Speculation: Looking at Atlantic Division 2015-2016

[Fenway]

Was just listening to Pierre McGuire on Montreal radio and he expects next year to be a dogfight in both Eastern Conference divisions.

Pierre thinks Sweeney will order Julian to be more offensive and they need to be tougher but getting into the playoffs will be a battle. He does think the Bruins will make the playoffs, however if the Bruins falter coming out of the gates and Adam Oates is available there could be a quick hook.

In the Atlantic Tampa Bay will be the team to beat. Montreal most likely will drop some and Detroit will miss Babcock. Ottawa will be in the hunt, Florida most likely will improve and Buffalo has to be better. Toronto

The question is can the Bruins finish in the top 3 in the Atlantic or will they wind up fighting for a wildcard? Columbus if they stay healthy should be a playoff team and the Flyers should have a better year.

Of course we won't have an idea on what the Bruins will look like next year until early July but the reality is there are 14 teams in the East that think they can make the playoffs next year ( only Buffalo and Carolina seem to be too far back to fix in one year )

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[RedeyeRocketeer]

I think it's going to be more of the same.

What Ottawa will gain I think Montreal will lose.
Toronto will be irrelevant.
Buffalo will be irrelevant for another year, but is going to be a concern going forward.
Florida as you mentioned is going to be a 6-9 spot team for a long time.
Tampa is going to keep getting better, they're so young.

Detroit who knows. I think they're the closest thing to us. Could go either way. I just know we'll be better than the Metro.

 

[VanIsle]

This team is not the elite team it was a few years ago.

They have to pray Chara comes back as he says he can, same with Seidenberg.

The defense needs a piece or 2 and the youngsters have to step up and play like they did in the trail end of this year (Spooner, Pasta)

I can see them making it as long as the injuries are not as severe as last year and all the players don't suck like they did last year.

 

[ODAAT]

Was just listening to Pierre McGuire on Montreal radio and he expects next year to be a dogfight in both Eastern Conference divisions.

Pierre thinks Sweeney will order Julian to be more offensive and they need to be tougher but getting into the playoffs will be a battle. He does think the Bruins will make the playoffs, however if the Bruins falter coming out of the gates and Adam Oates is available there could be a quick hook.

In the Atlantic Tampa Bay will be the team to beat. Montreal most likely will drop some and Detroit will miss Babcock. Ottawa will be in the hunt, Florida most likely will improve and Buffalo has to be better. Toronto

The question is can the Bruins finish in the top 3 in the Atlantic or will they wind up fighting for a wildcard? Columbus if they stay healthy should be a playoff team and the Flyers should have a better year.

Of course we won't have an idea on what the Bruins will look like next year until early July but the reality is there are 14 teams in the East that think they can make the playoffs next year ( only Buffalo and Carolina seem to be too far back to fix in one year )

He can order Julien all he wants, if CJ isn`t given the horses, it isn`t happening IMO

 

[Danton Heineken]

Mazz summed this up perfectly: if Julien is going to be brought back, but given a very short leash, why not just fire him now and get it over with?

 

[Fenway]

In a perfect world the B's are in the playoffs next year and Poutineville has an early tee time.

 

[Ratty]

It's far, far too early to discuss the Atlantic Division standings for next year. The trading season has not started. Free Agents don't shop their wares until the first of July. The Entry Draft doesn't take place until late june. Rosters are far from set.

Let's revisit say on August 15.

 

[DitClapper]

Love this from Talbot: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=768370&navid=nhl:topheads

 

[Fenway]

It's far, far too early to discuss the Atlantic Division standings for next year. The trading season has not started. Free Agents don't shop their wares until the first of July. The Entry Draft doesn't take place until late june. Rosters are far from set.

Let's revisit say on August 15.

Love this from Talbot: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=768370&navid=nhl:topheads

But going forward the Bruins have to look at both the division and conference and not worry about any one team. Montreal was built to beat Boston and succeeded but falter against other good teams.

Tampa Bay is in position for a window of several years, Florida is showing an upward curve. Buffalo will be a headache in a couple of years. Detroit has a nice pipeline of prospects.

I lose sleep wondering where we would be today if Iggy had accepted the trade to Boston in 2013 instead of Pittsburgh.

 

[Man Rocket]

Next year we are going to have a good shot at the playoffs. Tampa is the only real lock and maybe Montreal

Buf and Toronto and Florida are terrible
Ottawa and Detroit are decent but Ottawa may have been a fluke season and who knows now with Detroits new coach.

We have a great shot at the #3 in the Atlantic

 

[ThorntonFightClub*]

Mazz summed this up perfectly: if Julien is going to be brought back, but given a very short leash, why not just fire him now and get it over with?

Because if the guy you're going to fire will be the best available at his position you better have a good reason.

Missing the playoffs once on the heels of a Finals run and a Presidents Trophy isn't one

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Boston, Ottawa, Detroit, Buffalo, Florida and Toronto can all compete for the 3rd and 4th place in the division. None of them can compete for the cup.

 

[ReggieMoto]

Adam Oates? In a head-to-head matchup between Oates and Julien it's no contest! Julien every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Oates would not be an upgrade and that would be the only reason to swap out Julien. To upgrade him.