Who are the favorites in the East now?

[scottflyers88]

washington just got beat by a good goalie. they should still be a favorite to win.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Washington will be the #1 seed out of the East. Pittsburgh, NJ & Philly will be beating up on each other 6 times during the regular season. Washington's division is much easier. The Northeast is up in the air. Boston & Buffalo are the obvious favorites but, it should be a tight battle for 82 games.

 

[IPostedWhat]

The Sabres are never the favorites in the Northeast, let alone the East itself.

If they do well, then it's an unexpected suprise considering they don't have much to look at, but if they do poorly, then people say it was to be expected.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Well Montreal got worse by trading Halak. Ottawa added Gonchar, which will help. However unless Kovalev plays a full 82 games with 100% effort they aren't going to win the division. The Leafs will win the Cup before Kovalev plays at maximum effort for 82 games.

Then there's said Leafs. They've got no shot. Heck, they might be battling it out for the worst record in the league again this season. The Bruins have to be loving this.

So it's almost Boston & Buffalo by default. Although I do think Ottawa will make the playoffs.

 

[beantownmaniac]

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

I just answered a question, no need to get all huffy

 

[IPostedWhat]

I just answered a question, no need to get all huffy

 

[beantownmaniac]

I thought all Sabres fans were cool. Turn out I was wrong

 

[beantownmaniac]

Not aimed at you IPW

 

[IPostedWhat]

Not aimed at you IPW

Damn Straight!

 

[flyersfan4706]

 

[TOX1]

LOL!!!

 

[loki604]

Washington didn't get any worse, but a lot of teams in the East got better. However, the Atlantic is going to be crazy, so I agree with whoever said the Caps will take first. I see something like this:

1. Caps
2. Pens
3. Bruins
4. Flyers
5. Devils
6. Sens
7. Sabres
8. Bolts

And I could see any of the Pens/Flyers/Devils switching spots...I would almost guarantee they will be 2/4/5 though. I think the Pens look the best on paper right now, but we'll see if they can actually win a game against the Devils this year.

 

[PhillyPhaithful48]

Is this even a debate? Did you guys see what just went down today? The Flyers just acquired MATT WALKER! How do any other teams stand a chance now???

 

[pixburgher66]

if we're talking regular season, Caps. have you SEEN the atlantic division? yeah. scary crap going down.

 

[scottflyers88]

haha. i am pretty angry about it although i have looked at the team like gagne was not on it for a while now and i like it.

jersey added volchenkov
pittsburgh added martin who is basically going to be gonchar and michalek
rangers did nothing
flyers upgraded their defense and i do not think they lost anything on offense with zherdev and leino having full years and giroux and jvr progressing.

 

[pixburgher66]

haha. i am pretty angry about it although i have looked at the team like gagne was not on it for a while now and i like it.

jersey added volchenkov
pittsburgh added martin who is basically going to be gonchar and michalek
rangers did nothing
flyers upgraded their defense and i do not think they lost anything on offense with zherdev and leino having full years and giroux and jvr progressing.

soooo...how bout dem islanders! hahaha. also remember that jersey brought back kovy...there's still more to come though with teams cap situations.

 

[scottflyers88]

well kovalchuk was on jersey last year so i did not count re signings. i just left out the islanders. no idea why i put rangers on there.

 

[Dupster]

1st tier - the Atlantic heavies, Philly, Pittsburgh, Jersey
2nd tier - the other divisional winners, Washington and Boston
3rd tier - probable playoff teams, I'll give the nod to the Lightning and maybe Montreal. Add another team of your choice, I recommend either Ottawa or a (hopefully healthy) Carolina.

 

[pixburgher66]

1st tier - the Atlantic heavies, Philly, Pittsburgh, Jersey
2nd tier - the other divisional winners, Washington and Boston
3rd tier - probable playoff teams, I'll give the nod to the Lightning and maybe Montreal. Add another team of your choice, I recommend either Ottawa or a (hopefully healthy) Carolina.

i agree with this pretty much entirely...it'll make the playoffs interesting because that first tier isn't going to get the high seeds because they'll be beating each other up. most likely that 2 atlantic teams get the 4-5 matchup again, making for a great series.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

soooo...how bout dem islanders! hahaha. also remember that jersey brought back kovy...there's still more to come though with teams cap situations.

Very funny. I know one thing for sure & that is my team will give full effort for 60 minutes for 82 games. Will they blow leads in the 3rd period like they did last year?? YES. However every time they play the big 3 in the Atlantic it will be a battle & those games will probably decide which team wins the division.