Are the Red Wings for real?

[AvroArrow]

Bottom 5 team. ECF are you serious ? Lmao, I'll be shocked if they finish as high as 10th in the East

 

[Hisch13r]

I agree. Buffalo is the closest of the previous rebuilding teams. Ottawa and Detroit would then be next. I’d probably give Ottawa the advantage too. I think there’s more true top talent on that roster between the two, but I also don’t think either are making it.

I think we may also see a team like the Penguins back in it this year. So even if someone finds a way to exclude two from last year, I don’t think it’s two new teams. Buffalo if it’s a new team. Penguins if it’s an old team.

Sure the Pens could do it and especially if they add Karlsson but they just got 2 full 82 game and productive seasons out of Crosby and Malkin and missed. All their top guys were healthy outside of Letang with his stroke but even he played 64 games and was really good. I could see it being 2 new teams with Buffalo and Ottawa getting in with like Florida and the Isles on the outs.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Sure the Pens could do it and especially if they add Karlsson but they just got 2 full 82 game and productive seasons out of Crosby and Malkin and missed. All their top guys were healthy outside of Letang with his stroke but even he played 64 games and was really good. I could see it being 2 new teams with Buffalo and Ottawa getting in with like Florida and the Isles on the outs.

Yeah, but the Penguins missed the playoffs by one point. Ottawa missed by 6 points, so they aren't exactly starting at the same place, if you base it off last season's standings. A 6 point gap was the difference last year between the Canes and Rangers or Lightning and Panthers.

And if things were one point different we're talking about the Panthers as the team that needs to find a way back into the expected playoff teams as opposed to the Penguins. 1 point is a very minimal gap, 6 points is a little more substantial.

Not saying it couldn't happen, but I personally think if either of those two are making it, it's the Penguins. I think a lot more needs to go right for Ottawa and there are a lot more unknowns. The Penguins might not have the ceiling of a Cup winner anymore, but unless Crosby, Malkin, Letang all of a sudden fall of a cliff, we know they'll be at least in the mix. Ottawa could miss by 10 points. Their ceiling in future years may also be a Cup contender, but it's relying on inconsistent or maybe plain weak goaltending, and then a lot of improvements from younger players.

 

[McVespa99]

If by for real you mean for real not very good I would say yes. I could be wrong but I think they are still a long ways from being a playoff team

 

[Stealth1616]

Asking if they are for real implies they have actually done something. Maybe a bit premature to ask this