Biggest disappointment in the non-PO teams?

[Black Tank]

Even with one spot open in W2 in the EC, it's safe at this point to think about the biggest disappointment among the non-PO teams.

My top four biggest disappointments:

4. St. Louis
3. Calgary
2. Minnesota
1. New Jersey

2-4 are almost interchangeable but the biggest disappointment has to be the devils. They were picked to be SC contenders and even as late as the ASG were expected to get their act together to make a run for the POs. It's shocking to see them back in as a lottery team.

Who are your PO disappointments?

Click to read more...

 

[tarheelhockey]

Jersey finishing in the bottom third of the league was on nobody’s bingo card back in September. Nightmare season for them.

 

[GlitchMarner]

Wasn't Ottawa supposed to be a possible playoff team this year? What about Buffalo?

I'm not sure either team made any real progress.

 

[SquidNasty]

St Louis has outperformed pretty much all predictions.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Even with one spot open in W2 in the EC, it's safe at this point to think about the biggest disappointment among the non-PO teams.

My top four biggest disappointments:

4. St. Louis
3. Calgary
2. Minnesota
1. New Jersey

2-4 are almost interchangeable but the biggest disappointment has to be the devils. They were picked to be SC contenders and even as late as the ASG were expected to get their act together to make a run for the POs. It's shocking to see them back in as a lottery team.

Who are your PO disappointments?

You said "in". So now that you've listed 4 teams, maybe tell us what's in those teams: why they came up short, how they are trending into the near future, etc.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Another Devils thread

Sobs uncontrollably at this lost season

 

[PocketNines]

The Blues a disappointment? They are like 12-5 in OT, had the luckiest injury situation of any team and got rock solid goaltending, had a breakthrough year for their 1C and their best defenseman also had a great year. They also had a handful of impact rookies at LW, D and G.

And they still were overall just tough to watch, that is coming from a true die hard. This was a maddening and very unlikeable team. The GM is the most overrated in the NHL.

At no point were there real playoff expectations for this group. Our GM thinks the way you manage a great defense is you let the true #1 walk but lock up a mostly aging group of 2-5 dmen to long term deals, it is hapless. But he is Old Boys Club safe

 

[WaW]

Jersey finishing in the bottom third of the league was on nobody’s bingo card back in September. Nightmare season for them.

Just wait until the league gives them another lottery win.

 

[banks]

I'm pretty bummed that one of (or both of) Washington and Pittsburgh will miss the playoffs.

I want to see more from Crosby and Ovie. It seems like when the 90s greats were in their twilight all the fans were obsessing over them at the end. Lids, Selanne, Sakic, Bourque, Brodeur. I feel like they were given so much attention when they rode off into the sunset. But today's stars? Crosby is still a point/game all star, and Ovie is smashing goal records. But it's like the average fan ignores them or lives to discredit them. Not just HF, but anything I read or people I talk to.

It's pretty great that we can watch these guys right now. You'll tell your (grand)kids about seeing them play.

 

[dalewood12]

For me, it's New Jersey.

After last season I thought they were going into a very competitive 3 year Cup window.

Now, I'm not so sure.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Pretty disappointed in the Wild and that we don’t get an opportunity to see healthy Kaprizov and JEE in the playoffs. Injuries, depth, and goaltending did the team in, but the youth and the core players all did their part which is at least encouraging.

 

[Le Tricolore]

Wasn't Ottawa supposed to be a possible playoff team this year? What about Buffalo?

I'm not sure either team made any real progress.

I don't think anyone outside of Ottawa thought that they'd be a good team. Their management tried to rush their rebuild and it's obviously not been working. A high pick this year will definitely help them.

 

[BonMorrison]

Jersey is the obvious pick so I'll go with someone else. I really hoped the Sabres would take the next step this year, their team on paper was looking pretty decent other than goaltending. If 6K broke out at the start of the year, I wonder if things would've been different.

 

[LOFIN]

Ottawa and Buffalo. Neither took any steps this year, and we have been waiting for them to take the next step for what, the last 4 years at least?

 

[BCNate]

NJ- Utter disaster of a season relative to expectation
OTT/BUFF- They just continue to flounder and look lost
SEA-Huge step back this year. I think this team is more representative of where they are than last years.

 

[Ducksforcup]

Obvious answer is New Jersey, but a close second are Ottawa/Buffalo.

 

[tfwnogf]

1. Buffalo - no playoffs for what 17 years? yeah.
2. Ottawa - been nothing but misery since karlsson left, this year was supposed to be the year they finally make it.
3. New Jersey - took a big step back. yeah they had injuries, brunette is gone and they may have overachieved last year, but still.
4. Seattle - similar to jersey, overachieved but still. from beating the defending champs last year to this year, what a dramatic fall from grace.
5. Philadelphia - ok nobody expected them to make the playoffs but they were there for so much of the season, hurts to see them fall out of it.

 

[popo]

Calgary is not a disappointment - exactly where everyone expected them to be.
Missed playoffs last year, hired a rookie coach, and started selling off players (Toffoli) before the season began with no big additions/improvements.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

The general consensus has to be New Jersey. I would add the Sens at #2.

I had the Sens making the playoffs and NJ going deep.

 

[Canadienna]

Ottawa's unparalleled success continues

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Just wait until the league gives them another lottery win.

That only happens when the Avs have the best odds, so might be a few years.

 

[sr edler]

Calgary and St. Louis were supposed to be mediocre, Minny as well. Buffalo's actually seen some improvements (goalie situation, overall defence, Peterka), and kept too much dead weight (Skinner, Okposo) for too long. Senators were always an iffy shot.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Non-pissed off teams?

 

[StreetHawk]

Calgary and St. Louis were supposed to be mediocre, Minny as well. Buffalo's actually seen some improvements (goalie situation, overall defence, Peterka), and kept too much dead weight (Skinner, Okposo) for too long. Senators were always an iffy shot.

Any of Nash, Min, Cal, STL were coin flips to make the PO. So, no massive disappointment that any missed.

NJ was expected to have broken through and become a consistent PO team. That's really the only real disappointment to me.

Ott, Buf, were expected to be in the race like Det, but floundered early and played catchup the whole season, not unlike the Canucks the past 3 seasons.

 

[Hostile Offer]

New Jersey hands down. Also expected more from Minnesota.