Sportsnet NHL preview: Northeast Division

[Mess]

Sportsnet breaks down the NE Divison.

Toronto Maple Leafs (2011-12: 35-37-10; did not make playoffs)

Barring an early trade for a Stanley Cup-finalist goaltender, the only on-ice difference between this Leafs squad and the one that was showered with “Let’s go, Blue Jays!” chants toward the end of last year’s debacle is This Is 40 star James van Riemsdyk, the second-overall pick in 2007 and a great boost to the team’s second unit.

Van Riemsdyk alone is not enough to end the Leafs’ league-leading seven-year playoff drought. But if coach Randy Carlyle is successful in implementing a stingy team defence, the Phil Kessel-Joffrey Lupul combo keeps feasting on goaltenders and James Reimer and/or Ben Scrivens play above their head, anything is possible.

No team could benefit more from a shortened season than the notoriously streaky Leafs, who are no stranger to hot starts.

Key acquisitions: James van Riemsdyk, Morgan Rielly, Jay McClement

Key departures: Luke Schenn, Colby Armstrong, Joey Crabb

Link: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013...content=NHL preview, pick: Northeast Division

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[613Leafer]

NE Division = a division in transition.

This year it's pretty much Boston and the rest.

Toronto/Montreal finished 5th/3rd last league wide last year. Minimal upgrades, Toronto still has big question marks

Buffalo traded away D. Roy, Hodgson is #1 C by default, Grigorenko is a prospect to potentially fill this hole eventually. Team in transition.

Ottawa lost Kuba their #2 D last season. Method won't replace that. Alfie/Gonchar are also a year older. Karlsson/Spezza may regress after such solid performances last year. I expect them to do worse.

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

lol. JvR is already injured (not sure of how serious). Back to square 1.

 

[81Leafs50]

lol. JvR is already injured (not sure of how serious). Back to square 1.

its just a shot off the foot. no biggie.

 

[Fogelhund]

So they think

1. Boston
2. Buffalo
3. Ottawa
4. Montreal
5. Toronto

I can't say I disagree with much there. It is a short season, so anything can happen., and every team has some questions.

Buffalo and Ottawa could swap, but I would agree Buffalo is more likely to be ahead.

Montreal and Toronto could swap, but on paper, if Markov stays healthy, and PK is resigned, Montreal is the better team for this year.

 

[Fogelhund]

its just a shot off the foot. no biggie.

No biggie for a guy who took a shot off the foot, broke the foot and missed 20 games last year....

 

[Eyedea]

What was once one of the strongest divisions is now the weakest.

 

[Kurisu]

to me, that wasn't much of a preview.

 

[KuleminFan41]

What was once one of the strongest divisions is now the weakest.

Southeast is the worst

 

[Fogelhund]

Southeast is the worst

It will be pretty close this year as to which division gets the most points. Last year the Northeast teams only had 5 more points combined than the Southeast, and I think a team like Carolina improved more than any of the NE teams.

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

I won't be surprised if Buffalo won the division. Remember, Boston is without Thomas. Not sure if Rask himself can win the division.

 

[Eb]

I won't be surprised if Buffalo won the division. Remember, Boston is without Thomas. Not sure if Rask himself can win the division.

Ryan Miller would have to play like... well... Ryan Miller.

 

[613Leafer]

Southeast is the worst

I would rank the teams:

1 - Boston
2 - Washington
3 - Carolina
4 - TB
5 - Buffalo
6 - Florida
7 - Ottawa
8 - Winnipeg
9 - Montreal
10 - Toronto

So while we do have the best team between the two divisions, I think Toronto is the weakest team out of the two divisions, and I think Washington/Carolina are both pretty strong, and TB is reasonably strong as well. Tougher overall division.

 

[Pi]

I see no problem with the Leafs being last.

I think we're a 12th-15th placed team in our Conference. Just not enough talent.

 

[Eb]

I would rank the teams:

1 - Boston
2 - Washington
3 - Carolina
4 - TB
5 - Buffalo
6 - Florida
7 - Ottawa
8 - Winnipeg
9 - Montreal
10 - Toronto

So while we do have the best team between the two divisions, I think Toronto is the weakest team out of the two divisions, and I think Washington/Carolina are both pretty strong, and TB is reasonably strong as well. Tougher overall division.

Lmao, Carolina is being so overrated after the pick up Jordan Staal.

They have the big 3 up front and a goalie in the net. Other then that, they are scarce.

 

[TootooTrain]

I won't be surprised if Buffalo won the division. Remember, Boston is without Thomas. Not sure if Rask himself can win the division.

I would. I'm not really impressed with their team other than Pommers, Vanek and obviouslly Miller. It's Boston's division to lose followed by everyone else.

 

[613Leafer]

Lmao, Carolina is being so overrated after the pick up Jordan Staal.

They have the big 3 up front and a goalie in the net. Other then that, they are scarce.

That "overrated" team came 11th in the East last year, with E. Staal having a down year and Skinner having a sophmore slump (well, actually it was more of just an injured season, missed like 20 games).

They've added J. Staal AND A. Semin. Balances out their top two lines very well. Plus it's not at all unreasonable to expect E. Staal and J. Skinner to have better years than they did last year.

+ it's not like I said they'd win their division. Just that they'd be better than... Buffalo and Ottawa. Hardly Eastern powerhouses.

 

[Pi]

That "overrated" team came 11th in the East last year, with E. Staal having a down year and Skinner having a sophmore slump (well, actually it was more of just an injured season, missed like 20 games).

They've added J. Staal AND A. Semin. Balances out their top two lines very well. Plus it's not at all unreasonable to expect E. Staal and J. Skinner to have better years than they did last year.

+ it's not like I said they'd win their division. Just that they'd be better than... Buffalo and Ottawa. Hardly Eastern powerhouses.

How do you expect them to be better than Ottawa and Buffalo?

Buffalo had a lot of problems last year and Ryan Miller was off his game and they still finished higher than Carolina.

Ottawa was great last year, their roster should be enough to make the playoffs.

 

[DD03]

Lmao, Carolina is being so overrated after the pick up Jordan Staal.

They have the big 3 up front and a goalie in the net. Other then that, they are scarce.

Justin Faulk was one of the best rookies last year. Look just as impressive as Jake Gardiner on the back end.

They also picked up Semin, and the rest of their team is full of hard workers.. Tuomo Ruutu, Chad LaRose just to name a few. Their defense is a little shakey, but they have Cam Ward to fix that. They have one of the better all-around teams in the East.

 

[BillyD]

No biggie for a guy who took a shot off the foot, broke the foot and missed 20 games last year....

same foot?

 

[613Leafer]

How do you expect them to be better than Ottawa and Buffalo?

Buffalo had a lot of problems last year and Ryan Miller was off his game and they still finished higher than Carolina.

Ottawa was great last year, their roster should be enough to make the playoffs.

Buffalo finished 7 points ahead of Carolina, lost D. Roy, and Carolina added J. Staal and Semin. And as "down" a year as some of Buffalo players, had, Staal and Skinner also didn't have particularly strong years. Carolina tends to be a team that surprises and does better than expected.

As for Ottawa, they lost Kuba who was their #2 D and replaced him with Methot.., Alfie/Gonchar are a year older, and Spezza/Karlsson may not repeat their seasons from last year. Cowen is injured as well.