Detroit, Montreal, Columbus: Pick 1 for real, 1 mirage

[MVP of West Hollywd]

Pick one to make the playoffs, and one to collapse and finish with bottom 2 record in the conference. We'll say the third team finishes a few points out of the playoffs.

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[FlappyGiraffe]

I think Columbus makes it in, the other 2 are probably picking in the early teens

 

[Bigtrout]

I don't think any of them will crash and burn but since I have to pick one I'll say Detroit due to having the ''hardest'' remaining shedule on thankathon

Any of them making the playoffs seems like a coin flip at this point so I'll just homer vote Montreal.

Btw, where are the poll options?

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

Real: Detroit
Mirage: Columbus

 

[Bouboumaster]

Real: Montréal and Columbus
Mirage: Detroit

 

[Coach Reggie Dunlop]

Detroit has overall the best top players out of the 3 so for this season I’d be inclined to say them. While the other two are mirages, who knows how long their hot streak will continue though they might fall down to earth.

 

[eojsmada]

All three are real. Ottawa is the real mirage

 

[Bouboumaster]

All three are real. Ottawa is the real mirage

Ottawa is the new Buffalo

 

[majormajor]

Detroit has overall the best top players out of the 3 so for this season I’d be inclined to say them. While the other two are mirages, who knows how long their hot streak will continue though they might fall down to earth.

Werenski has been better this year than anyone on the Wings or Habs, or half the teams in the league really.

And Marchenko and Voronkov have been right up there with Raymond.

Monahan is injured now though, as is most of their secondary scoring. So that could be too much of a drag to stay in the playoff picture.

 

[Coach Reggie Dunlop]

Werenski has been better this year than anyone on the Wings or Habs, or half the teams in the league really.

And Marchenko and Voronkov have been right up there with Raymond.

Monahan is injured now though, as is most of their secondary scoring. So that could be too much of a drag to stay in the playoff picture.

Cool but werenski is only one guy, I think the total of seider Raymond Larkin debrincat and Kane under his recent resurgence is a better top 5 than either team can put together. I’m not saying habs and Columbus don’t have some really good if not elite talents, I just think detroits top end is better. Will they meet it? Not sure, but on paper it’s better to me, out of these 3 teams.

 

[majormajor]

Cool but werenski is only one guy, I think the total of seider Raymond Larkin debrincat and Kane under his recent resurgence is a better top 5 than either team can put together. I’m not saying habs and Columbus don’t have some really good if not elite talents, I just think detroits top end is better. Will they meet it? Not sure, but on paper it’s better to me, out of these 3 teams.

Ok that's great, Patrick Kane is red hot. He's tied for 12th in the league in the scoring since mid December, along with Monahan. Werenski is 7th. Voronkov 3rd. Marchenko 1st.

I'm not betting on them continuing that, or Kane for that matter. My main point is that it's more than one guy.

 

[Maitz]

Detroit is the more real of the 3 because of the veterans in the team and more established but let's be honest they are all mirage

 

[Dumais]

I'm going with goal differential, Columbus real, Montreal & Detroit mirage.

CBJ's biggest problem is injuries and winning on the road. And having twice as much cap space than both teams; combined.

 

[bobholly39]

Voted Habs are real and Detroit mirage.

I don't necessarily see Detroit crashing and burning to bottom 2 in conference. However, I voted mirage because they do this every year...look to make a run to playoffs, and then in the end, crash and burn and miss. Same as Ottawa, and Buffalo.

This is the Habs first real shot at playoffs since their rebuild. So i'll give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they see it through.
As for Columbus, I also give them benefit of the doubt above Detroit at this point.

 

[stevo61]

Cool but werenski is only one guy, I think the total of seider Raymond Larkin debrincat and Kane under his recent resurgence is a better top 5 than either team can put together. I’m not saying habs and Columbus don’t have some really good if not elite talents, I just think detroits top end is better. Will they meet it? Not sure, but on paper it’s better to me, out of these 3 teams.

Columbus' top end scores a significant amount more than Detroits. Using your offensive talents vs a team that has scored 28 more goals is a weird choice. Now if you would have used goaltending in your argument it could have actually been taken seriously

 

[Pavels Dog]

I don't know if they'll collapse but Columbus feels the most unsustainable. Can Werenski and Marchenko really maintain their current pace? Can Monahan be a PPG guy for the first time in 6 years?

Charts like this would also lean towards Columbus and Montreal maybe getting a bit lucky.


That said it'll probably be another ~10-15 games before we can make a real conclusion about what Detroit is under McLellan.

 

[iago]

I don't know if they'll collapse but Columbus feels the most unsustainable. Can Werenski and Marchenko really maintain their current pace? Can Monahan be a PPG guy for the first time in 6 years?

Charts like this would also lean towards Columbus and Montreal maybe getting a bit lucky.


That said it'll probably be another ~10-15 games before we can make a real conclusion about what Detroit is under McLellan.

Looking at the chart, and seeing where individual teams are slotted vs their place in the standings shows what a useless stat this really is.

 

[waitin425]

Boston is the true mirage here. Watch them drop from 7th to about 11th by end of year.

 

[Just Linda]

I feel Columbus is doing about as well as they should be doing. They arent a contender, they arent a pretender, just a young team on the up with solid pieces especially on D. Not for real but not a mirage.

I went for real montreal, mirage Detroit just because I really have no faith in Detroit as a team.

 

[majormajor]

I don't know if they'll collapse but Columbus feels the most unsustainable. Can Werenski and Marchenko really maintain their current pace? Can Monahan be a PPG guy for the first time in 6 years?

Charts like this would also lean towards Columbus and Montreal maybe getting a bit lucky.


That said it'll probably be another ~10-15 games before we can make a real conclusion about what Detroit is under McLellan.

The goal differential is also much better for Columbus, 10 better than Detroit and 12 better than Montreal. So even if you buy that it's inflated, the standings position is deflated relative to the goal differential.

There may also be some persistent shooting percentage advantages - guys like Werenski, Marchenko, KJ, and Fantilli can all pick a corner. And Chinakhov when he gets back. Then Voronkov who is one of the best net front scorers.

 

[cjm502]

I gave my homer vote to Detroit (although I really do believe in them) and mirage to Montreal. This would be a fun poll to do again in a month and see how much the vote changes from now to then.