Atlantic Division Rankings
Slowly but surely, we find ourselves inching ever closer to the grand day that hockey begins on the first day of October. Only 51 days remain on the calender until we find ourselves slightly obsessed, and emotionally wrapped into a full 82 game season.
Last season was short lived, but this year is going to be back to the way it should be. 30 teams battling it out for the top eight spots in each conference throughout an 82 game schedule. The painful injuries, the tear shedding game winners, the emotional defeat, the feelings we all thrive for while watching the greatest sport on earth, are just around the corner.
The Atlantic Division is as stacked as it gets, an eight team heap of Eastern Conference skill and grit. The Detroit Red Wings will make the move from the West to the East this season, and will finally be able to get away from the long grueling west coast trips. They find themselves in a division with a lot of skill however, including the Eastern Conference Champions Boston Bruins. This division is going to be great to follow, and a ton of fun to watch. The East is stacked this coming season, and it should be a ton of fun to follow.
1. Boston’s coming off of another strong season, and another great run in the playoffs. Tuukka Rask showed his ability to carry the team, and the skill in Boston never left. Jaromir Jagr, Tyler Seguin, Nathan Horton, Rich Peverley and Andrew Ference are among the names that will not be in Boston next season, but the Bruins are no worse for wear. The Bruins added Jarome Iginla and Loui Ericsson to the team to help replace what they lost. The Bruins are solid all around, and should be able to beat out the Red Wings and the Canadiens for the first place spot and win the first Metropolitan Division title.
2. The Red Wings are good year in and year out, and even after all of the pieces they lost last season, they still beat out the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, and nearly beat the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round. The Red Wings made a couple huge signings in the off-season and are back in contention. The Wings signed Daniel Alfredsson away from the Ottawa Senators, and replaced Valtteri Filppula with Stephen Weiss. Both upgrades from what they lost. The Wings have a lot of young players that will continue to get better. The defense still isn’t where they would like it to be, but Jimmy Howard had the net on lockdown last season, as long as he’s on his game this year, the Wings should be able to make a run for the top of the division, but right now, I think the Bruins have the upper hand.
3. Montreal had a good season last year, but were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Senators. The Canadiens slumped at the wrong time, and found themselves playing not as well as they would have liked to near the end of the season. The Canadiens added Daniel Briere to the roster after he was bought out by the Philadelphia Flyers in the offseason, and traded for George Parros in an effort to mustle up before the start of the season. Montreal hasn’t made too many changes, and should be set for another good season, but I don’t see them sneaking ahead of the Bruins or the Red Wings.
4. Ottawa proved last season that they have guts, and that Paul MacLean can coach. The Senators lost Alfie, but added Bobby Ryan in a trade with the Ducks. The Senators will have a healthy Craig Anderson, who was headed straight for the Vezina before his injury last season. If Anderson can stay healthy and play half as well as he did last season, the Senators are going to be a hard team to beat. The Senators are hoping this season won’t end up like the last with all of the injuries, and if they’re lucky enough to dodge the injury bug this season, they should be able to sneak into the playoffs in a wildcard spot.
5. The Toronto Maple Leafs made the playoffs last season for the first time in 8 seasons last year. The Leafs traded for Jonathan Bernier, which is going to give them one hell of a one-two punch in net with James Remier. The Leafs also added David Calrkson (for one pretty penny) in the offseason, he has the ability to score, and is one big heavy body. The Leafs have a decent team, but I’m not sure they will be able to contend with the rest of the division. It’s going to be a tough season, and I think the Leafs may end up being the odd team out. They have the skill to make a push for the wildcard spot, and may be able to do it, but for now, I have them finishing 5th in the division.
6. The Tampa Bay Lightning are getting there. They signed free agent Valtteri Filppula to a five year deal to man the center position on the second line, and lost long time captain Vincent Lecavalier. The Lightning defense is still a bit in question, and the net doesn’t belong to any specific goalie at this point, making them an interesting team to watch. The Lightning are getting there, but they aren’t quite there. Steven Stamkos has a lot of skill, but I’m not sure it’s enought to get Tampa Bay into the playoffs this season.
7. The Buffalo Sabres are rebuilding, and will likely find themselves towards the bottom of the division for the next few years to come. They’re holding onto stars Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek, but not neisarilly because they want to. Buffalo has a bit of skill, but they might not have it much longer. If Buffalo can sell the stars, they might be able to speed up the process a bit, but with or without them, the Sabres aren’t contenders.
8. The Florida Panthers are coming off of a terrible season, but the stars are starting to rise in Florida. Hopefully, anyway. Jonathan Huberdeau is a special talent, and should really start coming into his own in the next few seasons. The problem in Florida is in net. I have no faith that Scott Clemmensen or Jacob Markstrom can carry the load, separately or as a pair. Florida has a ways to go to get back into the playoffs, but you have to start somewhere, maybe by proving me wrong?