von Rantala

Hey, how are u guys and girls! First big congratz to all new promotions what have been given when i have been away. Nice to see some new blooth in clan too and new helping hands! Happy to also see Rendel back in clan! Hienoa että oot tullut takas auttaa meitä! I have some pm's waiting for me, but i try to get myself back online in jay2 first and then check pm's. Thanks for all "hey how are u" pms when i have been inactive. So whats have been going in my life! I have been doing work and a lot. Very often 50h per week. I enjoy my work still a lot. Its hard tho because in mondays and tuesdays i do night shift and i am home at 3:00Am and in the wednesday i do evening shift (home at 20:00) and then morning shifts in the thursday and friday, what mean that in between monday to wednesday i only come home to sleep and get my sleep pattern back to morning pattern for rest of week. That havent left me a lot time for clan. I has been lurking in site tho and kept eye on all most important stuff but avoided to reply anything when i havent know whole pic. So in the comming weeks, forgive my mistakes or explain me situations if i am wrong on something. Also NHL has kept me busy. Watched all Wild games ofc and watched a lot Edmonton games too. Never been Koskinen fan before, but he made big impression to me in EDM goal and even did take him to my fantasy team. As most of u know, my Grandfa passed away in 14.May and i have been missing him a lot. Grandma is okey, some hearth problems which she have to live now. She memory is poor, but she still recognise me most of time and is happy and not miss grandfa what is good. Still single, even that tipsy tryed his best to get me girlfriend. Anyway come to jay2 to and say hi to me when you see me. Mostly i will only play weekends, because my work schedule. Lets make Jay2 great again! Cheers von Rantala

My condolences. Stay strong in there and we are here for u!

Yeah. This tells all. If Hockey players dont get in they feeds, its truly bad injury. In soccer they cary players in stretchers away in the field like couple time per game because players filming so much that they cant get out of field by they own legs, but when Hockey player is carryed out by strechers its usually take 3-6 month them to actually get back to ice, shorter injuries they just skate away from ice theyself. Sometimes its crazy to see that leg is broken and they keep skating. Hockey players pain lvl is out of this world.

Yeah they played very well. Even that i think we should have won that game against Sabres week ago, they did played well tho and is different team than in before. Happy to see Scandella playing well also, in my books he would earn A to his jersey. Pommiville ex-Wild has been playing well also, what has been surprising to see. Goalies has been solid and they defence very well. So Yeo got kicked from St. Louis i am not happy but i am not surprised either, for Fletcher it did take way too long to kick Yeo, but Amrstrong didnt wait. Right choise tho, Yeo is cabable coach, but he go those losings streaks every year, he have to find solution and fix it. In paper St. Louis should be easily playoff team, behind Nashville, Wild and Winnipeg tho, but ahead of Dallas, Chicago and Colorado and in first Wild card. I am not trusting Berube either if i am honest, did see him little bit in Flyears so i am not fully sure if he is correct man for the job. When Chicago kicked Quinneville i just started to wait news when he will be named to St. Louis blues coach, so was huge surprise that St. Louis didnt name him to that role. Maybe Quinneville didnt want to take team in middle of season but wait for the summer so he can run summer camp. But i bet he will be next St. Louis coach. In my mind was mistake to kick Quinneville from Chicago. They should have kicked Bowman from GM role instead, he gave Panarin away, he gave Teräväinen away, he gave Hartmann away and all was gaved in free prize. Also he made too big contratcs to Seabrook, Kane and Toews. Its impossible to keep team in compitive lvl if you have two 10+ milj salary player in the roster, no matter if they earned those moneys. PIT was in problems too couple season when they made record contrats with Malkin and Crosby. Now Salary cap increased like 10-20milj from those times and they contracs are good ones. So we have to wait couple year to salary cap increase so we can see Chicago compitive again. Also kicking McLellan from Edm was correct choise. I have watched every 8 min recapt from EDM games and also 3 full (one live) EDM game and team is way too lose in defence zone and McLellan was favoring Talbot way too much. Koskinen started and played better but McLellan waited to game 9 before he gave first start to Koskinen. Somehow i have seen EDM interesting team to follow and i try watch they games too when possible. I wasnt Koskinen fan before, but i now started to follow him and started to like his gaming style. I did see him alot in past three world championship tournaments when he was playing in Finland goal, but he didnt make impression then, but now i started to warm little bit on his game style. Also I like to watch Brodziak playing in the EDM. Hireng Hitchock was surprise tho. I believe he will lead team to playoffs, and teach them some defensive side of game and they will choose new coach for next season. Also EDM should fire they GM he has made awfull signatations and trades. Watched couple Flyears games too, waiting too see when Hakstol get kicked off. Flyers have good enough roster to go in the playoffs.

Washington Captain: Alexander Ovechkin Alternate Captains: Nicklas Bäckström, Brooks Orpik Coach: Todd Reirden GM: Brian MacLellan Most Underrated: Nicklas Bäckström Most Overrated: Tom Wilson Biggest Leader: Alexander Ovechkin MVP: Alexander Ovechkin Goalie Ranking: Braden Holtby 55-65 Phoenix Copley 5-10 Possible back up signing/trade All-star line: Alexander Ovechkin – Niklas Bäckström – T.J. Oshie John Carlson – Matt Niskanen Braden Holtby Second all-star line: Andre Burakovsky – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Tom Wilson Dimitry Orlov – Brooks Orpik Phoenix Copley Strong point: Core group of Ovechkin, Bäckström Kuznetsov, Carlson and Holtby is strong and powerfull and can compite on anyone on the league, they core is one of best in the NHL and they still have many years left in high lvl. Weak point: Secondary winger group is weak, after Ovechkin and Oshie, team dont have star wingers what could cost them long playoff run this year. Playoff prediction: New coach and lack of elite wingers can cost them longer playoff run, but team should be in the playoffs because strong core group. Winnipeg Captain: Blake Wheeler Alternate Captains: Dustin Byfuglien, Mark Scheifele Coach: Paul Maurice GM: Kevin Cheveldayoff Most Underrated: Mark Scheifele Most Overrated: Jacob Trouba Biggest Leader: Blake Wheeler MVP: Blake Wheeler Goalie Ranking: Connor Hellebuyck 60-65 Laurent Brossoit 15-20 Eric Comrie 5-10 All-star line: Patrik – Laine – Mark Scheifele – Blake Wheeler Dustin Byfuglien – Josh Morrissey Connor Hellebuyck Second all-star line: Nikolaj Ehlers – Bryan Little – Kyle Connor Tyler Myers – Jacob Trouba Laurent Brossoit Strong point: Wingers group is one of NHL bests, and all the wingers are still young age. They also have a lot very underrated players. Put Wheeler to MVP role, because his leader lvl is very high and he have bigger value and role and respect on team than Hellebuyck. Even that Hellebuyck was Vezina finalist in last year, i saw that Wheeler actually was more important to team than Hellebuyck. Weak point: Center squad need help and big time, Little is decent third line center but they need better second center to group, losing Stastny probably hurt team more than ppls think. They also need good two-way forwards to group. Playoff prediction: One of favorites to go in the playoffs from most deepest division in NHL. All Central division teams could go to playoffs this year and Winnipeg has one of most talented teams. Playoffs they dropp in first or second round because they miss some veteran touch and second line center is question mark.

Toronto Captain: - Alternate Captains: Patrick Marleau, Morgan Reilly, John Tavares Coach: Mike Babcock GM: Kyle Dubas Most Underrated: Morgan Reilly Most Overrated: Frederik Andersen Biggest Leader: Patrick Marleau MVP: Austin Matthews Goalie Ranking: Frederik Andersen 50-60 Garret Sparks 20-25 All-star line: Austin Matthews – John Tavares – Mitchell Marner Morgan Reilly – Jake Gardiner Frederik Andersen Second all-star line: William Nylander (RFA) – Nazem Kadri – Zach Hyman Nikita Zaitsev – Ron Hainsey Garret Sparks Strong point: Center squad and first pp unit. Team is still very young and most of players still have a lot potential to improve. Also coach is one of NHL best's Weak point: Goalies are still minor question mark. I think Andersen is little bit overvalued as goalie and his GA% was higher than most of other playoff goalies had. Also d-group will need more help. They only have one very good d-pair and rest cant be comparated to other playoff teams d-pairs. Also they will be problems in the future after giving Tavares, Marleau and Matthews so big contrats so it will not be easy to fix d-group when they still need to do contracts with Nylander and Marner too. Playoff prediction: Window is open for couple year before they hit to salary cap problems after making big contracts with Tavares, Marleau and Matthews. D-group is not good enough to go long in the playoffs. Ofc that could has been sayed on PIT too in past, but they had better goalies then than Toronto have now. PIT goalies was able to even sitaution comparated to others more than Tornto goalies can do. Anyway will go to second round and compite on division win in regular season. Vancouver Captain: - Alternate Captains: Bo Horvat, Brandon Sutter, Alexander Edler, Christopher Tanev Coach: Travis Green GM: Jim Benning Most Underrated: Brandon Sutter Most Overrated: Loui Eriksson Biggest Leader: Brandon Sutter MVP: Brock Boeser Goalie Ranking: Jacob Markström 45-55 Anders Nilsson 25-35 Thatcher Demko 1-5 All-star line: Sven Bärtschi – Bo Horvat – Brock Boeser Christopher Tanev – Alezander Edler Jacob Markström Second all-star line: Loui Eriksson – Brandon Sutter – Elias Pettersson Michael Del Zotto – Troy Stecher Anders Nilsson Strong point: They have couple very good and promising player which they can start build they team, those players are. Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson. Weak point: Woah where to start, They probably have weakest first all-star line in NHL. Bärtschi who i had to put in left wing probably would not even fit in teams who are top 5 teams in NHL and most of teams he would be third/fourth line winger. Team have couple good third-line players and NHL lvl players but they are lacking top 6 players. They had to use in they top 6 guys who are not cabable to handle that role. Also d-group is also one of NHL weakest, they dont have any d-man who have potential to be 50+ point player and almost all the other teams have even one d-man who have potential to be 50+ point man. Its even hard to get 35 point from someone from d-group. Also goalies are not good enough to compite in high NHL lvl. Playoff prediction: Last places in the NHL. Vegas Captain: - Alternate Captains: Deryk Engelland, Reilly Smith (rotate third A between several players) Coach: Gerard Gallant GM: George McPhee Most Underrated: William Karlsson Most Overrated: Cody Eakin Biggest Leader: Max Pacioretty MVP: Jonathan Marchessault Goalie Ranking: Marc-Andre Fleury 55-60 Malcom Subban 5-10 Oskar Dansk 5-10 Goalie addition to back up role All-star line: Jonathan Marchessault – William Karlsson – Max Pacioretty Shea Theodore – Colin Miller Marc-Andre Fleury Second all-star line: Erik Haula – Paul Stastny – Reilly Smith Nate Schmidt – Deryk Engelland Malcolm Subban Strong point: Wide offensive group who is still young. Team also have very good role players in third line and fourth line. Last year MVP Fleury is also very strong point for the team. Weak point: Team did lose couple players but also signed and traded couple key player to team. There is risk that adding big names to big roles ruin team atmosphere and motivation. Last year team got motivation because they was trusted bigger role than in old teams, now team message was that they was not good enought because they did take other big names to big roles instead of keeping same team togeter. Also D-group is still minor question mark. It would need help as back up goalie position. Playoff prediction: Will go to playoffs, last year i did fail with this team and it could happen again, if team motivation and atmosphere is ruined by adding new players to big role and showing that they didnt trust old players enough, but top 3 from last year still get big minutes so i want to believe change was not too big. Need help in d-group to long playoff run. Dropp against San Jose in second round or first round depent when they will see in playoffs.

San Jose Captain: Joe Pavelski Alternate Captains: Logan Couture, Joe Thornton Coach: Peter DeBoer GM: Doug Wilson Most Underrated: Marc-Eduoardo Vlasic Most Overrated: Evander Kane Biggest Leader: Joe Thornton MVP: Erik Karlsson Goalie Ranking: Martin Jones 50-55 Aaron Dell 25-30 Antoine Bibeau 1-5 All-star line: Logan Couture – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski Erik Karlsson – Brent Burns Martin Jones Second all-star line: Evander Kane – Tomas Hertl – Joonas Donskoi Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Justin Braun Aaron Dell Strong point: Top 3 D mans are best in the NHL with Nashville, its impossible to say which team have better top 3, Nashville or San Jose, San Jose top three is Karlsson, Burns and Vlasic when Nashville have Josi, Subban and Ellis. Its question of taste, which type d-mans u like more, Burns and Karlsson probably cant play together because both are super agressive in offensive zone and they need defensive defender as pair, when Josi is more two-way defender and Subban offensive d-man so Josi and Subban can play in same pair but Burns and Karlsson not. Vlasic is best d-man in defensive zone when Ellis from Nsh is great two-way defender. NSH has overall better d-group when you add Ekholm and Hamhuis in mix too. Would be interesting to follow how Karlsson and Burns can come a long with each others because both are very offensive defenders. Weak point: Team would need little bit help in offence groups. Ecpecially in wings, Couture is probably used as wing even that he can play as Center too, so its leave only Couture and Kane as big name star wingers to group when Pavelski is used in center. Playoff prediction: Will go to playoffs and season decide if they want keep Karlsson or not, price was very cheap for them. Will probably go to conference finals because so good d-group even that need help to offence group. St. Louis Captain: Alex Pietrangelo Alternate Captains: Alexander Steen, Vladimir Tarasenko Coach: Mike Yeo GM: Doug Armstrong Most Underrated: Jaden Schwartz Most Overrated: Jake Allen Biggest Leader: Alex Pietrangelo MVP: Vladimir Tarasenko Goalie Ranking: Jake Allen 35-45 Chad Johnson 25-35 Ville Husso 25-35 All-star line: Jaden Schwartz – Brayden Schenn – Vladimir Tarasenko Alex Pierangelo – Colton Parayko Jake Allen Second all-star line: Alexander Steen – Ryan O'Reilly – David Perron Jay Bouwmeester – Carl Gunnarsson Ville Husso Strong point: Center group is one of NHL deepests and bests. They signed O'Reilly and Bozak to team also got Perron from free second line is one of NHL bests too. Weak point: Goalies are not good enough to go long playoff run, i predict that before playoff start they starter will be Husso and who knows maybe he can even compite on rookie award. Also couple year ago team had one of NHL best defence group and now after first pair, they group is bellow avarage. Playoff prediction: Bubble team, last year i predict that team go to Yeo-losing streak as Wild went every year and that cost St. Louis playoff spot last year, they lost 10 game from 12 and eight or nine row, just which Wild got every year under Yeo. I predict that losing streak will happen this year too, and we will see if its cost them playoff spot again. In paper team should go to playoff. Tampa Bay Captain: Steven Stamkos Alternate Captain: Ryan Callahan. Second A they rotate between 2-4 player Coach: Jon Cooper GM: Julien BriseBois Most Underrated: Brayden Point Most Overrated: Ryan Callahan Biggest Leader: Ryan Callahan MVP: Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman Goalie Ranking: Andrei Vasilevsky 60-65 Louis Domingue 20-25 All-star line: Brayden Point – Steven Stamkos – Nikita Kucherov Victor Hedman – Ryan McDonagh Andrei Vaslevsky Second all-star line: Ondrej Palat – Tyler Johnson – Yanni Gourde Mikhail Sergachev – Anton Strålman Louis Domingue Strong point: Defence group is very good and deep. Also a lot leaders and young talented players in the group so team can be together long. Weak point: Team second line is not as good as some biggest challangers. There they could need help. Playoff prediction: Will probably win Eastern Conference and could be seen in the Finals. Question mark is can Vasilievsky keep his lvl high all the season, he is playing one of best d-group and one of best two-way teams. Also Cooper is getting alot more from players than regular coach would get from they players.

Ottawa Captain: - Alternate Captains: Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, Mark Borowiecki, Zack Smith Coach: Guy Boucher GM: Pierre Dorion Most Underrated: Matt Duchene Most Overrated: Bobby Ryan Biggest Leader: Marian Gaborik MVP: Mark Stone Goalie Ranking: Craig Anderson 50-55 Mike Condon 25-30 All-star line: Ryan Dzingel – Matt Duchene – Mark Stone Thomas Chabot – Cody Ceci Craig Anderson Second all-star line: Mikkel Bödker – Chris Tierney – Jean-Gabriel Pageau Dylan DeMelo – Ben Harpur Mike Condon Strong point: Anderson is still good and underrated goalie, his stats havent been great last seasons, but its more to blame on team poor defence than his game. Weak point: Where to start? After Karlsson trade team have worst defence group in whole league, they traded Brassard, Karlsson, Hoffman and Turis away in one year, and made they team worst in NHL because only solid return have been Duchene from Colorado. Is Dorion worst GM in history of NHL with Mike Milbury (who i think is worst GM in history of NHL) or is own Melnyk forcing Dorion to make all these moves. Playoff prediction: Last place in NHL Philadelphia Captain: Claude Giroux Alternate Captains: Wayne Simmonds, Andrew MacDonald, Sean Couturier Coach: David Hakstol GM: Ron Hextall Most Underrated: Sean Couturier and Wayne Simmonds Most Overrated: Jori Lehterä Biggest Leader: Claude Giroux MVP: Sean Couturier Goalie Ranking: Brian Elliott 40-50 Michal Neuvirth 20-25 Anthony Stolars 15-20 Alex Lyon 1-5 All-star line: Claude Giroux – Sean Couturier – Jakub Vorachek Shayne Gostisbehere – Ivan Provorov Brian Elliott Second all-star line: James van Riemsdyk – Travis Konecny – Wayne Simmonds Andrew MacDonald – Travis Sanheim Anthony Stolars Strong point: First line is NHL bests, very good and also Giroux and Couturier are NHL best face off guys, also Couturier one of best two-way forwards thats why i valued him more in MVP ranking than Giroux. After van Riemsdyk siginin team also have very good second line. Team also have super talented goalie group with Stolars, Lyon and Hart, who all can be future starters in NHL. Weak point: Team defence group is very thin, you should not be able to put MacDonald who was playing AHL couple year ago to in your second all-start line and as third d man. Was surprised that they didn't sign any d man or tryed to get Karsson from Ottawa. They still have 10 milj space in salary cap. Playoff prediction: Team probably will give 2,5-2,8 goal per night because poor d-group so if they can make 3-3,5 goal per game from they two forward line they can go to playoffs, compite on last (playoff) place with Florida, Montreal, and New York Islanders, but d-group is biggest question mark and lack of big name starter in goal can be final decicing factor. Pittsburgh Captain: Sidney Crosby Alternate Captains: Yevgeni Malkin, Kris Letang Coach: Mike Sullivan GM: Jim Rutherford Most Underrated: Olli Määttä Most Overrated: Justin Schultz Biggest Leader: Sidney Crosby MVP: Yevgeni Malkin Goalie Ranking: Matt Murray 50-60 Casey DeSmith 15-20 Tristan Jarry 15-20 All-star line: Yevgeni Malkin – Sidney Crosby – Phil Kessel Kris Letang – Olli Määttä Matt Murray Second all-star line: Jake Guentzel – Derrick Brassard – Patrick Hörnqvist Brian Dumoulin – Justin Schultz Casey DeSmith Strong point: Center squad is probably NHL best (Crosby, Malkin, Brassard, Cullen) Also team d-group is better than many thinks, they have very solid and good top 6. Maybe some have better first pair than Pit. Weak point: Winger squad could be better, when Malkin is used in center its leave only Kessel as star lvl winger to team. Playoff prediction: Probably win they own division and is second or first in the east and you can wait long playoff run from them as long as Murray stay healthy.

oh boy Wild has been looking slow. We never been fastest team in the NHL, but now we are super slow and thats worries me. We have to be quick in our passes. Dubnyk saved over 40 time in three of our four games. We give two time more shots than we take. Our young players, Granlund, Greenway, Kunin, Niederreiter, Coyle and Eriksson Ek are all good players but they are not fast skaters, they are avarage skaters or bellow avarage. Parise, Koivu and Staal are not fast skaters either, only fast skater of team is Zucker who have been our second best player after Dubnyk. We need to add some speed to our line up and fast, because NHL is changing and we havent been able to keep with it. I still think we can get to playoff, as long as we start play quicker hockey we are same team as last year, only new player in top 9 is Greenway, and we was fast team last year because we played quick puck moving game, we have to get back to that. We cant try to get wins by winning skating competation, we have to let puck do to work. We lost couple players (in freeagency or who was traded) who would help us, like Domi, Duclair, Galchenyuk and Pacioretty. I am waiting some move from our GM now. EDIT. Maybe we could somehow get Nylander from TOR or Hayes from NYR or Kessel from PIT, I hear those could be available atm.

New Jersey Captain: Andy Greene Alternate Captains: Brian Boyle, Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac Coach: John Hynes GM: Ray Shero Most Underrated: Kyle Palmieri Most Overrated: Cory Schneider Biggest Leader: Andy Greene MVP: Taylor Hall Goalie Ranking: Cory Schneider 40-50 Keith Kinkaid 30-45 All-star line: Taylor Hall – Niko Hischier – Kyle Palmieri Sami Vatanen – Will Butcher Cory Schneider Second all-star line: Marcus Johansson – Travis Zajac – Jesper Bratt John Moore – Damon Severson Keith Kinkaid Strong point: Hard to find clear spot where they are most strongest comparated to other teams in NHL, but they have several good young players coming. Coach is strong point. Weak point: They missing big players from D-group and Wingers and Centers. Only Hall and Hirchier is players who you can wait 50+ points seasons. Playoff prediction: Last year coach made miracles and team was in the playoffs, they dont get full salary cap to use from owner so they lost some players. So will be out of playofss New York I Captain: - Alternate Captains: Andrew Ladd, Cal Clutterbuck, Josh Bailey Coach: Barry Trotz GM: Lou Lamoriello Most Underrated: Anders Lee Most Overrated: Andrew Ladd Biggest Leader: Leo Komarov MVP: Mathew Barzal Goalie Ranking: Robin Lehner 35-45 Thomas Greiss 20-30 Christopher Gibson 15-25 Possible goalie trade All-star line: Anders Lee – Mathew Barzal – Josh Bailey Nick Leddy – Johnny Boychuk Robin Lehner Second all-star line: Jordan Eberle – Filppula – Brock Nelson Pulock – Hickey Christopher Gibson Strong point: They offence group is better than probably many thinks, even that they lost Tavares they top 3 is very good and can be comparated to any other NHL team and they top 6 is also very strong. Weak point: Defence group and goalie group. Lehner is good goalie but they could need better back up and to go long in the playoffs, they need better starter than Lehner who is irregular. D-group also is one of NHL weakest. Playoff prediction: Trotz can lead them to playoffs and i believe he will give boost to team and we see Islanders in the playoffs. They truly need big name D-man in D-group to be bigger threat in the future. New York R Captain: - Alternate Captains: Jesper Fast, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello, Marc Staal, Mika Zibanejad Coach: David Quinn GM: Jeff Gorton Most Underrated: Mats Zuccarello Most Overrated: Marc Staal Biggest Leader: Henrik Lundqvist MVP: Henrik Lundqvist Goalie Ranking: Henrik Lundqvist 50-60 I believe they try to find better back up who play 25-30 game Alexandar Georgiyev 5-10 All-star line: Kevin Hayes – Mika Zibanejad – Mats Zuccarello Kevin Shattenkirk – Brady Skeji Henrik Lundqvist Second all-star line: Chris Kreider – Vladislav Namestnikov – Pavel Buchnevich Neal Pionk – Marc Staal Alexandar Georgiev Strong point: Lundqvist is still top lvl goalie, which is team strong point. His big salary make it hard to trade him to team who compite on stanley. Team also have couple good young d-man coming Weak point: Center group is one of NHL weakest, also offence group is lacking big names as overall Playoff prediction: Will be in last places of East, they are totall rebuild situation. Jeff Gordon has made couple negative trades also. Like Namestnikov, J.T Miller trade was huge mistake from Gordon.

Minnesota Captain: Mikko Koivu Alternate Captains: Zach Parise, Ryan Suter Coach: Bruce Boudreau GM: Paul Fenton Most Underrated: Mikko Koivu, Ryan Suter Most Overrated: Charlie Coyle Biggest Leader: Mikko Koivu MVP: Ryan Suter Goalie Ranking: Devan Dubnyk 55-65 Alex Stalock 20-25 All-star line: Jason Zucker – Eric Staal – Mikael Granlund Ryan Suter – Matt Dumba Devan Dubnyk Second all-star line: Zach Parise – Mikko Koivu – Nino Niederreiter Jonas Brodin – Jared Spurgeon Alex Stalock Strong point: Team Forward group is very good, one of widest. Wild have Greenway, Kunin, Eriksson Ek, Seeler, Belpedio, Soucy coming to roster in coming season and they make it very wide and very good. Team also have huge amount of leaders in group. Ex captains or ex Alternate or current Captains/Alternate list is probably longest in the NHL. Weak point: Back up goalie is not good enough if Dubnyk injured, Lehtonen is still free so i hope Wild take him. Also playoff curse have to get broken. Washington broke it last year, so now its Wild time. Also Bruce is known for not trusting veteran players as much as young players, hopefully that not make any negative atmosphere in locker room. Playoff prediction: Will go to playoffs and will be big challanger for the cup as long as all key players stay healthy. Montreal Captain: Shea Weber Alternate Captains: Brendan Gallagher, Paul Byron Coach: Claude Julien GM: Marc Bergevin Most Underrated: Brendan Gallagher and Jeff Petry Most Overrated: Phillip Danault Biggest Leader: Shea Weber MVP: Carey Price Goalie Ranking: Carey Price 50-60 Antti Niemi 25-30 All-star line: Max Domi – Jonathan Drouin – Brendan Gallagher Shea Weber – Jeff Petry Carey Price Second all-star line: Artturi Lehkonen – Philip Danault – Andrew Shaw Karl Alzner – Mike Reilly Antti Niemi Strong point: Goalie spot looking good Weak point: They have very thin offence group. They miss 40+ points mans, there is couple young guy who can surprise like Kotkaniemi, Lehkonen, Suzuki and Scherbak, and if they can product then team can surprise, but it could be to early to wait that group to product 40+ points. Playoff prediction: Not be in the playoffs, but could surprise if young players product more than we wait. Nashville Captain: Roman Jose Alternate Captains: Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis Coach: Peter Laviolette GM: David Poile Most Underrated: Ryan Ellis Most Overrated: Ryan Johansen Biggest Leader: Roman Josi MVP: Roman Josi and P.K. Subban Goalie Ranking: Pekka Rinne 40-45 Juuse Saros 40-45 All-star line: Filip Forsberg – Kyle Turris – Viktor Arvidsson Roman Josi – P.K. Subban Pekka Rinne Second all-star line: Kevin Fiala – Ryan Johansen – Calle Järnkrok Ryan Ellis – Mattias Ekholm Juuse Saros Strong point: NHL best defence group at least NHL best top 4 for wide range to others. (edit: San Jose tied situation after Karlsson Trade which was made after my news) Weak point: Third line offence would need little bit help. As a paper, Nahsville is one of bests teams in NHL but they are lacking big 80+ pointman from offence group as good pointman to third line. Playoff prediction: One of favorites to win Cup, will go to playoffs and could win the division and conference.

On lineups i just put top three forward from team to first allstar line and next three best to second All-star line. Example in PIT Malkin is in wing and in Toronto Matthews is in wing when Crosby and Tavares take center spots. Because i see that Crosby is little bit better than Malkin and Malkin has played in Wing i use him in there same to Matthews. Tavares is little bit better as overall play in center now, but Matthews probably will go past him. So dont watch too much line compos more who are in the lines. That show my opinion of top 6 in the forward group and top 4 in d- group. Its little bit too early to say yet, if i am honest. Before last season i thought that Housley was best assist coach in the NHL and he could be Jack Adams winner in the future, but i see that he actually failed last season because he wasn't able to improve team. Lehner was solid goalie and they had solid d-group and good offense group last year, but Housley was leading them to worse game than Bylsma, even that Bylsma didnt have so good team to coach. They also lost couple key players what made they team weaker. On those i based my opinion. I hope they will play better this year and could surprise all. Housley is still good coach, they also have couple dynasty players like Ristolainen, Eichel and Dahlin. Hutton started well in goal, but its too early to say anything, i am surprised if iam honest that he has got all games, because i waited they share load to goalies evenly. Let see

Edmonton Captain: Connor McDavid Alternate Captains: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mulan Lucic, Adam Larsson Coach: Todd McLellan GM: Peter Chiarelli Most Underrated: Kyle Brodziak Most Overrated: Milan Lucic, Adam Larsson Biggest Leader: Conor McDavid, Kriss Russell MVP: Conor McDavid Goalie Ranking: Mikko Koskinen 35-45 Cam Talbot 35-45 All-star line: Leon Draisaitl – Connor McDavid – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Darnell Nurse – Oscar Klefbom Cam Talbot Second all-star line: Milan Lucic – Ryan Strome – Kailer Yamamoto Kris Russel – Matt Benning Mikko Koskinen Strong point: Goalies and Center group. I wait that Koskinen will take number one slot in team. I am not Koskinen fan, but he is very very good goalie, so is Talbot too, but i think Koskinen can be very good starter in the NHL. Weak point: Defence group need to better. EDM havent fixed that in more than five years, they have team who can go to playoffs if they add better defenders and second line forward to group. Playoff prediction: Bubble team, could go in if goalies play great season and team secondary offense raise levl little bit. Need help to d-group. If team dropp its time to kick Chiarelli who has done awfull job as GM. Florida Captain: Aleksander Barkov Alternate Captains: Vincent Trocheck, Aaron Ekblad, Keith Yandle, Jonathan Huberdeau Coach: Bob Boughner GM: Dale Tallon Most Underrated: Vincent Trocheck, Aleksander Barkov Most Overrated: James Reimer Biggest Leader: Derek MacKenzie, Roberto Luongo MVP: Aleksander Barkov Goalie Ranking: Roberto Luongo 40-50 James Reimer 35-45 All-star line: Jonathan Huberdeau – Alexander Barkov – Vincent Trocheck Keith Yandle – Aaron Ekblad Roberto Luongo Second all-star line: Mike Hoffman – Nick Bjugstad – Evgenii Dadonov Mike Matheson – Mark Pysyk James Reimer Strong point: Offensive group is one of NHL best's they top 9 is very good and very young. In top 6 all are below 30 year old and all top 6 players can make plus 60 points easily also top 9 is good. Weak point: Top 3 d group is good, but next three is not good enough to long playoff run. Need one more good defender in group but is close to salary cap. Also team could need little bit better back up than Reimer. Is Luongo capable to lead team to long playoff run in age of 39. Also second year coach is minor question mark also. Playoff prediction: Will go to playoffs. In paper Florida team is very good team, so its a lot on coach hands if he can lead them to playoffs. How much Luongo can play and can he still be high lvl also will be biggest factor. Los Angeles Captain: Anze Kopitar Alternate Captains: Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty Coach: John Stevens GM: Rob Blake Most Underrated: Jake Muzzin Most Overrated: Tanner Pearson Biggest Leader: Anze Kopitar MVP: Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar Goalie Ranking: Jonathan Quick 55-65 Peter Budaj 20-25 All-star line: Jeff Carter – Anze Kopitar – Tyler Toffoli Drew Doughty – Jake Muzzin Jonathan Quick Second all-star line: Ilya Kovalchuk – Adrian Kempe – Dustin Brown Alec Martinez – Dion Phaneuf Peter Budaj Strong point: NHL best's core group. Quick, Doughty, Kopitar and Carter. Many teams core group is not so good as they core. D-group also they strong point as center group. Weak point: I think Dustin Brown season from last year was just one good season and he go back to 30 points range and thats mean they would need more help to wingers group. Ilya Kovalchuk is big question mark, can he do what Jagr made when he came back from KHL? I dont think so. I think Kovalchuk will be in 40-45 points range. Playoff prediction: Will go to playoffs and there they are always been good, because so good core. Core need more help from others.

Columbus Captain: Nick Foligno Alternate Captains: Boone Jenner, Brandon Dubinsky Coach: John Tortorella GM: Jarmo Kekäläinen Most Underrated: Zach Werenski, Pierre-Luc Dubois Most Overrated: Nick Foligno Biggest Leader: Boone Jenner MVP: Sergei Bobrovski Goalie Ranking: Sergei Bobrovski 55-65 Joonas Korpisalo 20-30 All-star line: Artemi Panarin – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Cam Atkinson Seth Jones – Zach Werenski Sergei Bobrovski Second all-star line: Boone Jenner – Alexander Wennberg – Oliver Bjorkstrand David Savard – Markus Nutivaara Joonas Korpisalo Strong point: Goalies and defence group Weak point: Center group need help. Coach. Tortorella is coach who is not long living in his teams, because his style eat team atmophere and motivation. Is this season when he got fired? Playoff prediction: I think team should have gone longer last year playoffs, they have good team, i dont like Tortorella style to coach and i dont think he is right guy to lead this team to long playoff run. Go to playoffs but dropp in first or second round. Dallas Captain: Jamie Benn Alternate Captains: Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov, John Klingberg Coach: Jim Montgomery GM: Jim Nill Most Underrated: Radek Faksa, Esa Lindell Most Overrated: Anton Khudobin Biggest Leader: Jamie Benn MVP: Tyler Seguin Goalie Ranking: Ben Bishop 50-60 Anton Khudobin 25-35 All-star line: Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Alexander Radulov John Klingberg – Esa Lindell Ben Bishop Second all-star line: Mattias Janmark – Radek Faksa – Jason Spezza Marc Methot – Miro Heiskanen Anton Khudobin Strong point: First line in NHL best's. Young d-group can be NHL best in coming seasons Weak point: New coach is question mark? Can he lead team to playoffs, roster is good enough to go in there. Second line would need help. Too much one line team. Playoff prediction: Team is bubble team. Sometimes new coach give you boost what you need. Spezza and Hanzal will benefit on new coach. Hitchock used them wrongly. Will wait Spezza come back to 50+ point man and Hanzal to 40-50 point man. Also team have young players who can product a lot more than last year. If team would play in east it would be playoff team, now its bubble team who can go to playoffs or not. Bishop was not big improvement in goal comparated to Lehtonen and Niemi in past two season. So they have to fix overall defence before they can go to playoffs. Detroit Captain: Henrik Zetterberg Alternate Captains: Justin Abdlekader, Niklas Kronwall Coach: Jeff Blashill GM: Ken Holland Most Underrated: Thomas Vanek Most Overrated: Justin Abdelkader Biggest Leader: Henrik Zetterberg MVP: Dylan Larkin Goalie Ranking: Jimmy Howard 40-50 Jonathan Bernier 35-45 All-star line: Henrik Zetterberg – Dylan Larkin – Thomas Vanek Mike Green – Niklas Kronwall Jimmy Howard Second all-star line: Gustav Nyquist – Fans Nielsen – Anthony Mantha Danny DeKeyser – Trevor Daley Jonathan Bernier Strong point: Solid and good goalie duo Weak point: Team should make total rebuilt, they still have old veterans in key roles when young players is not good enought to be in top 3 or top 6 roles (except Mantha and Larkin). I think its team time to change GM. Holland once best GM in the Hockey but now he havent been able to keep Detroit in the playoff train. Offense and defence group are not good enough to compite Playoff spot Playoff prediction: Will be in lasts spot of NHL in coming season. When team start rebuild what is needed? Zetterberg probably will lose whole season and have to retire and he is team MVP when healthy in age of 38.

Chicago Captain: Jonathan Toews Alternate Captains: Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook Coach: Joel Quenneville GM: Stan Bowman Most Underrated: Corey Crawford Most Overrated: Brandon Saad Biggest Leader: Jonathan Toews MVP: Corey Crawford Goalie Ranking: Corey Crawford 50-60 (if healthy) Cam Ward 25-35 All-star line: Alex DiBrincat – Jonathan Toews – Patrick Kane Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook Corey Crawford Second all-star line: Brandon Saad – Nick Schmaltz – Artyom Anisimov Jan Rutta – Connor Murphy Cam Ward Strong point: Goalies. Crawford if healthy is top 5 goalies if not even top 3. Was last season MVP for team. Weak point: Offensive group lack of wideness what they had in past years when they made long playoff runs. Also D-group would need help. Toews and Kane big contracts tie teams hands a lot. Probably some forward trade coming. Playoff prediction: For current team. I predict they will be out of playoffs. They lack of wideness in the top 6 in forward group same as 4-6 d-mans could be better. Crawford, great coach and GM can get them to playoffs tho. So they compite on last playoff spot, but dont be surprised if they drop out. I believe they could still make some forward trade before season or in mid-season. Colorado Captain: Gabriel Landeskog Alternate Captains: MacKinnon, Erik Johnson Coach: Jared Bednar GM: Joe Sakic Most Underrated: Mikko Rantanen Most Overrated: Gabriel Landskog Biggest Leader: Mikko Rantanen MVP: Nathan MacKinnon Goalie Ranking: Semyon Varlamov 40-45 Philipp Grubauer 40-45 All-star line: Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen Tyson Barrie - Erik Johnson Semyon Varlamov Second all-star line: Tyson Jost – Aalexander Kerfoot – Carl Söderberg Ian Cole – Samuel Girard Philipp Grubauer Strong point: Goalies and first line. Weak point: Team second line and offensive wideness is big weakness to team also they dont have good enough d-group to go in the playoffs. Playoff prediction: Probably will be last place in Central division. Last season was exception because they had NHL hottest line, this year only one good line and goalies dont be enough to go in the playoffs.