The Atlantic: NHL’s Okay-est division

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Prior to the season it looked like this division would be stacked with potential SC contenders (FLA, TOR, BOS), as well as good to great teams vying for playoffs (TB, OTT, BUF, DET), heck even the rebuild team in Mtl looked improved and would not be a free space on the bingo card this year.

About 10% through the season, it is looking quite a bit different, with a few exceptions.

The only legit contender is looking like FLA

After that there are 6 okay/good teams with not a lot of distance from top to bottom in:

OTT, bos, tor, tb, det, buf - any 2 or 3 of these could make the playoffs. I think OTT has looked the best of the bunch. Tor could
Miss the playoffs and I wouldn’t be surprised now. I considered them a legit cup contender in sept.

Mtl is still fitting the bill, improved rebuild team that has a chance to win each night, if they decide to play defense that evening.

Is this division only going to have 3 playoff teams - with 2 wcs going to the Metro?

The Atlantic has definitely been the most surprising division so far this year in just how “meh” it has looked.

If I had to guess now I’d have FLA, OTT and TB making the playoffs.

What are everyone’s thoughts on this division? What happened to pivot it from one of the toughest divisions preseason to the leagues Okay-est division? Does anyone see the teams turning things around to become legit dominant cup contenders by the end of the year?

Click to read more...

 

[Golden_Jet]

Currently Ottawa in first by points percentages. Division will be closer than the past.
Too soon to determine anything yet imo.

 

[NyQuil]

I ask you this: will Winnipeg go 82-0?

No?

Then it's probably too early to draw conclusions.

 

[leafsfan5]

It's literally been like 7 games

This time last year FLA was 3-3, Edmonton was 1-4-1

 

[TheDoldrums]

How do I talk about the Leafs missing the playoffs without putting it in the title

 

[Laus723]

Some early surprises, but it’s still early AF. Boston near the bottom and Ottawa near the top is a bit surprising, as is Detroit over the Leafs, but there’s a really long way to go.

Tampa, and to a large degree as well, both went through two massive hurricanes. Toronto’s getting used to Berube’s system demands (we saw this happen with Florida and Maurice, not sure how much Berube’s looking to change, though). Ottawa’s had good players, now they have an elite goalie.

Lots of time for ships to right themselves.

 

[MoreGore]

Both Boston and TB are long in the tooth and we all know they were past their prime. It was just a matter of when. They are still strong teams, just not elite.

Toronto still has tons of skill in their prime, so unless it is a strange year, they will clock in at 100+ points easy.

Those are the only teams that I find surprising.

The changes made last season in Ottawa may be exactly what the doctored ordered. They might be the one team that has shown already us they are legit. Still not sold though.

 

[swiftwin]

Since teams play more intra-division games, they are more likely to cannibalize wins and hand losses to eachother. Total points by individual teams does not represent how strong a division is.

 

[BostonBruins11]

Both Boston and TB are long in the tooth and we all know they were past their prime. It was just a matter of when. They are still strong teams, just not elite.

Toronto still has tons of skill in their prime, so unless it is a strange year, they will clock in at 100+ points easy.

Those are the only teams that I find surprising.

The changes made last season in Ottawa may be exactly what the doctored ordered. They might be the one team that has shown already us they are legit. Still not sold though.

BOS is one of the youngest teams in the league, while TOR and Tampa are among the oldest FYI. Most of BOS's stars are in their prime. This BOS is old narrative seriously needs to stop.

 

[JianYang]

You should have stopped typing at "about 10% into the season"

If I really want to split hairs, it's more like 7-8%.

If you disagree that it's too early, go check out what the oilers did in the first 15 games last year before comfortably coasting to a playoff seed by game 82.

 

[Ghost of Murph]

Late November is when I start caring about standings whatsoever.

Does anyone really think the Canucks will finish 5th and Oilers will finish 7th in the Pacific? Or the Avs will finish 6th in the Central? The current Atlantic standings right now mean nothing.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Any objective person looking at Toronto realized they were a weaker team this season than last season. Plus the Leafs suffer chronically from being soft, fragile and heartless.

They played two seasons over their heads. Last season and this current one is simply reversion to mediocrity...a regression to normalcy.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

It’s early days but I think the Division has taken a step back as was expected by most. Boston has defied the odds by staying as a top team longer than expected, Tampa’s stars are a year older, Toronto got weaker this off season after an underwhelming last year and Florida is suffering from a Cup hangover plus key injuries. And the bottom half of the Division is still another year away at least from having a contender.
That said, it’s still a very good Division with the two Florida Cup winners and will undoubtedly be stronger as the year goes on. Just not the murderers row of past years.

 

[wintersej]

BOS is one of the youngest teams in the league, while TOR and Tampa are among the oldest FYI. Most of BOS's stars are in their prime. This BOS is old narrative seriously needs to stop.

View attachment 921470

I don't think just pointing at averages tells the whole picture.

Everyone in Boston lineup is either in their prime or pre-prime and people totally miss that...except for Marchand who is supposed to be their 2nd best forward. Marchand being an old is obviously a point of failure. But they are going to have to find a younger and better combo for the 11-12m they are paying Marchand + Coyle soon.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

This division is mediocre AF.
Ottawa could win the division, or Florida could keep the crown. Thanks to the seeding of top 3 from each, we're guaranteed 3 teams there, because yikes otherwise. Looks like the Atlantic Division players went full 70s in their off-season regimens. Awful, heinous stuff out there.

 

[BostonBruins11]

I don't think just pointing at averages tells the whole picture.

Everyone in Boston lineup is either in their prime or pre-prime and people totally miss that...except for Marchand who is supposed to be their 2nd best forward. Marchand being an old is obviously a point of failure. But they are going to have to find a younger and better combo for the 11-12m they are paying Marchand + Coyle soon.

IMO Marchands the only player on BOS with a legimate excuse for a slow start, given his 3 surgeries and age. I expect him to get better throughout the season... but the rest of the team has been playing brain dead