Atlantic Standings Predictions Thread

[Bouboumaster]

Hopefully both punk ass Ontario teams will also miss the playoffs (which is likely already with Ottawa)

 

[Fatass]

With Swayman Bruin finish top 3: Leafs, Panthers, Bruins, Tampa, Ottawa, Detroit, Buffalo, Montreal.
Without Swayman the division changes: Leafs, Panthers, Tampa, Ottawa, Detroit, Boston, Buffalo, Montreal.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

With Swayman Bruin finish top 3: Leafs, Panthers, Bruins, Tampa, Ottawa, Detroit, Buffalo, Montreal.
Without Swayman the division changes: Leafs, Panthers, Tampa, Ottawa, Detroit, Boston, Buffalo, Montreal.

What about Mid-season swayman?!

 

[TheMistyStranger]

There was a single moment last season that summed up how awful Granato and his staff were: In his first game Byram is on our PP. Having played for one of the best coaches in the league in Colorado he knows what players should be doing in this situation. His new teammates were doing anything but, and an exasperated Byram literally starts pointing with his stick and directing guys where they should be and what they should be doing. If you watched the preseason games under Lindy the difference is night and day.

I had erased that from my memory, Mike. Thanks a lot.

 

[Fatass]

What about Mid-season swayman?!

Imo playing without Swayman to start the year will damage the Bruin’s too much to recover. If it’s only a handful of games, that’s different. But if it’s 20 games the hole dug (in the standings and in the room) will be too deep to climb out of. The bottom in that division will climb over the Bruins.

 

[Satanphonehome]

I do not expect:
Florida to miss
Montreal to make it

I will be surprised but not shocked if:
Boston misses
Toronto misses
Detroit makes it

I could see it going either way for:
Tampa
Buffalo
Ottawa

 

[Aladyyn]

I'm not going to make any grand declarations about the Sabres making the playoffs, but we're definitely better than Detroit and Ottawa

 

[Pavels Dog]

I'm not going to make any grand declarations about the Sabres making the playoffs, but we're definitely better than Detroit and Ottawa

Are you just copy/pasting posts from a year ago at this point?

I'm not entirely sure how one could say that with a straight face. The Sens bottom 6 looks competent for the first time in about 6 years. They will have a full year of Pinto. Norris is back in the picture. I'd argue the forward changes/upgrades are equally as important as Ullmark.

On the D-side of things, they should also be better. An extra year for Sanderson, a healthy Chabot, a top 4 RD who actually plays D, and a competent bottom pairing.

I like Jensen but relying on him to provide great top 4 level defense, especially at this point in his career.. I'm not so sure. It's kind of funny the way his reputation got so great after he left Detroit. He had some good times in Washington and some not so good ones. It'll be interesting so see if he's got much left in the tank and can bounce back.

 

[Spargon]

Hopefully both punk ass Ontario teams will also miss the playoffs (which is likely already with Ottawa)

Hopefully the Habs will remain the division skid mark for a long time to come, and with their hilarious calamity of drafting they seem to be headed that way. Nothing but overrated crap. Reminds of when the Leafs would boost players like Kadri and a bunch of draft busts as budding superstars.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Atlantic might be the only division where every team(sans Montreal) could conceivably make the playoffs.
Would have the Panthers, Bruins, and Leafs all solidly in, but also maybe a disaster season wouldn't be out of the question for any of those three.

Florida: cup hangover, lost some talent, Bob another year older, scoring regression, maybe injuries etc
Boston: Swayman drama, new additions not fitting, can't score goals, Marchand gets old, PP sucks, can't score goals, maybe injuries etc
Toronto: goaltending? who is even their starter, underwhelming patchwork blueline, lack of scoring depth, Marner/Treliving drama, maybe injuries and of course the ever present Maple Leafs factortm

4th spot I would give to the team with the best goaltending, and that's still Tampa. Vasilevskiy, Kucherov, Point, and Hedman aren't dead yet and Guentzel I could see going off in his first season there. I really don't think there will be all that much of a downgrade from Sergachev to McDonagh/Moser, Serg was one of the more overrated top pairing guys in the league in my eyes. Could definitely see them falling apart too, or having a horrible start that ultimately sinks them post-Stamkos. Would give them 65/35 type odds at playoffs.
4/5th spot could be any of the Sens, Wings, or Sabres. Out of those three I believe in Detroit most of all. But I'll root Buffalo, 13 years is longer than most 1st offense violent crime convictions. The fans at least have put in their time and then some. I'll say Lindy gets those kooky kids back in the playoffs. Ottawa could get in if Sanderson takes a big step and Ullmark stays healthy. I know what his numbers say but not super sold on Stutzle as a contending 1C.