Who makes the playoffs first: Sharks, Blackhawks or Sabres?

[Howboutthempanthers]

Well, I haven't heard any issues about Chicago's ownership and San Jose's ownership like I've heard about the Sabre's ownership. That's going to hold Buffalo back.

 

[dirtydanglez]

sabres but i dont know if power is going to be there

 

[Dr Salt]

Saying its Power's team is just really funny

 

[majormajor]

Can someone explain to me why the general consensus is that the Sharks rebuild is so much further along than the Hawks? The difference in the public perception between the two teams is wild considering the Sharks have been every bit as bad as the Hawks the last 2 years.

I think they've been drafting better players. You can start to see a core of players coming together, at least at forward - Celebrini, Eklund, Smith, Zetterlund, Chernyshev, Musty, etc....

 

[Kuz]

Buffalo was quite close, but fell off hard during Dahlin's injury. That loosing streak is what have them at the bottom and not in the mix from Ottawa (WC1) to Philadelphia who are 6 points ahead of Buffalo. Dahlin went down in the third period where the team had a 4-1 lead they managed to loose that one 5-4 in regulation and then loosing the 7 next without Dahlin. So if we assume they would have held on to the lead with Dahlin they would have had 49 points in 47 games with Dahlin. Which means they have more points per game with Dahlin than Pittsburgh, Philly, NYI and MTL.

Thats also a huge weakness for them being that reliant on a single player to be competitive. Also says something that Power and Byram who should be solid enough carrying the defence with Samuelsson arent able to do so. If the right center becomes available Power and Byram should be on the table.

So most likely SJS as Buffalo always find a way to fail, but they have the potential to be a playoff team.

 

[Chelios]

I think they've been drafting better players. You can start to see a core of players coming together, at least at forward - Celebrini, Eklund, Smith, Zetterlund, Chernyshev, Musty, etc....

I mean, if you want to say they have a better bunch of young forwards, then sure (though I think including Zetterlund in there is a bit of a stretch). But I am not sure if that group is so much better than the group of Bedard, Nazar, Slaggert, Reichel, Dach, Moore, Boisvert etc... that it makes up for the gulf of a difference on the back end. Considering defensemen take longer to develop, that has to be a real concern for San Jose going forward.

 

[eklund2chicago]

The San Jose glaze on hfboards is crazy. They suck. They have no defense. They are worse than Chicago but have been rebuilding for a longer period of time.

The answer here should be Buffalo. Chicago and San Jose have a long way to go.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Sharks surprise and make it next year.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

The San Jose glaze on hfboards is crazy. They suck. They have no defense. They are worse than Chicago but have been rebuilding for a longer period of time.

The answer here should be Buffalo. Chicago and San Jose have a long way to go.

The only glaze is people like the draft picks/trades the Sharks have made more than Chicago.

How have they been rebuilding longer? They have the exact same timeline as starting in the 2022 offseason.

I know I'm bias, but I feel the majority of people would rather SJ's U23 core as compared to Chicago's.

 

[sr edler]

Buffalo IMO misses a strong defence-minded C like Danault or Eriksson Ek. I don't think Cozens is that guy.

Kings were out of the playoffs for years before they brought in Danault, and now they've been to the post-season three straight years, and Eriksson Ek is a guy who makes Wild a well-balanced roster.

 

[I am not exposed]

San Jose. Given up expecting the Sabres to make the playoffs. I think most of their fans have as well.

 

[matt trick]

I don't love the way Buff is built (excellent wingers- including Cozens- and LHD), but they're so much more talented and closer. I don't love Power, but he'd be the Sharks #1 d-man. As would Dahlin and Byram. They probably have six forwards (Thompson, Tuch, Zucker, Petterka, Benson, and Cozens) better than Chicago's 2nd/3rd best (Teuvo and Nazar/Bertuzzi). Kulich is performing as well as Smith or Nazar presently as well, though I think he ends up being the weakest of three (but still a very good prospect). Buff's bottom six is far better than either teams. Sharks goaltending is currently the worst, but has the most upside. I'd say Buffalo's is the best currently.

I would imagine Buffalo buys aggressively this offseason. Sharks and especially Chicago will likely buy this offseason as well, but I think Buff will be moving more of their young assets while the Sharks and Hawks just splash cash. I could see Buff moving their first for a massive piece for instance.

It's possible Buff restarts a new rebuild, which would put them furthest, but I expect they make it in 2027-2028. I'd imagine Sharks and Hawks draft bottom 5-10 in each of the next two drafts, and are approaching, but miss the wildcard that year.

 

[Crow]

The only glaze is people like the draft picks/trades the Sharks have made more than Chicago.

How have they been rebuilding longer? They have the exact same timeline as starting in the 2022 offseason.

I know I'm bias, but I feel the majority of people would rather SJ's U23 core as compared to Chicago's.

I honestly believe that is just because people hate Chicago generally for a variety of valid reasons. People are more neutral about the sharks. Even if the sharks have a better prospect pool than the hawks, they don’t have it on D.

It’s going to take the sharks longer to be relevant than the hawks imo and they really need to draft D or acquire young d men at this point.

I much prefer the hawks prospect pool fwiw but I am also biased. Some of our prospects made a lot of progress this year and look very promising. Generally I don’t think people are that in tune with our prospects, which is fine with me.

 

[gritdash60]

Anyone but not the sabres, couldn't vote 2 so picked Sharks

 

[wetcoast]

I mean, if you want to say they have a better bunch of young forwards, then sure (though I think including Zetterlund in there is a bit of a stretch). But I am not sure if that group is so much better than the group of Bedard, Nazar, Slaggert, Reichel, Dach, Moore, Boisvert etc... that it makes up for the gulf of a difference on the back end. Considering defensemen take longer to develop, that has to be a real concern for San Jose going forward.

I took Buffalo here as they are really close but frankly the team that gets Schaefer might get the bump they need as well.

With the Hawks and Sharks alot deends on how quickly some of their prospects come along.