Who are the favorites in the East now?

[miamiforlife81]

Now that Kovalchuk signed and Gagne has been traded the East is pretty much set in stone unless Philly trades Coburn.

So as of now who would you say are the favorites to win the East next season?

Washington: Didn't make many moves but will still have the great offensive team that they did last season. They lost Corvo on defense and didn't manage to get an upgrade at goaltender. I believe this will be Varlamov's first season at being the full time guy in net. If he does well Caps could still be favorites.

Philadelphia: Not sure they improved but they did add Meszaros on the back end but lost a good winger in Gagne to Tampa Bay. The big thing is that they still didn't get an upgrade at goalie and will go in with Leighton or Boucher as their starter in 2010-2011. They also re-signed Carcillo, signed Shelley and Zherdev, and lost Asham. Overall, they are still a deep team but somewhat questionable at goaltending.

Pittsburgh Pens focused on upgrading the shaky defense from last year and on paper have done so in adding Paul Martin and Michalek, which should instantly help. Pens lost a great PP guy in Gonchar so the PP could struggle, but then again Yeo is gone so it will probably improve. The 3 center model is likely to stay in place, with Crosby, Malkin, and Staal. The wingers are average at best, with arguably no true top 6 wingers on the team, except maybe Kunitz or Tangradi. Cooke was also resigned.

New Jersey: As of now I'd say the Devils are the favorites of the East for the upcoming year. They landed arguably the two top free agents in a defensive beast Volchenkov and a top 5 forward in Kovalchuk. They did lose Martin to Pittsburgh but Volchenkov is an upgrade IMO. They also added a solid backup in Hedberg, who can give Brodeur more resting time. If Marty plays to his top ability the Devils will be hard to beat.

As of now I'd say any of those 4 are the favorites in the East. However, Boston is also solid and I wouldn't be surprised to see them be a 1-2 seed if Rask continues to play great.

Ottawa could also be a darkhorse to take the East.

 

[Automattic]

I will honestly say that I love the Red Wings so much that I hope Tampa Bay kicks all Y'alls asses!

 

[beantownmaniac]

THE BRUINS!!!!!!!! FEAR THE BEAR!!!!!!

 

[flyersfan4706]

I think the Flyers improved. They have a solid 3rd pair in front of Leighton now. Last years 3rd pair killed us. Gagne is injury prone. Yes he does hurt the team by not being here though he does get injured.

 

[flyersfan4706]

THE BRUINS!!!!!!!! FEAR THE BEAR!!!!!!

Fehr the Bear or Fear the Beer?

 

[Automattic]

THE BRUINS!!!!!!!! FEAR THE BEAR!!!!!!

What's the good word? You guys got a trade or two to make before the season starts?

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Always fear The Miller !

 

[Automattic]

I hope there's some more good bruin hockey commercials this year btw.

 

[Automattic]

Always fear The Miller !

Aww shit! You guys got the old man up and out of his recliner! It's officially a hockey SportsHoopla up in here!

 

[awaz]

dont sleep on the bruins.. i think they should at least be mentioned in the list of could-be favorites.. they were a game away from the conference finals (on 4 different occasions ) and they added a guy thats supposed to be a superstar.. and as far as i know they haven't lost anything?

 

[scottflyers88]

the flyers definately improved. not so easy to figure out if you do not look closely though. first, they have maybe the best defense. after that i think their offense has improved. e lost a great player in gagne although he only had 20 goals last year. now we have leino playing a full year, giroux in his second full year, jvr in his second full year, hartnell should bounce back from a poor season, briere is much better at center, leino will be playing from the start, and zherdev has tons of talent.

last year the flyers only had 4 20 goal scorers. this year they might have 8. their goaltending did not upgrade although it did get them to the finals last year. so a ton 10 offense, top defense, and average goaltending should be good.

they went to the cup finals last year and are better now.

 

[scottflyers88]

i think it will be these 4 teams at the top though.

 

[beantownmaniac]

Fehr the Bear or Fear the Beer?

At the prices JJ gets for them, definitely

 

[beantownmaniac]

What's the good word? You guys got a trade or two to make before the season starts?

They were shopping Savard and Thomas around but no takers yet

 

[CatScrap]

They were shopping Savard and Thomas around but no takers yet

IF those two weren't on your team and were being shopped to you, would you take em? Knowing full well that by doing so your freeing up a large cap hit in a team that is already dangerous?
NO

 

[jojoh07]

Regular season it should be washington still , very deep at F , that should carry them to another first place in the east , as for the playoffs , I still dont like there chances to get beyond round 2.

 

[scottflyers88]

i think the caps got a little worse. they will still be a favorite though.

 

[ritari330]

Washington: Didn't make many moves but will still have the great offensive team that they did last season. They lost Corvo on defense and didn't manage to get an upgrade at goaltender. I believe this will be Varlamov's first season at being the full time guy in net. If he does well Caps could still be favorites.

Now, atleast from what he did last year while he was with the caps, that is an improvment by subtraction. Might have been the system, but he was quite bad in his time with the Caps.

 

[scottflyers88]

i would not even mention corvo.

 

[ritari330]

Plus, I think there are still moves, even if not major, to be made. It's only July 19th, there are free agents to be signed and maybe some trades to be made