Its so hard to predict in a shortened year. A well or poorly timed hot/cold stretch could really make or break a teams season.
The biggest thing we have going for us though is goaltending. I have to say that I am not at all that worried about who the other Canadian teams have in net.
Vancouver is counting on a kid with 37 career games and a mediocre .906 career save percentage to date to carry the load. They brought in a fading vet in Holtby that has posted below league average numbers in three straight years.
Edmonton: Brought back old man Smith and will be banking on him and Koskinen being enough to get it done. Call me highly skeptical.
Calgary: Paid big money for Markstrom coming off a career year. I would wager he is more likely to regress to his career averages in the .912 range. Still average goaltending but nothing special.
Montreal: The Price/Allen tandem should be good if the extra rest rejuvenates Carey. They are really the only team I am concerned about.
Ottawa: Team is so bad it doesn't matter
Toronto: Andersen is a solid goalie but will likely be overworked again and he tends not to do as well when he is overworked.
Vancouver to me is scary if Hughes progresses like Heiskanen. He's the key there. Pettersson can be all world too. So there's some star power. Defense is thin though. Lots of grinding and overpaid forwards, and a mediocre prospect pool are going to hamper Vancouver. With a relatively healthy team, I think we should take it to the Canucks.
I don't know how Edmonton can much improve on last year's performance from Draisaitl and Mc David. There's still some major holes there. Worst goaltending tandem in Canada. Klefbom''s injury leaves an early hole.
Calgary is relying a lot on a older defense with Gio and Tanev. Should still be a pretty good team, hard to score on. Looking forward to a rematch.
Montreal is an older team too. Their skating in the playoffs was the big difference. Defense will be better than last year with Romanov and Edmunson. Toffoli brings some finish. I think they could be ahead of us. Depending on injuries.
Toronto has the star power, but I don't know if they have the team.
I wouldn't kick Ottawa down to the ground. On paper the worst team. Also have the best prospect pool of all Canadian teams. Goaltending improved in the offseason. Chabot is a great defenseman, probably kicking around the top 20 in the NHL. With Watson and Gudbranson they might be the toughest team in the division. I think they will surprise, with their depth, and skating. Maybe not enough for the playoffs, but better than expected, if they play structured under their coach.