I would not under-estimate the Preds. They lost only a small fraction of what we lost. We lost Hoss, Hammer, Darls, Krugs, Soupy, Panarin and TVR --- no team in the league lost nearly that much --- including the Preds. And, as you say some of the Preds are a year older and will be incrementally less than they were last year. this is also true of Toews, of Duncs and Seabs...
The Hawks are quite diminished. Now, I am encouraged by some of the youth and replacements. I like Saad. Forsberg looks good. DCat looks like a player. Schmaltz looks day vs. night better. But, on paper, there is no objective way to place the Hawks at the Preds level. Nashville & Minnesota should be clear favorites in the division. the Hawks, the Blues, the Stars are all toss ups relative to each other. It will be a battle to make the playoffs. Once in, anything can happen. But lets be real and recognize that the loss of all the talent we lost is significant. Again... no Panarin, Hossa, Hammer, Kruger, Darling, Cambell... that is huge --- no team lost even close to that much.
