Rumor chart in final stages before launch. ALOT of possibilities to sort through!
But first, the eastern conference playoff race...never can I remember when 8 playoff teams looked more solidified this early....also, never in January, to my recollection at least, have we had 8 teams with winning percentages above 625. We actually have 7 teams in the east with winning percentages above 670!
In the West you have only 2 teams above 670 (Colorado and Nashville) and currently a 554 winning percentage gets you in the playoffs. There is actually not a single team in the Pacific with a better winning percentage than the East's 8th seed, Boston...
What this means for the traded deadline is kind of fascinating...We have a ton of potential sellers in the East and also with so many strong teams in the East the top teams are all feeling it. As one GM said, "When you are around or above a 700 Winning percentage you owe to yourself to try and make a SERIOUS run at a Cup. It doesn't happen all the time.."
This is one of the biggest reasons the rumor chart is taking some extra time here...well that and the fact that I have contracted a fun case of Shingles! Oh well!
Who in the East "could" still potentially make the playoffs? The Red Wings are the closest to Boston, but yesterday the Bruins signed Tukka Rask to a one-year deal..
I still feel the Islanders will be heard from, but they have a ton of games to play...The only team I feel a bit iffy on in the top 6 would be the Capitals. They are riding hard on the other worldly play of Ovechkin. Can he keep the pace up? He is starting to show some signs of his humanity...not many, but some...
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