NHL 2025-2026

[Shaun Reynolds]

Can't wait for you to do a review of the Golden Knights my team for the Stanley Cup 😊

[von Rantala]

Minnesota

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 7

Defence: 7

Goalies: 7,5

Special Teams: PP 3 / PK 2,5

GM/Coach: GM 3 / Coach 3,5

Total: 33,5

 

Worst Contract: Vladimir Tarasenko (RW/LW)

Best Contract: Joel Eriksson Ek ( C )

Most underrated: Joel Eriksson Ek ( C )

MVP: Kirill Kaprizov (LW)

Biggest talent: Zeev Buium (D)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Kaprizov - Rossi - Zuccarello

Boldy - Eriksson Ek - Ohgren

Tarasenko - Yurov - Hartman

Foligno - Sturm - Trenin

 

Brodin - Faber

Buium - Spurgeon

Middleton - Bogosian

 

Gustavsson

Wallstedt

 

Key Words:

 

I needed a couple seasons break from Wild. In my mind not re-signing Koivu was a bad move and I needed to take a break from watching Wild games. Last season I started to watch Wild games again and enjoyed those a lot. Rossi made a big impression on me and I started to like his game. I think Rossi's new 3 year 5M contract is a very team friendly contract. Next season Wild need a breakout season from their rookies Ohgren, Yurev and Buium. Without big help from those three rookies, Wild is difficult, if not even impossible , to take the playoff spot. I gave criticism on the Faber contract and last season was difficultish for Faber. Can he reach his full potential this season? I see he might get shadowed by Buium. Kaprizov needs a new contract. It's rumored Wild will pay anything what Kaprizov asks and that contract might be a huge mistake from Wild if it goes a lot over 12M. What if Kaprizov doesn't want to sign in Wild? What will happen then? Probably a new rebuild. Wild traded Tarasenko for future consideration, Wild probably hopes Tarasenko can find his game if he plays with Kaprizov. Wild has signed or traded more Russian players, so Kaprizov feels more home and wants to sign a contract with Wild. Joel Eriksson Ek had a bit difficult ish season. He had some injuries which slowed down his season. He is not a first line center, but is a perfect second line center who is one of NHL most underrated players. 

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

Hynes is a great coach, but Central is a difficult division and I see the Wild dropping from playoffs.

 

 

 

I writed Wild team review before i knew that Kaprizov turned down 16m contract offer from Wild. I think he still stays in Wild, he just ask more money. I am not Kaprizov fan and i honestly believe that in long run we can be better team without him. If he not want to stay in Wild, i hope we not lose him free, but Guerin gave him contract where Kapri has full no-movement clause and that might be costly mistake. Overall i dont like Guerin, because he has done some bad signings and not signing Koivu was disrespectful. Anaway will watch a lot Wild games next season.

[von Rantala]

Montréal

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 7

Defence: 8,5

Goalies: 6

Special Teams: PP 4,5 / PK 3,5

GM/Coach: GM 3,5 / Coach 4

Total: 37

 

Worst Contract: Josh Anderson (RW/LW)

Best Contract: Mike Matheson (D)

Most underrated: Jake Evans (C/RW)

MVP: Lane Hutson (D)

Biggest talent: Ivan Demidov (RW/C)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky

Laine - Dach - Demidov

Bolduc - Newhook - Kapanen

Gallagher - Evans - Anderson

 

Hutson - Dobson

Guhle - Matheson

Struble - Carrier

 

Montembeault

Dobes

 

Key Words:

 

Montréal was last season biggest positive surprise. They did take the playoff spot and played good hockey against Washington in the first round. Montréal's future looks promising and bright. Montréal has done a very good job in drafting. Hutson might be the next superstar player. Can he challenge Makar and Q. Hughes on the James Norris trophy this season? It's maybe too early to ask that. Montréal drafted Aatos Koivu, Saku Koivu's son and it will be interesting to follow his career. Shame that in Finland NHL and Liiga are different streaming services. I can't buy two different streaming services. So I can't see all Aatos Koivu Liiga games, but luckily they show one game live every week.  I followed both Saku and Mikko Koivu NHL careers and they both have been my idols. Is this the season when Slafkovsky finally reaches his full potential? I think he continues improving his game and it was the right choice from Montréal to draft him first overall in the 2022 draft. Draft class which Covid hurt most. Martin St. Louis is the perfect coach for the Habs now. He is not a tactical professor, but he is a good mentor, great motivator and sees how to develop young players. Maybe the Habs are able to bring great tactical assistant coaches for the St. Louis. Goalies are the biggest question mark. I think the Habs need an update on Montembeault who is more of a good back up than great starter. There are a couple interesting goalie prospects in Hab's system. The Habs have one of the NHL best and widest defence groups. Guhle is underrated and in some other teams he would be leading d-man, but in Montréal there is Hutson and Dobson ahead of him. Potential to be a future dynastia team.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

Should be a playoff team and If the Habs get a good goalie game can win the first round.

[von Rantala]

Nashville

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 6

Defence: 7

Goalies: 9

Special Teams: PP 2,5 / PK 3,5

GM/Coach: GM 1 / Coach 1,5

Total: 30,5

 

Worst Contract: Brady Skjei (D)

Best Contract: Ryan O’Reilly ( C )

Most underrated: Erik Haula (LW/C)

MVP: Juuse Saros (G)

Biggest talent: Brady Martin ( C )

 

Project Line-ups

 

Forsberg - Stamkos - Marchessault

Wood - O’Reilly - Evangelista

Svechkov - Haula - Bunting

Smith - McCarron - L’Heureux

 

Josi - Barron

Skjei - Hague

Blankenburg - Perbix

 

Saros

Annunen

 

Key Words:

 

Nashville was very active last summer and signed big players like Stamkos. Nashville was a huge disappointment and biggest negative surprise of the year. I always say that being a great coach does not make you a great GM. Sometimes great coaches are great GM’s too, but that role is so different compared to the coach role. Trotz has done a very awful job. Buying out Duchene was an awful move and overpaying some free agents tying his hands. Also trading Askarov future franchise goalie was an odd move. Keeping Brunette was also a very strange move, but now there is DePoer free and if the team gets a poor start, Trotz has to fire Brunette and DePoer is an obvious signing then. How long is Trotz keeping his GM job? Nashville has not been strong in the drafts either, so if there is a coming rebuild, it will be long and painful. This season is key in direction what they will take. Nashville's biggest weakness last season was their defence game. This summer they brought two solid d-mans Hague who they signed a 4 year 5,5M contract, which look a small overpayment and they did sign Nick Perbix to 2 year 2,75M contract. Maybe after these signings Nashville's defence game gets better.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

Another difficult season is coming. There are two possibilities, if they get a poor start they fire Brunette and sign DePoer. Under DePoer team will take the Wild card place. Or Nashville continues struggling, but does not fire coach and is out of the playoffs.

[von Rantala]

New Jersey

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 8,5

Defence: 9

Goalies: 8

Special Teams: PP 3,5 / PK 3

GM/Coach: GM 4 / Coach 4

Total: 40

 

Worst Contract: Ondrej Palat (LW/RW)

Best Contract: Jack Hughes (C/LW)

Most underrated: Stefan Noesen (RW/LW)

MVP: Jack Hughes (C/LW)

Biggest talent: Lenni Hämeenaho (RW)

 

Project Line-ups

 

J. Hughes - Hischier - Bratt

Meier - Mercer - Noesen

Palat - Lammikko - Gritsyuk

Dadonov - Glass - Brown

 

L. Hughes - Hamilton

Dillon - Nemec

Siegenthaler - Pesce

 

Markström

Allen

 

Key Words:

 

Future franchise team. Team salary management has been league best. New Jersey has star players on the roster and everyone playing well under 10M salary. Last season they were learning new tactics under a new coach. The biggest question mark is Markström right guy on goal? They paid a big price to get him on the team and the first year was a minor disappointment. Playing behind this team should give the goalie a chance to be Vezina finalist. The team has one of the best young d-groups with a mix of veterans. The D-group is very wide and players like Kovacevic who has 4M caphit and Seamus Casey don't have room in the playing defence group. Keefe is a promising coach and GM Fitzgerald is one of best NHL best GM’s. All key players are young and it's scary how much this team can still improve. If someone can stop Florida in coming years, it's New Jersey. This year Florida might be better because they have experience, but for the 26-27 season I see NJ the biggest favorite for the Cup, if they fixed the goalie situation. NJ signed Juho Lammikko, it's an interesting signing, because I doubt Lammikko wants to come play in the AHL, so there should be a role for him in the NHL team. Lenni Hämeenaho and Arseni Gritsyuk are interesting young players. Lenni Hämeenaho has high potential and he was drafted second round in the 2023 draft. Gritsyuk is a 5 round pick from the 2019 draft. Both could take spots on the opening night roster.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

Should be a sure Conference finals team. Anything other than Conference finals is disappointment. 

[von Rantala]

New York Islanders

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 6

Defence: 5

Goalies: 8

Special Teams: PP 2,5 / PK 4

GM/Coach: GM 1 / Coach 2,5

Total: 29

 

Worst Contract: Ryan Pulock (D)

Best Contract: Maxim Tsyplakov (RW)

Most underrated: Kyle Palmieri (RW)

MVP: Mathew Barzal (C/RW)

Biggest talent: Matthew Schaefer (D)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Drouin - Horvat - Shabanov

Lee - Barzal - Palmieri

Heineman - Pageau - Tsyplakov

Duclair - Cizikas - Holmström

 

Pelech - Pulock

Schaefer - Romanov

De Angelo - Mayfield

 

Sorokin

Varlamov - Rittich

 

Key Words:

 

The Islanders are rebuilding team which has a lot of veterans signed to long contracts. What do the Islanders do on those long contracts? Does the team keep Sorokin? Now trade markers for Sorokin are high, but if he plays behind a rebuilding team for a year or two, his stats will be poor and his value will take a dive. John Gibson was in the same situation a couple years ago, when the Ducks started to rebuild. His value was high, but the Ducks kept Gibson and when they finally traded Gibson didn't have a lot of trade value anymore. Islanders have a very expensive d-group. Mayfield 3,5M, Pelech 5,75M, Pulock 6,15M Romanov 6,25M. None of those d-mans got more than 23 points. Those are difficult contracts to trade. All are overpayment contracts and Islanders are tied with them for several years.  Lamoriello retired after a long and successful career. Now it's time for the new GM and it's interesting to see what he is able to do. The Islanders were very lucky in the NHL draft lottery and they won first overall pick and they chose Schaefer. There is risk because Schaefer had an injury last season and he didn't play a lot. Maybe it's better if Schaefer spends one more season in juniors? League is not easy for 18 year defenders. For example Makar and Hutson both played one more season in the juniors after the draft. Maxim Shabanov is a very interesting young talent. Can he be next Kirill Kaprizov. Shabanov's stats from KHL in last couple seasons are strong.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

Islanders is just starting a long rebuild. Outside of playoffs.

[Ace18795]

At the very end - please give us your top 3 predictions :D.

[von Rantala]

18 hours ago, Ace18795 said:

At the very end - please give us your top 3 predictions :D.

 

Yes i can do that

 

 

New York Rangers

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 8 

Defence: 7,5

Goalies: 9

Special Teams: PP 4 / PK 3,5

GM/Coach: GM 1,5 / Coach 4,5

Total: 38

 

Worst Contract: Alexis Lafreniére (RW/LW)

Best Contract: Vincent Trocheck ( C )

Most underrated: Will Cuylle (LW/RW)

MVP: Igor Shestyorkin (G)

Biggest talent: Gabe Perreault (RW)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Panarin - Trocheck - Zibanejad

Lafreniére - Miller - Perreault

Cuylle - Pärssinen - Brodzinski

Edström - Carrick - Raddysh

 

Gavrikov - Fox

Vaakanainen - Schneider

Soucy - Borgen

 

Shestyorkin

Quick

 

Key Words:

 

On paper, Rangers should have been a sure playoff team last season. No one knows what happened. Laviolette is losing teams earlier and earlier. The former Stanley Cup coach is a strict coach who losing locker room and now it's happened just in two seasons. But there will be someone who will give Laviolette a job, it's just a matter of the time. Rangers hired Sullivan as new coach and just that signing lifted the team to one of biggest Stanley Cup contenders. Sullivan is probably the NHL second best coach after Paul Maurice. On paper the team looks strong, only the defense looks like a question mark and needs improvement. GM Drury is one of the weakest GM’s. He did not know how to run a team and his actions were probably the biggest reason why Rangers weren't a playoff team last year. Rangers got J.T. Miller back to the team. Trade was big and only time will tell who did a better job in trade. Zibanejad has been in the trade rumours. Last season was difficult for Zibanejad, but I believe he will bounce back this season and will play strong season. Gabe Perreault is an interesting young talent. He has high potential.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

Sure playoff team. We should see the Rangers vs Devils series in the second round.

[von Rantala]

Ottawa

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 7

Defence: 7

Goalies: 9

Special Teams: PP 3,5 / PK 3

GM/Coach: GM 2 / Coach 2

Total: 33,5

 

Worst Contract: Artyom Zub (D)

Best Contract: Claude Giroux (W/C)

Most underrated: Drake Batherson (RW/C)

MVP: Brady Tkachuk (LW)

Biggest talent: Leevi Meriläinen (G)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Tkachuk - Stützle - Batherson

Zetterlund - Cozens - Giroux

Perron - Pinto - Greig

Cousins - Eller - Amadio

 

Sanderson - Spence

Chabot - Jensen

Kleven - Zub

 

Ullmark

Meriläinen

 

Key Words:

 

Ottawa is a middle ground group. The team looks good on paper, but does not look like a Stanley Cup contender. Brady Tkachuk had a difficult season and after two points per game seasons, he got 29+26=55 points. Ottawa made a big trade at the trade deadline. They traded Josh Norris to Dylan Cozens. They needed to shake up things when it looked like Ottawa miss the playoffs. Ullmark is top goalies and after several tries Ottawa found a solid starter. Meriläinen got some games and looked very promising. If Ottawa gets a top goalie game from their goalies, Ottawa has chances to make the playoffs. Several Ottawa players need to improve from last season. Is coach Travis Green the right man to lead the team? How different would Ottawa look under DePoer or Laviolette coaching? In last drafts Ottawa hasn't done so well, its question mark if 2024 7th overall pick Carter Yakemchuk reaches his full potential. Last season in the WHL wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. Claude Giroux made a very team friendly 2M contract even if he hits all the bonuses it's still under 5M contract. Batherson is an underrated player, he is a firm 60 point man and only has a 4,975M contract.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

It is in the mix of Wild Card places, but I wouldn't be surprised if they drop out.

[von Rantala]

Philadelphia

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 6

Defence: 5,5

Goalies: 5

Special Teams: PP 2 / PK 3,5

GM/Coach: GM 1,5 / Coach 3,5

Total: 27

 

Worst Contract: Ivan Fedotov (G)

Best Contract: Bobby Brink (RW)

Most underrated: Nick Seeler (D)

MVP: Travis Konecny (RW/LW)

Biggest talent: Porter Martone (RW)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Konecny - Couturier - Michkov

Tippett - Zegras - Foerster

Dvorak - Cates - Brink

Deslauriers - Abols - Hathaway

 

York - Sanheim

Seeler - Drysdale

Zamula - Ristolainen

 

Ersson

Vladar - Fedotov

 

Key Words:

 

After a good 2023-2024 season, season 2024-2025 was returned to reality. Tortorella is a demanding coach, he gets more out of the players, but also loses the locker room pretty fast. Now after Daniel Briere has been GM for a couple seasons we start to see how he has done. The record so far isn't great. Drysdale - Gauthier trade looks bad now. Fedotov's 3,275 contract looks bad. Christian Dvorak 5,4M contract looks over payment. Frost, Farabee trade looks bad too when both Pelletier and Kuzmenko aren't on the team anymore. Signing Tocchet as coach was a very good move. Tocchet is a good coach and I believe right guy to lead the rebuild. There is still a long rebuild ahead. Flyers need to do good draft work. Flyers did take a risk when drafting Matvei Michkov in the 2023 draft. That risk look like it was worth taking. Michkov did look good in his first year. The defensive game was a disaster, but he played a solid offensive game and got a nice amount of points too (26+37=63). Now it is key for the Flyers to draft well, they don't have many trade assets on the team. Flyers signed Dan Vladar to goal. That's not a huge improvement. Vladar is more as back up. Last season the Flyers goalie game was a disaster and looks like Briere wasn't able to fix that problem. Ersson is a promising goalie, but needs more help from the defence group.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

They get a boost on their new coach and might surprise and be playoff contenders, but miss the playoffs

[von Rantala]

Pittsburgh

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 6,5

Defence: 5,5

Goalies: 5,5

Special Teams: PP 2 / PK 2,5

GM/Coach: GM 2,5 / Coach 1,5

Total: 26

 

Worst Contract: Tristan Jarry (G)

Best Contract: Sidney Crosby ( C )

Most underrated: Bryan Rust (RW/LW)

MVP: Sidney Crosby ( C )

Biggest talent: Benjamin Kindel (RW)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Rakell - Crosby - Rust

Koivunen - Malkin - Mantha

Hayes - Novak - Tomasino

Dewar - Lizotte - Brazeau

 

Pickering - Karlsson

Letang - Clifton

Graves - Dumba

 

Jarry

Blomqvist - Silovs

 

Key Words:

 

Pittsburgh has not officially started rebuilding. As long as Crosby is playing in Pittsburgh they aim is to get to the playoffs. Honestly, the team needs to rebuild. Of course it's a shame to see Crosby outside of playoff contention, but for the team it's better to start fresh. Now Pittsburgh has a new coach and with new coach teams look more fresh and they might surprise us all and take the playoff spot. If someone is, Crosby is the player who can lead the mediocre team to the playoffs. Crosby made yet again an NHL record when he played 20th season over point per game pace. Crosby has won everything possible. There are new rumors almost every day that Crosby gets traded, but I believe he will play his career through in Pittsburgh. He wants to be a mentor and leave a legacy for coming players and that is more important than going to hunt for a 4th Cup somewhere else. Next summer FA markets are better and if Pittsburgh is able to surprise us all and be a playoff contender, next summer they might boost their team and they might become a Cup contender. Goalies are the biggest question mark. Jarry, who spent time in AHL last year, looks to be a starter, but both Blomqvist and Silovs challenge Jarry. Blomqvist did look promising last season and he might be Pittsburgh's future starter.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

New coach so Pittsburgh might surprise and take the last Wild Card, but I predict them to miss the playoffs.

[von Rantala]

San Jose

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 5,5

Defence: 5

Goalies: 6

Special Teams: PP 2 / PK 2

GM/Coach: GM 2 / Coach 3

Total: 25,5

 

Worst Contract: Nick Leddy (D)

Best Contract: Yaroslav Askarov (G)

Most underrated: Mario Ferraro (D)

MVP: Macklin Celebrini ( C )

Biggest talent: Michael Misa (C/LW)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Eklund - Celebrini - Toffoli

Misa - Smith - Skinner

Kurashev - Wennberg - Graf

Goodrow - Dellandrea - Gaudette

 

Ferraro - Klingberg

Dickinson - Orlov

Leddy - Liljegren

 

Askarov

Nedeljkovic

 

Key Words:

 

For the last two seasons I followed San Jose when Granlund was playing there. I noticed that last season coach Warsofsky did a good job. He got San Jose's defense better. Playing in the San Jose goal was not such a huge nightmare to goalies as it was past two seasons. San Jose's future looks bright. Celebrini is a great forward who plays two-way hockey. He is not only hunting points, he does solid defence work too. Granlund was a great mentor for young Sharks and Thornton and Marleau have taken those mentor roles off the ice. The defence group needs improvement. Young defenders Cagnoni and Dickinson might get roles for this year's group and in my mind it would be a wise move from the management group if they will give Cagnoni and Dickinson roles this year. I believe they are ready and they would learn more by playing in the NHL than AHL or juniors. Askarov is a promising goalie, but is he the next Vasilievsky? Only time will tell. Klingberg might be this season's comeback player and he might get to 50+ points. When writing this I didn't know if Misa and Dickinson wanted to spend one more season in the juniors.

[von Rantala]

Seattle

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 6,5

Defence: 6,5

Goalies: 7,5

Special Teams: PP 3 / PK 3

GM/Coach: GM 1 / Coach 2

Total: 29,5

 

Worst Contract: Philipp Grubauer (G)

Best Contract: Jared McCann (C/W)

Most underrated: Eeli Tolvanen (RW/LW)

MVP: Joe Daccord (G)

Biggest talent: Jake O’Brien ( C )

 

Project Line-ups

 

McCann - Stephenson - Kakko

Marchment - Beniers - Tolvanen

Schwartz - Wright - Eberle

Kartye - Gaudreau - Nyman

 

Dunn - Montour

Lindgren - Larsson

Oleksiak - Evans

 

Daccord

Murray 

 

Key Words:

 

Let's say it. (ex)GM Ron Francis has done an awful bad job. The expansion draft was a failure and after that they only managed to take the playoff spot once. They already had a third coach behind the bench when Dan Bylsma was coaching the team for only one season. If you compare what Vegas was able to do in the Expansion draft and their first seasons to Seattle is enough to tell how bad the job Francis has done, but somehow he got the President role when they chose to name a new GM. Last summer Seattle was active in the freeagent market. Those players did play solid seasons, but nothing great and we need a season or two more to see if those signings were good or not. Matty Beniers haven't been able to play at the level where his potential is. He has 57, 37 and 43 points seasons, and those do not look second overall pick or 7M guy points. Overall Seattle has done a poor job on drafting. Beniers look like a miss pick, 2023 first round pick Eduard Sale wasn't playing so strong in AHL last season and 2024 first round pick Berkly Catton made less points last season than prior that. Last season Seattle struggled to score goals. Is Lane Lambert the right coach to get them to score more? In Islanders he was more of a defensive coach. I was surprised that Seattle didn't buy out Grubauer's contract. Seattle signed Matt Murray and he might take the backup role and be comeback player of the year. He struggled with injuries, but a healthy Murray can still be a starter in this league. 

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

Will miss the playoffs.

[von Rantala]

St. Louis

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 8

Defence: 7,5

Goalies: 7,5

Special Teams: PP 3,5 / PK 3,5

GM/Coach: GM 4 / Coach 3,5

Total: 37,5

 

Worst Contract: Pavel Buchnevich (W/C)

Best Contract: Dylan Holloway (W/C)

Most underrated: Joel Hofer (G)

MVP: Robert Thomas (C/RW)

Biggest talent: Jimmy Snuggerud (RW)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Holloway - Thomas - Kyrou

Buchnevich - Schenn - Snuggerud

Neighbours - Suter - Dvorský

Toropchenko - Sundqvist - Bjugstad

 

Fowler - Parayko

Broberg - Faulk

Tucker - Mailloux

 

Binnington

Hofer

 

Key Words:

 

In the paper St. Louis is a playoff team and now they have a good coach behind the bench. St. Louis truly wanted Montgomery. They fired Drew Bannister who had a good record to get Montgomery. St. Louis forward group is wide, they miss big star players, even though both Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou are point per game players. Fowler did look very good after he was traded from Anaheim. Can he be a 50+ point defender for the team? Justin Faulk is irregular, some years he makes 50 points and next 20 points. Binnington was Canadian starter in the Four nation tournament. He wasn't great, but made key saves when they were needed. He has been irregular the past couple seasons and St. Louis needs more from him. St Louis was very close to dropping Winnipeg in the first round. Will that give them extra motivation for the upcoming season? Last season was a roller coaster, they need a smoother season. Rookie Jimmy Snuggerud will be an interesting player to follow. He might be the next superstar. Dalibor Dvorský is another interesting rookie who should take a regular role in the team. He is a very talented player.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

Will go to the playoffs and to the second round.

[von Rantala]

Tampa Bay

 

Ratings (1-10)

Offence: 9,5

Defence: 8

Goalies: 9,5

Special Teams: PP 5 / PK 4,5

GM/Coach: GM 4,5 / Coach 4

Total: 45

 

Worst Contract: Jonas Johansson (G)

Best Contract: Brandon Hagel (LW)

Most underrated: Darren Raddysh (D)

MVP: Nikita Kucherov (RW)

Biggest talent: Ethan Gauthier (RW)

 

Project Line-ups

 

Hagel - Point - Kucherov

Guentzel - Cirelli - Bjorkstrand

Geekie - Paul - Gonvalves

Holmberg - Gourde - Chaffee

 

Hedman - Moser

McDonagh - Cernak

Lilleberg - Raddysh

 

Vasilevskiy

Johansson

 

Key Words:

 

Same as Colorado, Tampa Bay is unlucky to play in the same division as the best team from east Florida. Different playoff systems they would have seen any other team and they probably would have won series, except against Florida and Toronto. The Atlantic is probably the best and hardest division in the NHL. There are three true Stanley Cup contenders. Toronto, Tampa Bay and Florida all could win the Cup. I am not a fan of the current NHL playoff system. The same teams always play against themselves in the first round. Florida and Tampa should have seen each other in Conference finals or second round, not first round. Tampa Bay is again one of biggest Cup favorites. They have a great and wide team. They have great coach and GM. Every coach has an expiration date no matter how good a coach you are, some day you lose the locker room, or your message is not heard anymore. Has that happened in Tampa or does the team still listen to Cooper? Vasilievsky has not been as sharp as before, but Tampa D-group is their weak point. Every other category, forwards, goalies, coach and GM look like Cup Contenters, but D-group do not look like Cup contenders D-group should look like. Injury to Hedman would put the whole season on the line. Playing many years on top, makes your draft harder. It's not easy to find top players from the draft when your turn to pick is so late. But GM BriseBois is very good at making trades and he has brought some key players through trades and kept team Cup contenders that way.

 

Early Playoff prediction:

 

If someone, Tampa could be a team who can stop Florida. I predict they see each other in the second or first round and the winner goes to the Cup finals