It’s been a bizarre year thus far….
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Fledgemyhedge
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Schennanigans
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First two aren’t overly surprising. Tough call on the last 4. I’m leaning Washington
Honestly, it has to be Washington leading the league. That's insane! I thought they'd be a bit better than last year after the additions they made during the summer, but they're winning almost 3 out of 4 games. 
In second place, I'd put Columbus being in the playoffs. I thought for sure they'd be a lottery team, but it seems they caught fire a little while ago. As I mentioned in another thread, I think they are going to make the playoffs, and if they do that would be a perfect cinderella story.
In third place, the Rangers being out of the playoffs at this point in the season. I really thought they were going to go for another President's Trophy run. I still think they can get back into a playoff spot, but it's still a pretty big surprise.
In fourth place, Montreal being this close to the playoffs. I watch almost all Habs games. In the first third of the season, they looked really bad in half the games. I confidently expected them to finish in the bottom five again this year. However, ever since the arrival of Laine, Carrier, and Dobes, they've become really good as a team unit. They don't look out of place in their games against tough opponents.
In fifth place, it's probably Vancouver being out of a playoffs spot. The reason it is not more shocking for me is because Demko was out from the get go and I wasn't fully confident that their previous season was repeatable. I think they should manage to get into that final playoffs slot, but who knows?
For me, the least shocking thing on that poll is Calgary being where they are. They are right in the middle of the standings and that's where I expected them. In the 16-20 range.
In second place, I'd put Columbus being in the playoffs. I thought for sure they'd be a lottery team, but it seems they caught fire a little while ago. As I mentioned in another thread, I think they are going to make the playoffs, and if they do that would be a perfect cinderella story.
In third place, the Rangers being out of the playoffs at this point in the season. I really thought they were going to go for another President's Trophy run. I still think they can get back into a playoff spot, but it's still a pretty big surprise.
In fourth place, Montreal being this close to the playoffs. I watch almost all Habs games. In the first third of the season, they looked really bad in half the games. I confidently expected them to finish in the bottom five again this year. However, ever since the arrival of Laine, Carrier, and Dobes, they've become really good as a team unit. They don't look out of place in their games against tough opponents.
In fifth place, it's probably Vancouver being out of a playoffs spot. The reason it is not more shocking for me is because Demko was out from the get go and I wasn't fully confident that their previous season was repeatable. I think they should manage to get into that final playoffs slot, but who knows?
For me, the least shocking thing on that poll is Calgary being where they are. They are right in the middle of the standings and that's where I expected them. In the 16-20 range.
Washington for sure is the biggest surprise. I thought their underlying numbers would be better this year but they’d still just be a wildcard team at best in the east. Columbus I’m honestly not shocked by, said before the season that I wouldn’t be surprised if they were competitive because what happened would bring them together like nothing else. As someone who hates the rangers Ive been very surprised by their downfall. Thought they were due for some regression but would’ve thought they’d be decent enough for Shesterkin to win them enough games to be comfortably in a playoff position.
Definitely Washington. Out of the options listed below....
Calgary, Montreal and Columbus being in playoff spot or just about is surprising...but only to a certain extent. There are a lot of teams, being in ~8-10th in conference isn't some huge accomplishment, every year a few teams surprise and do slightly better/worst than expected. Calgary especially to me is absolutely no surprise with that logi, as it's where I expected them to be, a bubble team.
Montreal becomes a bit more of a surprise if you consider where they were in the standings simply one month ago - dead last in conference, but overall for the year it's not terribly surprising.
Vancouver had some key injuries, and are still 4 games above 500, and I expect them to qualify. Didn't expect them to dominate as much as last year, not a huge shocker.
NYR being 13th is definitely a shocker. But, with almost half the season to go, and being only 4 points out of playoffs with 1 game in hand, I still see them qualifying. If they finished season ion 13th place i'll be more shocked.
Washington is shocking because it's not like they're barely leading a division by 1 point or so. They've had an amazing record over a long stretch now. I don't know that I see them as one of the strongest cup contenders yet, but I am convinced at this point they will finish the regular season in a top position, which is quite the surprise.
Calgary, Montreal and Columbus being in playoff spot or just about is surprising...but only to a certain extent. There are a lot of teams, being in ~8-10th in conference isn't some huge accomplishment, every year a few teams surprise and do slightly better/worst than expected. Calgary especially to me is absolutely no surprise with that logi, as it's where I expected them to be, a bubble team.
Montreal becomes a bit more of a surprise if you consider where they were in the standings simply one month ago - dead last in conference, but overall for the year it's not terribly surprising.
Vancouver had some key injuries, and are still 4 games above 500, and I expect them to qualify. Didn't expect them to dominate as much as last year, not a huge shocker.
NYR being 13th is definitely a shocker. But, with almost half the season to go, and being only 4 points out of playoffs with 1 game in hand, I still see them qualifying. If they finished season ion 13th place i'll be more shocked.
Washington is shocking because it's not like they're barely leading a division by 1 point or so. They've had an amazing record over a long stretch now. I don't know that I see them as one of the strongest cup contenders yet, but I am convinced at this point they will finish the regular season in a top position, which is quite the surprise.
Gaylord Q Tinkledink
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