Where do the Isles Finish in the Metro Division?

[doublechili]

I'll say better than last year.

 

[BMOK33]

Pretty safe to assume Tavares will start missing games soon as he hasn't hit the injury bug yet. As John tortarella said last season, some teams made the playoffs because of the shortened season. Likely referring to a team like philly missing the playoffs. If I was a odds maker the chances of the islander making the playoffs would be about 30%.

The stats strongly argue against that, they have actually shown the previous 4 seasons before last year something like 12 of 16 teams in the top 8 slots in each conference merely 15 games into the season had made the playoffs on average, at 50 games my guess is most years you have at least that or maybe as many as 14 of 16. I think its possible Philly may have made it if we had 82 games as they were catching fire late but who knows.

 

[IslesMik82]

The negativity in here is astonding. The Isles have a Top 5 offense in the Eastern Conference, a good blueline that can make a great first outlet pass, has some speed, and some toughness and a average goaltender at best. Compared to our division, the only team that is clear cut better then us is the Penguins. The Rangers are a contender because they employ the best goaltender in the universe. If you ask me, here is my final Metro predictions....

1. Penguins - This team is too talented and to loaded to finish anything but 1st in the division despite an above avergae blueline and weak goaltending

2. Rangers - Any team that has Henrik Lundquist between the pipes has a good chance to win any day of the week. Despite question marks up front, the Rangers have an excellent blue line and a world class goaltending. Barring an injury to Henrik the Rangers should finish no worse then 2-3rd in the division

3. Isles - See above

4. Capitals - The Caps are getting a ton of love from the usual experts and I am not sure why. Despite a nice offense led by Ovie, he has been known to disappear for stretches. Secondary scoring should keep them competitive. I am not high on their blueline at all

5. Devils - I don't think this team will be all the bad as others are predicting. I still cringe at the thought of Cory Schneider in a Devils uniform but what are you going to do. The Devils are going to hurt on offense, Jagr sucks, Clowe was a terrible long term signing but Ryder and Brunner should pick up some of the slack. The Devils defense which used to be their strong point is weak and will hamper the Devils chances.

6. Blue Jackets - I really wanted to put this team higher but I have a hard time getting all giddy about teams with nice runs to end a season but still miss the playoffs. Bob will have to show that last seasons performance is now the norm. The Jackets have a nice collection of offensive skill and should compete for a playoff spot but not show how they will handle the division

7. Flyers - Another team IMO the experts have way to high. They have a nice collection of fowards in Giroux, Hartnerll, Lec, etc but this teams blueline is terrible and as usual the Flyers have questions in the crease. Will Emery be the #1, will Mason struggle or provide quality goaltending.

8. Hurricanes - Unless the Canes get outstanding goaltending from Cam Ward I don't see them being able to compete for a playoff spot. They are weak on the blueline and losing Joni P for the season is a killer. The Canes will put up good numbers up front and will be competitive but will struggle to compete in the division

 

[SLAPSHOT723]

Second or Third.

The Flyers and Capitals are going to be bad.

 

[JTforPres2012]

I feel very apprehensive going into this year. Obviously, last year was a great experience making the playoffs, but remember they only made it by a point or two. With that being said, can the Isles be consistent throughout the whole year or will their annual awful losing skid put them in a state of despair?

If it wasn't for that one amazing month last year and instead played that out at say the .500 level, then they would've hovered at the bottom of the East yet again.

 

[IslesMik82]

I feel very apprehensive going into this year. Obviously, last year was a great experience making the playoffs, but remember they only made it by a point or two. With that being said, can the Isles be consistent throughout the whole year or will their annual awful losing skid put them in a state of despair?

If it wasn't for that one amazing month last year and instead played that out at say the .500 level, then they would've hovered at the bottom of the East yet again.

While at the same time they also only finished 1pt out of the 5th seed. It is easy to look back and say hey the Isles only made the playoffs based off a good run or by a few points but lets not sell them short. They played sustained excellent hockey for 5 weeks and finished 1pt out of the 5th seed. That sounds like a team that has turned the corner to me

 

[Bones45]

The Isles have a Top 5 offense in the Eastern Conference, a good blueline that can make a great first outlet pass, has some speed, and some toughness and a average goaltender at best.

Pass some of that Kool-Aid over here, brother!

We saw last year that the Isles are Jekyll and Hyde.

Whichever team decides to take the ice them majority of the time, will dictate if we are 6/7th or 9/10th

 

[ML19]

Here's my predicition for the Metro Division

Penguins 48-22-12- 108 points
Isles 40-23-19 - 99 points
Rangers 43-28-11 - 97 points
Capitals - 40-30-12 - 92 points
Flyers - 38-38-6 - 82 points
Blue Jackets - 35-37-10 - 80 points
Devils - 32-40-10 - 74 points
Carolina - 31-42-9 - 71 points

Isles will finish 4th in the Eastern conference with a home matchup against the 5th seeded Rangers. It's going to be an exciting year.

 

[ScaredStreit]

I think we miss the playoffs. If the current format was used last year-we would have missed the playoffs (I think we can all agree that Detroit would have finished above us).

Losing Streit will hurt us on the PP, which was one of our strong points last season.

PMB is a question mark, he's an upgrade over Boyes-but the question is by how much? And I think we can all agree that he's still 1st winger material.

Our vets largely carried the team last year, and we weren't as young of a team as many believe. The youngsters have to produce consistently if we're to have a chance.

Ultimately the main concern is goaltending. Nabby's no spring chicken, and he seemed to run out of gas at the end of last season-in a 1/2 season. I think we all know he wont be able to carry this team for the entire year....and our backup goaltender position is very worrisome.

It's going to be an uphill battle and I realistically think we finish 12-14th in the conference.

 

[Isles Junkie]

10th. I just don't trust our D and Goaltending

 

[rikker]

improved team, less distractions, better cohesiveness. i think Nabby is not suddenly going to fall apart, and i am going to say that the back up goalies will be close to 50 % W/L. similar goals for, about a 10% improvement in goals against. tougher, better depth.

we weren't as 'old' as some guys make it out to be. Reasoner, Carkner, Boulton, Aucoin, all well over 30, yet hardly contributed.

6th in the conference.

 

[MJF]

Same core of the team, no upgrade in goal, 82 game schedule...8th place in conference ::crosses fingers::