Julie Robenhymer: Season Previews: The Atlantic Division

Nice preview Julie, it is nice to see someone actually look at the Islanders rather then write them off right away because they are the Islanders. Alot of questions on the blueline but I think they can compete for a playoff spot. The Pens and Rangers are clearly the big dogs of the division IMO.

This short schedule with extra divisional games will add some fuel to the fire of Atlantic division rivalries.

GAWD I HATE THE PENS AND THE RANGERS!

Devils are good and the Islanders are funny.

Just another person counting out the Devils its never the player with them its the system and the team they will do just fine with out Parise I kinda wish they had of kept Poni though just for a little extra size can never have to much

Meh. The Pens ranked middle of the pack defensively during the regular season. If Bylsma and co. can get their heads out of their asses, then I don't think it's that big of a concern. Fleury on the other hand...

Just another person counting out the Devils its never the player with them its the system and the team they will do just fine with out Parise I kinda wish they had of kept Poni though just for a little extra size can never have to much
- blizzzard

I think we'll be ok. We'll miss Parise but our team play will make up for it. I think this is the year Josefson breaks out and Henrique builds off of his rookie year success. Kovy will take over, Elias will remain good, Zubrus will be a beast as usual, and we'll have a healthy Zajac to start the season. Clarkson should also put in 25 goals while bringing that physical edge and drive. Then the 4th line of Gionta-Carter-Bernier, was a huge reason for our playoff success.. so we'll see if their chemistry continues or if they're broken up (in favor of BARCH?? ) The only question marks are if Butler, Tedenby, Sykora make the team and how they perform in a 48 game sprint, where they fit.. if any of them can really contribute in the NHL this year.

Kovalchuk-Henrique-Zubrus
Elias-Zajac-Butler/Sykora
Tedenby-Josefson-Clarkson
Gionta-Carter-Bernier

its still a strong team, even without Parise. They played great against Florida, DOMINATED the Flyers (with Kovy's broken back mid-series), disposed of the Rangers in 6 (again with the biggest weapon having a busted back).. and nearly came back against the Kings.. first team to make it 3-2 in a Cup Final since 1940 or something.

The D is the same as last year, with a more mature Larsson.. can't go wrong there.
To me the biggest questions are Brodeur and Hedberg- both 40/39.. old. Can they keep it up? can they make it happen? hope so.

Meh. The Pens ranked middle of the pack defensively during the regular season. If Bylsma and co. can get their heads out of their asses, then I don't think it's that big of a concern. Fleury on the other hand...
- TheRollingPuck

good thing you signed Vokoun
Pitt will get it together and be contenders again. I expect a move for a D man if one of those kids don't step up.

good thing you signed Vokoun
Pitt will get it together and be contenders again. I expect a move for a D man if one of those kids don't step up.
- MartysBetter88

That's one area the short season and lack of a true camp and preseason hurts...very little chance to audition any of those young D...

a Season Preview, how nice is that!

Up until reading this blog, I had completely forgotten about Jagr no longer being a Flyer.

Hope Bryzgalov has a terrible year

Julie Robenhymer: Season Previews: The Atlantic Division
- jules

I assume it was an oversight but a review of the Rags w/o
Mention of Ryan Mac is ungodly. Possibly their 2nd most
Important player.

It's quite a strong division:
-Rangers were 1st place and got better
-Pittsburgh is a perennial Cup contender
-NJ won the East, and as 1 poster already pointed out, they're still pretty good without Parise (1 player does not make a team)
-this Philly team oozes talent
-Islanders

This is going to be a very strange year. There are no intraconference games. Head to head divional matchups will be huge. Statistically, it is almost impossible for 4 teams in the same dision to make the playoffs.

Key factors, the Penguins will dominate the conference; the Flyers will struggle because of a weak defense, inconsistent goaltending and a toothless power play; the Rangers will experience the routine Tortarella next year slump as a direct result of having been over coached, look for some significant player push back coming very early in the season and the Devils will pay a huge price for losing Parise, especially the leadership he provided on and off the ice.

The Islanders have improved and the Atlantic Division teams will pay a price of having another good team that can win some divisional points. In a short season the Penguins will take near maximum points in head to head games with division rivals. The Islanders will be pushing up from the bottom.

Look for the Devils to miss the playoffs. Watch and see the Flyers, Islanders and Rangers fight for the final playoff spot. Flyers miss.

My prediction:

Penguins (runaway 1st overall)
Rangers (6th)
Islanders (7th)
Flyers (9th) (Buffalo grabs last spot)
New Jersey (14th) (nightmare season for Kovalchuck trying too hard).

Hope Bryzgalov has a terrible year
- laughs2907

His year will probably be better than the AHL goalie and AHL defense your team boasts.

Flyers will struggle because of a weak defense, inconsistent goaltending and a toothless power play
- spatso

The Flyers have definite questions on defense and in goal. Unless they can sure both of them up, they're looking at a 6-10 finish. But a toothless PP? They were 6th overall in the NHL last year. Hartnell was 2nd in the NHL in PPG. Simmonds had 11 even though he didn't see PP time until the 2nd half. And they dismantled a fully healthy "runaway to 1st overall" last playoffs on the PP. Like I said, they have questions on the team, but the PP isn't one of them.

Rangers - 1st (1st in EC)
Penguins - 2nd (4th in EC)
Flyers - 3rd (9th in EC)
Islanders - 4th (10th in EC)
Devils - 5th (13th in EC)

Also, I see Boston and Florida winning their divisions again, with Buffalo, Ottawa, and Carolina all moving up.

the Flyers will struggle because of a weak defense, inconsistent goaltending and a toothless power play; the Rangers will experience the routine Tortarella next year slump as a direct result of having been over coached, look for some significant player push back coming very early in the season
- spatso

what the math are you talking about?

His year will probably be better than the AHL goalie and AHL defense your team boasts.



The Flyers have definite questions on defense and in goal. Unless they can sure both of them up, they're looking at a 6-10 finish. But a toothless PP? They were 6th overall in the NHL last year. Hartnell was 2nd in the NHL in PPG. Simmonds had 11 even though he didn't see PP time until the 2nd half. And they dismantled a fully healthy "runaway to 1st overall" last playoffs on the PP. Like I said, they have questions on the team, but the PP isn't one of them.

Rangers - 1st (1st in EC)
Penguins - 2nd (4th in EC)
Flyers - 3rd (9th in EC)
Islanders - 4th (10th in EC)
Devils - 5th (13th in EC)

Also, I see Boston and Florida winning their divisions again, with Buffalo, Ottawa, and Carolina all moving up.
- jmatchett

Don't get so defensive... I thought all Flyer's fans hated him?

Regardless, I'm more than happy with Dubnyk. I'd take him over the terrible Bobrovsky, or the insanely overpaid nutjob they call Bryzgalov.

Regardless, I'm more than happy with Dubnyk.
- laughs2907

Of course, he's a great goalie to tank with

Of course, he's a great goalie to tank with
- Coburns_Nose

Last season he recorded a 2.67 GAA and a .916 SV% earning a record of 20-20-3... This on a team that many people consider to be one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL. Dubnyk was not our problem... Rehabibulin? He was a problem.