Annual "Where will the Canes finish?" Poll

[Boom Boom Apathy]

According to this, our poll may be a bit on the optimistic side. Of course, his model also has Nashville on the outside looking in. Interesting none-the-less. Basically says the Canes have improved, but the division has improved around them making it tougher to make the cut.

http://hockeyviz.com/txt/preview1718

 

[Novacane]

I’d love to know what Detroit has to make them on par with us and Tampa or above teams like Boston and Ottawa

 

[Stickpucker]

5th in Metro and WC2.

 

[Ole Gil]

http://hockeyviz.com/txt/preview1617

They nailed 3 of the playoff teams last year! Impressive stuff.

 

[Brock Anton]

Same thing as last year, a team that is streaky as hell.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

^^ Yeah, I was going to look for prior years if I had time. I think the methodology bases it heavily off the prior season's data with some of his own tweaks? (not sure, didn't read that much into it).

 

[RodTheBawd]

They nailed 3 of the playoff teams last year! Impressive stuff.

At least they have an appropriate twitter handle.

 

[MinJaBen]

IÂ’d love to know what Detroit has to make them on par with us and Tampa or above teams like Boston and Ottawa

I was wondering the same thing. When Detroit is a playoff team this year in your model...time to go back and check the maths. The rest of those results I take with a huge grain of salt until that is fixed.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

bubble in.

 

[Negan4Coach]

if I could actually vote- I’d go with comfortably in playoffs.

Reasons: I get that the pre-season is “meaningless”, but I can’t remember the last time we won so much or so decisively during it. it was always a fiasco that we told ourselves was just the preseason but always continued to be a dumpster fire through the crucible of the yearly State Fair and left the team demoralized and struggling right off the bat.

This year there is actual chemistry, swagger and dare I say self confidence on the ice- before even a real game. I see that as a remarkable improvement over years past and will pay dividends going forward. Most of us agree that if they had even gotten average goaltending last year we would have gotten a WC slot- this year we have a young team that is getting better across the board, have several important offensive additions, a even better D, and a goaltender that should by all signs provide better than average goaltending.

I understand that the Metro is a brutal division but I can’t help but to think that the Rangers and even Capitals are going to have to fall, and fall hard at some point. I think this could be the year. They’ve been playing with house money for too long- at some point Lundqvist and Ovie aren’t going to be able to carry their teams on their backs and the flameout will leave the Canes near the top.

 

[Unsustainable]

My wife was asking me about my thoughts on the upcoming season, I said, this is the first year coming into the season a while that I can honestly say, they have a legitimate chance at making the playoffs.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

if I could actually vote- IÂ’d go with comfortably in playoffs.

Reasons: I get that the pre-season is “meaningless”, but I can’t remember the last time we won so much or so decisively during it. it was always a fiasco that we told ourselves was just the preseason but always continued to be a dumpster fire through the crucible of the yearly State Fair and left the team demoralized and struggling right off the bat.

This year there is actual chemistry, swagger and dare I say self confidence on the ice- before even a real game. I see that as a remarkable improvement over years past and will pay dividends going forward. Most of us agree that if they had even gotten average goaltending last year we would have gotten a WC slot- this year we have a young team that is getting better across the board, have several important offensive additions, a even better D, and a goaltender that should by all signs provide better than average goaltending.

I understand that the Metro is a brutal division but I canÂ’t help but to think that the Rangers and even Capitals are going to have to fall, and fall hard at some point. I think this could be the year. TheyÂ’ve been playing with house money for too long- at some point Lundqvist and Ovie arenÂ’t going to be able to carry their teams on their backs and the flameout will leave the Canes near the top.

feeling you.

 

[cptjeff]

I understand that the Metro is a brutal division but I can’t help but to think that the Rangers and even Capitals are going to have to fall, and fall hard at some point. I think this could be the year. They’ve been playing with house money for too long- at some point Lundqvist and Ovie aren’t going to be able to carry their teams on their backs and the flameout will leave the Canes near the top.

The Caps in particular are going to come to earth hard. They lost two NHL defensemen, and they simply don't have any NHL quality prospects to replace them. They're in desperate need of a third pairing, and whatever they wind up with is going to get eaten alive. Not to mention that Brooks Orpik is going to be in their top 4, and they lost complementary scoring in Williams as well. They're a significantly worse team on paper, and they are 1-4 in the preseason, last in the division. Of course, New Jersey is 5-1, so don't read too much into that, but I'm beginning to think that they crater, not just slip a few spots.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

So they've lost:

Shattenkirik
Alzner
Schmidt
Johansson
Williams

That is indeed pretty brutal. Unfortunately for us they still have us beat when it comes to forwards and goaltending, and Pittsburgh proved last year you can win with Hainsey on your top pairing.

I agree that they are on their way down, but I doubt they miss the playoffs or even fall to the wildcard.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Not our division, but I've watched a couple of games of Montreal this pre-season. I'm not impressed at all. Yeah, I know it's only pre-season so I don't want to put too much stock into it, but even with Price standing on his head, I can see them really struggling this year. Of course, Price can be the difference maker though.

 

[AD Skinner]

I think it's very much in the realm of possibility that Metro teams take both wild card spots this year. Outside of Toronto and Tampa I'm not convinced any of the other Atlantic teams are head and shoulders better than any other. I think the 2-3 spots in the Metro will be a lot more competitive than last year too. Penguins probably start pulling away from the pack sooner or later but I don't think there's that much separation between us, CBJ, WSH, and the NY teams. CBJ may be a step ahead of that pack but maybe not.

 

[VAcaniac]

This is where I'm at. They've disappointed me too many times to go into the season with any kind of positive expectations.

+1

Reading this thread was an eyeopener. Itll be years before I ever "expect" the Canes to make the playoffs.

The franchise has never even really strung a few playoff appearances together in a row.

 

[geehaad]

The franchise has never even really strung a few playoff appearances together in a row.

I can't see how that's relevant to them doing it this year.

 

[gocanes88]

Where's the poll?!

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Looks like to poll got cut off when they migrated to the new servers. I'll add a new one.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Looks like I can't add a poll to it now.

 

[Tryamw]

Terrible.. No Poll. I picked Bubble team and in as it is Baby steps atm. Guess we just need a new thread. Or a trip to Poles -r- Us. Sorry wrong pole there.

 

[Breakdowns]

Looks like I can't add a poll to it now.

at least you tried

 

[Svechhammer]

Alright, I guess I'll chime in.

I can't believe I feel this way, but I'm going with comfortably in. The defense is legitimately loaded this year, and all Darling has to do is not be Cam Ward levels of bad, and they're a playoff team. Any progression by the offense, and this team should be set. My belief is that the franchise is literally a #1C away from being a legitimate contender right now but even without that, I still see this team making some strides this year. I think a lot of people are undervaluing how good the Canes are because their weaknesses in the past have been such critical holes that it masked how good the rest of the team was.

At the end of the day it would not shock me at all if the Canes took a BIG step this year and finished 3rd in the Metro. I think they have that kind of potential, and I think that the teams as a whole in the division are a lot closer than people think. Pitt should still be the clear #1, but after that its muddled with everyone having their own weaknesses. Put Washington, NYR, Columbus, Carolina, and Philly in a random number generator, and I wouldn't be surprised with any way they finish.

 

[MinJaBen]

Ok, saw this and thought I'd share. Not sure what to think of this...

Now, truth in advertising. This is from the Athletic. The article is behind a paywall, but the picture is not. I don't know why, but I assume if that is the case it is fair game. If not let me know and I'll take it down.