Speculation: Atlantic Division playoff race

[DanielMarois]

What will ultimately decide the Yzerman era is was it wise to build around Larkin and did the pieces he get around him deliver. Jury is out so far.

 

[Henkka]

Red Wings schedule has been 8th toughest based on this website:

NHL Strength of Schedule Rankings

Strength of Schedule Played and Strength of Schedule Remaining for all 31 NHL teams.

powerrankingsguru.com

View attachment 767146

And of the Top8 of toughest schedules, Red Wings have the 2nd best record after LA Kings. Other 5 are losing teams, Ducks are the 3rd surprise team there, with a winning record.

Imo, that .600 record on the "sweden-break" is very very good results. We have had bad games, and that team did look exhausted - thanks to this schedule.

They have played most games, 15 games, on this day. Only 4 teams have played 15 games on this mark. And Red Wings did start the season very late, think they did complete the games on shortest time period versus anybody.

 

[RRhoads]

They have played most games, 15 games, on this day. Only 4 teams have played 15 games on this mark. And Red Wings did start the season very late, think they did complete the games on shortest time period versus anybody.

This is worth noting. This is especially hard early in the season.

 

[Pavels Dog]

They have played most games, 15 games, on this day. Only 4 teams have played 15 games on this mark. And Red Wings did start the season very late, think they did complete the games on shortest time period versus anybody.

Yes, only Philly & Buffalo have played 15 games in the same timeframe.

Out of the 12 teams who have played 14+ games in that time, Wings have the second best P% behind Vegas.

 

[Henkka]

So far we are 4th at East and 3rd at Atlantic.

Metro Top4:
1. NYR
2. CAR
3. WSH
4. NYI
--------
5-6-7 PHI/PIT/NJD
8. CBJ

NJD lost Dougie Hamilton for 6 months and have been struggling all season. I don't see PHI as real playoff team, and seems also Pens aren't enough good.

Atlantic Top4:
1. BOS
2. TOR
3. DET
4. FLO
-------
5. TBL
6-7-8 MTL/OTT/BUF

Tampa falling far away, they have really struggled since Vasilevskiy returned. It looked much better with worse goalies. MTL/OTT/BUF are still too messy and far away from the playoffs.

 

[GreytWun]

Love that Boston is also 9-5-2 in their last 16 games. They are starting to come down now they aren’t playing Montreal, San Jose and Buffalo.

 

[jkutswings]

Depending on what impact Kane has, I still see Detroit finishing as a wild card team. Which I'm 100 percent fine with - it's the next step as they continue to improve.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

View attachment 777087


So far we are 4th at East and 3rd at Atlantic.

Metro Top4:
1. NYR
2. CAR
3. WSH
4. NYI
--------
5-6-7 PHI/PIT/NJD
8. CBJ

NJD lost Dougie Hamilton for 6 months and have been struggling all season. I don't see PHI as real playoff team, and seems also Pens aren't enough good.

Atlantic Top4:
1. BOS
2. TOR
3. DET
4. FLO
-------
5. TBL
6-7-8 MTL/OTT/BUF

Tampa falling far away, they have really struggled since Vasilevskiy returned. It looked much better with worse goalies. MTL/OTT/BUF are still too messy and far away from the playoffs.

Montreal is getting by on OT and shootout wins. I think they’re more likely to finish in a wildcard spot than top 3 in the division.

Tampa is strange to me because that top 6 should be a lock for a top 3 division spot but the last two seasons they’ve forgotten how to defend. How integral to their success was Lalonde?

Also, if we want to pick over their bones if they decide to rebuild or retool, who should we make a pitch for?

 

[Winger98]

well, since their last cup win they've lost Goodrow, Coleman, Gourde, Killorn, Palat, and McDonugh. That's a lot of talent to walk out the door.

 

[JediOrderPizza]

I really don't see much to pick up from Tampa, my first thought was Cirelli but he's a 40 pt defensive center just starting a 8 year deal. Don't think that's what we should be fishing for.

 

[saska sault]

Montreal is getting by on OT and shootout wins. I think they’re more likely to finish in a wildcard spot than top 3 in the division.

Tampa is strange to me because that top 6 should be a lock for a top 3 division spot but the last two seasons they’ve forgotten how to defend. How integral to their success was Lalonde?

Also, if we want to pick over their bones if they decide to rebuild or retool, who should we make a pitch for?

Stamkos.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Stamkos.

I’ve wanted Cernak for years now. The guy is THE ideal shutdown defender. And having him on the second pair frees up Seider-Walman for more offense generation instead of being used as our shutdown pair.

I’ll take Stamkos too, but Cernak would give us a huge boost on D.

 

[dj4aces]

Montreal is getting by on OT and shootout wins. I think they’re more likely to finish in a wildcard spot than top 3 in the division.

If that. I don't see MTL finishing in a playoff spot though, personally speaking.

Another team getting by on OT/SO wins is Toronto. Of their 12 wins thus far, only five of them are in regulation.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

If that. I don't see MTL finishing in a playoff spot though, personally speaking.

Another team getting by on OT/SO wins is Toronto. Of their 12 wins thus far, only five of them are in regulation.

And they’re pretty bad defensively so I think it’s only a matter of time before they go into a scoring slump and start their slide in the standings.

 

[RRhoads]

I would take Glendening and his 57.9 face off percentage. Perfect fit between Fischer and Kostin on the fourth line.

 

[SantosHalper]

well, since their last cup win they've lost Goodrow, Coleman, Gourde, Killorn, Palat, and McDonugh. That's a lot of talent to walk out the door.

Depth wins championships, thats what i have always said.

 

[Henkka]

Montreal is getting by on OT and shootout wins. I think they’re more likely to finish in a wildcard spot than top 3 in the division.

Tampa is strange to me because that top 6 should be a lock for a top 3 division spot but the last two seasons they’ve forgotten how to defend. How integral to their success was Lalonde?

Also, if we want to pick over their bones if they decide to rebuild or retool, who should we make a pitch for?

Stammer.

 

[RED WINGS STOMP]

The Atlantic teams and all these OT games they are having isn't helping the Wings at all. Toronto is going to set a record for most OT games in a season the way this is going.

 

[jkutswings]

Stamkos.

Bold. But not bold enough. Two years from now either Point or Kucherov will be a Red Wing.

 

[saska sault]

Bold. But not bold enough. Two years from now either Point or Kucherov will be a Red Wing.

I can't see Tampa trading Point, isn't he a Kuch signed for the foreseeable future? I think Stamkos could come via UFA but he may want to retire in Tampa.

 

[Ricelund]

I’ve wanted Cernak for years now. The guy is THE ideal shutdown defender. And having him on the second pair frees up Seider-Walman for more offense generation instead of being used as our shutdown pair.

I’ll take Stamkos too, but Cernak would give us a huge boost on D.

My thought as well.

 

[Henkka]

I’ve wanted Cernak for years now. The guy is THE ideal shutdown defender. And having him on the second pair frees up Seider-Walman for more offense generation instead of being used as our shutdown pair.

He is great. I wonder who would be our left-side "mcdonagh" to be paired with him...?

Edvinsson, Wallinder, Walman are proably the LD guys with most potential. But I don't see then at shut-down pair. Maybe that guy will come from outside via trade. Yzerman will buy in-prime player.