Eklund: EXACTLY What Will Happen in Central/Southern Division. Buzz@1 w/Kevin

I'm a Jacket fan - but think you may be over-rating them. It's basically the same offense as last year - which scratched and clawed just to average more than 2 gpg.

However, IF a couple of - Bemstrom; Foudy; Texier; Grigorenko - step up and generate offense; and IF they can stay healthy (Jones; Bjork: Atkinson; Korpi; out for extended periods); and IF DuBois doesn't play like he has one foot out the door; and IF they, for once, get some puck luck, THEN a run at #1 is possible . . . and I would love to see it !!

Eklund: EXACTLY What Will Happen in Central/Southern Division. Buzz@1 w/Kevin
- Eklund

Riley Barber is a substantive free agent signed by the Red Wings with a chance to make the roster? Have sources told you this or is this your own opinion. Barber is 26, has played 12 career games, and was clearly signed for AHL purposes. When they split the camp into 2 teams, he found himself on the 4th line of team B. Instead of Riley Barber, you could have mentioned Mathias Brome. There were a few teams trying to sign him as a free agent out of Europe. He opted for Detroit. He's moving up the depth chart in camp and getting a decent look.

But I'll keep my eye on Riley Barber now

Riley Barber is a substantive free agent signed by the Red Wings with a chance to make the roster? Have sources told you this or is this your own opinion. Barber is 26, has played 12 career games, and was clearly signed for AHL purposes. When they split the camp into 2 teams, he found himself on the 4th line of team B. Instead of Riley Barber, you could have mentioned Mathias Brome. There were a few teams trying to sign him as a free agent out of Europe. He opted for Detroit. He's moving up the depth chart in camp and getting a decent look.

But I'll keep my eye on Riley Barber now

Yeah, I had to search this....but he would have to make another big step, even if this is the worst team in the league.

Other than Wings in 8 and Hawks in 7,
this is a disaster of a post.

There is no question for me that Columbus will be battling Chicago and Detroit for the bottom of the division, there will not be a surprise there.

I think this may be the year that Carolina finally gets to the top of the division battling Tampa and Dallas.

The National Hockey League announced today that six Dallas Stars players and two staff members have recently confirmed positive tests for the COVID-19 virus. Those individuals are self-isolating and following CDC and League protocols. As a result of the positive tests, and as an appropriate precaution, the team’s training facilities have been closed, effective immediately, and will remain closed for several days while further daily testing and contact tracing is conducted. The League is in the process of reviewing and revising the Stars’ regular season schedule with the expectation that the team will not open its 2020-21 season earlier than Tuesday, January 19.

Dallas:

but I also think this Division is way better than the Stars normally see in the Pacific… The Playoffs? Probably not..

What???? Pacific???? C'mon gender neutral!

There is no question for me that Columbus will be battling Chicago and Detroit for the bottom of the division, there will not be a surprise there.

I think this may be the year that Carolina finally gets to the top of the division battling Tampa and Dallas.
- Glak18

I mean I don't think they're gonna be #1 but cmon man

I mean I don't think they're gonna be #1 but cmon man
- General Mokus

Let's face it they have a lot of holes through out their lineup. If it is true that PLD wants out that will have an impact on the team no matter what people want to hope. Torts...this is the year the straw is broken and he is fired.

Ek wants to believe they have one of the strongest defenses, sure they do have Jones and Werenski, but the rest really are just fillers and inexperienced. Savard will most likely be dealt sometime during the season and I am just not sold on Elvis and Korpi.

I like how the Florida write up just lists all of the new players. No mention of guys like Dadonov, or power forward Mike Hoffman who have left.

Same with Carolina. They added Fast, but look who they lost on defense - JVR, Vatanen, Edmundson. Some useful depth lost there. Better hope Fleury and Bean are ready.

Why is Mikhail Grigorenko noted as a big addition for Columbus? I like taking a flier on him. He has potential. But he also has potential to flop under Torts. This isn't a first place team.

For the 1st time in a LONG time, I don’t give a (frank) about the central division. That’s sad. Blues should be in the division. Keep the Chicago rivalry going. A chance to play regularly against the wings for the first time in almost 2 decades. Not the same wings but dammit. How do you put the Blues in the West? Put Dallas in the West and Blues in the Central.

Most of the Blues road games will start at 9:30
meanwhile over in the east they have very little travel time at all.

Kind of feel bad for Ottawa Montreal and Vancouver. Those trips will be very long.

I feel less informed after reading this blog.

Towed is sick, not hurt. Dach and Nylander are recovering from surgery.

I feel less informed after reading this blog.


I learned a lot...

Riley Barber is a substantive free agent signing and might make the Red Wings.

Toews isn't sick, just injured.

Dallas has had an easy life playing in the Pacific. But now they are facing stiff competition, and without Corey Perry. So they should miss the playoffs.

Columbus added Mikhail Grigorenko who should help them to first place over Tampa, Carolina, and Dallas.

My season predictions are that:

- Dustin Penner will eat some pancakes
- Phil Kessel will eat a bunch of hot dogs, and
- When in Vegas, Evander Kane will do some push ups.

My season predictions are that:

- Dustin Penner will eat some pancakes
- Phil Kessel will eat a bunch of hot dogs, and
- When in Vegas, Evander Kane will do some push ups.
- flipneil

With stacks of money upon his back*

I feel less informed after reading this blog.


I learned a lot...

Riley Barber is a substantive free agent signing and might make the Red Wings.

Toews isn't sick, just injured.

Dallas has had an easy life playing in the Pacific. But now they are facing stiff competition, and without Corey Perry. So they should miss the playoffs.

Columbus added Mikhail Grigorenko who should help them to first place over Tampa, Carolina, and Dallas.
- Kooleus

All available in your newsfeed, blogs, and Twitter prior to Ek repeating them.

Let's face it they have a lot of holes through out their lineup. If it is true that PLD wants out that will have an impact on the team no matter what people want to hope. Torts...this is the year the straw is broken and he is fired.

Ek wants to believe they have one of the strongest defenses, sure they do have Jones and Werenski, but the rest really are just fillers and inexperienced. Savard will most likely be dealt sometime during the season and I am just not sold on Elvis and Korpi.
- Glak18

1) Really more incomplete than Florida, and a rotting from within Nashville?
2) Everyone believes that, in large part because it happens to be true. Savard may be gone after the year ends but not through the season, and Gavrikov is already a legit Top 4 D-man in his first year.
3) One of the goaltenders is going to ball out, if not both.

Ek are you still tracking Barzal? Do you still think he'll be traded to LA?

https://www.tsn.ca/goalte...fter-10-seasons-1.1574941

Crawford RETIRES!!!!!

https://www.tsn.ca/new-yo...3-year-21m-deal-1.1574921

Barzal signs! 3x7M

https://www.tsn.ca/new-york-islanders-re-sign-forward-mathew-barzal-to-3-year-21m-deal-1.1574921

Barzal signs! 3x7M
- HenryHockey

Structure guarantees him a huge payday in 3 years.

Ek with another one way off the mark.