HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Predicting Western Conference surprise teams

I'm with Crozier here; Dallas.

I'll go as far to say they'll compete for top team in the west.

I'm pulling for the peg though. I love watching Scheifele and Laine, but I don't think they did enough to improve their defense and goaltending; that will be their downfall.

Dallas if they can stay injury free - Rad will be a huge bonus and Benn will keep him in line - but that is 2 big time lines that can fill it up. Throw Bishop in the mix and big D is poised to make noise - Tyler to lead the league in Points -

Dallas if they can stay injury free - Rad will be a huge bonus and Benn will keep him in line - but that is 2 big time lines that can fill it up. Throw Bishop in the mix and big D is poised to make noise - Tyler to lead the league in Points -
- dozerD10

I don't think it's likely Seguin will lead the league in points, but I could definitely see him finishing in the top ten this year.

I guess the surprise factor really does coincide with expectations . My thinking is the standings will look more like those below. A agree Dallas or Winnipeg will be the surprises because neither made the playoffs last year so its a big move in the standings.

The wild cards might be interesting because the rest of the Pacific Division gets to beat up on the doormats Vegas and Vancouver which might give them a lift in points while the tough Central beats up on each other.

Dallas
Winnipeg
Nashville
Chicago ( Wild Card - Dynasty slowly collapsing) )
Minnesota (Wild Card)
St. Louis ( to many big injuries)
Colorado

Edmonton
Anaheim
Calgary
San Jose
LAK
Vancouver
Vegas

I guess the surprise factor really does coincidence with expectations . My thinking is the standings will look more like those below. A agree Dallas or Winnipeg will be the surprises because neither made the playoffs last year so its a big move in the standings.

The wild cards might be interesting because the rest of the Pacific Division gets to beat up on the doormats Vegas and Vancouver which might give them a lift in points while the tough Central beats up on each other.

Dallas
Winnipeg
Nashville
Chicago ( Wild Card - Dynasty slowly collapsing) )
Minnesota (Wild Card)
St. Louis ( to many big injuries)
Colorado

Edmonton
Anaheim
Calgary
San Jose
LAK
Vancouver
Vegas
- jetsnation

Clearly we're all prognosticating, but I just don't see WPG making it and if if they do? Can't see them finishing that high. IMO we'll see DAL, NSH and MIN finishing in the top three.

WPG should have a very nice offense, but defensively? Wonky. Goaltending? A slight upgrade from before, but Mason is just not a playoff goalie anymore IMO. I'm pulling for them though.

Dallas is not a surprise team....... Everyone thinks they will be a top team. A surprise team would be a team that is expected to miss the playoffs. Winnipeg would be one for me.

The Jets without Maurice and co. likely sees a bottom 6 of
Connor-Petan-Dano
Copp-Lowry- Armia
And a playoff spot.
With Maurice? Expect
Matthias-Lowry-Armia
Tanev-Copp-Hendricks
And to be out of the race by the TDL.

The Jets without Maurice and co. likely sees a bottom 6 of
Connor-Petan-Dano
Copp-Lowry- Armia
And a playoff spot.
With Maurice? Expect
Matthias-Lowry-Armia
Tanev-Copp-Hendricks
And to be out of the race by the TDL.
- Rexypoo

Give it up already Rexy ! Enough about Dano. If you think Dano is going to be the one player on the Jets who makes the difference between the playoffs or not then your off your rocker. He doesn't even play specialty teams.

Maurice bottom six will be

Connor- Lowry- Petan /Copp
Matthais- Hendricks -Armia

...or some combination of those same players. I am a bit iffy on Connor's defensive play in pre-season. Tough to know where to slot him.

Clearly we're all prognosticating, but I just don't see WPG making it and if if they do? Can't see them finishing that high. IMO we'll see DAL, NSH and MIN finishing in the top three.

WPG should have a very nice offense, but defensively? Wonky. Goaltending? A slight upgrade from before, but Mason is just not a playoff goalie anymore IMO. I'm pulling for them though.
- Rinosaur

if the Jets Defense is poor this year, I'll blame coaching, not the players. We went all year without Myers, he's back and healthy. Trouba and Enstrom each missed roughly 20 games as well. The Jets have added depth D in Poolman and Kulikov which is also a plus. Morrisey was a rookie last year and played great, looking forward to watching him this year, buff is buff. No excuses back there in my opinion.

Give it up already Rexy ! Enough about Dano. If you think Dano is going to be the one player on the Jets who makes the difference between the playoffs or not then your off your rocker. He doesn't even play specialty teams.

Maurice bottom six will be

Connor- Lowry- Petan /Copp
Matthais- Hendricks -Armia

...or some combination of those same players. I am a bit iffy on Connor's defensive play in pre-season. Tough to know where to slot him.
- jetsnation

Amen!! Marko Dano and a fourth line have as much chance of determining playoffs as the temperature of the water on the bench

Give it up already Rexy ! Enough about Dano. If you think Dano is going to be the one player on the Jets who makes the difference between the playoffs or not then your off your rocker. He doesn't even play specialty teams.

Maurice bottom six will be

Connor- Lowry- Petan /Copp
Matthais- Hendricks -Armia

...or some combination of those same players. I am a bit iffy on Connor's defensive play in pre-season. Tough to know where to slot him.
- jetsnation

Dano to Hendricks is the difference between 10-15 goals with solid two way play or 3 goals and a tire fire in our zone. Same goes for Petan and Tanev. Production and passable defence? Or neither?

Dano to Hendricks is the difference between 10-15 goals with solid two way play or 3 goals and a tire fire in our zone. Same goes for Petan and Tanev. Production and passable defence? Or neither?
- Rexypoo

Well, unfortunately for you Maurice already said Hendricks made the team. He will probably play 40 of the 82 games. Dano wont even score 15 goals for the Moose in a whole season let alone the same 40 games or so he might have got to play if he were on the Jets.

Well, unfortunately for you Maurice already said Hendricks made the team. He will probably play 40 of the 82 games. Dano wont even score 15 goals for the Moose in a whole season let alone the same 40 games or so he might have got to play if he were on the Jets.
- jetsnation

That's 40 games we're more likely to lose because of the all time loss record holder Paul Maurice and his refusal to use information over reputation when making roster decisions. That goes double for you, jetsnation. You're the finest Koolaid drinker I've ever seen. You should do your research.

I love me a good ole Jets fan showdown.

I love me a good ole Jets fan showdown.
- golfingsince

This made me laugh out loud. Now my grandma thinks I'm crazy. Damn Leafs fans.