Jeremy Laura: Atlantic Division could make 21-22 feel like another rough season

If Detroit sweeps Montreal in season as they did the last time, I will be happy!

If Detroit sweeps Montreal in season as they did the last time, I will be happy!
- HenryHockey

A couple wins against Boston would be nice! They broke through on TB last year, see if they can grab one from the champs too

I expect Tampa and Florida to battle for the top spot. Toronto a bit behind them.

Montreal i see them as a bubble team or they could even collapse.

Boston while still somewhat decent, i think they will feel the loss of Krejci the most. My prediction is that Swayman will take over as the starting goalie either from the start or when Ullmark gets injured but i think they are fine in net. Defense and lack of a good offensive center for their 2nd line i think will be their problems.

Ottawa might do a bit better than last year unless their coach goes stupid again playing big slow no talent defensemen over their better skilled ones. I don't think they make the playoffs but should be closer to pushing for it.

Buffalo well that's easy they will be a dumpster fire like they always seem to be.

Wings well i don't see them being that much better than last season. I'm not sold on Suter as a good option for the 2nd line. I still think they will have trouble scoring because of it...that and because Blashill will continue to have them playing the trap trying to keep the score low. Even with the addition of Leddy on the back end i still think they lack offense from back there. I think they should be fine in net.

I expect Tampa and Florida to battle for the top spot. Toronto a bit behind them.

Montreal i see them as a bubble team or they could even collapse.

Boston while still somewhat decent, i think they will feel the loss of Krejci the most. My prediction is that Swayman will take over as the starting goalie either from the start or when Ullmark gets injured but i think they are fine in net. Defense and lack of a good offensive center for their 2nd line i think will be their problems.

Ottawa might do a bit better than last year unless their coach goes stupid again playing big slow no talent defensemen over their better skilled ones. I don't think they make the playoffs but should be closer to pushing for it.

Buffalo well that's easy they will be a dumpster fire like they always seem to be.

Wings well i don't see them being that much better than last season. I'm not sold on Suter as a good option for the 2nd line. I still think they will have trouble scoring because of it...that and because Blashill will continue to have them playing the trap trying to keep the score low. Even with the addition of Leddy on the back end i still think they lack offense from back there. I think they should be fine in net.
- dcz28

It could be tough. I think suter will do well with either Vrana or Bert on his wing. Still a long climb to get out of the division basement.

It could be tough. I think suter will do well with either Vrana or Bert on his wing. Still a long climb to get out of the division basement.
- Jeremy Laura

I still get the feeling there will be another trade before the start of the season. If it is a trade for an immediate upgrade I believe the Wings could be a bubble team. It may be a trade of one of our skilled forwards for futures though (a pick and a prospect) . Next year's draft will be deeper than this past one, so Stevie may trade for that day, rather than for today.

I still get the feeling there will be another trade before the start of the season. If it is a trade for an immediate upgrade I believe the Wings could be a bubble team. It may be a trade of one of our skilled forwards for futures though (a pick and a prospect) . Next year's draft will be deeper than this past one, so Stevie may trade for that day, rather than for today.
- HenryHockey

You never know. I don’t think so on bubble. The Metropolitan is so loaded. NYR keeps upgrading. New Jersey too. That division could end up having both wildcard spots. There just aren’t enough bottom dwellers in the East to be on the bubble yet.

Depends how many goals grinder Vrana scores.

Depends how many goals grinder Vrana scores.
- Blackstrom2

I already owned the mistake and put him down as possible 30. His line should produce around 70 if all healthy.

Yall sleep on the wings too much. Talk up all the upgrades all these other teams are making and keeping the good teams in high regards, but act like this still the same wings team plagued by holland contracts.

Hypothetical Upgrade in goal. Defence looking better. More talent up front with injured players returning. Has beens and never weres no longer taking ice time.

There are some good teams in the division, but the wings arent exactly the same team they have been. Wings make playoffs and even win a round or two

Yall sleep on the wings too much. Talk up all the upgrades all these other teams are making and keeping the good teams in high regards, but act like this still the same wings team plagued by holland contracts.

Hypothetical Upgrade in goal. Defence looking better. More talent up front with injured players returning. Has beens and never weres no longer taking ice time.

There are some good teams in the division, but the wings arent exactly the same team they have been. Wings make playoffs and even win a round or two
- VonDouche

Ya know, I think you may be on to something; The Wings are on a slow but steady path of improvement. Folks are duly underestimating the potential. That being said, I have no delusions of grandeur, they’ll not be in the SCPO unless by some epic failings of teams like Boston, et. al. But, conversely, underestimating a team can be disastrous.

A lot depends on how Suter performs, how the chemistry of the Top 2 lines evolves, how the new-look D performs, etc….I’d offer that a lot must go right. Is it impossible? No. Is it likely? I don’t see it….. But never say never!!

Yall sleep on the wings too much. Talk up all the upgrades all these other teams are making and keeping the good teams in high regards, but act like this still the same wings team plagued by holland contracts.

Hypothetical Upgrade in goal. Defence looking better. More talent up front with injured players returning. Has beens and never weres no longer taking ice time.

There are some good teams in the division, but the wings arent exactly the same team they have been. Wings make playoffs and even win a round or two
- VonDouche

I’d love it if they did. But, grabbing a spot from the teams in front of them just doesn’t seem likely. If they do, that will be fantastic.

Ya know, I think you may be on to something; The Wings are on a slow but steady path of improvement. Folks are duly underestimating the potential. That being said, I have no delusions of grandeur, they’ll not be in the SCPO unless by some epic failings of teams like Boston, et. al. But, conversely, underestimating a team can be disastrous.

A lot depends on how Suter performs, how the chemistry of the Top 2 lines evolves, how the new-look D performs, etc….I’d offer that a lot must go right. Is it impossible? No. Is it likely? I don’t see it….. But never say never!!
- mcmastermike1968

So much of it is just, in this division, what teams are going to underperform enough for Detroit to pass them. Toronto? Tampa Bay? Montreal? Boston? Florida? Look at the goals those teams score and keep out of the net. You have to have a better season than two of those teams and both Buffalo (very doable) and Ottawa. Again, you’re trying to move up from a bottom 6 team to a top 16. That is a massive leap. For the wild card you’re looking at teams like New York and New Jersey who are loaded compared to what Detroit has currently on the roster. From the metro, along with those two, you have Pittsburgh, Washington, Carolina and the Islanders. Can you get into the top 8 in front of those teams with what we currently have in Detroit? I’ve said before there are two lines of improvement. Internal progression and external regression. Getting into the top 8 in the East would mean that four teams out of Toronto, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Boston, Florida, Pittsburgh, Washington, NYR, NYI, Philly and Carolina performed worse than Detroit.

So much of it is just, in this division, what teams are going to underperform enough for Detroit to pass them. Toronto? Tampa Bay? Montreal? Boston? Florida? Look at the goals those teams score and keep out of the net. You have to have a better season than two of those teams and both Buffalo (very doable) and Ottawa. Again, you’re trying to move up from a bottom 6 team to a top 16. That is a massive leap. For the wild card you’re looking at teams like New York and New Jersey who are loaded compared to what Detroit has currently on the roster. From the metro, along with those two, you have Pittsburgh, Washington, Carolina and the Islanders. Can you get into the top 8 in front of those teams with what we currently have in Detroit? I’ve said before there are two lines of improvement. Internal progression and external regression. Getting into the top 8 in the East would mean that four teams out of Toronto, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Boston, Florida, Pittsburgh, Washington, NYR, NYI, Philly and Carolina performed worse than Detroit.
- Jeremy Laura

Listen, I wholly agree with what you’re saying. I think we’re least least 3 years away from raising eyebrows. My issue is, more than anything, is how quickly people are to blow the Wings off. That can be dangerous, underestimating one’s opponent can be costly. I’ve yet to see anyone truly acknowledge that things that you’ve so eloquently pointed out about how much Detroit’s improved. And, in my mind, that can create a bit of an issue with teams taking Detroit much less seriously.