Rank the divisions

[The Jones Zone]

The Central has 6 legit playoff teams

Detroit and Chicago are the only 2 I just can't see making it

 

[lebdafor norris]

There are 4 spots available and the West has 5 teams in the bottom 11 in terms of P% last season, how could they not be in the bottom of the list here? If I'm a fan of a playoff bubble team, I'd rather be slotted in the West instead of the North were each of the team outside of Ottawa actually competed for a playoff spot last season, I think half the posters here didn't even bother to read the OP. If the question was "which division is it the hardest to get the #1 or #2 seed on," then yea, their is a strong case to put the North on the bottom but that wasn't the question.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

The East is the deepest and toughest division. One team from Philadelphia, Washington, NY Isles, Pittsburg, or Boston will not make the playoffs this year.

 

[RogerR]

The East is the deepest and toughest division. One team from Philadelphia, Washington, NY Isles, Pittsburg, or Boston will not make the playoffs this year.

In fairness Pittsburgh is terrible.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

In fairness Pittsburgh is terrible.

The Penguins are 6th in the entire NHL in points % and points the last 3 seasons. The facts do not support your opinion.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Central
East
West
North

 

[Critical13]

The divisions are all much closer than people here are saying. NHL parity is is real outside 2-3 top and bottom teams.

 

[NyQuil]

The Penguins are 6th in the entire NHL in points % and points the last 3 seasons. The facts do not support your opinion.

That cliff can really sneak up on you.

When I heard that they signed Cody Ceci, it makes you wonder about their continued competitiveness.

Apparently not doing that bad, but it's a sign that the cracks are appearing on the walls.

 

[bacon25]

East

Central- North

West

 

[The Winter Soldier]

That cliff can really sneak up on you.

When I heard that they signed Cody Ceci, it makes you wonder about their continued competitiveness.

Apparently not doing that bad, but it's a sign that the cracks are appearing on the walls.

Still they are not a terrible team as the poster posted. The last 2 years of inter league play, not including this year since there is no inter league play. The Pens are even better at 5th in points and points %. Only TB, Boston, Washington, and St Louis have had better records. The East is the deepest division when you consider one of Washington, NY Isles, Philadelphia, Boston, or Pittsburg are going to miss this year's playoffs which was really the point. It is what it is, this is the NHL during a pandemic.

The last 2 seasons of interleague play.
Boston
Pittsburg
Washington
NY Isles
are in the top 7 teams in points % and points in the entire NHL during this timespan.

 

[BrockLobster]

The Penguins are 6th in the entire NHL in points % and points the last 3 seasons. The facts do not support your opinion.

4 wins in Regulation.

 

[Zybalto]

That cliff can really sneak up on you.

When I heard that they signed Cody Ceci, it makes you wonder about their continued competitiveness.

Apparently not doing that bad, but it's a sign that the cracks are appearing on the walls.

From 2019 - now, NHL leaders for best 5v5 goals against/60 REL dman who have played top 4 QoC and minutes:

(Basically the goals against MVP on a team since the start of 2019)

1. Ceci
2. Nemeth
3. Roy
4. Fox
5. Theodore
6. Giordano

He's not especially helpful in the ozone but he's one of the hardest dmen in the league to score on 5v5 since the start of 2019. Considering the Pens massive injury issues on D, he was one of the best pickups of the offseason, especially at that price. Defensively responsibly D thats able to play up and down the lineup and provide shutdown play? Yes please.

Cant believe he's still living off of a 2 year old rep. Just ask any Pens fan how solid he has been.

 

[NyQuil]

From 2019 - now, NHL leaders for best 5v5 goals against/60 REL dman who have played top 4 QoC and minutes:

(Basically the goals against MVP on a team since the start of 2019)

1. Ceci
2. Nemeth
3. Roy
4. Fox
5. Theodore
6. Giordano

He's not especially helpful in the ozone but he's one of the hardest dmen in the league to score on 5v5 since the start of 2019. Considering the Pens massive injury issues on D, he was one of the best pickups of the offseason, especially at that price. Defensively responsibly D thats able to play up and down the lineup and provide shutdown play? Yes please.

Cant believe he's still living off of a 2 year old rep. Just ask any Pens fan how solid he has been.

That's because he's playing 3-5 minutes less a game.

 

[Dekes For Days]

The Penguins are 6th in the entire NHL in points % and points the last 3 seasons.

Newsflash: Teams don't stay the same forever.

 

[LFCTML]

East
West/North
Central

 

[Isaac Nootin]

In fairness Pittsburgh is terrible.

That cliff can really sneak up on you.

When I heard that they signed Cody Ceci, it makes you wonder about their continued competitiveness.

Apparently not doing that bad, but it's a sign that the cracks are appearing on the walls.

Agreed. Pittsburgh is not a good team, and are currently being propped up by OT/SO wins. Currently 4 wins in regulation on the year.

 

[ToDavid]

Here's the actual numbers. Last season's point percentage for each division, teams ranked 1-8.

The East is really the only standout, the other three divisions trade blows (average point percentage for each of the other three are basically within a rounding error of each other). North has the weakest high end, West has the weakest low end, except for Detroit, of course.

 

[RogerR]

Agreed. Pittsburgh is not a good team, and are currently being propped up by OT/SO wins. Currently 4 wins in regulation on the year.

Pens wouldn't make the North playoffs.

 

[Zybalto]

That's because he's playing 3-5 minutes less a game.

It remains pretty consistent no matter how much he's played since the start of 2019.

With Toronto: Much of the year spent in the top 4 and used to shutdown end of games

5v5 TOI/game: 17:01
GA/60 REL: -.74

With the Pens: Used more on the bottom pair but has played bigger roles with all the injuries:

5v5 TOI/game: 15:30
GA/60 REL: -.46

Just a solid hardworking (if vanilla) defensive dman. Not quite sure where his rep came from TBH. Overpaid on the Leafs and underpaid right now.

 

[Zybalto]

Goals average per team is really tightening with the North coming down from its big highs and starting to settle more in with the rest:

Goals average per team:
North: 3.016
West: 2.809
Central: 2.798
East: 2.795

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Here's the actual numbers. Last season's point percentage for each division, teams ranked 1-8.

The East is really the only standout, the other three divisions trade blows (average point percentage for each of the other three are basically within a rounding error of each other). North has the weakest high end, West has the weakest low end, except for Detroit, of course.

View attachment 402375

Interesting graphical illustration. West and Central are interchangable. It is close to how I would rate the divisions this year.

1-East
2-Central
3-West
4-North

 

[RogerR]

The Penguins are 6th in the entire NHL in points % and points the last 3 seasons. The facts do not support your opinion.

Here we go again, digging into the past with different rosters to support your point. What the heck does 3 years ago have to do with 2021? It's over for the Pens. They had so much more depth and players that were still at or near their primes 3 years ago.
In 2021 (all that matters right now) they stink. They are not the team of the past.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

East
West
Central
.
North

 

[RogerR]

Still they are not a terrible team as the poster posted. The last 2 years of inter league play, not including this year since there is no inter league play. The Pens are even better at 5th in points and points %. Only TB, Boston, Washington, and St Louis have had better records. The East is the deepest division when you consider one of Washington, NY Isles, Philadelphia, Boston, or Pittsburg are going to miss this year's playoffs which was really the point. It is what it is, this is the NHL during a pandemic.

The last 2 seasons of interleague play.
Boston
Pittsburg
Washington
NY Isles
are in the top 7 teams in points % and points in the entire NHL during this timespan.

You will prove me wrong by ignoring 2021 and talk about the past where the roster was different. Great strategy.
4 regulation wins. Most of their core looks like they are regressing from previous years. The depth also isn't there. Goaltending isn't there.

But 3 years ago...

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Here we go again, digging into the past with different rosters to support your point. What the heck does 3 years ago have to do with 2021? It's over for the Pens. They had so much more depth and players that were still at or near their primes 3 years ago.
In 2021 (all that matters right now) they stink. They are not the team of the past.

The sample was inclusive to this year. Not just 3 years ago. TB, Boston, and Washington were also on the top tier of this specific sampling. Are you claiming they are terrible also? Maybe you could have used a better word than terrible. For instance a 31st place team is terrible, not a team that is in a playoff race and nowhere near being a bottom level team playing in what most say is the toughest division in hockey this year.