HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Thinking Metropolitan

I want to think Carolina will be better. I really do.


That said, it's hard to tell how much of last season was disaterous coaching decisions and personnell handling (Hint: Lots of players have asked to come back into the fold now that Muller is gone) and how much was just an utter lack of talent.

If the Isles add a legit top 4 defenseman then I think you can put them 2/3 depending on the Rangers. If they don't...they could finish as a wild card for the playoffs, or they could finish in the bottom 8 in the league. It'll depend on healthy, goaltending and if their young defensemen step up in a big way.

Like the CBJ at 2 call. They've been nothing but surprising lately and that Fin in the FO keeps making the right moves. They deserve a good season.

If the Isles add a legit top 4 defenseman then I think you can put them 2/3 depending on the Rangers. If they don't...they could finish as a wild card for the playoffs, or they could finish in the bottom 8 in the league. It'll depend on healthy, goaltending and if their young defensemen step up in a big way.
- Isles_since_6

This. I like the Islanders forward make-up a lot, but their D frankly terrifies me. Such a mixed bag that you have no idea what you're going to get out of that group.

If the Isles add a legit top 4 defenseman then I think you can put them 2/3 depending on the Rangers. If they don't...they could finish as a wild card for the playoffs, or they could finish in the bottom 8 in the league. It'll depend on healthy, goaltending and if their young defensemen step up in a big way.
- Isles_since_6

The Isles were 16th in the NHL in Shots Against/Game last season. That's average, and that's with Viznovsky missing over 50 games and de Haan only playing half the season. The defense is really not bad as it is.

This. I like the Islanders forward make-up a lot, but their D frankly terrifies me. Such a mixed bag that you have no idea what you're going to get out of that group.
- BINGO!

Not so sure what's "terrifying" about it; they were middle of the pack last season.

Not so sure what's "terrifying" about it; they were middle of the pack last season.
- isles10289

Both their Corsi and Fenwick differential per 60 minute were bottom 10 in the league last season.

Rangers > Penguins > Capitals > Islanders > Flyers > Blue Jackets > Devils > Hurricanes

Both their Corsi and Fenwick differential per 60 minute were bottom 10 in the league last season.
- BINGO!

SA/G= 16th, SA/60= 19th, CF%= 20th. FF%= 22nd.

Not exceptional, but hardly "terrifying." And this is again with Viznovsky missing over 50 games and de Haan only playing half the games (not to mention Andrew MacDonald, one of the worst possession players in the NHL, on the top pairing for over half the season).

By far their most serious issue was the team save percentage of .894. That will be rectified with Halak/Johnson. Add in a potentially-healthy Viznovsky, a full season of de Haan, and addition-by-subtraction of MacDonald- not to mention the possible breakout of Griffin Reinhart- and I'd argue that the Isles don't have much of an issue on D as currently constructed.

Rangers > Penguins > Capitals > Islanders > Flyers > Blue Jackets > Devils > Hurricanes
- rangerdanger94

Caps? I don't think so. And the Blue Jackets are far too low. On paper, it's more like Penguins, Rangers/Islanders/Blue Jackets, Devils, Capitals, Flyers, Hurricanes.

The Rangers are in a bit more trouble than most people suspect; they lost a bunch of important players and failed to adequately replace them, and Lundqvist's EV save % has decreased each of the last three seasons (and at 32, is he really going to reverse that trend? Unlikely).

SA/G= 16th, SA/60= 19th, CF%= 20th. FF%= 22nd.

Not exceptional, but hardly "terrifying." And this is again with Viznovsky missing over 50 games and de Haan only playing half the games (not to mention Andrew MacDonald, one of the worst possession players in the NHL, on the top pairing for over half the season).

By far their most serious issue was the team save percentage of .894. That will be rectified with Halak/Johnson. Add in a potentially-healthy Viznovsky, a full season of de Haan, and addition-by-subtraction of MacDonald- not to mention the possible breakout of Griffin Reinhart- and I'd argue that the Isles don't have much of an issue on D as currently constructed.
- isles10289

That's a fair point. I had forgotten MacDonald was gone.

That's a fair point. I had forgotten MacDonald was gone.
- BINGO!

And to both our teams' benefit, he's taking up $5M a year of cap space for the next 6 (!!) years on the Flyers, lol.

Rangers > Penguins > Capitals > Islanders > Flyers > Blue Jackets > Devils > Hurricanes
- rangerdanger94

Wow my mind has just been blown. The sheer fact that a below average brodeur won't be starting have the games alone should propel us into the play offs let alone the fact that they can't possibly have a worse year in the shoot out further development of henrique and the additions of cammy and havlat more so the first then the second there should make nj a much improved team if anything they might have done the most in the entire division to get better. Not saying they will win the division but they will finish higher then the isles caps and canes for certain and after that it gets tighter but I still like what we did over what anyone else in the division did and that's not even counting the buy out of one of the slowest d in the league opening up more roster room for better players. Contracts should no longer stop the larssons gelinas and merrils from getting ice time.

And to both our teams' benefit, he's taking up $5M a year of cap space for the next 6 (!!) years on the Flyers, lol.
- isles10289

Yep!

Who doesn't love it when the Flyers suffer due to their own misconceptions on what makes a player "good?"

Wow my mind has just been blown. The sheer fact that a below average brodeur won't be starting have the games alone should propel us into the play offs let alone the fact that they can't possibly have a worse year in the shoot out further development of henrique and the additions of cammy and havlat more so the first then the second there should make nj a much improved team if anything they might have done the most in the entire division to get better. Not saying they will win the division but they will finish higher then the isles caps and canes for certain and after that it gets tighter but I still like what we did over what anyone else in the division did and that's not even counting the buy out of one of the slowest d in the league opening up more roster room for better players. Contracts should no longer stop the larssons gelinas and merrils from getting ice time.
- blizzzard

Martin Brodeur has only had an above league average sv% 4 times in his career.

Martin Brodeur has only had an above league average sv% 4 times in his career.
- BINGO!

His time is up. Couldn't be happier for all the guys has done but if Schneider played 60 games last season there is no reason to suggest nj wouldn't have made the play offs. The fact that Schneider played only a handful more games then a guy he is band has been significantly better then was a major reason we missed and let's not forget had they won even a couple shoot outs they might of made it

Wow my mind has just been blown. The sheer fact that a below average brodeur won't be starting have the games alone should propel us into the play offs let alone the fact that they can't possibly have a worse year in the shoot out further development of henrique and the additions of cammy and havlat more so the first then the second there should make nj a much improved team if anything they might have done the most in the entire division to get better. Not saying they will win the division but they will finish higher then the isles caps and canes for certain and after that it gets tighter but I still like what we did over what anyone else in the division did and that's not even counting the buy out of one of the slowest d in the league opening up more roster room for better players. Contracts should no longer stop the larssons gelinas and merrils from getting ice time.
- blizzzard

Brodeur had more wins in less starts than Schneider

Development of Henrique? If anything, Henrique has only regressed and developed laterally since his rookie season. Cammy and Havlat are washed up and only older just like your 42 year old leading scorer Jagr. Having 3 young defensemen in the lineup is good for your future but will leave it porous and suspect to inexperienced mistakes all year long.

Goals will still be very hard to come by for you guys.

Caps? I don't think so. And the Blue Jackets are far too low. On paper, it's more like Penguins, Rangers/Islanders/Blue Jackets, Devils, Capitals, Flyers, Hurricanes.

The Rangers are in a bit more trouble than most people suspect; they lost a bunch of important players and failed to adequately replace them, and Lundqvist's EV save % has decreased each of the last three seasons (and at 32, is he really going to reverse that trend? Unlikely).
- isles10289

It's a prediction. Every single year, there's like 3 or 4 teams in the league that make the playoffs that no one expects and 3 or 4 teams that everyone expects that gets shat on. Caps under Trotz can do pretty well yo. Blue Jackets....I'm not convinced they're as good as advertised. Their offense will be hard to come by still.

Both their Corsi and Fenwick differential per 60 minute were bottom 10 in the league last season.
- BINGO!

one thing I will say is that andrew macdonald was a disaster, and that our defense improved once he was moved.

His time is up. Couldn't be happier for all the guys has done but if Schneider played 60 games last season there is no reason to suggest nj wouldn't have made the play offs. The fact that Schneider played only a handful more games then a guy he is band has been significantly better then was a major reason we missed and let's not forget had they won even a couple shoot outs they might of made it
- blizzzard

I don't see any significant increase in goal scoring for New Jersey from last year. It could get worse with elias and jagr another year older. They're a wildcard for me. I don't think they'll be dead last, and they could finish as high as 3rd, but they're definitely not a sure thing to make the playoffs.

Brodeur had more wins in less starts than Schneider
- rangerdanger94

That's very good but I don't think you will ever see that happen twice. Sheer fluke to be honest Cory outplayed him by a country mile and received the worst goal support in the league yes worse then the goal support Marty recieved . I don't think you will find a competent person on here who will agree that brodeur deserved the starts he got or that he was better. He was fortunate to get goal support that doesn't mean he played better. Anytime Cory got things going the distraction popped up when is Marty playing what bare martys plans etc sect it was a giant distraction and Pete didn't want to be the guy to make brodeur a back up. With no brodeur there will be no distractions or reason to try and squeak in the aging legend.

I don't see any significant increase in goal scoring for New Jersey from last year. It could get worse with elias and jagr another year older. They're a wildcard for me. I don't think they'll be dead last, and they could finish as high as 3rd, but they're definitely not a sure thing to make the playoffs.
- Isles_since_6

This. I love when peoples predictions get shat on for being a little risky and not being boring AF. I'd love to see everybody's predictions from last season and see how DEAD WRONG 99% of them are?

That's very good but I don't think you will ever see that happen twice. Sheer fluke to be honest Cory outplayed him by a country mile and received the worst goal support in the league yes worse then the goal support Marty recieved . I don't think you will find a competent person on here who will agree that brodeur deserved the starts he got or that he was better. He was fortunate to get goal support that doesn't mean he played better. Anytime Cory got things going the distraction popped up when is Marty playing what bare martys plans etc sect it was a giant distraction and Pete didn't want to be the guy to make brodeur a back up. With no brodeur there will be no distractions or reason to try and squeak in the aging legend.
- blizzzard

Schneider obviously outplayed Brodeur by a country mile as you said but I don't think goaltending was the reason you missed the playoffs. Like you said, Cory got no goal support and I don't know if you'll get enough from Havlat and Cammy to close the gap to the postseason. You got older and slower and every other team in the division got deeper, quicker, and already has a lot more youth developing into their prime right now than you guys do.

Brodeur had more wins in less starts than Schneider

Development of Henrique? If anything, Henrique has only regressed and developed laterally since his rookie season. Cammy and Havlat are washed up and only older just like your 42 year old leading scorer Jagr. Having 3 young defensemen in the lineup is good for your future but will leave it porous and suspect to inexperienced mistakes all year long.

Goals will still be very hard to come by for you guys.
- rangerdanger94

have to agree with this, not saying the Devils can't make the playoffs but they're by no means a lock to be any better.