WEST-
1- Windsor- the memorial cup and assets should mean they go out and add more pieces. Not sure if that Keller kid comes. If he does- they are sitting pretty. If he doesn't then not sure they have the assets to add the pieces to be elite. They'll be good but Keller dictates if they will be elite
2- London- if Keller doesn't come to windsor then I'll have London at the top. If marner and tkachuk both return combined with the additional 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 free agents they sign then this team will obviously be good. Especially since they have so many trading assets they didn't use last year.
3- Kitchener- they are still in great shape with their returning talent. I like McKee as the guy in charge and they have some proven talents that will return
4- SSM- the main issue is what their goaltending will be. Raaymakers- not sure. But have to think if he isn't the guy they go add a veteran option. They were a fast young offense last year that will return most of their firepower and now a year older
5- Erie- still in good shape offensively and should be okay on backend. The question is in net with Lawr. They could add a veteran just to hold things steady a bit. Likely departures of Strome, Cernak, Dermott will be big but if the goaltending is decent they should be top 5/6 in conference. I could also see them trading debrincat/Pettit/Darren Raddysh and finishing in the 7-10th range in conference.
6- Sarnia- they could lose 4 of their top 6 forwards on an offense that I thought was overrated last year anyways. Not sure Fazio is elite to carry load either. The defense could and should be strong. If Zacha and Konency return they will be above Erie but the question is do they have the assets or the current team to make more moves to buy and compete with the best or do they sell off
7- Owen Sound- always a hard nose team but never have that explosiveness on offense for me to buy in that they will finish towards the top.
8- Flint- still young and rebuilding with so many questions inside management/coaching and players committing
9- saginaw- probably still a year or 2 away
10- Guelph- who knows given all the youth they played with last year. Never know who develops and takes off in year 2 or 3 of their careers but they obviously have a lot of growth needed
1- Windsor- the memorial cup and assets should mean they go out and add more pieces. Not sure if that Keller kid comes. If he does- they are sitting pretty. If he doesn't then not sure they have the assets to add the pieces to be elite. They'll be good but Keller dictates if they will be elite
2- London- if Keller doesn't come to windsor then I'll have London at the top. If marner and tkachuk both return combined with the additional 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 free agents they sign then this team will obviously be good. Especially since they have so many trading assets they didn't use last year.
3- Kitchener- they are still in great shape with their returning talent. I like McKee as the guy in charge and they have some proven talents that will return
4- SSM- the main issue is what their goaltending will be. Raaymakers- not sure. But have to think if he isn't the guy they go add a veteran option. They were a fast young offense last year that will return most of their firepower and now a year older
5- Erie- still in good shape offensively and should be okay on backend. The question is in net with Lawr. They could add a veteran just to hold things steady a bit. Likely departures of Strome, Cernak, Dermott will be big but if the goaltending is decent they should be top 5/6 in conference. I could also see them trading debrincat/Pettit/Darren Raddysh and finishing in the 7-10th range in conference.
6- Sarnia- they could lose 4 of their top 6 forwards on an offense that I thought was overrated last year anyways. Not sure Fazio is elite to carry load either. The defense could and should be strong. If Zacha and Konency return they will be above Erie but the question is do they have the assets or the current team to make more moves to buy and compete with the best or do they sell off
7- Owen Sound- always a hard nose team but never have that explosiveness on offense for me to buy in that they will finish towards the top.
8- Flint- still young and rebuilding with so many questions inside management/coaching and players committing
9- saginaw- probably still a year or 2 away
10- Guelph- who knows given all the youth they played with last year. Never know who develops and takes off in year 2 or 3 of their careers but they obviously have a lot of growth needed
