Around the League 36-But Who's Counting...

[Stickpucker]

Dom L and the Athletic think the Rangers are going to regress this season. They have them 12th for next season behind Washington, Pittsburgh and Us in the Metro

Do you have point total estimates for the east?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Just curious, didn't Dom have the Canes as a team that would regress the last couple of years? Or am I mistaken.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Do you have point total estimates for the east?

we are only through 11 so far with us, Florida, Toronto, pittsburgh, boston, TB to go from the east.

Rangers were predicted 95.4 and Washington 96.9.

 

[cptjeff]

Just curious, didn't Dom have the Canes as a team that would regress the last couple of years? Or am I mistaken.

Yep, his model takes the average of the prior 3 seasons, and that made Andersen look awful to his model because Andersen was both hurt and playing behind Toronto for that time, and his model doesn't bias things in favor of more recent performance, like Andersen being Vezina caliber instead of backup caliber, which is why he was always saying we would crash and burn right up until the end of the season.

His model also quite famously said that Dougie was carrying Slavin defensively. It's not exactly the best predictor of, well, anything.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

If Florida hadn’t burned all of their draft capital for rentals, they could be players for Chychrun. Which they need to be because their LHD is baaaaaaaad.

 

[BHD]

I’m expecting a big season from Marteeeeen Naycash.

 

[NotOpie]

I’m expecting a big season from Marteeeeen Naycash.

Disappointment can be a depressing thing....drink heavily.

Seriously, I think we'd all like to see a big season and more consistency from Marty. Until actual real gameplay happens, it remains a pretty significant roll of the dice. He did look okay in his 1st preseason outing even if he didn't score.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

I as well am more of a believer in Pitt and Wash than I am of NYR, but a lot of that is just, well, I felt that way before last year. Honestly Pitt could win the division. They play so hard and pretty responsible defensively. A lot of the top dogs got worse this off-season, but I'd argue Pittsburgh didn't.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

I as well am more of a believer in Pitt and Wash than I am of NYR, but a lot of that is just, well, I felt that way before last year. Honestly Pitt could win the division. They play so hard and pretty responsible defensively. A lot of the top dogs got worse this off-season, but I'd argue Pittsburgh didn't.

Pittsburgh defense got worse and less depth. They got a year older which isn’t necessarily a good thing with their injury history.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Pittsburgh defense got worse and less depth. They got a year older which isn’t necessarily a good thing with their injury history.

But they always have the refs there to help tilt the ice

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Pittsburgh defense got worse and less depth. They got a year older which isn’t necessarily a good thing with their injury history.

I see some similarities btn us and Pitt defensively. Both teams take on "project D" who have been historically mediocre and who have career seasons with Pittsburgh/Carolina. For example, Mike Matheson for Pitt and Brady Skjei for us. Much of it is just putting guys in the right situations and giving them time and a long leash to grow into the role. I think Jeff Petry will look really good for them. I don't think Ty Smith will ever be NHL material, but that's one where I could be wrong. I did like John Marino. Ultimately they moved out Marino and Matheson and got Rutta and Petry. I like that swap.

They are old as shit, but I've learned not to count out Crosby and co. They will fall off eventually, but it's the kind of thing I will refuse to predict it's happening until after it has happened.

 

[bleedgreen]

If they’re healthy I’d take Pitt over NYR as well. Highly unlikely if though.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

For the Ranger's, a lot of it will depend on what steps forward their young guys take. Laf, Chytl, Kakko, Miller, Kratsov, and Schneider. Also how close to last year will Shesterkin's performance be.

With Panarin, Fox, Kreider, Trouba, Zib, Trocheck, and Gauthier, they have some strong talent to go along with that youth.

If it all comes together, they could be the best team in the east.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

For the Ranger's, a lot of it will depend on what steps forward their young guys take. Laf, Chytl, Kakko, Miller, Kratsov, and Schneider. Also how close to last year will Shesterkin's performance be.

With Panarin, Fox, Kreider, Trouba, Zib, Trocheck, and Gauthier, they have some strong talent to go along with that youth.

If it all comes together, they could be the best team in the east.

The question with the Rangers is going to be depth. They lost quite a few offensive pieces, including Copp and Strome, and are relying a lot on young players taking huge steps forward, including unproven guys like Kravtsov, to compensate for that offensive loss. I still prefer Carolina taking the Metro crown, at least right now.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

The question with the Rangers is going to be depth. They lost quite a few offensive pieces, including Copp and Strome,

1) Trocheck replaces Strome so I don't see that as a loss.
2) They only had Copp for 16 games and playoffs so while he performed very well, it had minimal impact on their regular season.

Of their top 10 scorers last year, they replace Strome with Trocheck and everyone else is back. Saying that "they've lost quite a few offensive pieces" is an exaggeration.

and are relying a lot on young players taking huge steps forward to compensate for that offensive loss. I still prefer Carolina taking the Metro crown, at least right now.

I clearly stated that their success will depend on the young guys taking a step forward. Nowhere did I say that they'll be a top team if those guys don't.

 

[geehaad]

Boom Boom:

 

[bleedgreen]

1) Trocheck replaces Strome so I don't see that as a loss.
2) They only had Copp for 16 games and playoffs so while he performed very well, it had minimal impact on their regular season.

Of their top 10 scorers last year, they replace Strome with Trocheck and everyone else is back. Saying that "they've lost quite a few offensive pieces" is an exaggeration.



I clearly stated that their success will depend on the young guys taking a step forward. Nowhere did I say that they'll be a top team if those guys don't.

I agree the Rangers are strong. Like you said so much depends on the youngsters growing for them to take the next step. Trocheck is a big step up over Strome imo so they’re better down the middle which was needed. I’m unsure of their d depth.

I just think Pitts has done a very good job of surrounding the two stud with good scoring wingers, Carter playing the JStaal role and I think they improved the D. If Petry clicks with the second pp unit they’re even stronger on special teams.

I give Pitts the nod but I think they won’t stay healthy so the Rangers with the young legs will run them over if they can’t.

 

[Stickpucker]

I mean the Rangers just beat Pittsburgh in the pos. I rank them over the geriatric snow birds.

 

[Canes]

For the Ranger's, a lot of it will depend on what steps forward their young guys take. Laf, Chytl, Kakko, Miller, Kratsov, and Schneider. Also how close to last year will Shesterkin's performance be.

With Panarin, Fox, Kreider, Trouba, Zib, Trocheck, and Gauthier, they have some strong talent to go along with that youth.

If it all comes together, they could be the best team in the east.

I like how you snuck former Canes preseason MVP Gauthier in there. I think he'll definitely have a chance to crack the 10 point mark this year.

 

[A Star is Burns]

The Kraken may have unveiled the worst mascot of all time.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

The Kraken may have unveiled the worst mascot of all time.

Worse than gritty?

Edit: oh my that is bad

 

[A Star is Burns]

Worse than gritty?

Quite easily to me.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Worse than gritty?

Edit: oh my that is bad

I may not like the Flyers, but I think Gritty's a fantastic mascot lol

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

I may not like the Flyers, but I think Gritty's a fantastic mascot lol

Gritty the personality, maybe. Its a shitty looking mascot though. Just like blooper, the phanatic and others

 

[HisIceness]

The Kraken may have unveiled the worst mascot of all time.

I mean, they have the worst name ever. Even Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are slightly better. Would make sense the mascot is bad.

Edit: what even is this? A troll doll?