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Post by Tankdriver on Jul 11, 2022 11:36:54 GMT -5
Okay now that the draft is over and free agency should be pretty non-existent for the Habs this summer, I'd figure it is a perfect time to open a thread and discuss the division for the next hockey season. Something to keep the board active the next month or so. Each team is facing some interesting and important decisions. So without delay, lets look at each team.
Florida Panthers:
- Claude Giroux. A player that I am sure that they would want to have back. He did well as a deadline pickup but I am not sure they have the cap space to sign him without making some subtractions first. That Brobrovsky deal is going to hurt them.
- Ben Chariot. I think fill find a home somewhere else. Didn't help them as much as they thought he would.
- Paul Maurice as coach. A good coach but seems to be unable to push his teams deep into stanley cup finals and win cups minus the lucky Canes win in 06? (Edit: wasn't him) Plus they basically didn't hire/extend the finalist for coach of the year in Andrew Brunette.
- Huberdeau's new contract is coming up. Might affect some decisions long term, however they can offset with Yandle's big cap hit disappearing and not signing Hornqvist.
- Traded a bunch load of picks the next few years. Are in win now mode.
Overall, I can't see them winning the Atlantic or the presidents trophy and I could see them having problems making the playoffs next year if Barkov or Huberdeau suffer an injury.
Toronto Maple Leafs:
- Big four set to return again. Dubas will live and die by the sword with these guys. There is 2 years left before Nylander and Mathews can sign somewhere else. The window is still open but can close relatively soon in 2-3 years. Pressure to get past first round and go deep.
- Still looking for a number one goalie, current rumours indicate that they are in on Matt Murray. My guess is if they are trying to get him at 50% cap retained. Not much discussion with Campbell and it seems Gibson doesn't want to go there according to rumors. If no deal with Murray, I can see Kuemper being signed if no deal for Murray. My pick is that is what happens as I see Campbell signing with the Oilers.
- Dark horse player for Kane and Giroux. Cap space has been opened up a bit and media makes it sound that they could be players for Giroux. I don't buy it. I see money put towards a goalie and a couple fringe players to fill out the middle six.
- Aging and injury prone defence. They got Giordano on the cheap, and Muzzin is a hit away from being shelved permanently. They need Sandin or Liljegren to take another big step this year.
- Depending what they pay the goalie (Murray at 50%, Kuemper under 5 million for example) I see there roster being filled out with Max Domi.
- Overall I see them finishing tops in the Atlantic on the backs of the top four but still not having the power forward, stud defenceman, solid goalie option.
More to come in the next few days.
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Post by Tankdriver on Jul 11, 2022 19:51:52 GMT -5
Next up is Tampa Bay.
- Stanley Cup finalists the last 3 years with most of their corps coming back. They basically have two players that they are looking to bring back in Palat and Ruuta. I can see Palat coming back if they can get in the 5 million range. Tampa will LTIR some players to make sure they are cap compliant.
- Most of their core will return minus McDonough which isn't a big loss.
- Probably the best coach, goalie and defenceman in the league.
- Also mortgaged their future for win now opportunity but their core is in their prime.
- Got a steal of a player at 31 in my opinion with Isaac Howard
- Regular season not important to them but a guarantee to make the post season. Beside signing their own free agents, should be a quiet off season for them.
Boston Bruins:
- Big off season for them. Bergeron needs to be resigned, Pasternak is down to 1 yr to free agency. They only have 2.5 million at the moment so Bergeron contract is important. Can see him signing middle of the season.
- Marchand out for half the season with surgery.
- Good young goalie with a 5 million anchor for a back up
- Debrusk has rescinded trade request.
- Has a few players signed where there best years are behind them with Hall, Coyle and Foligno in mind.
- New head coach in Jim Montgomery. Will he be able to squeeze offense out of the 2nd and 3rd lines?
- Boston might be in no man's land. Too good to bottom out and not good enough to go deep. I see them being in contention for a playoff spot but can also seeing them taking a step back and not making it this year with Marchand and Bergeron out for a long time.
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Post by seventeen on Jul 12, 2022 0:34:44 GMT -5
FYI, the Canes won the Cup in 2006 with Laviolette behind the bench. Your take on Maurice is bang on. Reminds me of Charlie Montoyo in some ways. Great guy, great human, can't seem to win when it counts. Good thread, though.
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Post by Tankdriver on Jul 12, 2022 11:05:20 GMT -5
Buffalo Sabers:
- A team on the rise. Had breakout seasons from Tage Thompson, and Dahlin and a bounce back season from Jeff Skinner. They are still waiting on Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens to reach their potential but also have good players from the Eichel deal in Tuch and Krebs. With Owen Powers joining the defence, the team is slowly getting better.
- They have a ton of cap space (32 million) and on the hunt for a goalie. I see Kuemper as a potential player if he is in it for the money. Also dark horses for Patrick Kane and Johnny Gaudreau.
- Buffalo needs a little stability with all the changes behind the bench and in the front office. They drafted pretty well getting Matthew Savoie and Noah Östlund getting two centers in the first round this year.
- Unfortunately unless they get a few game breakers, Buffalo is still about 2 years away from seriously having the chance to make the playoffs in the Atlantic. Team needs to remain patient and believe in their GM Kevyn Adams, who has actually surprised me a bit with his performance.
- Best guess, finish 6th in the Atlantic.
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Post by Tankdriver on Jul 12, 2022 11:48:14 GMT -5
Detroit:
- A young team that is building through the draft. Although they have finished at the bottom or near the bottom the past few years, the ping pong balls have just not fallen for them. In a way, that has been a good thing for them as they have hit on every pick. With Rookie of the year in Seider, Lucas Raymond, Joe Veleno, Filip Zadina, Sebastian Cossa in nets, and the newly drafted Marco Kasper, the talent is definitely coming. Yzerman has also made shrewd depth signings and trades getting Vrana from Washington, Husso and Fabbri from the Blues and Olli Juolevi through waivers and Nedeljkovic from the Canes.. There older vets are in their Prime with Dylan Larkin at only 25 years and Bertuzzi at 27.
- They have all their picks the next 3 years and got St Louis 2nd in round 2 in 2023.
- Finally moved on from there coach and got Tampa's assistant Derek Lalonde to lead them in their new phase.
- They have a projected 31 million in cap space and can spend if they want it, or keep it to sign their entry level players to long term contracts in future years. Most of their roster is coming up as free agents at the end of next season so they will have the opportunity to stock their cupboards with even more picks and prospects.
- There isn't much to not like with the potential of this team. Yzerman is building this into a real contender in 3 years time and will be a long period of success a la 90's and 00's.
- Free agency has been quiet in regards to the Wings. They haven't been linked to much this off season but will probably be in on some depth move, short term contracts and those that weren't qualified this summer. Players like Sam Steel, Sonny Milano, Dylan Strome and Kubalik and Ryan Donato are possibilities. Would not be surprised to see trades with teams looking for cap space. Maybe a landing space for Jeff Petry is Montreal doesn't want much in return.
Final result: Battling with Buffalo for 6th place in the division.
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Post by Tankdriver on Jul 13, 2022 7:55:39 GMT -5
Final two.
Ottawa:
- Team on the cusp of making the playoffs. Their young players are about to enter their prime. A nucleus of Tkachuk, Norris, Stuzle, Forementon, Batherson, Pinto up front with Brannstrom, Chabot, Bernard-Docker and Sanderson on defence is shaping up as something pretty good. To top this off they acquire Alex DeBrincat at the draft to round out their top six.
- Clearing out the log jam in the net has been done and will go with the duo Talbot and Forsberg. I'm not sure that is good enough. Maybe they try and get another goalie.
- Heavily rumoured for getting Claude Giroux. If they get him, he would be a major add in leadership and top 6 role. Also will try to get another defenceman for depth after not signing Mete.
- D.J. Smith is probably in a make or break year to make the playoffs. A slow start could cost him his job.
- Connor Brown has already said he is going to the market next summer. A possibility he could be traded in the next few weeks.
- They have their top 2 picks for the next 3 years so have some capital to play with during the year. Also roughly estimated 15 million to play with after resigning their own RFA's (Norris, Formenton and Brannstrom)
- Prediction, they get the wildcard spot for the playoffs. 4th in the division.
Montreal:
- MSL returns behind the bench for another year of development. Still looking for an assistant coach.
- Current Cap space is nil so it has to be money out for any money in. Not expected to be a player in F.A. Need a veteran defenceman if possible. Kulak has been mentioned. Fans dream of Subban.
- RFA's include the newly acquired Dach and Montembeault.
- Rumours this summer on when/if Petry is traded. Dvorak is also a possibility. Players like Hoffman, Drouin, Byron, Dadonov and Armia are more a later in the season deal. Latest rumor floating around is for Dubois. Hughes has a pretty tight office, so trades don't get out with him. Don't think this is happening.
- Have a 2 first rounders and their 2nd this year. This amount will probably increase. 2024 they have their first and Colorado's 2nd but traded away their own 2nd in the Dvorak deal. We won't get a first rounder and 2nd rounder for Dvorak if we trade him.
- Only contract that could be an issue is Caufield as this is his last year before hitting RFA.
- Goaltending will be an issue all year again. Price is the wildcard. If he is able to come back he might be able to get this team close to a playoff spot by himself. More likely though, is that he will be injured and will have to make a decision on his career. I'm hoping he can come back eventually, but if he takes the year off, I'm not against that.
- This years goal will be developing players and not necessarily about wins. I think HuGo wants to develop a winning mentality. I just hope they apply that after next years draft.
- I won't discuss Montreal much more than this as I am sure there will be a lot of debate on them through out the year.
- Prediction: Last in the Atlantic but will surprise some teams and steal points from them. Not as bad as some will think.
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Post by Tankdriver on Apr 13, 2023 22:49:13 GMT -5
Was fun to re-read this again...was pretty on except with Boston.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 14, 2023 13:51:13 GMT -5
You were ok on Boston. You couldn't have known Marchand would play 73 games and Bergeron 78, buttressing two key weak spots, or that Krejci would put up 56 points in 70 games or that Montgomery would work out or that all those UFA's would be playing for next year's contract or that Lindholm would actually be healthy a whole year or that, or that....
If you listed all the question marks around the Bruins, you would find that they practically nailed every one of them on the positive side. Is that normal? Of course not. Which makes me think the hockey gods are playing with them and everything that can go wrong in the playoffs...will.
We shall see. If Florida gets any goaltending at all, they are a difficult match-up for Boston. Much worse than an Islanders team who can't score.
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Post by folatre on Apr 14, 2023 16:21:25 GMT -5
The changing of the guard in the Metro is well underway with the decline of Pittsburgh and Washington. Alas, no such winds of change have blown through the Atlantic considering Boston and Toronto have made the post-season seven seasons in a row and Tampa sits at six (and 9 of the last 10).
This is not great news for the Habs. However, it is worse news for the Atlantic teams with long post-season droughts (Buffalo 12 seasons, Detroit 7, Ottawa 6) because those rosters are supposedly further along in their rebuilds.
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Post by habsorbed on Apr 14, 2023 16:52:47 GMT -5
The changing of the guard in the Metro is well underway with the decline of Pittsburgh and Washington. Alas, no such winds of change have blown through the Atlantic considering Boston and Toronto have made the post-season seven seasons in a row and Tampa sits at six (and 9 of the last 10). This is not great news for the Habs. However, it is worse news for the Atlantic teams with long post-season droughts (Buffalo 12 seasons, Detroit 7, Ottawa 6) because those rosters are supposedly further along in their rebuilds. Atlantic could change quite a bit in next 2 years. Matthews may bolt to US at end of next year, particularly if Leafs continue to crap the bed in the playoffs. Marner's contract is up the following year. Meanwhile Bruins ain't getting any younger with Marchand, Bergeron and Kricje. Still think this season was a fluke - we'll find out in the next few weeks. And TB is past it's best before date so I see a changing of the guard over in the Atlantic over the next 2-3 years just when we're ready to compete. |
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