Eastern Conference Power Rankings Position 1

[Kokoschka]

Bruins.

I'll rank us 4th, probably. Close with OTT and DET. DET will get the 3rd for taking the Hawks to Game 7. I'll go BOS - PIT - DET - NYR - OTT and after that it's pretty much a toss-up between WSH, NYI, TOR, MTL and CBJ IMO.

 

[nyr5186]

Lets go Rangers!

Best goalie in the world. Top D. Potentially good offense. We're one year removed from barely missing out on winning the presidents trophy to the team whose coach we just acquired. With some luck, I think we're up there with the top few teams in the conference. There are a lot of very good teams around us, so you never know. A team like Ottawa is very good. They could easily get hot stay hot and win the East. So can we. You could make the case for the Pens and Bruins very easily as well. I'm hoping its us.

 

[Boruto]

Pens will be Pens.

 

[KreidertheGlider]

I think #1 will be between Boston and Ottawa.

Ottawa has good goaltending, fantastic youth, just added a great goal scorer. And they have a terrific coach. Oh and a top 3 dman in the league (#1 imo).

Recently they have been plagued by injury, if they can have some luck I see them winning the President's trophy.

And Boston, well, I shouldn't have to explain.

 

[SirGoose]

All that matters is the playoffs, and the Bruins are a step above everyone else. Easy choice.

 

[Ola]

Lucic-Krejci-Iginla
Marchand-Bergeron-Eriksson

How is that not a great top 6?

Pretty avg atleast IMO.

Sure, very good two ways and a great mix of some pestyness and size etc., but there are just no top end talent.

Boston is of course a very good team by today's standards. But it's not their top 6 that is setting them apart. Put a "great" top 6 on that team and you get a dynasty...

 

[Fitzy]

It's Boston, but I think they have the tougher division so Pitt might beat them in overall points despite having an inferior outfit.

 

[SirGoose]

Pretty avg atleast IMO.

Sure, very good two ways and a great mix of some pestyness and size etc., but there are just no top end talent.

Boston is of course a very good team by today's standards. But it's not their top 6 that is setting them apart. Put a "great" top 6 on that team and you get a dynasty...

No top end talent?

What do you consider top end talent if not Bergeron?

 

[Radek27]

I see no reason why we don't have as good a chance as the Pens or the B's so I picked NYR.

 

[aufheben]

NYR have the best goalie, and a damn good defense. But our offense is a '?'.

 

[Kane One]

Boston. Pittsburgh's defense and goaltending always disappoints (not me, that is).

 

[nyr2k2]

I think Boston is probably the best team overall. However, I think Pittsburgh will cruise through the regular season and end up at the top of the table.

 

[Net Front Presence]

Pittsburgh always has great regular seasons.

 

[kovazub94]

I'm confused. Are we voting for the SCF representative from the East or #1 seed for the play-offs based on the regular season? If former I'd rank Boston and Detroit higher than Pens.

 

[Florida Ranger]

Lucic-Krejci-Iginla
Marchand-Bergeron-Eriksson

How is that not a great top 6?

That's an amazing top 6. A top 6 with some two way players.

Gimme Boston on this one. Pitt might have the best two forwards, but Bergeron and Krejci are really good players. It's all about balance and depth. Boston has that over Pittsburgh.

 

[BroadwayBlues]

I think the Rangers are the second best team in their division. Even though the Rangers defense & goaltending is better, Pens still have the better offense and usually have very good regular seasons. So I give them the edge for the division.

Pens
Rangers
Caps
Islanders
Devils
Hurricanes
Blue Jackets


Bruins just went to the SCFs, so I give them edge as the best team in the Conference. Until proven otherwise.
I'm undecided with the Red Wings here now. I have not watched them against many Eastern Conference teams. So it's hard to rank them head to head. Hmm don't know.

Rangers overall 3rd best team in the East. imo. because I haven't seen enough of the Wings vs the East. Rangers 4th at worst.

 

[OverTheCap]

Boston's top 6 isn't lacking in identity, that's for sure - toughness and strong two-way play with some skill sprinkled in. They are well-balanced and will be hard to play against.

Pitt and Boston will battle it out for the #1 seed, could go either way. Like others have said, I could see Pitt ending up with more points as they have a propensity to succeed in the regular season, even though Boston has a more balanced lineup.

I don't think the Rangers are up there with Pitt or Boston (and possibly Detroit), but stranger things have happened as we saw in 2011-12.

 

[TheTakedown]

I think #1 will be between Boston and Ottawa.

Ottawa has good goaltending, fantastic youth, just added a great goal scorer. And they have a terrific coach. Oh and a top 3 dman in the league (#1 imo).

Recently they have been plagued by injury, if they can have some luck I see them winning the President's trophy.

And Boston, well, I shouldn't have to explain.

ottawa lost some key pieces in that trade. Silfverburg was a monster

 

[TheTakedown]

I think the Rangers are the second best team in their division. Even though the Rangers defense & goaltending is better, Pens still have the better offense and usually have very good regular seasons. So I give them the edge for the division.

Pens
Rangers
Caps
Islanders
Devils
Hurricanes
Blue Jackets


Bruins just went to the SCFs, so I give them edge as the best team in the Conference. Until proven otherwise.
I'm undecided with the Red Wings here now. I have not watched them against many Eastern Conference teams. So it's hard to rank them head to head. Hmm don't know.

Rangers overall 3rd best team in the East. imo. because I haven't seen enough of the Wings vs the East. Rangers 4th at worst.

Blue Jackets should be much higher on that list.

I can see this:

Pens
Caps
Rangers
Blue Jackets
Islanders
Hurricanes
Devils

 

[Ola]

No top end talent?

What do you consider top end talent if not Bergeron?

Look at scoring in the NHL, start from the top and go down the list. That will atleast give you a decent picture.

You guys think these guys are megastars just because the played in the finals. Will be interesting watching that monster Horton next season in Columbus...

They are a great team. They are not (i) a great team with (ii) great talent in their top 6.

To match Boston, you just do not need both (i) and (ii) above: (i) is enough.

It's a relevant issue. From several perspectives.

Take those guys in Boston's top 6 and spread them out over the not so ideal fits of the 30 teams in this league, and you would hold them much lower.

You only need to study the SCF teams for a few years to figure it out (31 should really pay some attention too). Look at Penner. Look at Malone. There are so many guys like that.

Michael Ryder was one of Boston's best forwards when they won. It was Ryder this and Ryder that. Who is now looking at a top 6 and goes "man they have Ryder on their top 6 they are awesome!!!!"? Bergeron is a 2-way player who doesn't sell himself short on the ice. There is a bunch of players like him in the game, that don't happen to play for such a strong team as Boston and hence doesn't play in the finals.

Toronto should have beaten Boston this year, they had the slight edge overall in that series. But it does take a lot to beat them. They are really durable and clutchy. But it definitely is no impossible feat to beat Boston.