Trevor Shackles: Looking at the Rest of the Atlantic Division Taking a look at the off-seasons for the other teams in the Atlantic division

Well said. Many "goofbags" are saying the Atlantic was a weak division last year. Well the Leafs were 7th overall and 3rd in the Atlantic division. Sens and Sabres..probably shouldn't have been as bad as they were...and it pains me to say that because I hate both them (frank)er teams cuz..... rivalries.

Atlantic is a very strong division. Sens will suck this year but like you said in an earlier blog - take the over on...what was it 71 points or something? Take the over because they aren't that bad even without Hoff and Karlsson(assumption).

Could spazzto and DERPS weigh in on this please...

Good blog Trevor, but why is your image a TO Leafs one?

The season hasn't started and our blogger has already jumped ship!

Good blog Trevor, but why is your image a TO Leafs one?

The season hasn't started and our blogger has already jumped ship!
- Panzer_IVA

Cause we the best!

Cause we the best!
- LeafGuy89

The way things are for both our teams at this point, I would agree.

I mostly agree with this assessment, but don't see the Habs and Wings trending upwards at all. Too much change, in Montreal and it'll take a while to put the pieces together. The Wings are in transition and for the first time in two decades, they have to rebuild, with a farm system that is devoid of top end talent.

On Buffalo, I see them and Florida battling it out for fourth place and possible playoff positioning for the wild card. I see Ottawa around 6th, in the division and slightly improved. They do have a few pieces decent prospects from the last 3 drafts that may soon be ready.

Lightning
Leafs
Bruins
Panthers
Sabres
Sens
Habs
Wings

I agree with everything except the habs.

they traded their best centre for another undersized and overrated winger. it's not an NHL offseason unless Bergevin makes a horrible trade that sets his team back another year.

similar to Ottawa with melnyk, the habs will never take a step forward as long as bergevin is the GM.

Pretty sure Domi won't be playing centre.

They'll keep using Drouin, preventing him to play at his best position and contribute to the best of his abilities.

Habs and Sens will battle it out for the 31st place in the league imo.... hopefully the Habs get that oh dreadfully needed 1st overall.

Otherwise, pretty good blog overall.

I agree with everything except the habs.

they traded their best centre for another undersized and overrated winger. it's not an NHL offseason unless Bergevin makes a horrible trade that sets his team back another year.

similar to Ottawa with melnyk, the habs will never take a step forward as long as bergevin is the GM.
- sensarmy_11

Galchenyuk hasn't played center in 3 years, he was playing on the wing.

Galchenyuk hasn't played center in 3 years, he was playing on the wing.
- Symba007

and despite that, he was still your best centre

Good read. I think the development of the young guys like Pasternak (how is he only 22) and Macavoy, along with the emergence of Debrusk and Heinen, will allow Boston to stay pretty close to their teams of last year.

The leafs pass them, but it will be close.

Pretty sure Domi won't be playing centre.

They'll keep using Drouin, preventing him to play at his best position and contribute to the best of his abilities.

Habs and Sens will battle it out for the 31st place in the league imo.... hopefully the Habs get that oh dreadfully needed 1st overall.

Otherwise, pretty good blog overall.
- Scabeh

Habs or Colorado getting that first overall... tough call

I mostly agree with this assessment, but don't see the Habs and Wings trending upwards at all. Too much change, in Montreal and it'll take a while to put the pieces together. The Wings are in transition and for the first time in two decades, they have to rebuild, with a farm system that is devoid of top end talent.

On Buffalo, I see them and Florida battling it out for fourth place and possible playoff positioning for the wild card. I see Ottawa around 6th, in the division and slightly improved. They do have a few pieces decent prospects from the last 3 drafts that may soon be ready.

Lightning
Leafs
Bruins
Panthers
Sabres
Sens
Habs
Wings
- PrinceLH

I think that's fair from a sabres prospective, unless Dahlin and Mittelstadt have Calder seasons

I think the Leafs defense may not be as bad as it seems.

The team last year had a lot of forwards who were poor defensively, and/or were quite young still.

The Leafs defense definitely isn't strong, but just maybe not as bad as what it seemed.

As far as them upgrading... look at the cost of upgrading the defense. Edmonton had to pay a MASSIVE price for an upgrade. Yeah, the upgrade was questionable, the trade was among the worst in NHL history, but the bottom line is that the cost of Defensemen is ridiculous. I don't think your team is overall better if you trade a Nylander for a Trouba. In fact, I think the team is weaker.

Good read. I think the development of the young guys like Pasternak (how is he only 22) and Macavoy, along with the emergence of Debrusk and Heinen, will allow Boston to stay pretty close to their teams of last year.

The leafs pass them, but it will be close.
- david22

I am not so sure the Leafs do pass them. In fact, I think the Leafs may struggle a bit this season. Too much expectation and over-confidence and I don't like Ander5en.

Galchenyuk hasn't played center in 3 years, he was playing on the wing.
- Symba007

I don't know what off-ice issues the guy had, but it certainly seems like AZ won that trade.

I don't know what off-ice issues the guy had, but it certainly seems like AZ won that trade.
- Aetherial

and we can clearly say that without seeing either player play with their new team

I am not so sure the Leafs do pass them. In fact, I think the Leafs may struggle a bit this season. Too much expectation and over-confidence and I don't like Ander5en.
- Aetherial

Florida and Buffalo will be better, but I still think the leafs are too good to finish outside the top 3 in the division. Andersen is streaky, but I'd be confident he can at least put up numbers to keep the leafs in 2nd.

and we can clearly say that without seeing either player play with their new team
- Symba007

? Are you being facetious? Obviously we don't know how it plays out over the season.

and we can clearly say that without seeing either player play with their new team
- Symba007

galchenyuk played on a worse team and had better numbers.....now he's going to a better team.

there's no guarantees ever, but most people that I've read feel that Arizona won this deal pretty convincingly. only ones who I read who think the habs won or broke even are dinosaurs like Don Cherry, Milbury, and idiots like them who prefer the "good ol Canadian boys" over the euro players.

hell, most montreal fans absolutely HATED the trade when it happened, and those are the guys who all wanted Galchenyuk traded......that alone should tell you it was pretty one sided.

I don't know what off-ice issues the guy had, but it certainly seems like AZ won that trade.
- Aetherial

- Atomic Wedgie

That's quite a large fridge he has.

FL's offseason was great in that it was not full of head-shaking changes. "Imagine this lineup if smith &marchessault were still...." (without getting further into it, Tallon's moves were with the long term in mind, certainly it was bad for last year, but in a few years peoples' opinions may change.) For one thing, Dadonov wouldn't have been brought in last year and they wouldn't have been able to add Hoffman (without moving roster player/salary) this offseason. So saying "imagine this roster if"....is pointless, those players would never have all been in FL together.
FL added veteran KHL "stay home" dman Kiselivich(sp?), who should help out in the d zone. Heponiemi won't be w/FL this year, he is playing in Finland this season. The kid is very talented, but he only weighs a buck fifty, he'll need to bulk up somewhat. We'll see if Borgstrom is ready to jump in. Denis Malgin could be the guy to have a breakout year.

Am I blind or is Ottawa missing?