What teams that didn't make the playoffs this year will be expected to next year?

[nickdawg95]

Buffalo

 

[c3z4r]

The biggest difference between Montreal and Columbus is cap space. The Jackets have the most in the league. The Habs have the 4th LEAST amount of cap space. If Waddell plays it right, they could make a huge upgrade this off-season.
If they
1. Sure up the goalie
2. Swap Provorov and Severson for upgrades
Then they will make a push for the playoffs.

All of this is assuming that their young players do not regress or that they are not decimated with injuries, but that is the same for everyone.

The Habs have Price's 10.5M contract that they can put on LTIR if they need more cap-space, giving them 21M to spend if they actually found a star UFA willing to sign.

They could also try to trade Price. It's the last year of the contract and once the 5.5M bonus is paid on July 1st, he's only owed 2M in salary, so very attractive for teams trying to reach the cap-floor without spending on UFA.

 

[AvatarAang]

Yeah yeah I've heard the same thing about Boston last summer.

Toronto is out next year, book it.

Wishful thinking lol

 

[EveryDay]

Wishful thinking lol

Now you get it.

 

[Daz28]

In theory the Flames should be better next year. They barely missed the playoffs this year and they’ve still got a decent prospect pool and a ton of cap room if they want to use it.

Teams that surprise one year often take a step back before becoming legitimately good though, so who knows. I could just as easily see them having a disappointing season next year, which wouldn’t really be a bad thing for them long-term.

I think if CGY and ANA can get some free agents, they have a good shot. CGY might make it even w/o any additions. CBJ, too.

 

[gary559]

Does the seat officially get hot for Yzergod if DRW misses again next year?

Yeah I absolutely think so, but even if they make it, this group is going nowhere.

 

[Coffee]

Now that we know everyone who's made it and who hasn't, who has The biggest expectations going into next year that didn't make the cut?

This is so next year

 

[gary559]

This is so next year

Am I way to early to ask for predictions? Sorry next time I'll wait for everything to happen first.

 

[Coffee]

Am I way too early to ask for predictions? Sorry next time I'll wait for everything to happen first.

Do not apologize

The poll is fine, I’m just an asshat

 

[credulous]

i'm skeptical vancouver can add enough up front to be a clear playoff team next year but i am certain that if they don't make the playoffs allvin and probably rutherford will be out of a job

 

[JPeeper]

If the Flames can bounce back offensively to be at least somewhat average they should get in. 30th or w/e the hell we finished at in goals for and we tied for the last WC spot and we'd be in the playoffs in the East conference.

If we don't bounce back and stay down in the bottom 5 of goals for we could also end up getting a top 5-10 pick.

 

[Souker]

The biggest difference between Montreal and Columbus is cap space. The Jackets have the most in the league. The Habs have the 4th LEAST amount of cap space. If Waddell plays it right, they could make a huge upgrade this off-season.
If they
1. Sure up the goalie
2. Swap Provorov and Severson for upgrades
Then they will make a push for the playoffs.

All of this is assuming that their young players do not regress or that they are not decimated with injuries, but that is the same for everyone.

Habs have a ton of cap space considering Price’s contract and most their core players are locked up long term. That’s a huge luxury that only a handful of teams currently have before the cap is set to explode.

 

[viceroy]

I don't understand why people are picking Detroit. Their players aren't good.

I think they just lack leadership. Suzuki, Gallagher and Savard make all the difference. They're guys that inspire respect and the boys follow them unquestioningly.

Don't poo on my party.

Or pee in my pool.

The big thing the Jackets have is youth. Guys like KJ and Fantilli could easily take another step. Maybe Mateychuk. They could be a lot healthier as well.

I see you didn't mention Lindstrom there. Hope things work out for him but sheesh is that kid already badly beat up.

Buffalo

Don't be mean.

CGY might make it...

If the Flames can bounce back offensively to be at least somewhat average they should get in.

Yeah that's right. All CGY has to do is maybe trade some picks for some help and lay down some sweet lucre on some big free agents and BANG they can squeeze into the playoffs.

 

[majormajor]

I see you didn't mention Lindstrom there. Hope things work out for him but sheesh is that kid already badly beat up.

Well his development is delayed because of the injury and surgery (which he is now fully recovered from) but the bigger reason is that he just turned nineteen. Players that age hardly ever help you make the playoffs. Fantilli and Carlsson didn't become difference makers until half way through their 20 year old seasons.

 

[BB79]

Bruins- I expect to miss the playoffs again.

Sabres- I expect to never make the playoffs again

 

[madmike77]

I think if CGY and ANA can get some free agents, they have a good shot. CGY might make it even w/o any additions. CBJ, too.

The thing is I’m not sure that’s their goal. I think they’re happy to go with a slow, steady rebuild for two years, sign some of their own RFAs and slowly introduce their prospects into the lineup.

 

[SharksFan1992]

East: Rangers, Red Wings, Sabres
West: Preds, Canucks, Flames

 

[Djp]

Buffalo. 37-39-7

1. They were near top of thr league in 2st period scoring and 5v5 scoring

2. Their PP and PK were bottom third

-' 3 yrs sgo when they were just outside their PP was top 10. Last 3 years its bottom 10

3. A few weeks ago I heard Chicago was the worst in league in anytime leads. Buffalo is in top 5.

-' in 8 games they blew aanytime2 goal leads and come away with a 0-5-3 record

4. Of those 30 loses, about 70% were 3rd period 1 goal deficits.

-- they take 8 of them and turn 0-8-0 to 4-0-4 and they are tied with montreal

'--- I think 4 of the OT L they had a late 3rd lead where team scored on pulled goalie

-' there are about another 8 games that were tied well into the 3rd that they got no points

-' in nany of these 1 g games, they were 0for # on the PP


Buffalo does not have the cap space for big UFA signings. Unless trades open up space

They gave a bunch of RFAs. Peterka, mcleod, byram, and Quinn are thr bigger names. Quinn I s the most vulnerable to an OS like broberg with 2nd comp

They will have about $21M to sign the 4.. of Byram and peterkav gets 7m,mvleid gets $4.5M, thst leaves 2.5M for quinn. If they instead do a bridge.on peter k a at 6 then thry could match an OS on Quinn

 

[Indy18]

With how the parity is with teams this season, especially in the East, it’s easier to say who won’t be competitive than who will be next years. The wheel of fortune turns quickly as we have seen this year alone. Rangers went from president’s cup to not even last eliminated, Boston was sitting in an easy wildcard spot half the year then became first eliminated. Anything posted here will be laughed at this time next year saying how did these fools not see X team coming because everyone is a genius in hindsight

 

[NyQuil]

Buffalo

 

[Fuhrious]

Buffalo does not have the cap space for big UFA signings. Unless trades open up space

Good news, there are no “big” UFAs to sign.

 

[Joe Sakic]

*the year is 2053*

The world awaits the return of Detroit to the play-offs.

 

[nucksflailtogether]

This is homer but Pettersson is going to rebound, Hughes and a healthy Demko, and our strong D will pull us back in. Probably not a contender unfortunately without Miller as our 2C, but there's reason to think we can win enough games to get back in there.

As for other teams, Utah looks pretty decent. I'd say Calgary but some of that core is a little on the older side so I'll be curious to see. With Wolf anything can happen.