HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Predicting The Metropolitan Division Standings

The Pens D sucks beyond that top pair. Extremely unproven. I don't see a division crown as a sure thing by any means.

As a Penguins fan I think this is a very optimistic outlook for them this season. I believe they will be a playoff team unless they suffer severe injuries again. However their division is very challenging and I don't think they are that much better than the other teams. I think the Islanders have the most complete roster in the division.

As a Penguins fan I think this is a very optimistic outlook for them this season. I believe they will be a playoff team unless they suffer severe injuries again. However their division is very challenging and I don't think they are that much better than the other teams. I think the Islanders have the most complete roster in the division.
- jfkst1

Agreed, I pick the Islanders to win the Division, President's Trophy and play in the Final. Their goalie is underrated, their D is maybe the best in hockey - or at least close - and up front they have four balanced lines, one of the best players in all the NHL and the emerging Ryan Strome.

As stocked as their team is, they also have a few young players who could potentially make in impact.

Blue Jackets (They also represent the East in the finals)
Rangers
Islanders
Penguins
Capitals
Flyers
Devils (Would love to see them get a top 3 pick, Schneider prevents that)
Hurricanes

Capitals
Penguins
Rangers
Islanders
Blue Jackets
Flyers
Hurricanes
Devils

Your fears are unfounded. Schneider won't keep the Devils from hitting rock bottom.

Your fears are unfounded. Schneider won't keep the Devils from hitting rock bottom.
- Snowblind

I don't know, without him last year we were probably picking #3 overall.

The Isles have the best forward depth in the division

Gonna be more of the same from Pitt this year.

Gonna start with high hopes due to all those fancy names in the top 6, and then by game 20 of the regular season they will complaining that they don't have depth and if their top line is shut down then they can't score, then by game 45 they'll be complaining that they have no grit or heart, and by game 82 they'll limp into the playoffs and lose in the 1st round due to their terrible defense.

Meanwhile Rangers are gonna have a 50 win season by winning a lot of 1 goal games and a few 7-1 games and will win the Metro and everyone will be like "man I guess they just overachieved again for the 4th time in 5 years"

Agreed, I pick the Islanders to win the Division, President's Trophy and play in the Final. Their goalie is underrated, their D is maybe the best in hockey - or at least close - and up front they have four balanced lines, one of the best players in all the NHL and the emerging Ryan Strome.

As stocked as their team is, they also have a few young players who could potentially make in impact.
- James_Tanner

Thanks for the jinx.........

Gonna be more of the same from Pitt this year.

Gonna start with high hopes due to all those fancy names in the top 6, and then by game 20 of the regular season they will complaining that they don't have depth and if their top line is shut down then they can't score, then by game 45 they'll be complaining that they have no grit or heart, and by game 82 they'll limp into the playoffs and lose in the 1st round due to their terrible defense.

Meanwhile Rangers are gonna have a 50 win season by winning a lot of 1 goal games and a few 7-1 games and will win the Metro and everyone will be like "man I guess they just overachieved again for the 4th time in 5 years"
- rangerdanger94

Underdog card Year after year.. Hell, I don't care what they call it when we're going deep into the playoffs, year after year. The ultimate goal however..

What stands out to me is how this divisionis stacked in net.
Pens D have alote to prove, before they win this division, I see much of the same from them (mediocrity), Caps and Rangers should be battling for first in Met, Islanders and CBJ will be fighting with Pens for third and forth spot. Flyers have potetial to upset any of these teams on any night which makes this division very tight. Devils and Canes not with this lineups.

New York Rangers

Gonna be more of the same from Pitt this year.

Gonna start with high hopes due to all those fancy names in the top 6, and then by game 20 of the regular season they will complaining that they don't have depth and if their top line is shut down then they can't score, then by game 45 they'll be complaining that they have no grit or heart, and by game 82 they'll limp into the playoffs and lose in the 1st round due to their terrible defense.

Meanwhile Rangers are gonna have a 50 win season by winning a lot of 1 goal games and a few 7-1 games and will win the Metro and everyone will be like "man I guess they just overachieved again for the 4th time in 5 years"
- rangerdanger94

...and they still won't win the SC.

...and they still won't win the SC.
- jfkst1

I'm gonna watch anyway and see what happens

...and they still won't win the SC.
- jfkst1

I guess we'll have to wait and find out?

I'd be more impressed if you accurately predicted who will win the SC.

hockeybuzz logic:

Derrick Brassard is an overrated player because of his playoff numbers.

Rick Nash is an overrated player because he disappears in the playoffs.

TJ Oshie pushes the Capitals over the top yet has never done anything in the playoffs.

The Islanders are better than the Rangers because Halak is underrated.

New York Rangers


- jimbro83

I guess we'll have to wait and find out?

I'd be more impressed if you accurately predicted who will win the SC.
- rangerdanger94

Last year I picked STL over TBL. This year I'm leaning towards TBL. Only average possession team to win the SC was Boston and Thomas had the best postseason of any goalie in the modern era.

Last year I picked STL over TBL. This year I'm leaning towards TBL. Only average possession team to win the SC was Boston and Thomas had the best postseason of any goalie in the modern era.
- jfkst1

Tampa Bay is great because of Stamkos, Johnson, Hedman and loads of other players with pure hockey talent.

It has nothing to do with this Ponzi scheme known as Corsi.

Last year I picked STL over TBL. This year I'm leaning towards TBL. Only average possession team to win the SC was Boston and Thomas had the best postseason of any goalie in the modern era.
- jfkst1

Define modern?

Jonathan Quick 2012: 16-4 1.41GAA .946 SVPCT.

Tampa Bay is great because of Stamkos, Johnson, Hedman and loads of other players with pure hockey talent.

It has nothing to do with this Ponzi scheme known as Corsi.
- jimbro83

It's a pretty simple concept; the majority of good players are good possession players and most successful teams are composed of good players.

It's a pretty simple concept; the majority of good players are good possession players and most successful teams are composed of good players.
- jfkst1

Jon Rosen ✔ @lakingsinsider
Interesting that many players aren't too keen on advanced stats. Drew Doughty: "I think that Corsi thing is a bunch of crap, personally"

Penguins are one dman away from being the cup favorite.

They have two first lines and two third lines. Baby Pens have a bunch of quality 4th line types. Sundqvist has a high probability of being ready for the playoffs as a fill in 3rd line type

They have a number one d-pairing and a bunch of bottom pairing guys. Fleury has improved his game enough.

Trade deadline will likely add a second pairing guy. Will probably see something like Scuderi and two 2nds for someone to fill that gap ( scuds only owed 2.5 next year)

I don't think the capitals improved that much. Williams is getting old and they lost quality players to make those two additions and I don't think the guys they got are huge upgrades to what they lost.

Rangers always perform though I'm not a huge fan of their roster but they get it done.
Blue jackets and Islanders are intriguing but neither team has really put it together.

Pens are built like the hawks from last year. Two great top lines with two quality bottom lines. A good top pairing. Biggest difference is the Hawks had a second pairing and the pens do not