Who are the favorites in the East now?

[Forty_Sixand2]

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

Did someone say "Minus the Bear"

[YOUTUBE]NAoVj0-bZkI[/YOUTUBE]

 

[awaz]

1. Washington
2. Boston
3. NJ
4. Philly
5. Pitt
6. Ottawa
7. TB
8. Montreal

1. Wash
2. Bos
3. NJ
4. Phi

2. Bos
4. Phi

4. Phi

book it.

 

[scottflyers88]

i would say washington is better than jersey.

 

[pixburgher66]

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.

no disrespect. been there done that. i was really saying it was funny that the isles weren't mentioned when even the RAGS were. and i think that having a young team has it's ups and downs...and one of those ups is passion and pushing through a game.

 

[elocomotive]

Snap observation on this thread...

I think Boston and Philly are getting way too much credit.
I don't think Buffalo and Pittsburgh are getting nearly enough.

 

[Dupster]

Have to remember.....
Who do you honestly think will challenge Boston in the NE? I see you have Buffalo as underrated, do you think Buffalo can actually bring home the NE crown? Relying on Glass Connolly and Magically Disappearing Vanek? Ottawa and Montreal might have a better shot at that division, but, it's still Boston's to lose, which means a minimum 3 seed.
And Philly and Pittsburgh (and Jersey) are in the same boat. Could very well be the top 3 teams out East this year, but, since they're in the same division it could end up being two teams in the 4 and 5 spots, and one knocking another out in early April.

 

[ritari330]

I'd have to agree with Eloco. May I remind you all that even though Phili has improved, they were a shootout away from missing the playoffs. Meanwhile the Pens, in my opinion, got even beter than the Flyers did and they were a beter team to begin with. I would still put the Flyers in line with the Devils, but I don't think they are as good as the Pens. Just my 2 cents

 

[elocomotive]

Have to remember.....
Ottawa and Montreal might have a better shot at that division, but, it's still Boston's to lose, which means a minimum 3 seed.

If I remember correctly, Buffalo is the defending division winner.

 

[Dupster]

I don't foresee Boston having nearly as many injury problems, I think they gained since last year, and Buffalo has regressed.

Hawks are defending Cup champs, but I highly doubt many people will pick them to win The Cup this year.

 

[Dupster]

I'd have to agree with Eloco. May I remind you all that even though Phili has improved, they were a shootout away from missing the playoffs. Meanwhile the Pens, in my opinion, got even beter than the Flyers did and they were a beter team to begin with. I would still put the Flyers in line with the Devils, but I don't think they are as good as the Pens. Just my 2 cents

Injury problems for Philly last year, too. May I remind you that many, MANY people picked Philly to win it all last summer. Injuries almost did them in during the regular season, not a lack of talent on the team. The talent just wasn't on the ice, due to injury.

 

[ritari330]

Injury problems for Philly last year, too. May I remind you that many, MANY people picked Philly to win it all last summer. Injuries almost did them in during the regular season, not a lack of talent on the team. The talent just wasn't on the ice, due to injury.

I still believe that the Pens were a better team last year than Philly, and I still beleive that they got even beter than Philly did. Like I said, they are in line with the Devs, but still behind the Pens in my book

 

[Dupster]

Ya, I won't quibble about where exactly those three should be slotted, but let's just agree that barring health concerns, all three should be playoff teams.

 

[ritari330]

Agreed, But wasn't that kinda what the topic was about?

 

[IPostedWhat]

I see you have Buffalo as underrated, do you think Buffalo can actually bring home the NE crown? Relying on Glass Connolly and Magically Disappearing Vanek?

Isn't that what people were saying before the start of last season as well?

Anything is possible I guess.

 

[Darkstone42]

I think the Capitals still have to be the number one choice for the regular season. They've not changed their roster much, and it's a proven winner. As good as other Eastern teams look on paper after this offseason, there's still too much speculation about what will and will not click. They have a really deep offense, and their defense is underrated in my opinion. If Varlamov takes over the number one goalie role and performs in it the way he's expected to, it will be very difficult to outscore them.

Next I would put the Penguins. Perhaps it's a homer choice, but I just feel like they've got the best strength up the middle in the entire NHL with two #1 centers and a #2. They've also got a good defense (Letang and Martin should be solid two-way guys, Orpik and Michalek should be stout in their own end, Goligoski wasn't good last season but has huge offensive upside and should be at least an average defender going forward, and Lovejoy should be at the very least serviceable in his own end, is a strong skater, and has a passable first pass), and I expect a bounce-back year from Fleury. They also have one of the best third lines in hockey.

I'd put the Flyers and Devils on the same tier, very close to the Penguins (who themselves are very close to the Capitals, though I forgot to mention that above). They've both got stout defenses, especially Philadelphia, and you can never count out Brodeur for New Jersey. The Flyers also have good scoring depth with Richards, Carter, Briere, Giroux, Zherdev, JvR and Hartnell. The Devils boast two premier goal-scorers in Parise and Kovalchuk, as well as solid offensive players in Elias, Langenbrunner, Zubrus, and so on. I see Philadelphia's biggest weakness as goaltending (more because it's such a question mark than the fact that their goaltenders performed poorly) and for the Devils it's depth.

I'd have to put Boston next. Rask looked like he'll be an elite goalie for years to come last year, and Boston's success will hinge quite a bit on him, but they also have good offensive depth, especially now with the addition of Seguin, and boast one of the best defensemen in the league in Chara. They'll be tough to score against, and if they stay healthy should be able to post solid goal totals.

Buffalo is next, but that hinges on health. If Connelly stays healthy this season, and with the development of Myers, they shouldn't be too bad. And having Ryan Miller means they just cannot be counted out. Ever.

Some other teams to watch I think are Carolina (they were quite injured last year, and looked pretty decent while healthy), Atlanta (I just have a feeling), Tampa Bay (they're close to competing, and Stevie Y will likely make wise moves in his GM role), and Montreal (especially if Price comes into his own). I would pick Carolina and Tampa for the last two playoff spots.

This is what I expect at this point.

1. Washington
2. Pittsburgh
3. Boston
4. Philadelphia
5. New Jersey
6. Buffalo
7. Carolina
8. Tampa Bay

 

[Dupster]

Isn't that what people were saying before the start of last season as well?

Anything is possible I guess.

Someone has to win the division. Don't take it personally, the NW wasn't exactly a juggernaut last year, either.

 

[scottflyers88]

Snap observation on this thread...

I think Boston and Philly are getting way too much credit.
I don't think Buffalo and Pittsburgh are getting nearly enough.

the flyers should not get this much credit? yea i can see why getting to the cup finals and improving in the offseason would make them not favorites. note the sarcasm.

meanwhile the caps lost in the first round and did nothing except get worse.

i think the pens are getting a lot of credit here. all they did was replace gonchar and add michalek.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

Carolina will not have the same injury riddled start and dig such a massive hole this year.


I'm not one to go on a ridiculous chrisscott or canesrulez2006 rant..


but..

Don't fill out that top 8 in ink just yet...

 

[Darkstone42]

Carolina will not have the same injury riddled start and dig such a massive hole this year.


I'm not one to go on a ridiculous chrisscott or canesrulez2006 rant..


but..

Don't fill out that top 8 in ink just yet...

I have them 7th, guy. I'm way ahead of you. =P

 

[IPostedWhat]

I read that Toronto will have the best defense of any team in the East next year.

Hard to argue that they will be the team to beat.