Welcome to the Hotstove! As always, I'm your host, Travis Yost.
Over the last few weeks, we have taken our first real stab at projecting the
Metropolitan and
Central divisions. I think it's safe to say that the general consensus for those two is that the Metropolitan is a bit more of an unknown than the Central, especially in the middle.
Today, we'll take our first stab at the Atlantic division, where the Boston Bruins have really run the show for a number of years now. Boston still, to me anyway, appears the cream of the crop -- I think we have a bit more of a question about the blue line now than maybe in years past, but it's still among the league's best, and their forward crop is more than enough to curb any question marks. On top of that, Tuukka Rask is one of the three best goaltenders in the world. Over 82-games, they're a pretty tough club to beat.
One team that's really intriguing me in this division -- really since last year -- is Tampa Bay. I wonder if they'll get the same kind of output from Ben Bishop and their goaltending in general, but I love how Victor Hedman's really pushed that defense in the right direction. And, again, another year of in-his-prime Steven Stamkos. I could see the Bolts finishing anywhere from second to fourth in the division, but I think it's going to be fairly difficult for them to miss the playoffs.
The middle is, again, where things get a bit messy. Montreal's off-season was excellent -- I loved the move for P.A. Parenteau, I loved the signing of Tom Gilbert, and though Josh Gorges was giving them a pile of minutes in years past, I think it was the right move to get out of his deal and acquire a future in the process. I'd really like to see them add another defenseman who can log respectable minutes with PK off of the ice, but other than that, there's not a whole lot to really hate about Montreal. They feel like another playoff team from this division.
The knifefight will likely come between Detroit, Toronto, Ottawa, and Florida for the four and five spots (if applicable) in the division. Each team in and of itself has unique strengths and weaknesses: Detroit's still loaded with veteran talent, Toronto still has one of the best forwards in the world and a pair of young, plus/plus puck-moving defenders, Ottawa has some budding young forward talent and one of the best defenders in the business. I really am excited about Florida's youth, but I couldn't have hated their off-season any more -- so, naturally, I'm less enthusiastic about their chances.
I think the finish of this division will really come down to who can mitigate their weaknesses the most. Detroit really needs to stave off age regression for one more year, if possible. Toronto has to
not get Randy Carlyled. Ottawa has to shave off massive defensive zone deficiencies. I don't think either is going to be particularly easy, which is why I really see these teams competing for the 7-8 spots in the East.
Rounding out the group should be Buffalo. And really, this is what every Sabres fan probably wants. They are already just teeming with super-young talent that's going to be a part of a solid core in a few years. And, no one's ever going to publicly say it, but ... let's be honest. Connor McDavid is a game-changer. And if Buffalo can trade one horrifying year for fifteen years of McDavid, they make that move any time.
How do you see the division shaking out? Here's my early guess -- of course, I reserve the right to amend when we revisit in a couple of months.
1. Boston
2. Tampa Bay
3. Montreal
4. Detroit
5. Toronto/Ottawa
7. Florida
8. Buffalo
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