Hypothesis: This team can make the playoffs

[1point21Gigawatts]

Hypothetically? Sure! why not?
Realistically? Not likely.

What would be fun, in a completely hypothetical sense, is if we squeaked into the playoffs and drew TB. I mean, these last two games were pretty damn entertaining and there is some bad blood currently. That said, any bad blood would likely fizzle out by the end of the season and TB isn't quite playing up to their full potential...sooooo...

 

[Woodhouse]

You need consistency to hit 98 points and ensure playoffs, a la Keenan's six-points-in five-games pace. Right now, they're clearly behind that pace and would need wins in seven of the next eight to get on that pace, though five of eight would probably keep them in the conversation but still in need of a hot streak. A better result in Tampa would've put them in the thick of things in the Atlantic right now, but they lost that game and are still behind everyone but Toronto in the division.

Eastern Conference 6 in 5 Pace: http://www.armchair-gm.com/playoff_pace/teams/conference/eastern/

I disagree....

looking over Eastern conference and what was needed to make the playoffs has been around the low 90s.

Last year was a little different because you had some separation between top9 and the bottom 7 thus raising the point level. In all other seasons you have had a more even spread of teams where teams 7-11th place in the conference were still close and you didn't have big separation.

If they are in the 77-82 with 12 games to play(12*6+6=78) or 63-68 (12*5+6=66)with 22 games left then the playoffs are well within reach then confidence and want to make the playoffs kicks in.

Everything I posted there still rings true to me, including a second win vs Tampa as that would have Buffalo in playoff position right now. They were 5-7-0 when I posted that and have gone 3-1-0 since then to improve to 8-8-0. Split the next four, which would mean five wins in eight, and they're still in the conversation, at 10-10-0, but nowhere near comfortable. Earn more than four points there and they'd move closer to the more ideal 6-in-5 pace that won't need "help" or "other's poor form" to make the playoffs. They'd have to maintain that pace, but 6-in-5 (or better) is what they should be aiming for in blocking the schedule for regular season consistency and/or a playoff push. Teams make the playoffs with 98 points, while there are varying doubts with less. IMO, it's too early to project sneaking in, as that's a larger sample size conversation.

Regardless, their first 15 GP yielded: 7-8-0, 14 pts; ideal: 9-6-0, 18 pts or better; so 4 pts off the pace .. their next 5 GP: 1-0-0, 2 pts; vs SJS, vs DAL, at STL, at DAL .. as I previously mentioned, they need four points to maintain 6-in-5 but also need more to cut into the off the pace bit (aka, a hot streak).

 

[EichHart]

Yeah, I'm all aboard the playoff train. Hopefully we can pull off a few more wins here. I just bought tickets to the 25th and 27th games against the Preds and Canes. So pumped!

 

[haseoke39]

Plausible for us to get into third in the Atlantic by Saturday.

 

[Team Cozens]

Yeah, I'm all aboard the playoff train. Hopefully we can pull off a few more wins here. I just bought tickets to the 25th and 27th games against the Preds and Canes. So pumped!

The next 6 games will be a real bell weather test towards the playoffs.

Sharks
Blues x2
Stars x2
Preds.

I would be thrilled with a 2-3-1 record.

 

[Dingo44]

The next 6 games will be a real bell weather test towards the playoffs.

Sharks
Blues x2
Stars x2
Preds.

I would be thrilled with a 2-3-1 record.

I bet we beat the Sharks, and split with Lindy.

 

[Djp]

games 1-10 3-7-0 6 pts
games 11-20 5-3-2 12 pts
games 21-30 STL, NAS, CAR, nas, det, PHX, edm, van, cgy, LA
games 31-40 det, NJ, ANA CHI bos {XMAS }WAS was NYI DET FLA
games 41-50 chi wpg min BOS WAS phx col DET nyr, ott {all star break}

games 51-60
games 61-70
games 71-80


Chicago went 40-34-8 for 88 pts in 2007-2008 where they have Kane and Toews as Rookies.

games 1-10 5-5-0 10
games 11-20 6-3-1 13 11-8-1 23
games 21-30 4-5-1 9 15-13-2 32
games 31-40 4-5-1 9 19-18-3 41
games 41-50 4-5-1 9 23-23-4 50
games 51-60 5-3-2 12 28-26-6 62
games 61-70 5-4-1 11 33-30-7 73
games 71-80 6-3-1 13 39-33-8 86
games 81-82 1-1-0 2 40-34-8 88

 

[TehDoak]

Again, I think around .500 (somewhere between 78-85 points) should be our goal.

We obviously aren't out of any "races" in terms of the playoffs yet, but I think a 25-30 point improvement should be a pretty simple goal to attain.

 

[haseoke39]

Still got one more tough week. Blues, Preds, Canes, Preds. Need two wins out of those to keep pace and try to set up a big December.

Once we hit Christmas, if we're still within 5 points of the wildcard, you've got a realistic shot.

 

[Sabre the Win]

I would be excited to make the playoffs too but its not worth it this year when we are clearly not ready. We are loosing to teams that are playoff contenders and that's enough reason to see making the playoffs this year is just prolonging the tail end of this rebuild we are still in.

I think it would be more beneficial to have a chance at the lottery or draft in the top 10; go into the offseason with all the contracts expiring and see who we should move forward with.

I love the improvement but I think we need to continue taking small steps rather than large leaps and inevitably falling backwards later on where we are a playoff fringe/bubble team because we aren't deep enough to be truly be cup worthy yet (aka Vanek, Pomminville, Miller days)

By me saying this in no way am I actively rooting for a tank or cheering against this team. Every game I want to win and I feel angry when we lose and thats good because the passion is with me but Im not falling shortsighted and I realize this year is an experiment year.

If they do make the playoffs I will be happy I just hope we don't lose sight because we go on a tear against average teams and start making bad trades/bad signings ala Calgary.