Is there even a cup favorite this year?
Chicago shipped off too many guys. Too many new faces. It takes time gel. Every cup they win they sell off immediately after. Takes a few years to come back from it.
LA is done, in my book. Lost too many key pieces. Voynov, Sekera, stoll, Williams, even their good back up that took a lot of pressure off of Quick.
Anaheim becomes the clear favorite from the West, but they still lack a goalie.
From the east. Detroit took a step back. Losing Babcock will hurt. Still not a dominant goalie. Boston took a step back. Montreal is meh. Tampa maybe, but they were really fortunate with not sustaining any injuries that had guys sitting.
The Isles still have a suspect defense, goalie, and coach. CBJ improved but defense and Bobs playoff performing is going to sink them. Pens got even more lopsided. Washington got better on paper, but I think Ward, Brouwer, and Fehr fit that system so much better than Williams and Oshie. And they lost Green, who was getting worse, but still a dangerous presence on their power play.
Leaves the Rangers. Keeping Nash makes more sense now. But they have a lot of rookie "ifs". They kept nash to give him one more opportunity to establish himself as a star. Lead this team to a cup. I think they're gonna see which of Etem and Miller thrives. The one that doesn't will be traded with Staal for Nash's help. Staal will go where Eric and Jordan plan to go. They'll all be together. I think Toronto. Staal and Etem for JVR and a pick? Makes sense to me.
This is the Rangers year. This year. It is wide open. Really. It is.
