Gil Gunderson
Registered User
If you want to be optimistic, Mike Yeo was around when Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Vancouver all ended their playoff droughts.
LOL Chabot and Norris will go down. We don’t have another capable LD that can replace Chabot’s minutes. Pinto, and Grieg are still relatively young and could struggle playing a full season of 2C and 3C if Norris gets injured. I would consider the 3rd pairing of Kleven and JBD a lower tier for 3rd pairing. Only 120 games combined between those two. They will get eaten up by the matchup. High possibility that Giroux and Perron could regress.Yeah, I agree. I think we're better than we're giving ourselves credit for. A lot went wrong last year for this team, starting with non-existent coaching for training camp and the first 26 games (which coincided with by far our easiest schedule).
Then we were subjected to league worst goaltending, a debilitating injury to our #1C, the outright loss of our #2 C, the loss of our #3 C for half the year and only one decent RHD. Despite all that we played at a 90 point pace for the entire second half. 90 points would have put us 1 point shy of the playoffs.
Now coming into this year we have categorically eliminated two of our main problems. We have a coach who will actually coach (like him or not) and we have a proven, very consistent goalie.
Our other major issues range from very unlikely to repeat to a reasonable chance they will happen:
1. Stü playing injured the whole year is very unlikely to happen again. - 90% chance this problem is not an issue
2. Norris is still a question mark. I'd say there is 40% chance that he misses a large portion of the year. - 60% chance this is not an issue
3. Losing Pinto for 41 games. - 95% chance this is not an issue.
4. 1 decent RHD - 95% resolved
Our offseason has been far from perfect but we have addressed a lot of our issues. Couple that with some internal growth that is to be expected from the likes of Greig, Stützle, Sanderson and Pinto and I think we're significantly improved.
I think this team pushes 100 points and challenges for 3rd in the division.
Come at me bros!!
You can do that with almost any team.LOL Chabot and Norris will go down. We don’t have another capable LD that can replace Chabot’s minutes. Pinto, and Grieg are still relatively young and could struggle playing a full season of 2C and 3C if Norris gets injured. I would consider the 3rd pairing of Kleven and JBD a lower tier for 3rd pairing. Only 120 games combined between those two. They will get eaten up by the matchup. High possibility that Giroux and Perron could regress.
You can do that with almost any team.
If Tanev gets hurt Timmons is in the top 4. We need to add a couple depth piece we can call up.For sure. Injuries are part of the game.
It is a fair point about an injury to Chabot and/or Sanderson though. Kleven in the top 4 and a guy like Roos behind does not inspire confidence.
I think Florida will take a step back, they lost their top D and their #5, and I don't think they replaced either. Those two were also 1st and 2nd among d on their PP. Bob is getting older and on top of that they'll have the cup hangover.Atlantic division is really the toughest division in the league , unfortunatly I don't see few changes as Top teams are still strong and it will be hard for bottom team to leap frog them. The only is having a really strong start to the season so here is how think standing will be:
Toronto- These guys are still really good season team
Florida
Boston*
Tampa*
Detroit*
Ottawa*
Montreal
Buffalo
*I think these 4 teams will fight for 3rd seed , and the one who had a strong start will be probably be the one ending season at 3.
I think we will see two Atlantic team in the wildcard ,so this will probably give us more chance to make the playoff this year.
So is Swayman! Did you forget that?I guess you all forgot Korpisalo is on Boston now.
FLA
TBL
TOR
OTT
BOS
DET
BUF
MTL
Isn't that what SS was trying to address with coaching/roster changes? The new players all play a 200-ft game, are harder to play against and know what it takes to win. Bringing in a stay-at-home RD should allow Chabot to find his game. Perron is good on the walls and winning puck battles. Armadio can play Center or Wing. The question now is will the core players buy in to playing the 200 ft game and compete in every game? Will the team be relatively healthy? I feel more confident with this group than last year's group.Yes, Toronto is better. Florida im not so sure on paper, but they have a team structure already in place thats much better overall defensively than anything we have here.
Yes but in fairness I think it’s a lot different trying to establish that vs it being second nature to more experienced teams.Isn't that what SS was trying to address with coaching/roster changes? The new players all play a 200-ft game, are harder to play against and know what it takes to win. Bringing in a stay-at-home RD should allow Chabot to find his game. Perron is good on the walls and winning puck battles. Armadio can play Center or Wing. The question now is will the core players buy in to playing the 200 ft game and compete in every game? Will the team be relatively healthy? I feel more confident with this group than last year's group.
Bruins going from Swayman/Ullmark to Swayman/Korpisalo is a gigantic downgrade. If they're not planning on playing Swayman way more than the last couple of seasons they will definitely regress.So is Swayman! Did you forget that?
I think Toronto improved, their D and goaltending is better than it was last year.Boston improved
Florida step back
Toronto neutral
Tampa neutral
Detroit step back
Ottawa improved
Buffalo neutral
Montreal neutral
This only takes into account player moves not player progression/regression
They are still better and deeper, and overall better. That 3rd pair could be a disaster, needs an experienced vet, and it shouldn't be Hamonic.
In the regular season for sure, but those guys are just not effective in the playoffs. I think our guys will have an extra gear in the postseason, especially Brady.Toronto is better than us because their better (significantly) at the top end of their roster (Matthews, Nylander and Marner).
Their depth at forward and defense is pretty bad though.
Not to the point where they miss though. Tampa also got worse. However both Boston and Toronto got better. Boston, Toronto, Florida all are locks. It's about being better than Tampa, Detroit and Buffalo.I think Florida will take a step back, they lost their top D and their #5, and I don't think they replaced either. Those two were also 1st and 2nd among d on their PP. Bob is getting older and on top of that they'll have the cup hangover.
We still need a good goaltender for the future; Ullmark has 1 year left to UFA.I see them all as basically neutral other than Florida on paper. Shuffling of the deck chairs trying to find a better mix. Senators somewhat too, but a goaltending upgrade was sorely needed more than any of the others. Toronto needed a goalie, but more to pair with Woll.
We still need a good goaltender for the future; Ullmark has 1 year left to UFA.
We still need a top 4 RD; Jensen is 34 and ageing out so he is likely a bottom 6 pair defensemen..
We just traded away a good 3rd liner in Joseph plus a third for NOTHING!
We need a top 6 winger; Perron is ageing out.
Next season does not look good; I doubt we make the playoffs.
I'm confident he'll sign, but also if we have to reset, at least Korpisalo's contract is gone. And if Ullmark does stay, he has a #1 resume unlike all the backups we've brought in.We still need a good goaltender for the future; Ullmark has 1 year left to UFA.
We still need a top 4 RD; Jensen is 34 and ageing out so he is likely a bottom 6 pair defensemen..
We just traded away a good 3rd liner in Joseph plus a third for NOTHING!
We need a top 6 winger; Perron is ageing out.
Next season does not look good; I doubt we make the playoffs.