It's slowly upon us fellas. I think the team has vastly improved the last two years (on paper) and think we make some sort of stride this year.
This is mine:
San Jose - No way imo anyone in the pacific can hang with them. Karlsson, Burns and Vlasic alone on D is enough to see that. Their forward crop isnt anything to scoff at either. Pavelski, Couture, Kane, Thornton (albeit old can still produce well) and to a lesser extent Donskoi and Karlsson are all capable of putting up points. Jones seems average, but average in net likely will be alright.
Vegas - It pains me to put them here and I am still not sold on them being a stanley cup team and may not even a playoff team, but they keep proving they are a good team. I think Gallant has these guys so dialed in on the system that they are hard to play against. Karlsson, Marchessualt, Pacioretty, Haula, Smith, Tuch and Stastny...shit, they are player wise a good team. Theodore, Merril, Schmidt and McNabb isnt a shabby D, either. Fluery was outstanding last year, too. Should have won the Vezina imo. Anyway, I could certainly see them making the playoffs, again.
Los Angeles - I still think they have it. Kopitar, Kovalchuk, Taffoli, Carter, Pearson and Kempe/Vilardi is a sound top six. Pair that with Doughty and Muzzin and still capable guys like Phanuef and Martinez, their D isnt half bad, either. Quick is a question mark, but we all know what he can do.
Arizona - Galchenyuk, Keller, Stepan, Grabner, Dvorak, Perlini/Fischer/Panik is likely the best top six we've had in decades. Our top four of OEL, Demers, Hjarlmarsson and Chychrun is also likely the best we've had in a decade. Raanta has proven he is promising at being a #1 goalie, too. I think the players have all bought into the system (see back half of last year and the current preseason) and we will continue to see progress in all three zones. I think we are a wildcard team. I do not think we hang with San Jose or Vegas, though. (f*** the knights)
Calgary - Hanifan, Giordano, Brodie and Stone as a top four shows their strength. Not to mention Hamonic. Up front with Monahan, Gaudreau, Neal, Backlund, Bennett and Frolik is questionable. Monahan has had some serious injury problems. Bennett has still yet to put it together and Neal is getting older. We all know Mike Smith, reletively reliable but very inconsistant. I dont see them doing much more than being a sub bubble team.
Edmonton - Mcdavid, Draisaitl, Puljujarvi, Lucic, Nugent-hopkins and Cuggiula/Rattie is pretty poor outside of McDavid, Draisaitl and RNH. They dont look any better than last year. Rattie, however has looked good on Mcdavids wing. Larsson, Klefbom, Nurse and Sekera isnt all that good, either. Talbot is capable of holding the fort but will need serious support for that to happen. A lot rides on where Mcdavid goes the Oilers go. I have them missing again.
Anaheim - Trying to learn a new system with the same players. Getzlaf is still elite imo, but Perry and Kesler are not the same. Rakell, Henrique and Silfverberg are good, but more support players than anything. Although, Rakell is the best of the bunch. Fowler, Linhom, Montour and Larsson isnt a bad top four but I dont think they have the right tools for the new system. (or atleast have not grasped the new system) Gibson also needs to repeat what he did last year if Anaheim wants to have continued success, but I think this is the year they start to slip. I have them missing.
Vancouver - Not even sure what to say outside of Brock Boeser. Lottery team.
Cliff notes:
San Jose
Vegas
Los Angeles
Arizona
Calgary
Edmonton
Anaheim
Vancouver
This is mine:
San Jose - No way imo anyone in the pacific can hang with them. Karlsson, Burns and Vlasic alone on D is enough to see that. Their forward crop isnt anything to scoff at either. Pavelski, Couture, Kane, Thornton (albeit old can still produce well) and to a lesser extent Donskoi and Karlsson are all capable of putting up points. Jones seems average, but average in net likely will be alright.
Vegas - It pains me to put them here and I am still not sold on them being a stanley cup team and may not even a playoff team, but they keep proving they are a good team. I think Gallant has these guys so dialed in on the system that they are hard to play against. Karlsson, Marchessualt, Pacioretty, Haula, Smith, Tuch and Stastny...shit, they are player wise a good team. Theodore, Merril, Schmidt and McNabb isnt a shabby D, either. Fluery was outstanding last year, too. Should have won the Vezina imo. Anyway, I could certainly see them making the playoffs, again.
Los Angeles - I still think they have it. Kopitar, Kovalchuk, Taffoli, Carter, Pearson and Kempe/Vilardi is a sound top six. Pair that with Doughty and Muzzin and still capable guys like Phanuef and Martinez, their D isnt half bad, either. Quick is a question mark, but we all know what he can do.
Arizona - Galchenyuk, Keller, Stepan, Grabner, Dvorak, Perlini/Fischer/Panik is likely the best top six we've had in decades. Our top four of OEL, Demers, Hjarlmarsson and Chychrun is also likely the best we've had in a decade. Raanta has proven he is promising at being a #1 goalie, too. I think the players have all bought into the system (see back half of last year and the current preseason) and we will continue to see progress in all three zones. I think we are a wildcard team. I do not think we hang with San Jose or Vegas, though. (f*** the knights)
Calgary - Hanifan, Giordano, Brodie and Stone as a top four shows their strength. Not to mention Hamonic. Up front with Monahan, Gaudreau, Neal, Backlund, Bennett and Frolik is questionable. Monahan has had some serious injury problems. Bennett has still yet to put it together and Neal is getting older. We all know Mike Smith, reletively reliable but very inconsistant. I dont see them doing much more than being a sub bubble team.
Edmonton - Mcdavid, Draisaitl, Puljujarvi, Lucic, Nugent-hopkins and Cuggiula/Rattie is pretty poor outside of McDavid, Draisaitl and RNH. They dont look any better than last year. Rattie, however has looked good on Mcdavids wing. Larsson, Klefbom, Nurse and Sekera isnt all that good, either. Talbot is capable of holding the fort but will need serious support for that to happen. A lot rides on where Mcdavid goes the Oilers go. I have them missing again.
Anaheim - Trying to learn a new system with the same players. Getzlaf is still elite imo, but Perry and Kesler are not the same. Rakell, Henrique and Silfverberg are good, but more support players than anything. Although, Rakell is the best of the bunch. Fowler, Linhom, Montour and Larsson isnt a bad top four but I dont think they have the right tools for the new system. (or atleast have not grasped the new system) Gibson also needs to repeat what he did last year if Anaheim wants to have continued success, but I think this is the year they start to slip. I have them missing.
Vancouver - Not even sure what to say outside of Brock Boeser. Lottery team.
Cliff notes:
San Jose
Vegas
Los Angeles
Arizona
Calgary
Edmonton
Anaheim
Vancouver
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