Is it me, or will the east conference seem top heavy next year?

[maddogmark25]

Not too many contenders improved in the East from what I saw, biggest winner was Pittsburgh, Flyers did what they needed to do with the D-man depth (now if only they do pull off the Turco deal), and New Jersey has a slightly better defense in front of Marty, but it doesnt put them ahead of Philly and Pitt IMO

Seems like it will be a Pitt/Philly/Washington conference, and then everyone else next year. And IMO Washington still doesn't have a goalie or defense there, IMO Pitt/Philly > Washington.

Not trying to start any fights, but its just my thoughts from free agency. Only true winner from the East in the first couple of days was Pitt IMO

 

[IPostedWhat]

Watch out for the Thrashers this season.

 

[scottflyers88]

what about philadelphia getting the best defense in the nhl?

also, it is early to start talking. washington was the best team in the east last year and ran into a hot goalie. who knows what can happen. i did predict the stanley cup finalists though.

 

[pixburgher66]

yeah, the west is a little more open than the east. though the nucks i think are the best team out west now...chicago is reeling in their losses while the nucks improved.

 

[maddogmark25]

Canucks improve every year, and then the playoffs happen

 

[scottflyers88]

they were injured last year. and they lost to chicago so who can blame them?

 

[beantownmaniac]

Well, my Bruins didn't make any headlines in free agency, but I'm happy with the trades they made and their draft. I guess all I can hope for is they are competitive.

 

[IPostedWhat]

Well, my Bruins didn't make any headlines in free agency, but I'm happy with the trades they made and their draft. I guess all I can hope for is they are competitive.

Chara is still a no good fucking tall goon, who needs a broken nose!

 

[flyersfan4706]

what about philadelphia getting the best defense in the nhl?

also, it is early to start talking. washington was the best team in the east last year and ran into a hot goalie. who knows what can happen. i did predict the stanley cup finalists though.

They didnt run into a hot goalie, they ran into RJ Umberger voodoo

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I don't care how bad the Sabres management may suck, You never ever count out a team that has The Miller on it.

 

[IPostedWhat]

I don't care how bad the Sabres management may suck, You never ever count out a team that has The Miller on it.

Unless it's the Playoffs that is.

 

[flyersfan4706]

I dont want to really get high off the moves the Flyers have made. We have until October to see what teams do to start off the season. The Capitals could trade player xyz for amazing goalie xyz. Who knows. This second, though, the Pens and Flyers could probably destory most Southern teams for sure.

 

[pixburgher66]

not to sound cocky or too excited, but this is probably the best lineup top to bottom the pens have ever had. there may be a few exceptions from the mario era...but arguably, this is the best. not that it means they're shoe-ins, not in the least, but still fun.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Unless it's the Playoffs that is.

Maybe I was wrong.

 

[awaz]

not to sound cocky or too excited, but this is probably the best lineup top to bottom the pens have ever had. there may be a few exceptions from the mario era...but arguably, this is the best. not that it means they're shoe-ins, not in the least, but still fun.

woah now pix.. lets not get too carried away.. it looks good, but at some point you'll need a winger that isn't kunitz, cooke, or an AHL guy..

 

[HonusWagner66]

not to sound cocky or too excited, but this is probably the best lineup top to bottom the pens have ever had. there may be a few exceptions from the mario era...but arguably, this is the best. not that it means they're shoe-ins, not in the least, but still fun.

I wouldn't go that far yet. We still have to see how Tangradi, Johnson, Jeffrey, Letestu or whoever makes the roster plays. They have the deepest blueline right now than they've had in the Crosby-era, but I'd still argue that the 2008 Cup losing team was the best team the Penguins have had during the Crosby-era -- on paper at least.

Hossa - Crosby - Dupuis
Malone - Malkin - Sykora
Ruutu - Staal - Kennedy
Roberts - Hall - Talbot
Laraque

Gonchar - Orpik
Whitney - Sydor
Gill - Scuderi
Letang, Eaton

Fleury
Conklin

 

[NJDevils_30]

I think the Pens (love the Martin and ZM signings) and Flyers are the favorites to come out of the east next year. New year, same story with the caps. The devils are the devils, they'll be there, but can they make noise?

Throw in some hot goalies in Rask and Halak, err wait, Price isn't getting halak hot lol and you don't get much parity.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Devils add Kaberle. Brodeur has two years left on his deal and then it's entirely possible he retires (and I slit my wrists) so it's win now mode for us.

 

[h X c Chris]

I wouldn't go that far yet. We still have to see how Tangradi, Johnson, Jeffrey, Letestu or whoever makes the roster plays. They have the deepest blueline right now than they've had in the Crosby-era, but I'd still argue that the 2008 Cup losing team was the best team the Penguins have had during the Crosby-era -- on paper at least.

Hossa - Crosby - Dupuis
Malone - Malkin - Sykora
Ruutu - Staal - Kennedy
Roberts - Hall - Talbot
Laraque

Gonchar - Orpik
Whitney - Sydor
Gill - Scuderi
Letang, Eaton

Fleury
Conklin

Yeah I dont see how your new roster beats that. Though I dont really know what your roster looks like now.

 

[pixburgher66]

yeah....that was a stacked 08 roster, but some of the players on that team weren't the caliber they are now. our third line is better now (damn that was a nice 2nd and 1st line), but the defense is better now. gill and scuds were good here, but since leaving each other, haven't been quite the same (mostly scuds). and 2nd D pairing is very 'eww'.

 

[pixburgher66]

and chris...sadly we can't even show the roster right now, because our forwards are TBD. i guess i'm just really excited to have a solid D (on paper) for once.

Orpik-Letang
Gogo-Z
Martin-Lovejoy
Engeland

not sure if that's how the pairings work out. but a nice mix of D and O. i'd like to see Z and martin together, but Gogo cant be Lovejoy's first partner in the NHL. Lovejoy will be solid though. funny how our depth chart on D has completely shifted.