Atlantic:
1 Tampa
2 Toronto
3 Florida
4 Boston (WC1)
————————
I'm going to piggyback your post as the standings look really good but I'll add my "could drop team" and sleeper team for each division.
Drop- I wanted to say Florida but you already have then where I think they will end up so had to go with the Bolts as they are getting older and have some holes.
Sleeper is Buffalo as I think they take the next step but then again I've been saying that for a while now and they find different ways to fail.
Everything that could go wrong last year did and I think that even without luck they could find the playoffs this year.
I really like their defense and it will get better and that 4th line improves a great deal and some young guys will take a step forward next year.
5 Detroit
6 Buffalo
7 Montreal
8 Ottawa
Metropolitan:
1 New Jersey
2 NYR
3 Washington
4 Carolina (WC2)
———————————
For my drop I have either NJ or Washington.
NJ looks good on paper but can't seem to take the next step. That said they are so good on paper and Markstrom might be the difference for 10-15 points alone.
Washington has too many old guys and questionable overall centers for the top 6 and while they look much better on paper than last season will all of the new players work out and maybe last seasons team was just lucky to make the playoffs and will look really old this year.
5 Columbus
6 Pittsburgh
7 NYI
8 Philadelphia
Any of these teams could finish in any order.
The Pens are my sleeper though but their chances at a playoff spot is around 25% if one is being realistic.
Central:
1 Dallas
2 Colorado
3 Nashville
4 Utah (WC1)
5 Minnesota (WC2)
———————
6 Winnipeg
7 Chicago
8 St. Louis
Man it's really hard to pick a dropper or sleeper here.
I think Dallas/Colorado are the cream of the crop and while I really want to pick Utah for my sleeper team I want to pick Winnipeg.......but
I think the Jets window has closed with this core and they are in the muddling middle.
I'm going to pick the Blues because they do have a good mix of players and prospects pushing....well not really I just love Nick Leddy and want to see him enjoy some success.
Pacific:
1 Edmonton
2 Vancouver
3 Vegas
———————————
4 Seattle
5 Anaheim
6 Los Angeles
7 San Jose
8 Calgary
I don't see the ducks taking the next step quite yet and LA will be comfortably ahead of them and the flames should stay out of the basement.
Obviously Seattle is my slapper team here as in "Sleeper in Seatle"
I'll show myself out now.