Eklund: EXACTLY What will Happen in the Central Division. Disagree? Buzz@1

Well, if anything is true, the Central is a crap shoot. I think the Jets end higher and the hawks lower. The jets will make a trade for defense and I get the feeling that Buff is coming back. We're stacked on the front end so may win games by simply outscoring the other team on some nights.

The Hawks are not winning the central. It will be the Blues or Stars

Why are all of the teams that you think will do the best trading for picks? Usually those teams would be trading their picks for upgrades at the deadline.

“This is still a team with top flight talent and maybe more second flight talent than they have ever had.”

Yeah... well... I’m going to disagree.

You look at the rosters of the Cup-winning ‘10, ‘13, and ‘15 seasons - and that is what quality secondary scoring and roster depth looks like.

This ‘19 roster has some potential here and there - but not nearly on par with those championship teams - especially on defense.

Agree with the above. To say this might be the best secondary scoring the Hawks have had is odd. I felt like in 2010 and 2013 their secondary scoring was insane.

EK picks Hawks to take the central!!!!!!!

Damn.

We are doomed.

I'm a 'Hawks fan, but you're either on meth or it's clickbait as usual. There's no way they're winning the division.

As many have pointed out, the secondary on the '10 team was great. That team was loaded and could play any style the other team wanted, and beat them doing it. '13 was almost as good, and both are still better than this team.

Oh boy

Agree with the above. To say this might be the best secondary scoring the Hawks have had is odd. I felt like in 2010 and 2013 their secondary scoring was insane.
- SolidGoldBricks

In 2010 i would agree but in 13 and 15 It was Kane Toews Sharp and Hossa nothing else Bolland?Bickell? Carcillo?Krueger? Smith? Really?

1. Nashville- Still best combo of D and G in the League. Add Duchene and more offense.

Best case- SC
Worst- First round exit.
Trades- More goals.

2. Colorado- Top flight players with a solid playoff to build on plus Kadri and a full season with Makar.
Best- Conference Finals.
Worst- First round exit.
Trades- Playoff vets.
3. Dallas- Same team plus Pavelski and Perry. Heiskanen is a year better.
Best- SCF.
Worst- First round exit.
Trades- Playoff vets.
4. St Louis- Same team with Binnington all year. Short offseason and SC Hangover limit their point totals in a tough division.
Best- Repeat.
Worst- First round exit.
Trades- Goals.
5. Chicago- Upgrades at every position will push them ahead of #6. Still have aging D. Retool in the works but not complete.
Best- Not losing in first round.
Worst- Slipping below #5.
Trades- Picks and prospects if not in the playoffs. Or depth players otherwise.
6. Winnipeg- Missing right side of D. GA likely to increase. Lower possession time means less offense and again more GA. In tough in the Central.
Best- Buff comes back and they acquire another RD and they become a force. Again.
Worst- That does not happen and they get a top ten pick.
Trades- Picks and prospects. Retool on the fly and come back with a vengeance next year.
7. Minnesota- Top 3 oldest team in the NHL. Means serious bad news in toughest division. Won’t score enough to keep pace with younger better teams above them. Wild are fit to finally rebuild with younger players. Getting top end draft picks this year and next would help.
Best- 5-6 vets have revitalized seasons. Dumba takes a huge step forward. Dubnyk wins a Vezina and they squeak into a WC.
Worst- Injuries to aging players derails everything and get a top 5 pick in June. Not bad though.
Trades- Koivu. Maybe Staal too. Ignite a rebuild/ retool.

Top 4 spots could jostle around given the grind of 82 games. Injuries, hot and cold surges etc. “First round exit” is featured because it’s an absolute shame that 2 of those teams face each other in round one. And a third team has to play the Pacific Division winner.

I see absolutely no way the Wild finish higher than #7.

Eklund: EXACTLY What will Happen in the Central Division. Disagree? Buzz@1
- Eklund

There is a reason why the Hawks signed Lehner for one year, if this doesn't work they will blow it up.

Happy Habs GameDay to you and yours!

Chicago were on par with ottawa with goals against last year.

They also had the most dangerous scoring chances against in the NHL by a damn landslide amount.

don't see it.

Happy Habs GameDay to you and yours!




- Komisaurus Rex

Are they skating on their tippy-toes?

I dont see them winning the division, but with the additions made I dont think its fair to just look at last years scoring chances against as a measure of where the team will be. 1- Neglects pieces they added. 2- What about the other end of the ice?

Happy Habs GameDay to you and yours!




- Komisaurus Rex

Laine and Connor playing with a dump and chase center in Copp will not be happy having to chase after the puck and not make plays on the fly. Their defense will not scare anyone. If the Jets get bombed on their 4 game road trip out east it will be a long season, unless they fire Maurice.

All these teams competing for playoff position and home advantage... trade for “picks”. Wow. Just, great journalism here.

- Alexzanki

The Wild would be battling for a top 3 spot in any other division

I don't think the Wild would be battling for top-3 in the Atlantic ...

That Billington is one heck of a goalie.

That Billington is one heck of a goalie.
- bcallaway

He figures to be even better this year with Justice Folk being added to the blueline

Some decent logic based on how much of a toss-up this division is. Until you get to the Hawks. The Hawks will be 5th - 7th. They have question every where but maybe the top 6 and because of the ago of their defense they are just as likely to see a decline from them as they are to see a jump by the younger members.