I'm actually heading out to Vegas wed night. Terrible what happened
- Vukota

Terrible act carried out by a coward.
My thoughts and prayers are with all affected by this tragedy.

My Eastern Conference Standings prediction
Metropolitan:
1. Columbus(P)
2. Pittsburgh
3. NYR
Atlantic:
1. Montreal(Y)
2. Tampa
3. Toronto
Wildcard:
1. NYI
2. Washington
- bgainesDM

lol nah

Terrible act carried out by a coward.
My thoughts and prayers are with all affected by this tragedy.
- nyisles7

Sadly its not even suprising anymore

Problem will be that everybody else in the metro got better too.

Except maybe the Pens and Capitals. The Caps are going to be hurting a lot worse than they think.
- BINGO!

Let's see. No number 1 center for the Rangers. Shattenkirk ain't going to be playing with Pietrangelo this year. Columbus' Saad for Panarin trade was a wash to me. Pens lost quite a bit but will still be favorites with Letang coming back healthy. Carolina is almost there and could honestly use Duchene. Is Hakstol going to keep scratching Ghost like he did last year, or is he going to let him learn properly?

My Eastern Conference Standings prediction
Metropolitan:
1. Columbus(P)
2. Pittsburgh
3. NYR
Atlantic:
1. Montreal(Y)
2. Tampa
3. Toronto
Wildcard:
1. NYI
2. Washington
- bgainesDM

I think isles will be top 3 in Metro, Im even going to make few predictions. Carolina or Philly will make wildcard displacing Rangers that will miss this year.

Also Montreal will be Wildcard team or miss playoffs. Tampa will be 1st and toronto 2nd.

I think isles will be top 3 in Metro, Im even going to make few predictions. Carolina or Philly will make wildcard displacing Rangers that will miss this year.

Also Montreal will be Wildcard team or miss playoffs. Tampa will be 1st and toronto 2nd.
- Spartiarti

Fair assessment. I think Drouin will help their PP a lot during the regular season as well as banking on a fully healthy Price. I can't say the same about Stamkos. If he is, the sky's the limit for Tampa.

Problem will be that everybody else in the metro got better too.

Except maybe the Pens and Capitals. The Caps are going to be hurting a lot worse than they think.
- BINGO!

The Rangers got better?

Sorry mdw.

Real deal starts Friday night against a very good opponent. It's going to be interesting what the Islanders possession numbers look like and see if they keep the opponents opportunities to a minimum.
A little more defensive structure would be a blessing to see this year.
- nyisles7

All about the D play 7. Offense and goalies should be good.

The Rangers got better?

Sorry mdw.
- ses111

Defense definitely did. Offense, who knows. Going to be up to the youngsters to contribute. If they don't, I could see them just missing.

Defense definitely did. Offense, who knows. Going to be up to the youngsters to contribute. If they don't, I could see them just missing.
- mdw7413

Just think a lot of pressure on Hank and the D again. I'm not sure the Rangers miss the playoffs, but I do not see a long run from them?

Just think a lot of pressure on Hank and the D again. I'm not sure the Rangers miss the playoffs, but I do not see a long run from them?
- ses111

Idk they got weaker upfront who knows

Just think a lot of pressure on Hank and the D again. I'm not sure the Rangers miss the playoffs, but I do not see a long run from them?
- ses111

I have been hearing about Hanks downfall for the last 3-4 years. Even when he went down for extended periods, Talbot then Raanta played exceptional. Its the least of my worries especially with our goaltending coach Allaire.

I have been hearing about Hanks downfall for the last 3-4 years. Even when he went down for extended periods, Talbot then Raanta played exceptional. Its the least of my worries especially with our goaltending coach Allaire.
- mdw7413

As a hockeyfan(speaking nonbias in this case) in general, I get loyalty and all. However, my question is this, why did they give Hank that long contract and let go of Talbot for basically nothing? When Hank went down during the 2014-15 season, Talbot actually finished the season with better overall stats that year than the "King." Combining that with the fact that he played 70+ plus games with Edmonton this past year and is well in his prime, I just see it as a lost opportunity to improve other aspects of the team financially.

I have been hearing about Hanks downfall for the last 3-4 years. Even when he went down for extended periods, Talbot then Raanta played exceptional. Its the least of my worries especially with our goaltending coach Allaire.
- mdw7413

Yeah and his play has been declining over much of that time period too. His GAA and sv% have declined over the last three seasons. I don't think anyone (at least anyone reasonably intelligent) ever meant that he was going to wake up and play like a paraplegic one day, but he's not what he used to be and I don't really see him making any marked improvements as he ages.

Yeah and his play has been declining over much of that time period too. His GAA and sv% have declined over the last three seasons. I don't think anyone (at least anyone reasonably intelligent) ever meant that he was going to wake up and play like a paraplegic one day, but he's not what he used to be and I don't really see him making any marked improvements as he ages.
- eichiefs9

Unless he injects himself with the blood of Tim Thomas

As a hockeyfan(speaking nonbias in this case) in general, I get loyalty and all. However, my question is this, why did they give Hank that long contract and let go of Talbot for basically nothing? When Hank went down during the 2014-15 season, Talbot actually finished the season with better overall stats that year than the "King." Combining that with the fact that he played 70+ plus games with Edmonton this past year and is well in his prime, I just see it as a lost opportunity to improve other aspects of the team financially.
- bgainesDM

Because like any star player on any team you always overpay for them, because they have all the leverage. The key is making the front-end of the contract justify the back-end.

Unless he injects himself with the blood of Tim Thomas
- bgainesDM

He'll have to find Tim Thomas' super-secret doomsday bunker in order to get some of his blood though.

Hard to say the caps lost a lot but are still good and the pens are always good. Columbus looks to be strong as well so I'll say 4th and 1st wildcard. Those 3 teams are very good and will be hard to top but i think they are better than the rest if the division
- Upstate_isles

Well then I guess I am drinking the koolaide too. I think they will be WC1 or WC2.

Because like any star player on any team you always overpay for them, because they have all the leverage. The key is making the front-end of the contract justify the back-end.
- eichiefs9

But my point is, Talbot's progress even the season before the 2014-15 season should've given clear indication to Sather at the time that there were other needs to be addressed and Hank(though it would've broke Rangers fans' hearts) would've been a great trade chip at the time.

As a hockeyfan(speaking nonbias in this case) in general, I get loyalty and all. However, my question is this, why did they give Hank that long contract and let go of Talbot for basically nothing? When Hank went down during the 2014-15 season, Talbot actually finished the season with better overall stats that year than the "King." Combining that with the fact that he played 70+ plus games with Edmonton this past year and is well in his prime, I just see it as a lost opportunity to improve other aspects of the team financially.
- bgainesDM

Well they were going to lose Talbot because when he did fill in for Hank he was great. He was going to be a UFA in a year and there was no way the Rangers could pay for two starting goalies.

It's all hindsight really. When Hank got his contract they had to give him what he wanted. I think any team that had Hank would have done the same.

I have been hearing about Hanks downfall for the last 3-4 years. Even when he went down for extended periods, Talbot then Raanta played exceptional. Its the least of my worries especially with our goaltending coach Allaire.
- mdw7413

I do not expect Hank to really crash and burn this year, but the Rangers do not have that star offensive player that can take the pressure off Hank and the D. The offense will most likely be the Rangers undoing like the D will be the Isles undoing.

But my point is, Talbot's progress even the season before the 2014-15 season should've given clear indication to Sather at the time that there were other needs to be addressed and Hank(though it would've broke Rangers fans' hearts) would've been a great trade chip at the time.
- bgainesDM

Trading away an all-time great goaltender because some kid that played his college hockey at Alabama-Huntsville had one good season backstopping a top team in the league would have been more terrible than anything Mike Milbury ever did.

It's easy to say it now because Talbot replicated his success in Edmonton, but at the time that would have been utterly insane.

Well then I guess I am drinking the koolaide too. I think they will be WC1 or WC2.
- JimmyP

A good start and a coach that doesn't wait weeks to make a change or with the lines waits longer then a period could help as well

I do not expect Hank to really crash and burn this year, but the Rangers do not have that star offensive player that can take the pressure off Hank and the D. The offense will most likely be the Rangers undoing like the D will be the Isles undoing.
- ses111

I definitely think the offense is a question mark, but lets not act like Stepan was a star player. It makes the Rangers a lot weaker down the middle, no doubt, but, and its a big but, if Chytil can excel this year, it will certainly lessen that loss. Like I said, if the youngsters don't contribute, I could see the Rangers being on the outside.

Tom Petty is about to die