Are the Islanders, Rangers, Devils and Hurricanes really going to be good this season? I didn't follow their off seasons or drafts. Surely Penguin games will be a challenge but I expect the Flyers will win 3 of them just because they will play up to the competition, the home crowd will amp them up and the Pens will have key injuries, coast and try to win on pure talent. The Caps will continue to pound on the Flyers with their size and speed and will exploit inexperience on the Flyers blue line. Same with the Blue Jackets who are a young and strong team that will likely be good 5 on 5.
I don't have a read on wether Hackstol will improve or not. One thing is certain - Hextall has given him fewer bad players to send out there. There was so much VV and Bellemare last season, and offensive zone starts too. MacDonald can't possibly get as much ice time this season can he??? God I hope he doesn't torture poor Provorov with him too much again. That would be so awful.
Hackstol could have done so much better last season by scratching VV and playing McDonald, Leier, or almost anybody. He could have scratched Macdonald a ton more for Haag or Morin or just about anybody. I hope he simply knew they weren't a playoff team and was meting out ice the extra time to the 4th liners per Hextall's direction/long term plan. I hope he was just trying not to wear out his core players knowing it was a lost season.
Hope hope hope...