The East is going to be weak again this year and it doesn’t feel like any of them are close to taking a playoff berth.
I don’t see Florida going to the SCF for a third year in a row, Tampa would be the logical team to win, but they might be done. Boston almost lost to the Leafs, Canes are far too soft and no goaltending, that leaves NYR or maybe NJD, but how can Panarin, Zabinejad or Keefe win the East?
It’s really too bad one of Det, Philly, Sens or Sabres couldn’t step up.
I actually do think Ottawa is fairly close but it's not this year, I think that finish with 86-88 points and they just miss.
With Buffalo, look I usually never the first 2 games are critical because under normal circumstances that's ridiculous.
However in this case I think the first 2 games are critical because not only are they a back to back, but they are in Europe, which means they need to fly over, adjust to European team, play 2 games against a NJ team that looks absolutely loaded, fly back and then readjust to North American time.
I don't think Buffalo can afford a slow start especially when you also consider that NJ aside everybody in the east will have 2 games in hand on Buffalo right away so yeah I think the first 2 games are critical.
With Detroit coming into the off season I had Detroit right on the edge and then they traded a top 4 D and a 2nd round pick for free.
Then they signed Jack Campbell and Cam Talbot and now have 4 goalies for some reason and now Detroit confuses me.