Speculation: Predict Where The Oilers Finish in Their Division.

[Mcnotloilersfan]

I think it is fair to play this game now, since most of the major draft and free agency moves have been done by teams. I can't see many people picking 1st or 2nd, but obviously I had to make every position available to choose from, since all are technically possible.

Where do they finish. Predict the entire division standings in your post if you're up to it.

Click to read more...

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

I'm going with 5th here. I can't see them finishing lower than 6th, or higher than 3rd. I basically see 3 tiers.

1. Anaheim
2. Calgary (gross)
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3. Los Angeles
4. San Jose
5. Edmonton
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6. Vancouver
7. Arizona


I do actually see it being SOMEWHAT realistic that Edmonton is better than one of San Jose or LA. However, beating out the Central teams for wildcard will be tough.

 

[Beerfish]

They'll beat out Zona, so 6th.

 

[viran45]

I think they will be ahead of Arizona and probably Vancouver. Hopefully close to San Jose.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

I think being competitive in 90% of the games is what i am really looking for...

No more, sad emotionless players on the ice getting lit up 5-0 in the first period.

All teams have an off night, but only the crappy teams make a habit of it.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

They'll beat out Zona, so 6th.

They did that last year.

Vancouver looks much worse, and SJ hasn't improved significantly at all.

You don't think with everything Edmonton has done, that they can do bit better?

 

[Hockey Nightmare]

Ask me in April.

 

[oXo Cube]

Only team I'm confident enough to risk money on is Arizona.

I think both LA and Vancouver have potential to implode(nucks being MUCH more likely) but I'm not going to assume that they will.

Putting us ahead of Anaheim or SJ(why do people think these guys are bad?) is a gamble of hilariously long odds.

Not sure what Calgary will end up being but probably better than us.

 

[PaPaDee]

There's going to be some pretty tough competition in the Pacific this year. My guess:

1. Anaheim
2. Los Angeles
3. Calgary
4. Edmonton
5. San Jose
6. Vancouver
7. Arizona

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Ask me in April.

That wouldn't be predicting. Where's the fun in that?

Only team I'm confident enough to risk money on is Arizona.

I think both LA and Vancouver have potential to implode(nucks being MUCH more likely) but I'm not going to assume that they will.

Putting us ahead of Anaheim or SJ(why do people think these guys are bad?) is a gamble of hilariously long odds.

Not sure what Calgary will end up being but probably better than us.

Good group of players but they can't seem to get it together. If they could move Thornton and Marleau now without touching anyone else, they could re-tool pretty quickly.

Their goaltending is just as questionable as ours right now too.

 

[McGlassbangers]

1. Anaheim
2. Los Angeles
3. San Jose
4. Calgary
5. Edmonton
6. Vancouver
7. Arizona

 

[s7ark]

I am feeling optimistic atm. 3rd. After Anaheim and LA, and before Calgary and SJ.

 

[misfit]

We do this every year, and every year my answer is the same...1st place baby!!

 

[joestevens29]

I went with 4, but damn I forgot about the potential of LA losing more players due to stupidity.

 

[joestevens29]

nevermind

 

[Mr Positive]

Blah. I say we finish ahead of Calgary. There's good stats to back up the opinion that they over achieved last year. A Colorado-style fall back is in order for them, although it probably won't be quite as far back considering they made some good moves this offseason.

We made a signficant upgrade in net, on D and in coaching.

 

[PaPaDee]

Only team I'm confident enough to risk money on is Arizona.

I think both LA and Vancouver have potential to implode(nucks being MUCH more likely) but I'm not going to assume that they will.

Putting us ahead of Anaheim or SJ(why do people think these guys are bad?) is a gamble of hilariously long odds.

Not sure what Calgary will end up being but probably better than us.

I think Anaheim is pretty close to a lock for winning the division. They haven't lost anybody significant, and have plenty of cap space available still to make further upgrades.

LA will bounce back next year IMO.

Calgary will likely finish ahead of us, they've made too many improvements to regress backwards.

San Jose has a solid group of D, but their goal tending is questionable, and Thornton/Marleau will continue to regress with aging.

Vancouver is a strong candidate to regress - their core is aging, and they have question marks in goal and on D.

For Arizona, unless Tippet has some magic up his sleeve, I can't see them finishing out of the bottom.

 

[joestevens29]

Blah. I say we finish ahead of Calgary. There's good stats to back up the opinion that they over achieved last year. A Colorado-style fall back is in order for them, although it probably won't be quite as far back considering they made some good moves this offseason.

We made a signficant upgrade in net, on D and in coaching.

I don't see them being much worse. Between the trades they made and then their young players growing it will be tough to see them take a step back. Even if gaudreau has a sophmore slump they have Bennett who could makeup for it. I only see them doing worse if their goaltending falls apart.

 

[slaman]

Ugh... Calgary.

 

[Nunymare]

Realistically I can see us finishing ahead of Arizona and Vancouver and mayyyybe in front of San Jose. Big maybe. Lots of things will have to click and go right for that to happen. Calgary could either implode or get better I feel.

 

[McOvechking]

1. Anaheim
2. Calgary
3. San Jose
4. Edmonton
5. LAK
6. Vancouver
7. Arizona

 

[LTIR]

They did that last year.

Vancouver looks much worse, and SJ hasn't improved significantly at all.

You don't think with everything Edmonton has done, that they can do bit better?

Oilers had 62pts.. Sharks 89..
We need more than "slight improvement" to be 5th.

Hoping for a 0.500 record so 82 pts ... If that leaps us over VAN, CGY or SJ then so be it.

 

[oXo Cube]

I think Anaheim is pretty close to a lock for winning the division. They haven't lost anybody significant, and have plenty of cap space available still to make further upgrades.

LA will bounce back next year IMO.

Calgary will likely finish ahead of us, they've made too many improvements to regress backwards.

San Jose has a solid group of D, but their goal tending is questionable, and Thornton/Marleau will continue to regress with aging.

Vancouver is a strong candidate to regress - their core is aging, and they have question marks in goal and on D.

For Arizona, unless Tippet has some magic up his sleeve, I can't see them finishing out of the bottom.

Basically agree with all of this other than I don't think regression is a strong enough word to describe Vancouver.

It might not be this season but when they go it will be a free fall to the basement like what happened to us in 2010.

Dark horse Matthews candidate.

LA has some question marks on the backend, I don't really think it will be a big deal but in particular if Doughty was to get hurt they could be in big trouble.

 

[Mr Positive]

I don't see them being much worse. Between the trades they made and then their young players growing it will be tough to see them take a step back. Even if gaudreau has a sophmore slump they have Bennett who could makeup for it. I only see them doing worse if their goaltending falls apart.

the same argument could be made that the Avs should not have fallen by your reasons. They lost Statsny but gained Iginla, and that team won the central division before so their height was greater than the Flames

 

[Del Preston]

We do this every year, and every year my answer is the same...1st place baby!!

You raise a good point. I'm voting 1st too.