Eklund: EXACTLY What will Happen in the Pacific Division. You Won't Agree...

Really surprising that you wrote this even after Edmonton got the news that their #2 defenseman is out for months.

Edmonton will finish below the Ducks. Smith is 37; he wasn’t that good last year and he will only be worse this year. Tippett is not an improvement on either Hitch or McClellan. Holland is an improvement over prior GMs but that bar is so amazingly low.

I like you. Go oilers!

Don’t take this the wrong way, but this is Tanner level dumb ..

It’s really not too crazy outside of the Oil.

We would if you ever got one right

Can't argue...well thought out and explained...Smith looked great but I feel koskinnen will emerge as the real starter eventually...other than that great job with the predictions...

HAHAHAHA
I was totally thinking the same! -high five-
Damn that guy is out to lunch.

I think the Coyotes, Canucks, Oilers, and Flames are all close and will all be battling for the wild card positions.

I cannot believe that a team that missed the playoffs last year by 11pts will win their division this season.

Then again Oil90 predicts that Neal will score 20 goals.

You failed to mention the amazing goaltending of the Ducks. Then you say their forwards are fine, but their defense needs work, which is completely backwards. You should watch a Ducks game this season. It'll be your first in a while I see.

BTW, as much as it hurts me to say this: The Kings will not be finishing last.

I have a feeling Ek lives on the East Coast, and hasn't watched many West Coast games lately. That list is hardly gutsy, outside of the Oilers pick.

1. Vegas- Full year of Stone and Patches. Stone elevates the whole team.
2. Calgary- Deep at all positions. Might regret the Talbot signing .. or not. Time will tell.
3. SJ- Healthy EK might make up for loss of Pavelski. Team still contends.
4. Edmonton- Tippett will right the ship. Still need another top 6 F to play with RNH. This year is a learning experience.
5. Vancouver- On the rise but still needs top six F and depth on D to compete.
6. AZ- Tocchet coaches them very well. Not enough star power to elevate them.
7. Anaheim- Retool/ Rebuilding year. Expect a couple players to get moved for futures.
8. LA- Ditto just above. Too many aging players on expensive contracts with little production.

Thanks for the fair assessment on Vancouver EK.

That said i'll look forward to some good hockey.

Cheers

The Sharks are garbage. They will finish in 9th place in an 8 team division.

Thanks for the fair assessment on Vancouver EK.

That said i'll look forward to some good hockey.

Cheers
- VanHockeyGuy

That’s because 6,7 and 8 are armless midgets. No wonder an expansion team looks like the ‘76 Russians

The Kings will finish in 6th or 7th. Mark my words. I really hope they finish in last one more year and get a top 5 lottery pick but unfortunately it's not going to happen.

The Kings will finish in 6th or 7th. Mark my words. I really hope they finish in last one more year and get a top 5 lottery pick but unfortunately it's not going to happen.
- KingsFan67

Yeah because the Sharks are an AHL team this year.

Vegas is the class of the division. They’ll win it by 15 - 20 points and battle Colorado for a trip to the Finals.

Edmonton is a JV team with two really good players... There is no way they win that division.

Also, Mike Smith was absolutely horrid last year. Could arguably be one of the worst starters in the NHL at this point.

Really had to scroll up twice to make sure this wasn't Tanner who wrote this.

The sharks, with exactly the same goaltending as last year, move down 4 spots. Because goaltending. Pavelski at least has some merit, until you realize lebanc and meier only played 15 minutes each last year. They will moss his leadership but not enough to not make the dance. Edmonton from last to 1st

Yeah because the Sharks are an AHL team this year.
- BringNYIhome

You legitimately no nothing about hockey and should take a break.

You failed to mention the amazing goaltending of the Ducks. Then you say their forwards are fine, but their defense needs work, which is completely backwards. You should watch a Ducks game this season. It'll be your first in a while I see.

BTW, as much as it hurts me to say this: The Kings will not be finishing last.

I have a feeling Ek lives on the East Coast, and hasn't watched many West Coast games lately. That list is hardly gutsy, outside of the Oilers pick.
- yzermaneely

Their entire lineup outside of Gibson needs work. Some good young pieces but not a much better team than last year.