mtl and tml improved. leafs.. maybe a bit. boston is still ahead of us.
tight race if we make it.
Meh, I'm not really sure about that. Leafs still have issues on defence and they are now spending far too much money on their bottom six. If Bernier doesn't play as well as well as he did last year they could be picking top 10 again next year. Especially if Caryle doesn't improve the Leafs offensive game plan.
TB definitely improved and are now clearly the 3rd best team in the East.
Montreal I'd also argue fell to our level. They lost Gionta, and Vanek and they're only add was P.A. Parenteau and he had a disappointing season in Colorado though he does have the ability to bounce back and score 50 points. Besides that they traded away their #3 dman and it would look like they're going to replace those minutes with inexperienced rookies. Now this could either work well or there will be an adjustment period.
On our end we lost Quincey, our #4D, and we've lost Alfie. We replace Quincey with Smith and assuming that it's the Smith of the playoffs and the last 20 games we have a net gain in our top 4. Then we replace Smith's minutes with Ouellet or Marchenko and we have a decent 3rd pairing unlike last year.
Of course all of the teams will rely on their goalies. If Howard can bounce back to his .920+ Sv% levels I have no doubt we will be safely be in the playoffs. The same can be said about Montreal, TB, or Toronto but if any of our goalies falter we likely aren't in the playoffs.