IMO Buff and FLA will be perennial contenders if they don't do anything stupid.



Incredibly solid young core

Reinhart
Armia
Ristolainen
Myers
Girgensons
3 2015 1sts

Incredibly solid future
- sbroads24

I love how people don't even count Grigorenko any more... he is already a bust to 85% of people on this board I think.

Obviously there could be many changes but I would say the bottom 5 would be (in no perticular order): buf, nyi, nsh, ott, cgy

They seem to roll 4 effective lines every night. I agree on the vets part but I have to assume they address that at the deadline or this off season via trade. I think everything's on hold for them till they can re-sign Johansen.

Murray's an X factor for them as well, if he breaks out they're in great shape.
- Sabresfan-365

If they aren't all traded to NYR first...

8 former Blue Jackets on NYR's team this past season.

Obviously there could be many changes but I would say the bottom 5 would be (in no perticular order): buf, nyi, nsh, ott, cgy
- Themomentgood

NYI used to be a powerhouse.. with them making a big move ot Brooklyn.. possibly a new owner and GM coming in..

I could see the NHL rigging it for them too.

Can you image if we somehow get to pick 1,2,and 3 next year.
- evatnorth

I wasn't thinking that good... lol

I think that Buff will be bottom 3... NYI will be bottom 7.. and STL would be about 17-22ish


BEST CASE scenario... both BUF and NYI are bottom 3 and STL is like 12 IMO. STL would have to get dismantled by injuries or those young goalies just implode for them and aren't ready like they thought they were.

only tease I can find



- homiedclown

Eon Ziering and Mark McGrath.

Oooh.......I can't wait.

I wasn't thinking that good... lol

I think that Buff will be bottom 3... NYI will be bottom 7.. and STL would be about 17-22ish


BEST CASE scenario... both BUF and NYI are bottom 3 and STL is like 12 IMO. STL would have to get dismantled by injuries or those young goalies just implode for them and aren't ready like they thought they were.
- JVince11

I'm thinking Buff will be 3-6 NYI at 10-13 and STL at around 22-25 (with a decent reg season, even if they go out in the 1st round that pick will be pretty low).

I forgot that CLB got Hartnell for Umberger... what a weird trade htat was...


Hartnell, Dubinsky, Horton, Anisomov, and Foligno is actually a pretty solid vet presence for them..

Tyutin, Johnson, and Murray on the back end.. I'm shocked they didn't buy out Wisniewski.


Big thing that could be make or break... Bobz is already making 5.6M and is an RFA after this season.. if they have to pay him 7M+ a season.. could hurt them especially with all the young guys they have who will be RFAs in coming years.

damn they look great on paper now.. their new GM has to be top 5 in the NHL

I love how people don't even count Grigorenko any more... he is already a bust to 85% of people on this board I think.
- JVince11

I actually forgot about him. I would have also included Zadarov but I think the guys I listed are the surest bets.

I have a lot of faith in Armia, he will be a stud IMO

I forgot that CLB got Hartnell for Umberger... what a weird trade htat was...


Hartnell, Dubinsky, Horton, Anisomov, and Foligno is actually a pretty solid vet presence for them..

Tyutin, Johnson, and Murray on the back end.. I'm shocked they didn't buy out Wisniewski.


Big thing that could be make or break... Bobz is already making 5.6M and is an RFA after this season.. if they have to pay him 7M+ a season.. could hurt them especially with all the young guys they have who will be RFAs in coming years.

damn they look great on paper now.. their new GM has to be top 5 in the NHL
- JVince11

He killed it at the 2013 draft

Rychel's a beast and Wennberg could be a great two way player for them. Dano had a pretty good year and good showing at the World Juniors.

I actually forgot about him. I would have also included Zadarov but I think the guys I listed are the surest bets.

I have a lot of faith in Armia, he will be a stud IMO
- sbroads24

What side of the pivot does he play?? I thought he was going to be our vanek replacement at LW but not sure any more.

I forgot that CLB got Hartnell for Umberger... what a weird trade htat was...


Hartnell, Dubinsky, Horton, Anisomov, and Foligno is actually a pretty solid vet presence for them..

Tyutin, Johnson, and Murray on the back end.. I'm shocked they didn't buy out Wisniewski.


Big thing that could be make or break... Bobz is already making 5.6M and is an RFA after this season.. if they have to pay him 7M+ a season.. could hurt them especially with all the young guys they have who will be RFAs in coming years.

damn they look great on paper now.. their new GM has to be top 5 in the NHL
- JVince11

He had 51 points in 75 games, why on Earth would they buy him out?

He killed it at the 2013 draft

Rychel's a beast and Wennberg could be a great two way player for them. Dano had a pretty good year and good showing at the World Juniors.
- Sabresfan-365

Dubinsky and Foligno are UFAs after this year.. could have huge years from them.

damn..

What side of the pivot does he play?? I thought he was going to be our vanek replacement at LW but not sure any more.
- JVince11

Armia is a RW.

I actually forgot about him. I would have also included Zadarov but I think the guys I listed are the surest bets.

I have a lot of faith in Armia, he will be a stud IMO
- sbroads24

I wouldn't have included him either only because I think one of him or Hodgson gets traded and it sounds like they are keen on keeping Hodgson unless someone overpays.

Reinhart, Hodgson, Ennis, Girgensons, Compher, Larsson, 2015 1st potentially. I don't think he's a bust, I just think he's the victim of a numbers game.

He had 51 points in 75 games, why on Earth would they buy him out?


- dadeadhead

...... wow.. I really didn't pay that close of attention this past year did i...


I know that in his first two years after that huge contract coming over from MON that he wasn't that great but okay then... fair point on that one... living up to his billing.

He killed it at the 2013 draft

Rychel's a beast and Wennberg could be a great two way player for them. Dano had a pretty good year and good showing at the World Juniors.
- Sabresfan-365

He'll make that team out of camp.


IMO he's the conversation for the Calder.

...... wow.. I really didn't pay that close of attention this past year did i...


I know that in his first two years after that huge contract coming over from MON that he wasn't that great but okay then... fair point on that one... living up to his billing.
- JVince11

His 1st year he was hurt only played 48 games but put up 27pts. He's been fine for them.


153 gp 92 pts in a Jackets sweater(sounds like a terrible article of clothing)

He'll make that team out of camp.


IMO he's the conversation for the Calder.
- dadeadhead

Agreed, I think he'll be next years palat.

He'll make that team out of camp.


IMO he's the conversation for the Calder.
- dadeadhead

Could be interesting...

Are all of Detroit's guys out of the running because they played some of last season... Tatar, Nyquist, Jurco?

I wonder if Mantha will be up?

I'm thinking Buff will be 3-6 NYI at 10-13 and STL at around 22-25 (with a decent reg season, even if they go out in the 1st round that pick will be pretty low).
- Sabresfan-365

IMO My bottom 5 are:
30th Calgary
29th Buffalo
28th Winnipeg
27th Ottawa
26th Edmonton

with next bottom teams being Toronto, Carolina, Florida, Nashville and Arizona. I really don't see the Islanders finishing in the bottom 10 this year. Hope I'm wrong

Leafs waiting on an answer from Legwand, oh this should be good

Could be interesting...

Are all of Detroit's guys out of the running because they played some of last season... Tatar, Nyquist, Jurco?

I wonder if Mantha will be up?
- JVince11

Tatar and Nyquist are I believe as they both played 50+ games last season and could've been in the voting last year.

Jurco is though.

IMO Mantha if in the NHL next year will have a Tom Wilson type yr. That said Detroit usually makes their guys put in time riding the bus.

I love how people don't even count Grigorenko any more... he is already a bust to 85% of people on this board I think.
- JVince11

Well, to be fair, he hasn't done anything to warrant confidence in him. Yes, Sabres Mgmt screwed him early on...but he was expected to be a top 5 pick his draft year so one would expect more. His skating is sub-par, his compete seems to be sub-par and the rumors are he expects things to be handed to him. So, those are pretty significant hurdles HE has to overcome. Outside of Juniors, what have you seen that would instill confidence in his success?

IMO My bottom 5 are:
30th Calgary
29th Buffalo
28th Winnipeg
27th Ottawa
26th Edmonton

with next bottom teams being Toronto, Carolina, Florida, Nashville and Arizona. I really don't see the Islanders finishing in the bottom 10 this year. Hope I'm wrong
- jzabawaj

Adding Hiller was a good move in net for them. Can't see them being worse this year than last. 35 wins with sub par goaltending in 2013-14