that they're really lacking talent. Bjorkstrand and Texier have the skill and upside to step into Panarin's minutes. Dubois and Anderson should get a little bit better. They still have two of the best dmen, and a proven goalscorer in Atkinson. It's still conceivable that Wennberg could get on his feet again. And Torts has a track record with underdog teams.

They didn't suddenly become the Ottawa Senators of the Metro or anything.
- Tomahawk

Do you expect that other teams could also have their young players improve that would somewhat offset Columbus' players improving? Also, the loss of Bob should not be overlooked either. Right now, both the Flyers and CBJ have some unproven quantities in net.

True, he is nothing more than a #5 of a team full of #6 and 7s.

I have edited my original response to reflect this.
- jmatchett383

maybe I missed the original post, we all know Provy is a top 2 D.