NHL Season Preview
Well the leaves have started falling, baseball playoffs are off and running with the Jays sucking (sounds about right). The NFL is in it’s fifth week and all signs point to hockey coming back!
As a sports fan of many different sports this is the greatest time of year. If I could just travel around and go to sporting events without needing a job I would do it. I mean, I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I digress.
Here are all thirty two teams in alphabetical order for your viewing pleasure!
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks just recently signed Trevor Zegras to a three year 5.75 AAV deal. That will make things interesting for the next couple of years for the Ducks as the GM Pat Verbeek definitely wants to see if this kid will live up to expectations. The Ducks are still young and have some more growing pains to go through before they will be in form. I honestly think that’s going to take more than three years so this deal might backfire on Verbeek.
Makes Playoffs: No
Arizona Coyotes
Well another season starts for a team looking to get more out of their season than just golf in April. This time around I think they have a bit more to look forward to. One of those players is Logan Cooley who has the talent to really help this team. Matt Dumba is another name that comes to mind that could help their power play and get some toughness on defense. I think playoffs might be out of their reach but they will make teams work for their win.
Makes Playoffs: No
Boston Bruins
Coming off a really brutal first round defeat to the Florida Panthers last year and losing one of the best two way forwards ever in Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins are looking to have the same sort of season but with a different ending. I don’t think they will be as good as they were last year, but having Brad Marchand as their captain and Linus Ullmark in net won’t hurt their chances.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Buffalo Sabres
Always a brides maid never a bride. This fits the Sabres perfectly and why they need more prospects to bring this team out of mediocrity. Buffalo won’t be able to compete in their division with this type of team and will continue being on the outside looking in.
Makes Playoffs: No
Calgary Flames
With Darryl Sutter out as head coach I think some of the top players on the Flames might see a resurgence in scoring. You can only play mind games so long before the players decide they just don’t want to play for you anymore. Jonathan Huberdeau will benefit from a different coach as well as some of the younger players who didn’t really get a chance to shine. Jacob Markstrom has to be a wall in net though if this team has any chance of making the playoffs. Either way they’re fighting for a wildcard spot.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Carolina Hurricanes
Injuries hampered this team so badly last year especially in the playoffs with Svechnikov their top scorer out. Their lack of size showed up against Florida as well, and they weren’t able to win a game in the series. This year, the Canes have a few new additions that might help, one being Dmitry Orlov and the other is Michael Bunting, who can bring some grit and a scoring touch. The Canes, if they stay healthy, could set themselves up for another deep run in the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Chicago Blackhawks
And the number one pick goes to… The Hawks have scored a generational player on their team (Connor Bedard) and will try their best to keep being terrible so they can get more great players to play with Bedard. Already, this kid is making everyone pay attention to him and it’s only preseason. But there will be tough times ahead for him and the rest of the team.
Makes Playoffs: No
Colorado Avalanche
The speed and unrelenting power of this team will be unleashed this year and that’s without their captain Gabriel Landeskog. The Avs added some new parts to a juggernaut in Ryan Johansen, Tomas Tatar and Jonathan Drouin. Any team caught laying back on their heels against Colorado will be destroyed. I wouldn’t be surprised if this team won their division and sat atop the Western Conference.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Columbus Blue Jackets
After the whole Mike Babcock scandal that rocked the hockey world for about a week, the Blue Jackets have a new head coach in Pascal Vincent who was the assistant coach. Now they can just focus on hockey and might get off to a great start with all that’s happened who knows. Johnny Gaudreau will have to take the lead and be more present, scoring game-changing goals like he used to. If the Blue Jackets stick to their identity, they could be a dark horse in their division.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Dallas Stars
As far as rankings go Dallas seems to be right behind Colorado for the top in the Central division. The Stars added Matt Duchene who can only make this team better. They have a nice mix of young players and veterans who will have an impact taking this team deep into the playoffs. Now the only thing that slows down the Stars are the injuries. If Pavelski can stay healthy and seem to avoid the horrible luck he has. The rest of the Western Conference better watch out.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Detroit Red Wings
A slow patient build is what Yzerman is doing with this team and it’s working. Slowly but surely they have come out of the basement and now look almost ready for the playoffs. The thing they seem to do the best is grab players from other teams who have run their course, get more out of them and then trade them for draft picks. It’s a strategy that works and will get them closer to getting back into the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: No
Edmonton Oilers
I think the phrase “ The time is now” is not better represented than with the Oilers. Connor McDavid is nearing the end of the contract and he’s been very patient. Edmonton has never looked stronger than they have this coming year. Jeff Skinner is another year older and will be better in net, the defense with Mattias Ekholm as the lead and Darnell Nurse. The amount of points McDavid and Draisaitl might be close to two hundred for both of them. There’s only one prize that they’re gunning for and that’s the Stanley Cup and they have a great shot to get there.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Florida Panthers
After an incredible run last year all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals the Florida Panthers might experience a bit of a down turn in play. Ekblad is recovering from shoulder surgery and so is Brandon Montour. Radko Gudas signed with the Ducks and so they will be a little thin on defense to start the year. After last year it’s hard to count them out but they have some work to do to get in the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Los Angeles Kings
Slowly but surely the Kings are getting back into playoff form. The addition of Pierre-Luc Dubois will help with size and scoring. Quinton Byfield is a year older which means if he doesn’t have any injury issues, it could be a break out year for him. The goaltending is the only area that I see a weakness in. Cam Talbot is getting old and David Rittich is unreliable at best. The defense will have to be amazing for them to get a wild card spot.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Minnesota Wild
As this is probably Marc-Andre Fleury’s last NHL season and the fact that the Wild are always so close to being a championship calibre team. I think they will be dark horse and make a deep playoff run. Krill Kaprizov is a top five scorer in the league and gets better every year. They bolstered up their team with the addition of Patrick Maroon and resigned Ryan Hartman. I think Minnesota can keep up with the Stars and the Avs in the standings and be very hard to beat in the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Montreal Canadiens
Some fighting spirit is needed for the Habs as they once again are playing for draft picks. I think they will surprise some people who have them ranked very low in the league. I think the Canadiens will have to put their hardhats on and out work teams if they want to even get close to winning any games this year.
Makes Playoffs: No
Nashville Predators
An improvement on last year for the Predators might be hard to accomplish. I would say they stay around the same in the standings and might even fall a bit further down the standings. I think it’s time for some hard decisions by the GM to determine if a rebuild is the next course of action.
Makes Playoffs: No
New Jersey Devils
The Devils were so much fun to watch in the playoffs last year and the biggest thing I saw is that the GM knows what his team needs and goes and gets it. Need a little stronger net front presence? Tyler Toffoli. How about a bigger defenseman who has skating and puck handling ability? Cal Foote. I’m really excited to see what the Devils do this year and I’m sure Lindy Ruff is too.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
New York Islanders
How would you describe the Islanders? As boring as wall paper paste. The only thing that makes them able to stay with the other top clubs is Ilya Sorokin, without him at the top of his game the Islanders are middle of the pack at best. Because of his ability to steal games they are right there for a wild card spot in the east.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
New York Rangers
Over the past couple of years the Rangers have begun to look like a ship without a destination. I think this year is no different. After the Devils came back from 2–0 down in the series and beat them in seven games. I think it’s apparent that the current identity of the Rangers isn’t going to fool anyone. I think they take a step back this year and miss the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: No
Ottawa Senators
A new owner for the Sens means hopefully a new arena so they can get some excitement back in that building. As for the team, the Sens are looking to build on last years success and make the playoffs this year. They added Vladimir Tarasenko in the offseason and also start a full season with Joonas Korpisalo as their goaltender. The Sens fight every minute of every game and I think that work ethic will pay off with a playoff berth.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Philadelphia Flyers
Another year in the basement blocking shots because John Tortorella is their coach. Enjoy the cellar Flyers fans hopefully you get some good picks out of it!
Makes Playoffs: Not a chance
Pittsburg Penguins
The oldest team in the league picked up the biggest free agent of the summer in Erik Karrlson. It still remains to be seen if the Pens can bring back some of that old magic and make a charge for the playoffs. You know that Sidney Crosby will want to be back in the mix, but there’s lots of question marks surrounding Pittsburgh. Mostly because they have to try and keep up with younger faster teams. Plus, Tristan Jarry will have to get back to form if they want any chance of getting in.
Makes Playoffs: A big Maybe
San Jose Sharks
A place that teams used to fear, the Shark Tank has become a much tamer place over the past five years. Now with Karrlson gone the rebuild can begin and the once mighty Sharks can go back into the dark depths of the ocean for foreseeable future.
Makes Playoffs: Not a chance
Seattle Kraken
After beating the Colorado Avalanche in seven games and almost taking the Dallas Stars to the brink. The Kraken are looking to build off of this amazing performance and show the league how good they really are. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare will give the Kraken a veteran presence while Kailer Yamamoto will give them more speed and scoring up front. The Kraken will be right in the mix again for a playoff spot and don’t be surprised if they win another series.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
St. Louis Blues
The Blues used to be a pretty big force to be reckoned with in the Central division. Now they have regressed the past few years and haven’t had the same scoring edge like Colorado or Dallas. If Binnington stops trying to fight everyone and Tory Krug stays healthy they might have a decent shot at the playoffs but it’s hard for me to see this team going deep into the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
Tampa Bay Lightning
With all the drama that has come out about the Steven Stamkos deal and how the Lightning handled the situation. It would be hard to see the team make a step forward in the standings. Saying that this is still a championship caliber team and will be tough to play against. I could see them again being in the top three of the division and possibly winning a series or two in the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Toronto Maple Leafs
“We want Florida, We want Florida!” What a foreshadowing moment for the Maple Leafs. But I think they learned a valuable lesson playing the Panthers and that was each round you have to step up the intensity even more. I think the Leafs will be a tough team to beat all year and bringing in Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi will only help that toughness. Speaking of toughness, they also brought in Ryan Reeves to add security for Matthews and Marner. Plus the guy is a crowd pleaser on and off the ice. The Leafs are ready to make the next leap and that’s the second and maybe even third rounds in the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Vancouver Canucks
Another year of mediocrity for the Canucks as they try to show that they don’t need to do a rebuild just a retool. In a division with so many explosive teams you think you would try a bit harder getting some mid level talent to try and sneak into the playoffs. Alas this is not the case. Essentially the Canucks look the same and will play pretty much the same and the results will be the same.
Makes Playoffs: No
Vegas Golden Knights
The Stanley Cup Champions will look to repeat and defend their title. It’s going to be a tough slog with so many talented teams waiting in the wings. I think the biggest question mark is Adin Hill and if he can play a full season as the starter. Other than that the Knights have a pretty well rounded team and will look to be a force in a tough division.
Makes Playoffs: Yes
Washington Capitals
After last year it’s pretty apparent that the Capitals are trying to go for Ovechkin’s goal scoring record. I think the playoffs is a bonus at this point. That being said if Backstrom can capture some of his powerplay magic and John Carlson puts up half of the points during his Norris winning season, the Capitals might make the playoffs.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe, that’s a big Maybe
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have managed to sign Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck to matching seven year extensions. Which tells me one, they both want job security and two they don’t care how bad this team gets. The Jets have potential don’t get me wrong, I mean they have Josh Morrissey that’s all the needs to be said. But the glaring holes and lack of heart were evident in their first round exit to the Golden Knights in the playoffs last year. So some major things need to be fixed if they want to get back to winning playoff series and fast.
Makes Playoffs: Maybe
So there you have it another NHL Season Preview in the books! If you like it then leave a comment or share it with the world. I will be back for the mid season report around Feburary. Before then I might throw up a couple articles relating to the season.
Have a great Fall, Happy Thanksgiving and I hope your NHL teams do well!
Joseph
