von Rantala Posted January 7 Author Posted January 7 (edited) Its been great season so far. A lot suprises. Its been big surprise how Flyers has been able to stay in playoff run. Can PIT made one more run with older core? EDM has came back to Playoff position. Skinner been able to play better, and EDM finally defenced bit better. Toronto is interesting to follow too. They are close on Nylander deal. If they sign him, next year they have over 50% salary cap on 4 players. If all stay healthy, they should be playoff team, but if any injuries to those four, they widness cant save them. They also still need to solve goalie problem and defenders problems. If use 46,7 milj to four players that leave 40,8 milj for 16 players and after taking Reilly 7,5 milj that leave 33,3 milj for 15 players to use. If you want solid starter that cost 5+ milj. So then you have 28,3milj to use 12 players. They probably is in the problems or they have to try trade Marner or Tavares. Nylander contract should be published in any days now. I been happy to see Vancouver playing so well and they are my favorite Canada team to win Cup. Is Demko right guy to goal, is still question mark for me. He played well. Colorado been dissapointment. I dont like how they give Rantanen, MacKinnon and Nichuskin all the gametime, they are new Edmonton. Its great example on team who give 10+milj Contract and lose they widness. They won Cup because MacKinnon was playing under cheap and NHL best contract. Best NHL teams keep they star forwards in 18:00-20:00min range and defenders in 21:00-25:00 range. Once players get constantly over that they get tired and losing they best sharp once playoff start. Game is so much faster these days that you cant play too much. You also cant get goals or support from other lines, if you dont give them enough gametime. This year been very difficult for many goalies. Samsonov, Raanta and Cambpell all sent in AHL. Georgiev, Shesterkin, Saros, Oettinger, Vasy, Kuemper, Markström, Binnington, Sorokin all played under they normal level and had periods of strugles. Vanecek, Husso, Korpisalo, Gustavsson all has failed too, but they never been top lvl goalies in long time. Gustavsson did been strong lately tho. Its been difficult season for goalies. Many team looking goalie improvement. Many teams has gone through hot streaks and then longer losing streaks too. There is still many team in playoff picture. Its been great season. My middle season favorite to long playoff run East Carolina Rangers Florida has widness and Bobrovsky finally playing great season, but he is very irregular and playoff records prior last season was awfull. West Dallas Vancouver LAK could go long too if they can continue playing solid two-way hockey and Vegas too if Hill can continue great game once he return. Edited January 7 by von Rantala Quote
mraw435 Posted January 10 Posted January 10 @Hulk who was your team before the kracken?! Not gonna lie, almost left the bruins when i saw the kracken's intro video! @von Rantala i see you still dont like to mention the bruins in the playoff run...swayman is the man absolutely crushing it whenever i have time ti watch a game. Also reading your post made me think of the capitals - great last few seasons but they have quite an old (age) team now and then a bunch of rookies - will see how they grow over next few yrs 1 Quote
Hulk Posted January 11 Posted January 11 @mraw435 in last 5-8 years would be current Kraken,Vegas Golden knights, and 7-8 years ago avalanche Quote
von Rantala Posted January 11 Author Posted January 11 On 1/10/2024 at 6:12 AM, mraw435 said: @von Rantala i see you still dont like to mention the bruins in the playoff run...swayman is the man absolutely crushing it whenever i have time ti watch a game. East bit difficult when there is many strong teams. I think Bruins start very very well, but been playing bit more normal lvl lately. I have huge respect to Laviolette, he is great coach and Rangers have more wideness in they group than Boston. Carolina defenders are very good. They goalies has strugled hard, but i have feeling they might make goalie trade and try to get Gibson from Anaheim or Kähkönen from SJ. Carolina offence group is also very wide, they can run 4 lines. Florida been hot lately and they have best two way forward now when Bergeron retired. They wingers group is even wider, but centers behind Barkov is bit thin. Boston have better goalies than NYR, CAR or FLA, but they overall widness in defence and forward group lose to other contendors. I think Montgomery get more out of players than they potential is and he made great defensive/two-way gamestyle what make them look stronger than they are. They have key players like Pastarnak, goalies, Marchand and McAvoy, but after those they dont have same widness as other contendor teams. They ride with hot key players and great two-way hockey, but in playoffs i see its too hard them to go through Rangers or Carolina to Stanley Cup finals. Also Boston probably would have to won either FLA or TOR or both to go in conference finals. Swayman been great and i value him over Ullmark, let see how he will play now, if Ullmark have to go out long. Its easier to goalie to keep good rythm when he dont need play every night. We havent seen yet time, when Swayman had to go through adversitys. He had difficult periods, but in those, he havent need to feel pressures to carry team, because Ullmark been able to do it and he been able to rest and find his rythm back. @Lusciousdrunk Detroit signed Kane was 2-5-0 (both wins in extratime) in first seven games. Now they won last three, but look like signing of Kane made unbalance to your team. Lyon played great, but goalies is question mark. Also signing Holl was huge question mark move and now he is healthy scratch in many games and you have to keep promising Simon Edvinsson in AHL. I still think Yzerman dont have clear plan what direction he want to steer your team and signing Kane was one of strange signings more from him lately. Yes he has made a lot points, but could leave team in trade deadline. Perron also was part of most dirties and dangerous revernge what i seen in past years. Targeting players who didnt have any part of Larkin injury was wrong and getting only 6 game suspenion for that. I lost my last respect on Perron when he made appeal on that, he should take small penalty like man and admit his mistakes. I know its scary to see your Captain in ground, but instead players going to help they captain whole detroit team attack to Ottawa players and first players who went check if Larkin is okey was two Ottawa guy and first guy who asked trainers to come ice help Larkin was Ottawa guy. There been a lot dirty hits and revenges this season. I think that NHL should give 20-40 games suspensions. Perron hit to heat/neck could have paralyzed Zub. But the dirtiest player is Nick Cousins. Hit to Gudbransson was dirty and hit to Välimäki was dirty and i undertand Zucker reaction, but not agree it. (he attack to player who made dirty hit, not unguilty person). I dont like at all that players have to take justice to they own hands. I didnt like how Gudbrasson had to take justice to his hands either. I do think fights is part of hockey, but i dont think revenge is part of game. If players would know NHL will give 25 game penalty to player who made dangerous and dirty hit what could end player career or know long injury time, players dont need go and take justice to they own hands. I fear that someone have to lose his life or some star player have to retire young because dirty hit or revenge before NHL wake up. Sometimes i think that i might have to stop watching NHL, because they dont take care of they players or workers, but money talks, its not different in EU here either. As long as you make money, its not matter how you make it. @Hulk Best thing what happened to Kraken was that Grubauer injured 😂 They was forced to give more gametime to Daccord. Personally i dont understand why they been so stubborn with Grubauer. Also have to give credit to your GM. You got your two current scoring leading forwards free. Bjorkstrand for 3rd and 4th round picks and Tolvanen from waiwers. Seattle is in hot streak now, i still doubt they can take playoff spot, but i think they are higher than i waited them to be. If Daccord can continue his hot streak, team can surprise me and take playoff spot, but they are in race with Arizona who have hot goalie too on Ingram and with Nashville who have Saros (who been bad this year). Edmonton should take first wild card or top3 in they own division. I still have more believe on Arizona than Seattle, because i see they coach bit better and they young players bit better, but let see. You cant count St. Louis out yet either, because they have wide group, but probably weakest goalie on Binnington, but if they give more time for Hoffer, who know what happen? Wild is dropping out, they had too many injuries and 15 milj tied up to buyout contracts. 1 1 Quote
D..X Posted January 11 Posted January 11 (edited) 1 name for you all Martian Jones and this dudes ridiculous! Edited January 11 by D..X Quote
von Rantala Posted January 12 Author Posted January 12 On 1/11/2024 at 6:57 PM, D..X said: 1 name for you all Martian Jones and this dudes ridiculous! Martin Jones been your savior lately, but how long he can continue his hot streak is question mark? Woll is promising too, but goalies are big question mark, but once Woll healthy you pay them 1,5M (Jones+Woll), your goalie problems is not worst, because some teams pay a lot more and getting a lot less back than Toronto atm. Lets remember many teams strugling with goalies this year, so Toronto is not rush to make goalie trade. Samsonov might be back in net at weekend. In future its risky move to put hope on Woll and Jones, but you maybe have to do it when salary cap situation is difficult. Woll is still minor question mark for me, is he like Nedelkovic and Husso or can be next Rask? I still would like to see more him and more games row and how he deal advertisity. I would be more hype if you would have Levi in net, because his record from past his better than Woll. Yes his been hot, but also MacKinnon playing greatly atm. Have you watched any Vancouver this season? Q.Hughes is absolutely crazy good this season and Hronek been perfect d-pair for him. I dont know if i ever seen so great d-pair in NHL. I truly hope they re-sign Hronek and Vancouver can do miraclges this year. I knew Hronek potential and he might make point per game this season. I did wait 50 points season. I also put Vancouver third place in division and second round, but i knew they might be stronger. Watching Maker to play is also candy to eyes, these two will come to dominate NHL for many years. Heiskanen should be same class, but he had to pull that daamm Suter as (kivireki)stone truck every night. I cant understand why they cant keep Lindell or Harley more as his D-pair. I see Harley very high potential, he should be top 5 defenders of league in couple years. Atm i value Maker over MacKinnon and Q.Hughes is in my papers best player of NHL so far. Its crazy what he sometimes do with puck and he is d-man. He is able to do those all because he can trust Hronek will back him up and sametime other teams cant just see Hronek just defensive defender so they have to respect him too, what give Hughes more open ice. My Top players of the season so far. 1. Q. Hughes (VAN) Best player so far. Lead D-man points and NHL +/- leader 2. N. Kucherov (TBL) Scoring leader of NHL and have 26 points more than second best TBL player 3. C. Makar (COL) NHL record on fastest 250 points from D-man. Conn Smythe winner and best defender of word, but badling with injuries this year dropp him to third. Still pace for 100 points. 4. C. Hellebuyck (WPG) Best goalie so far and biggest reason why WPG leading NHL standings 5. N. MacKinnon (COL) second in NHL points and first in assists. Best center so far 6. C. MacDavid (EDM) after slow start, has take team to his backpack. Also been stronger in d-zone too. 7. A. Barkov (FLA) Currently NHL best two-way forward. Personally i always value Barkov type two-way forward higher than scoring/goals leaders. Some guys behind him in this list has done more points, but Barkov overall value to team is super high. 8. S. Reinart (FLA) Three goal behind Matthews in goals, but have 5 points more and have NHL leading 9 game winning goal, when Matthews have only 2 game winning goal. Also +18 when Matthews at +10. 9. W. Nylander (TOR) Lead team scoring even that playing 1 minute less per game than Marner and Matthews. Only 5 game without point, when Matthews have 13 games without point. Nylander been NHL the most consistent player 10. D. Pastarnak (BOS) 6th in scoring and 7th in goals, but his value to team is higher than many other who is higher than him in scoring. When other players get more support from teammate, he have 20 point lead in team and 17/25 goal came EVS. I know most ppls wouldnt left goal leader out of TOP10, but i tryed to explain why i put these all in list. I try to watch player overall game and value to team. Matthews is NHL best scorer, but he also dose get help from players like Tavares, Nylander, Marner and Reilly. I see Matthews is too one dimensional player. In end of day, its what you value on hockey player and i value more overall impact to team and its because my biggest idols been Koivu brothers, Niittymäki, Kunin, Granlund, Aho, St. Louis etc.. All my idols been guys who valued two-way game high and its been they strong point and i never had idol who is pure scorer. Rantanen is my favorite player too and becoming idol, but even in his game goal scoring isnt only what make him great player. My news't idol is Sebastian Aho (CAR) i followed him since rookie season and when he did left money to table when signing new contract made huge impact to me. He is "team first" guy and great leader. Aho not over celebrating goals if those are not meaninfull goals. He is very modest guy. Sometimes i see players celebrating some 4-0 goal like its they first goal of life or using cocky celebrations. So dont take my list too seriously, but would be glad to hear everyone TOP10 player of season so far? Quote
von Rantala Posted June 29 Author Posted June 29 So lets re-check how i did do in my early season prediction. This is first time when i re-visit check my predictions 😂 There might be a lot typos and i had to do a lot work to get quotes working right. I try to do free agent predictions later. Let see. Enjoy and no need to read all at once. On 10/12/2023 at 9:08 PM, von Rantala said: Metropolitan Overal Rating 1 Carolina 44,5 Was second, but in top 3 2 Rangers 38,5 Was first, but in top 3 3 New Jersey 37,5 Was wrong. Out of playoffs Atlantic Overall Rating 1 Toronto 39 Was third, but in top 3 2 Tampa Bay 41,5 Wild card, but in playoffs 3 Ottawa 34,5 Was wrong. Out of playoffs Wild Card 1 Buffalo 33,5 Wrong. Out playoffs In the race for last Wild Card Overal Rating Florida 40 Won division. Positive surprise Pittsburgh 37,5 Correct was in the race Boston 37 Second in division Might Suprise and take Last Wild Card Overal Rating Columbus 29 Wrong. Last of Conference Islanders 36,5 Wrong. Was division third. Detroit 32,5 Correct was close to surprise Out of the playoff picture Overal Rating Washington 33 Wrong. Was 2 Wild card. Philadelphia 24,5 Wrong. Was in the race for last wild card Montreal 21,5 Correct was second last of Conference Quote West Central 1. Dallas 44,5 Correct 2. Colorado 43,5 Was third, but in top 3 3. Nashville 36,5 Was first Wild card, but i remember this was difficult choise. Pasific 1. Edmonton 38 Was second, but in top 3 2. Vegas 41,5 Was Second Wild card, but in playoffs 3. Vancouver 34 Was first, but in top 3. I am happy on this, because i saw VAN playoff team and big player in this year. Wild Card 1. St. Louis 36 Wrong. Was not playoff team. In the racefor last WildCard Winnipeg 37 Wrong. Was top 3 in division and bigger player than i predict them to be. Minnesota 35 Correct Los Angeles 32 Wrong. Was top 3 in division, so more than i predict, but last game of season decide that they got in top 3. Calgary 31 Wrong. Not serious racer for last Wild Card. Might Suprise and take last Wild Card Arizona 24,5 Correct, they was playoff team in middle of season. San Jose 24 Wrong, was worst team of NHL Our of the playoff picture Seattle 29,5 Correct Anaheim 28,5 Correct Chicago 16,5 Correct On 10/12/2023 at 9:08 PM, von Rantala said: Overall Prediction: Metropolitan: Metroplitan is strongest Division. There Carolina, Rangers and NJ is top three. NJ question mark is goalies and coach and those could drop them to Wild cards, but theyshould be playoff team anyway. If Ruff right guy to lead NJ is question mark? NJ has potential to be season biggest negative surprise too and dropp out from playoffs. Carolina could win regular season, but playing in strongest division eat some overall points from them on Presidents Trophy race. Rangers has strongest goalie from these three and Carolina has strongest Defence and forwards. NJ has most potential to imporove and got more progress fromt they young players. Points 319. Teams to playoffs 4. President trophy. Rangers did take President trophy, and top three did take 319 points what is second weakest. So my prediction that President cant go to Metro and its best Division was wrong. Did see NJ potential problems with goalie and coach right. Atlantic: Toronto is strongest team in Atlantic now and Tampa should be in top 3 too. Either Buffalo or Ottawa could take that third place in division. Florida also can take that third place in division. Buffalo and Ottawa are teams who could progress most and from Tampa is hard to wait to get progression from they players, when most of them playing with they full potential already. Missing Vasilevsky for two first month give too big head start for Toronto in points. Toronto play bit weaker division than Carolina, so they could take Presidents Trophy and win East Conference. Atlantic is bit more wide, in Atlantic there is several teams who could take that third spot, when in Metropolitan Top 3 is bit more clear. Points 321. Playoff teams 4. Stanley Cup Winner Toronto was not strongest team and did not take President trophy and Atlantic was second strongest division, when top 3 teams got 321 points. Buffalo and Ottawa wasnt ready for the playoffs. I did wait a lot more from them, but goalie and defencesive game cost Ottawa playoff position and Buffalo was miss using goalies at start of the season. Both team did change coach, Ottawa middle of season and Buffalo after season. Wild Cards: Buffalo is my favorite in Wild card race and should take Wild card place if they not get in top three in Atlantic. Florida should take playoff spot too, but you never know on them, they could dropp too, paper they should be clear playoff team, but goalies is huge question mark. Is they Florida from last regular season or from playoffs? If Pittsburgh or Boston would play inPasific division they could be playoff teams. Losing Bergeron will hurt a lot and not able to find any free agents to fill that spot or not having young players who could take those spots what Krejci and Bergeron left could cost them playoff spot. But they d and goalies are better than Pittsburgh or Florida. So goalies and defenders can lead them in the playoffs. You cant leave Pittsburgh out on discussion either, they biggest question mark is goalies and they cant lose any top 2 line wingers to injuries, but they have probably NHL best coach who can bring them a lot extra ponts. Buffalo start of season cost them playoff spot. Florida was better than i waited them to be. I sayed they should take playoff spot, but they was a lot better than that. Bob also wasnt question mark this year, he was they MVP with Barkov. Pittsburgh wouldnt been playoff team if they would have played in Pasific division got that wrong, but they was race for last spot in last days on regular season. So half right and half wrong. Goalies was minor question mark to them as i predict. Ned did take starter role from Jarry. Boston was a lot better than i waited. Rest: You cant never leave Islanders out of playoff picture, they play very defence minded game and they have best goalie duo in NHL. Lacking offensive power might cost them playoff spot this year, when other teams which was bellow them last year has got stronger in summer. Detroit is team who dont have clear direction, they havent started full rebuild, but they havent been good enought to playoffs either, Yzeman doing strange decisions in there. But in NHL you cant never count anyone out if they look good in paper. Columbus has huge bank of super talents, they d-group is probably NHL widest. They have new coach and you never know when those young guys spark and find they pontenial, team is sleeping team, just like Ottawa and Buffalo was last couple years. Probably it take Columbus one to two more year to be serious playoff canditate. Goalies are huge question mark for Columbus.Washington is team who should start re-build, but they probably wait till Ovechkin pass Gretzky goal record. Philadelphia and Montreal is middle of rebuild, but they have some young players who is interesting to follow this year. As i say you cant never leave Islanders out and after coach change, they did take Top 3 place in division. They didnt have best goalie duo in NHL. Sorokin was probably biggest disappointments of the season. Detroit was close to take last playoff spot, they still dont have clear direction and they just cap tump when trading Walman to SJ. Also J.Holl contract was bad mistake from Yzerman. Team also did go many losing streaks and winning streas in playoff. That tells all are not okey in team. Columbus is still sleeping team, ready to spark under right coach, maybe Tod Nelson? Team had J. Bednar and B.Zito in they organisation and both have now won Stanley Cup somewhere else. Goalies was question mark is i predict. Elvis contract is probably worse goalie contract in NHL. I think Washington did surprise us all. Philadelphia and Montreal was early season surprises and Flyers lost they playoff spot in last round. Flyers was best positive surprise of the season. Marty doing good job in Montreal. Central: If Metropolitan has tittle of strongest divsion, Central has two biggest Stanley Cup favorite. In my ratings there was only 0,5 difference in Offence for Dallas, Defence for Colorado, Specials for Dallas and GM/Coach 0,5 for Colorado. Only in goalies Dallas have clear advange to Colorado. That can be deciding factor in playoffs and regular season. Both Dallas and Colorado has one of widest groups in NHL. They had good salary cap control and only McKinnon make more than 10 milj per year. Anyone from group of Winnipeg, St. Louis, Nashville or Minnesota could take that spot 3 in division. It was hardest division to predict who will take that third spot. I predict Nashville will be strongest candidate to take that third. They have big question marks too as all of these teams. In paper they have bit stronger and more wide group than St. Louis, Winnipeg or Minnesota. Brunette as coach is big question mark Can they young very promising forwards score enough is question mark also. I think Blues, Jets and Wild have better first line centers. Nashville d-group (8,5 rating) is a lot better than Wild (6,5), Blues (7,5) or Jets (7). Overall goalies are best too comparated to STL, MIN or WPG. But any of these teams can take that third spot in Central. Points 330. Playoff teams 4. Central was strongest team in regular season. Dallas and Colorado was as good as i waited them to be and they did see in second round of the playoffs, where Dallas was bit stronger and goalies was major factor on that. So i got that right. Eventually Dallas didnt had so wide defence as i waited. After Hakanpää injury they basicly did use 5 defender and they bought out Suter contract who was one of those five. That lack of wideness did cost them Conference finals lost. Colorado didnt had as wide group as i waited either, they had to too severl trades and signs in the season to make offence wider. I still think d-group was best with Carolina. I did predict that anyone of Winnipeg, St. Louis, Nashville or Minnesota could spot in top three and Winnepeg did take that top 3 position and they was stronger than i waited. Nashville was out start of the season, but long winning streak put them to Wild card. Brunette continue to be question mark. St. Louis did make mid-season coaching change, and they was first team out of the playoffs in West and would have been playoff team in east. Minnesota also made mid-season coaching change, but was not so close to playoffs as i waited them to be. Pasific: Edmonton has team what is build for regular season. I also think that if team would lose McDavid and Draisatl same time for month it could benefit team because they have players who can product if they would get more gametime.Vegas is better team than Edmonton, but they are build more for playoffs and EDM for regular season. So in regular season EDM should be stronger, when in playoffs Vegas should be stronger and advance if they see in second round. Edmonton is one of favorites to win President Trophy too if McDavid and Draistal stay healthy. Vancouver is good team, better than many want to admit. Tocchet is good coach. Boudreau is great coach too, but if you look roster its more suitable to Tocchet type of coach. It would be huge disappontment if team dont take third spot in Pasific, because they have star lvl players in Center and d-group. Overall widness is not in same lvl what EDM and VGS have so it not yet enought to challange those two. Golies is Vancouver biggest question mark and i am very surprised that they havent try to look upgrade in goal. Tocchet has got goalies look better tho, so maybe Demko finally is able to bounchback and play with level of his salary and potential. Points 312. Playoff teams 4. Stanley Cup Finals losing team I did predict Edmonton to be stronger in the regular season and Vegas to be stronger in Playoffs. Got both those of those wrong. Edmonton was big positive surprise for me. They was in difficulties in the start of the season, and yet again, they made same decision as always to fire coach and blame goalies. Mid-season coaching change gave them boost what needed and we saw second longest winning streak of NHL history. They got production from they third and fourth liners through to year and the playoffs and they finally made change what i been yelling last 5-6 years. Do not use McDavid and Draisaitl in PK. Vegas is probably most hated NHL team and Stone got mystery injure just before trade deadline as so many years before and was healthy yet again in the playoffs. Vegas was strugling whole regular season, but was able to take playoff spot and force Dallas to game seven. Vancouver was as good as i waited them to be, and was able to win division, when Edmonton and Vegas had they strugles in the regular season. Tocchet has been able to make goalies look better, and Demko did play his best season of career. Wild Card I think both Wild Card places probably will go to Central teams. I think Winnipeg should be first Wild Card, but i dont believe Bowness skills as coach to lead them in playoff. In paper they have stronger team than LAK, MIN, STL. But you cant count them out from race because good team and great goalie. Minnesota is in race too They been playoffs now 10 from last 11 year. 9 of 10 if you dont count playoffs qualifier loss as playoffs. But they have lost 7 time now in first round. They miss star center and they got more weak than other teams who was behind them. All other potential wild card teams have better defence group and star defender(s) If Binnington would come back to his Stanley Cup year lvl, St. Louis would be very strong and could go long in playoffs. They have strong defence and offence, they have good coach too. Maybe Binnington could get in 91,00% and 2,60GA and then team should be in playoffs. Los Angeles can surprise, you cant left them out. Kopitar is great two-way player, even that goalies are huge question mark in there, they center group is strong. If Talbot can bounchback and Copley surprise and play career year, they can take wild card place or even third place in Pasific. Calgary should use Wolf in net. He is most promising goalie in there and he could lead team to playoffs. He been AHL best goalie twice now. I admire on not to asking trade, but staying loyal to Calgary. Last season was difficult for Calgary, but they have all the chances take that third spot in Pasific or they could be non playoff team who not even compite in playoff spot. There is too many question marks around Calgary and its make it hardest team to predict. Both Wild cards didnt go to Central teams, but division was weakest in the regular season. I didnt believe Bowness skills to coach Winnipeg to playoffs, he got Winnipeg to playoffs, but wasnt able to find any answers against Colorado and it was probably most lopsided serie. Bowness did retire after the season and it was shame he didnt win Cup in his great and long career. I wish him all the best. Los Angeles did take that playoff spot again. Talbot was able to bounchback and was very good in start of the season. LAK made mid-season coaching change and Jim Hiller probably saved Rob Blake GM job, when leading team to playoffs. Calgary was one of the harderst team to predict and i was very surprised that Wolf had to play most of the season in the AHL. In paper Calgary should have been playoff team. They trade most of they role/key players and have started minor re-tool, but not full re-build yet. Calgary was minor disappointment for me overall Rest: Arizona remind me on Buffalo couple year ago. Its team who have potential to surprise, but havent been able to do it. I will follow Arizona more closely this year when my favorite players Zucker and Dumba is signed in there. San Jose could surprise, they have offence who could product, but San Jose missing offensive defenders, so it might be very difficult for San Jose to make goals. Is San Jose only team who dont have any 30 point player from d-group? If Quinn get some young talents play well and they can find some offence from d-group (Thrun?) they might surprise. If San can play solid two-way hockey and grind some important points. I know most of ppls not predict Seattle dropping so far away from playoffs. If Daccord can take lead in goalie baddle and give them solid goalie game they might compite and be middle non playoff team, but i see hard them to take playoff spot when other teams improved a lot and have more star power. Anaheim and Chicago is going rebuild and its take them couple year to be back in playoffs. I think Chicago is weakest team, because Anaheim has more talented young players. Both it will be difficult season for both of them. I liked Arizona a lot and i did predict them to be positive surprise what they was. They was in playoff spot before going long losing streak last quarter of the season. I like coach Tourigny. Big minus is that he wasnt able find solution when team got in long losing streak, but was right choise from GM to keep Tourigny and not fire him. Goalie Ingram was one of the best positive surprises of the year. Great story. Nashville did put him to waiwers and that could hunt them for long long time. I did predict SJ strugles in the offense. I saw that it will be hard to make any offence when they dont have any offensive defenders who could start rushes. I didnt believe any SJ d-man could reach to 30 points and best d-man Mario Ferraro got 21 points, it was least from any other team. Every other best d-man got more points than Ferraro got in SJ. Second least points from they best d-man got Chicago 31 (S. Jones). Quinn got fired after the season after SJ played second worst season in salary cap history (after Detroit 2019-2020) Seattle was one of the teams who i also did predict correct. I did see Daccord taking starting role and when he was hot, Seattle was in playoff spot for while. Its interesting to see if they will buy out Grubaur contract. Seattle did fire they coach after the season, and talented Bylsma will coach them in future. He have one Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh. Anaheim was one of positive surprises in start of the season and for while it look like they finally defence too and goalies and strong numbers, but then they fell out of the playoff picture and started to give a lot goals against and goalies had again over 3.00GA. I feel bit sad for Gibson, who was once raited as best goalies of NHL and he played his prime behind very poor Anaheim, who has been worst defensive teams last 6 season. When they re-build end? Chicago was tanking as many of us predict they will. Mrazek was probably they MVP and Connor Bedard won Calder as rookie of the season. He might have worst plus/minus in Calder history? I do think Trophy should have given to B.Faber. He was best overall player from rookie class. Quote
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