Sean-You have the Kings ranked too high.

This is even more embarrassing than the "our D is exponentially better" James Tanner wanna-be.
- RonPielep

You think Klefbom is better than Ekman Larsson? That Larsson is better than Hjalmarsson? That Nurse is better than Chychrun? That any one of Benning, Manning or Russell is better than Goligoski, Demers or Oesterle?

It’s not even close. Of all the things I said, claiming that the Coyotes top ranked D is better than the oilers bottom ranked d is the least controversial.

Come on Ron, you have to know by now that is one of Tanner's alt accounts.
- ruttager17

Nope while I agree with some of the things Tanner says, I mostly disagree. Heck he just claimed that the flames won the Lucic trade....ridiculous.

But I am a hockey analytics buff from Minnesota that transplanted to AZ, and I fully believe this is a legitimate playoff team. Their depth is spectacular, and I believe that Keller, Kessel, Schmaltz, will he elite this year, and the rest of the lines will he matchup nightmares.

The best thing about this is I get to just sit back and watch you all be wrong, as the analytics proves me right and the Coyotes tear up the league this year. Remember this post!!!

You think Klefbom is better than Ekman Larsson? That Larsson is better than Hjalmarsson? That Nurse is better than Chychrun? That any one of Benning, Manning or Russell is better than Goligoski, Demers or Oesterle?

It’s not even close. Of all the things I said, claiming that the Coyotes top ranked D is better than the oilers bottom ranked d is the least controversial.
- Dahlmanyotes

Nope while I agree with some of the things Tanner says, I mostly disagree. Heck he just claimed that the flames won the Lucic trade....ridiculous.

But I am a hockey analytics buff from Minnesota that transplanted to AZ, and I fully believe this is a legitimate playoff team. Their depth is spectacular, and I believe that Keller, Kessel, Schmaltz, will he elite this year, and the rest of the lines will he matchup nightmares.

The best thing about this is I get to just sit back and watch you all be wrong, as the analytics proves me right and the Coyotes tear up the league this year. Remember this post!!!
- Dahlmanyotes

Posting this part just confirms you are Tanner.

You’re drunk!!
- Clyde334

Well yeah. He’s Irish. Duh.

You think Klefbom is better than Ekman Larsson? That Larsson is better than Hjalmarsson? That Nurse is better than Chychrun? That any one of Benning, Manning or Russell is better than Goligoski, Demers or Oesterle?

It’s not even close. Of all the things I said, claiming that the Coyotes top ranked D is better than the oilers bottom ranked d is the least controversial.
- Dahlmanyotes

Actually I think your D is better overall. I just wouldn’t phrase it as if I was trying to mimic James Tanner’s hyperbolic idiocy.

I think Van and Arizona will battle it out for a wild card spot with the Oil behind them.

Actually I think your D is better overall. I just wouldn’t phrase it as if I was trying to mimic James Tanner’s hyperbolic idiocy.

I think Van and Arizona will battle it out for a wild card spot with the Oil behind them.
- RonPielep

Wild card spot harder since the central teams rank higher. Third spot in the division or bust.

Vegas
Flames
Sharks
Coyotes
Oilers
Kings
Canucks
Ducks

Ducks will finish last in the conference. Getz can't do it all.

Tough division to predict. Should be a moshpit for a while but I see some tiers already.

I fully expect San Jose to make it while Vegas seems like a good bet for #2 thanks to Stone, though their depth is concerning. I think Arizona and Calgary will fight it out for #3; one added quality scoring while the other seems like a good candidate to fall back a bit. Both have some significant potholes to avoid but both are mostly well-constructed.

Edmonton, Anaheim and Vancouver (in that order) make up the junkyard dog-tier. A lot has to go right for any of these teams to make it: Edmonton needs the Tippett effect to be STRONG (depth scoring and helping the goalies), a rebound for Larsson and a repeat from McDrai; Anaheim needs the veterans to be good enough to carry some quality youth and their now-shallow D need a breakout year from a young guy (Guhle, Mahura or Larsson); Vancouver needs Pettersson not to slump and their D additions to be better than they've ever been.

LA feels like the obvious pick for the bottom as their youth movement will need another 2 years to manifest in any meaningful way.

A bit Canadiancentric.

You rate the Oilers that high???? Kings are about right but they might have an on-year.

I think the Ducks will be a hell of a lot better. I don't think the Sharks will be that good.

Vancouver will be better but not better than the Flames. You have to be careful with shooting percentages if you have elite playmakers involved.

Tricky division bc a few of those teams could falter pushing up a few teams.

Last year the pundits said the central was weak. I thought that was dishonest and based merely on points. The thing is the Pacific's best couldn't be the lowest wild card team from the central.

A bit Canadiancentric.

You rate the Oilers that high???? Kings are about right but they might have an on-year.

I think the Ducks will be a hell of a lot better. I don't think the Sharks will be that good.

Vancouver will be better but not better than the Flames. You have to be careful with shooting percentages if you have elite playmakers involved.

Tricky division bc a few of those teams could falter pushing up a few teams.

Last year the pundits said the central was weak. I thought that was dishonest and based merely on points. The thing is the Pacific's best couldn't be the lowest wild card team from the central.
- BluemanGuruu

Not sure that I see the Central being as good as it's been lately. Nashville is the safest bet by a good bit followed by Dallas (though they're not devoid of issues, either), but the next set are no more complete than the Pacific's.

St Louis still has to be aware of shaky goaltending as rookie goalies- particularly ones that find great success like Binnington- are susceptible to hyper-analysis heading into their sophomore seasons. Your team has an excellent foundation, but loose ground beneath it could still cave it in (like the first half of last year).

Colorado looks like an good bet to make it after adding some quality scoring depth, but they're still depending on a rookie to replace most of Barrie's minutes on the blueline. Girard may help and maybe Byram can surprise in camp, but it's only an impressive D corps when you look ahead into the future. Grubauer was streaky, too.

Chicago added a bunch of things but their D corps is still average at best and I'm not convinced their depth scoring is fixed. They'll definitely need a couple guys to step up in the bottom-6. Lehner is quality if he can remain healthy.

Winnipeg is currently on track to step into the season with a D corps consisting of Byfuglien and Morrisey followed by a whole pile of dirt. When you go a step further a remember their systemic defensive flaws, a streaky Hellebuyck doesn't appear set up for success. They'll score, but can they outscore?

Minnesota is the LA of the Central.

Fine I’ll take the bait as the AZ homer...this is a terrible prediction, especially when things like “the coyotes depth is the same as the oilers” .... the oilers have the worst depth in the league and the coyotes have the best. It’s not even debatable. What has kept the coyotes back is having top line offensive threats.

Coyotes have much better goaltending than the oilers.

Coyotes have exponentially better defensemen at each and every slot.

The coyotes bottom six is made up of players like grabber, hinkstroza, Soderberg, Richardson, Hayton, Crouse, garland, Fischer, Dvorak. Any one of those guys could score 20 goals, and NONE of the oilers bottom six has a shot at that.

In the end, coyotes make the playoffs for sure, likely knocking the flames out of their spot.

Vancouver will have a top ten pick again because the players they acquired will struggle when not supported by more elite talent. Calagary will have historically bad goaltending. Vegas will be solid.
- Dahlmanyotes

I don't think Myers is going to crumble because he's asked to play 2nd pairing, at least as bad as their D last year. Miller, despite the cost will play top 6. Ferland top 9. Benn will be bottom pairing.

None of those guys are going to be as bad as the likes of Pouliot, Del Zotto, Gaunce, and the list goes on that have been playing there the past several seasons.

Also, having a full season of Quinn Hughes can't hurt.

If the Canucks are picking top 10, it's likely due to injuries and/or goaltending.

Nope while I agree with some of the things Tanner says, I mostly disagree. Heck he just claimed that the flames won the Lucic trade....ridiculous.

But I am a hockey analytics buff from Minnesota that transplanted to AZ, and I fully believe this is a legitimate playoff team. Their depth is spectacular, and I believe that Keller, Kessel, Schmaltz, will he elite this year, and the rest of the lines will he matchup nightmares.

The best thing about this is I get to just sit back and watch you all be wrong, as the analytics proves me right and the Coyotes tear up the league this year. Remember this post!!!
- Dahlmanyotes

The best part is i will watch the game, while you watch the stats. As any and all valuable GM will say, there is more than one part to the game. It takes the eye test and the stats... one part does not take precident over the other. Both are equally important parts. You cant judge a game based solely off the eye test, nor can you base it off just analytics.

As per your prior comment about Nurse being better than Chychrun... yes. Simple stats prove that. Nurse is a far better player before getting into the analytics. Hjarl vs Larsson is fairly even. Yes. You win in ekman-larsson vs Klefbom. But the difference isnt as large as many would think. And the bottom pair is a wash as they shouldnt make a considerable difference if playing their honest time. Who the Oilers have coming up in the next year or 2 might swing this in another direction completely.

As for secondary scoring.... one of your leading scorers from 2 years ago, a top 10 scoring winger for your team failed to score a single goal while recieving time with Connor McDavid...

Not going to make a ranking as of yet as there is plenty of time left. But i find the teams who make the most changes usually suffer the most. Edmonton has only added 1 or 2 significant players and lost 1 or 2. I could see them making the biggest jump off that merit alone. Doesnt mean i see them making it this year, but making the biggest jump available. Arizona also has not made many changes. Colorado a few but nothing major. Calgary has moved out and in a couple. Vancouver has made sweeping changes. SJ has had alot of movement. Vegas a couple. La hasnt changed much, but that might be a bad thing as many of their guys looked to swing towards the down. Anahiem lost a couple pieces but might have lost a couple pieces good to lose. Should be an interesting season in the pacific. I think la is still lower, ditto Anaheim. Phoenix is a middle. The others i cant predict yet.will tkachuk miss preseason and or some regular season? That will affect the flames. Too much change in Van? Did Vegas lose any chemistry? SJ gonna score enough from Karlsson/Burns to compete? So many variables at this time.

Worse representation of an Oilers fan:

JB

Or

oil90

Or

Jero/Iggy.

Thats right i pot them together over the other 2.

I still think its a toss up between 1 and 2.

Fine I’ll take the bait as the AZ homer...this is a terrible prediction, especially when things like “the coyotes depth is the same as the oilers” .... the oilers have the worst depth in the league and the coyotes have the best. It’s not even debatable. What has kept the coyotes back is having top line offensive threats.

Coyotes have much better goaltending than the oilers.

Coyotes have exponentially better defensemen at each and every slot.

The coyotes bottom six is made up of players like grabber, hinkstroza, Soderberg, Richardson, Hayton, Crouse, garland, Fischer, Dvorak. Any one of those guys could score 20 goals, and NONE of the oilers bottom six has a shot at that.

In the end, coyotes make the playoffs for sure, likely knocking the flames out of their spot.

Vancouver will have a top ten pick again because the players they acquired will struggle when not supported by more elite talent. Calagary will have historically bad goaltending. Vegas will be solid.
- Dahlmanyotes

Hinostroza likely plays with Schmaltz in the top 6. JT Miller is slotted to play with Petts and Boeser and Myers is slated to play with Hughes who, if you watched him, is absolutely sick and will be a Calder candidate. I would call that quality insulation

Nope while I agree with some of the things Tanner says, I mostly disagree. Heck he just claimed that the flames won the Lucic trade....ridiculous.

But I am a hockey analytics buff from Minnesota that transplanted to AZ, and I fully believe this is a legitimate playoff team. Their depth is spectacular, and I believe that Keller, Kessel, Schmaltz, will he elite this year, and the rest of the lines will he matchup nightmares.

The best thing about this is I get to just sit back and watch you all be wrong, as the analytics proves me right and the Coyotes tear up the league this year. Remember this post!!!
- Dahlmanyotes

The majority of people believe that Keller is not an elite, PPG player. I don’t think believing they’ll make the playoffs puts you in the minority, but if you think Keller cracks the top say 75 scorers this year I think that does

Posting this part just confirms you are Tanner.
- ruttager17

I 100% agree...good call.

Vegas
Flames
Sharks
Coyotes
Oilers
Kings
Canucks
Ducks

Ducks will finish last in the conference. Getz can't do it all.
- KingsFan67

He won’t have to. It looks like they’re finally going to let some of their unreal forward prospects make the jump and they still have Kase, Rakkell, and Silfy as higher end players with guys like Henrique there to insulate them. Gibson is the difference maker. Getting a good coach to play solid hockey in front of him along with a healthier team would make them better than LA

To the person who said Colorado hasn’t had many changes: they have a new goalie, traded away their 1RD, and completely rebuilt their second line with Burakovsky, Kadri, and Donskoi. They should be good but that’s definitely considerable change imo

The majority of people believe that Keller is not an elite, PPG player. I don’t think believing they’ll make the playoffs puts you in the minority, but if you think Keller cracks the top say 75 scorers this year I think that does
- WSCTeton17

His third year in the league, better linemates, more aggressive D with a Housley in and he is in a contract year that could get him $9M over 8 years, or $4M over 3....yea I’ll take the bet that he’s in the top 75 ALL DAY LONG!

20 goals, 50 assists in his sleep.

The best part is i will watch the game, while you watch the stats. As any and all valuable GM will say, there is more than one part to the game. It takes the eye test and the stats... one part does not take precident over the other. Both are equally important parts. You cant judge a game based solely off the eye test, nor can you base it off just analytics.

As per your prior comment about Nurse being better than Chychrun... yes. Simple stats prove that. Nurse is a far better player before getting into the analytics. Hjarl vs Larsson is fairly even. Yes. You win in ekman-larsson vs Klefbom. But the difference isnt as large as many would think. And the bottom pair is a wash as they shouldnt make a considerable difference if playing their honest time. Who the Oilers have coming up in the next year or 2 might swing this in another direction completely.

As for secondary scoring.... one of your leading scorers from 2 years ago, a top 10 scoring winger for your team failed to score a single goal while recieving time with Connor McDavid...
- wreckage

This is just an ignorant comment that doesn’t understand analytics. I watch all of the games, and analytics are developed based on what the eyes see. It provides the ability to pick up things with your eyes, quantify it, and then being able to see 1000s of events at once.

Your comment is the equivalent of saying “I can predict the weather a week from Tuesday better than forecast models, because I look at the sky with my eyes.” It’s not rooted in truth, math, science...and frankly my unvarnished response is that it’s stupid.

I’d recommend reading a book like Superforecasting to understand better before commenting.

Worse representation of an Oilers fan:

JB

Or

oil90

Or

Jero/Iggy.

Thats right i pot them together over the other 2.

I still think its a toss up between 1 and 2.
- wreckage

Your obsession of me is creepy...surely you have to be on some ped list...are you forbidden to go near schools??? It's ok you can tell us...