Eastern Conference Predictions

by PackPride17 on Oct 7, 2010 9:13 AM EDT

Man I'm ready for some real hockey! I really don't know if I can wait. I'll be following the updates today online, then I'll go home and watch the game even though I will know the results. I absolutely love this sport! It is the best of them all.

So here is my preseason predictions for how the Eastern Conference will end up. It should be an interesting year and like all predictions; it will for the most part be wrong.

1. Washington - they have the offensive firepower to just outscore everybody during the regular season. The big question will be their goaltending yet again and I think they will eventually trade for a good goalie.

2. Pittsburgh - they will get off to a slow start without Jordan Staal, but will tear it up in the second half of the season and beat out NJ for the Atlantic Division.

3. Boston - I don't think they'll be as good as most are predicting, but I also don't believe any team in the Northeast is solid enough to beat them out for the division.

4. New Jersey - they have a very good team, but one injury could really cause some problems. I see them getting worn down as the season moves along and they'll have another 1st round exit.

5. Philadelphia - the defending Eastern Conference Champs have a solid offense and a very good defense, but like Washington they are missing a netminder. I could really see Jeff Carter being traded during the season for a legit goalie.

6. Tampa Bay - They have a good top 6 and a goalie that I think is a little underrated. Take that and multiple games against Florida and Atlanta and they end up with a good record.

7. Buffalo - Solid team, but not great. Miller will have to work his magic, but I think they sneak into the playoffs.

8. NY Rangers - very tough decision here, but I think Hank has a very good year in net and Frolov is out to prove his worth. I also think Stepan will have a solid rookie year.

9. Ottawa - They are a decent team that could take the 8th spot, but I feel they are stretched thin on the blueline. There is also the Spezza thing, will he or will he not be traded away at some point. And Alfredsson always seems to get hurt at some point of the season.

10. Carolina - The young Canes start off a little slow, but as the All-Star game approaches; they kids start clicking and they make another late season charge.

11. Toronto - They will show some improvement this season, but I still feel as they are missing a piece. They need to find a 1st line center.

12. Montreal - I don't believe Price and Auld will keep them in games, plain and simple.

13. Atlanta - This team could be real physical and win some games they are not expected to, but they don't have a go-to-guy. I think if Kovalchuk was on this team now, they would be a playoff team.

14. NY Islanders - They showed improvement last season, so what does Wang do to capitalize on that; NOTHING! If not for the goofs in Calgary, this IMO is the worst run organization in the NHL.

15. Florida - I think Florida might surprise me at some point during the season, but eventually crap settles; as will Florida. They are moving in the right direction, but that could still be 2 or 3 years. I hope they can last in the Sunshine State!

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Comments

I agree with pretty much every one of those predictions, I see it shaking out the same way.

Jeff Carter is going to score 40+ goals again, it is a contract year for him and he has the talent. I think Philly will finish 4-6. Tampa Bay is going to be very good, I think you slotted them dead on.

People are counting the Rangers out, but I see them securing a spot. Lundqvist is too good and they made some great additions with Frolov, Fedotenko, and the youth coming up (Stepan, etc.).

Buffalo is a question mark for me, Ryan Miller is going to have to stand on his head again for them to make the Playoffs, I think the 8th and final spot will be a toss up between Buffalo, Carolina, Toronto, and Atlanta (whom I think is better than most people give them credit for).

by JussiJuice on Oct 7, 2010 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

I do think that 7th through 11th will be very close and can go a lot of different directions. I think Atlanta is a solid defensive team, but I just don’t know where their scoring will come from. And again, I think Montreal will be a big disappointment this season.

It appears JR has gone out and added a POS for Staal's LW!

by PackPride17 on Oct 7, 2010 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, Carey Price may need to go into witness protection by the end of this year… Seriously, I think he might have to.

by JussiJuice on Oct 7, 2010 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

At least some bodyguards. I almost feel bad for him, it is hard enough to play under the pressures of the NHL in a microscope like Montreal as a young goalie… But when management lances their Playoff hero Halak and states they are going with Price, that just multiplies it infinitely.

by JussiJuice on Oct 7, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Pretty good job, at least there’s some logic behind it and it’s not really biased. I think 6-11 will be tough to predict. I think the key early in the season will be who can score goals and who will have productive special teams. Goals seem to be easier to come by early in the season so whoever can put them up will get out to a good start. I think Tampa’s going to be a lot better than anyone’s predicting, on paper they have one of the deepest lineups in the Eastern Conference if not the whole NHL. Today’s the best day of the year.

by Go_Shelf on Oct 7, 2010 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

I actually think Tampa is anything but deep. They have a very good top 6, but not a lot after that. I think they’ll be pretty good this year, but an injury could be real bad.

It appears JR has gone out and added a POS for Staal's LW!

by PackPride17 on Oct 7, 2010 11:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Disagree, they are definitely 9 deep at forward and their top 4 dmen are good. Yes their bottom 3 forwards and bottom 2 dmen are average to poor, but I don’t think they’ll be the reason they falter. It will be goaltending and consistency. I’ve watched their #1 PP unit a couple of times in pre-season, it’s scary to watch, they can really rip the puck around.

by Go_Shelf on Oct 7, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I have to disagree. Beyond Moore (who is inconsistent), they have a below average 3rd line. Moore’s a decent defensive center, Purcell hasn’t proven anything in the NHL as of yet, and Bergenheim is not all that impressive. And their 4th line is nothing.

Their top 6 is quite good and will carry the team, but again; one injury on those top 2 lines are they don’t have anybody to replace them with.

It appears JR has gone out and added a POS for Staal's LW!

by PackPride17 on Oct 7, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok I’ll agree to disagree. They have 4 Marquee forwards (Gagne, LeCavalier, Stamkos, St. Louis), they would be hurt a lot less by losing any one of them than we would be if we lost Staal. Moore’s with Purcell & Bergenheim is average to good on most teams. Moore’s a hell of penalty killer, he’s got decent offensive upside and is not a liability in his own zone.

by Go_Shelf on Oct 7, 2010 2:26 PM EDT reply actions

Moore is a good penalty killer and good faceoff man. I’m just saying if any of there top 6 gets hurt, those 3rd line guys cannot fill the void. They do not have enough skill to play in the top 6. TB’s top 6 is far superior to ours, but we have a ton more depth than they do. Trust me, if they look playoff bound this season; Stevie Y will make some trades to bring in some average to good players to fill out there roster.

It appears JR has gone out and added a POS for Staal's LW!

by PackPride17 on Oct 7, 2010 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Washington – they have the offensive firepower to just outscore everybody during the regular season. The big question will be their goaltending yet again and I think they will eventually trade for a good goalie.

I doubt it. It’s clear that the big question mark is how long they can keep up with cruddy center depth. Backstrom and Steckel/Gordon cover the 1st and 4th line, but aside from them it’s all ?s. After that, they’re dressing marginal NHL D regularly (at 6D and their 7D is as well).

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by red army line on Oct 8, 2010 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

TB and Atl. ...over-rated!!

I think most folks forget how bad they were last year! …yes they have improved, but ya’ll could have thrown a dart at UFA’s and improved those teams (maybe B. Melrose couldn’t) !!
The fact that they play a lot of games in the SE isn’t necessarily gonna help them… if they both are better, and Was. is SO Good (maybe getting a little too much credit, as we split our season w/ them last year, and we were BAD!) …and i, for one, contend the Canes to be pretty good (we are healthy after all)!!
Of the other teams, in no particular order, NJ is an enigma to me…some good, some not so much?? Brodeur seems to be fading, or is it the D that’s fading, or both?
Boston is probably the class of the NE, but w/o Savard…?
Don’t believe Ott or Slugs have anything special
Tor, has improved (a little) but don’t have a 1st line!!
Mon is in trouble with Price…either not ready yet, or over-rated
NYR still fall in the 7-10 range, after Lundqvist, Gabs…?
NYI…NO!!
Phi, Pit, Was (default NE winner) … and 4 QUESTION MARKS make the playoffs
Canes will at least be in the mix, but IMO are better than the rest of the SE, so i say 7/ 8!!

by randycane on Oct 9, 2010 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

I had Atlanta as 13th out of 15 teams, so I wouldn’t consider them overrated. Also Tampa could be good or if they suffer an injury in the top 6, then they’ll struggle. Buffalo, Ottawa, NYR, Tampa, and Carolina are all real wild cards. An injury here or there, or a surprise season among their players, or a in-season acquisition; either of these teams could get on a roll and make the playoffs.

Please Mo, take those POS's off Staal's line and put the more skilled POS with Staal!

by PackPride17 on Oct 9, 2010 3:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions