Rangers over Flyers?

Really? Have you seen Hank's numbers? Have you seen the Ranger's depth? Who is on their 3rd line? How proven is their D?
- flyersfaninLA

Flyers will finish ahead but their depth is there, just young and inexperienced. George might play more games then Hank this year and his numbers have been good

My predictions:
1. Caps- Too easy. Still Cup contender.
Best case- SC
Worst case- Another first round exit.
Trades- Depth players. Only tinkering.
2. Pens- Malkin and Crosby will get them here.
Best- Second Round. Can’t beat the Caps. Too much dead weight on D with Johnson and Gudbranson.
Worst- Another sweep.
Trades- Johnson and or Gudbranson.
3. Philly- Too much talent to continue in the bottom. Grabbing Niskanen and Braun helps their young D. Hart will help.
Best- First round exit.
Worst- Miss the playoffs.
Trades- Playoff vets for a run.
4. Carolina- Still have a deep D with a few top end F.
Best- Wild Card spot.
Worst- Miss playoffs.
Trades- Goals.
5. Isles- Question mark in G. Still have mostly same team with Trotz D style of play.
Best- WC. Young players emerge and push the team.
Worst- Miss playoffs. G is brutal and top ten pick.
Trades- Depends on standings.
6. Rangers- Kakko, Panarin and Trouba help elevate the team but still lack scoring depth to really challenge.
Best- Bubble team.
Worst- 7th
Trades- Kreider for a first round pick.
7. CBJ- Lost 3 star players and did not replace them. Gargantuan Question Marks in G. Two back ups so ....
Best- Bubble team
Worst- 8th place finish
Trades- Nothing. No picks left. No players in contract years.
8. NJ- Nice acquisitions but no real depth. G has not been good. Still a few seasons left on their rebuild.
Best- Offence takes over and maybe a bubble team.
Worst- Last overall. More failed G.
Trades- Hall for basket of riches.

He wanted the 5 year term. I don't think he would have been upset about being a Hab, but he said himself he wasn't 100% comfortable with the idea.

His agent advised him this was the best possible deal he could get, he'd just have to risk moving teams as a result.

It just looks weird because it wasn't the kind of overpay that would have been required for the Hurricanes to even consider taking the picks. I'm sure Aho would have been fine being a Canadiens player, but Bergevin didn't really take the kind of risk required to actually make it happen.
- BINGO!

If one more dollar was offered he would have been in the next tier offer sheet. Hence, overpaying.

He wanted the 5 year term. I don't think he would have been upset about being a Hab, but he said himself he wasn't 100% comfortable with the idea.

His agent advised him this was the best possible deal he could get, he'd just have to risk moving teams as a result.

It just looks weird because it wasn't the kind of overpay that would have been required for the Hurricanes to even consider taking the picks. I'm sure Aho would have been fine being a Canadiens player, but Bergevin didn't really take the kind of risk required to actually make it happen.
- BINGO!

If one more dollar was offered he would have been in the next tier offer sheet. Hence, overpaying.

Caps
Canes/Pens
Pens/Canes
Flyers
Devils
Rangers
Isles
Jackets
- BINGO!

This is the best prediction I've seen in this thread, IMO.

The absolute HIGHEST I've seen anyone picking the Rangers to finish.

So wrong about the Canes.


GO PENS !!
- Cousinskrid

I think you're right. EK must have been very high indeed when making these picks.

My predictions:
1. Caps- Too easy. Still Cup contender.
Best case- SC
Worst case- Another first round exit.
Trades- Depth players. Only tinkering.
2. Pens- Malkin and Crosby will get them here.
Best- Second Round. Can’t beat the Caps. Too much dead weight on D with Johnson and Gudbranson.
Worst- Another sweep.
Trades- Johnson and or Gudbranson.
3. Philly- Too much talent to continue in the bottom. Grabbing Niskanen and Braun helps their young D. Hart will help.
Best- First round exit.
Worst- Miss the playoffs.
Trades- Playoff vets for a run.
4. Carolina- Still have a deep D with a few top end F.
Best- Wild Card spot.
Worst- Miss playoffs.
Trades- Goals.
5. Isles- Question mark in G. Still have mostly same team with Trotz D style of play.
Best- WC. Young players emerge and push the team.
Worst- Miss playoffs. G is brutal and top ten pick.
Trades- Depends on standings.
6. Rangers- Kakko, Panarin and Trouba help elevate the team but still lack scoring depth to really challenge.
Best- Bubble team.
Worst- 7th
Trades- Kreider for a first round pick.
7. CBJ- Lost 3 star players and did not replace them. Gargantuan Question Marks in G. Two back ups so ....
Best- Bubble team
Worst- 8th place finish
Trades- Nothing. No picks left. No players in contract years.
8. NJ- Nice acquisitions but no real depth. G has not been good. Still a few seasons left on their rebuild.
Best- Offence takes over and maybe a bubble team.
Worst- Last overall. More failed G.
Trades- Hall for basket of riches.
- bruinzfan77

While it's possible the Devils come 8th, I think your reasoning is pretty flawed. If there's one thing the Devils do have this year, it's depth. Our bottom 6 consists of Zajac, Coleman, Simmonds, Zacha, Wood and Boqvist. With exception to Boqvist(a promising prospect), those are all established NHL quality players that could be getting middle 6 minutes, but are being pushed lower because we have that many good forwards in the top 6.

It could be smoke and mirrors, but Schneider has looked great recently. Ever since the last 10 or so games of last season, he's looked like a different player (international play and preseason).

I personally have them in the 4 or 5 range in the division, assuming Hall stays healthy and Schneider can provide at least NHL level goaltending.

Caps
Canes/Pens
Pens/Canes
Flyers
Devils
Rangers
Isles
Jackets
- BINGO!

That’s about right. It’s what I was gonna go with, as well.

Flyers and Devils are also reversible

Ovi under 30 goals?!!?!? Lmao. Dude is gonna go for 50, again. There is zero evidence he is slowing down at all

That’s about right. It’s what I was gonna go with, as well.

Flyers and Devils are also reversible
- Hesh_

Yeah, I just don't think the Devils are quite there yet. Not as high on Hughes as others and I think the vets the flyers added should be enough to prevent any major slides this season.

Yeah, I just don't think the Devils are quite there yet. Not as high on Hughes as others and I think the vets the flyers added should be enough to prevent any major slides this season.
- BINGO!

I'm not as high on the Flyers as you. To tell the truth, I think they finish about where the Rangers finish. I just think the Flyers marginally improved their roster, the others improved by alot.

I think 1-3 will by CAR, PIT, and WASH. Your boys have a great roster and I'm not betting against Pens or Caps until they actually fall. Trotz always maximizes his team in the regular season, I don't think NYI is falling off a cliff. NJ was a playoff team the last time they had hall for the whole season. They have him back and have added PK Subban, Hughes, and Gusev. They will compete for a spot.

For the Flyers (or Rangers) to compete for a playoff spot, they will have to beat at least 2 of those teams in the standings. I'm just not seeing it. Without Patrick, the Flyers up front look very top heavy with a bottom 6 that looks iffy at best.

I'm not as high on the Flyers as you. To tell the truth, I think they finish about where the Rangers finish. I just think the Flyers marginally improved their roster, the others improved by alot.

I think 1-3 will by CAR, PIT, and WASH. Your boys have a great roster and I'm not betting against Pens or Caps until they actually fall. Trotz always maximizes his team in the regular season, I don't think NYI is falling off a cliff. NJ was a playoff team the last time they had hall for the whole season. They have him back and have added PK Subban, Hughes, and Gusev. They will compete for a spot.

For the Flyers (or Rangers) to compete for a playoff spot, they will have to beat at least 2 of those teams in the standings. I'm just not seeing it. Without Patrick, the Flyers up front look very top heavy with a bottom 6 that looks iffy at best.
- 2sticks1puck

The Devils made the playoffs 2 years ago because of Hall’s Hart Trophy season BUT also because of Kincaid. And maybe Schneider too. Not sure they get that G this year but who knows. I love their offensive potential but defensively ...... Hmm! Not so much. Lack of depth beyond their star players will hurt.