The Eastern Conference has me excited already, because there is tons of potential for several surprise teams to make the playoffs—and as if that were not enough, the conference “powerhouses” will be knocking each other around all season for the number-one seed.
Here is how I see the conference playing out by the season’s end. Feel free to comment and object.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
Yes, the Penguins did lose Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone—but they also have two of the three greatest scorers in the game. I’m clearly talking about the dynamic duo of Miroslav Satan and Max Talbot.
But in all seriousness, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will have their work cut out for them this season in a tough Atlantic division. Marc-Andre Fleury will not have the likes of Ty Conklin to fall back on either in the upcoming season. Regardless, the Penguins have a more impressive roster than most of their Eastern conference opponents.
2. Montreal Canadiens
Is Carey Price the goalie of the future in Montreal? Absolutely. However, that’s the future and this is now (was that a little too much of Yogi Berra?).
The combination of Price and Jaroslav Halak in net is devastating for opponents. Alexei Kovalev revitalized his career last season, scoring the second-most points in a single season in his career (84)—but I don’t think he can duplicate that this season.
Also, losing Cristobal Huet and Mark Streit will put a little more pressure onto the shoulders of the of a defense that has to be good if their offense cannot produce like it did last season.
3. Washington Capitals
Olaf Kolzig only had a .892 save percentage last season. Jose Theodore had a .910 save percentage. Kolzig did not play in the playoffs. Theodore did well in Avs' the first-round win against Minnesota, and did his best against the unstoppable force that is the Detroit Red Wings.
I believe that Theodore is an upgrade from Kolzig, and this will only help the Capitals in the beginning of the season, where they faltered slightly last year. Oh, I almost forgot, the Caps have a guy named Alex Ovechkin—I think he finished with 112 points, 65 goals, and collected an MVP trophy. Not too shabby.
4. Philadelphia Flyers
How do you go from being ranked 30th in the NHL to almost winning the conference championship? Add Daniel Briere.
The odds of this team returning to the conference championship are good to very good. Briere, Mike Richards, Braydon Coburn, Marty Biron, and a “healthy” Simon Gagne—I really don’t see any reason why this team couldn’t make the Stanley Cup Finals. The Eastern Conference will be a mess, the Atlantic Division will be a mess, and the Flyers will more than likely be at the center of it.
5. New York Rangers
10 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Alan Bass 11 months ago
this is very similar to what my predictions are going to be for the eastern conference
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Brenda 11 months ago
Good lineup. I'm back and forth between Montreal and Pittsburgh for top spot. I think it's going to be a battle for those 5-8. Buffalo, Boston, Devils, Ottawa, probably the Rangers, maybe TB. I know Tampa made a lot of changes this off season, and a lot of where they are going to go is riding on whether they can all mesh together well enough off the starting block.
As for the Devils, how long can you ride the back of your goaltender without producing any real offense -I think they were 4th lowest in goals last season. Sure, Marty's great, but...
Buffalo - ah Buffalo. My team. I hate thinking anything but the best about them, but I'm just not sure. I think they can make the playoffs. They made some OK transactions this off season. They didn't lose anyone critical (although I still wish we could have kept Bernier and gotten rid of Max). If Rivet can adopt Buffalo as his "home" even if it's only for a few years, I think he'll be a good addition to the team. I think they have the offensive power. I think they've got a decent defense, and Miller, well, with Lalime backing him up, hopefully he'll be able to improve over last years dismal end to the season.
Boston has a good team. Tim Thomas is looking very good, and Chara is well, Chara. He's just a freak of nature on the ice, and can only bring good things to Boston.
Ottawa I think is a worse team than they were last year. They seem to be barely treading water. The constant turmoil at coach can't be helping the team. I didn't see them do anything substantial in the off season. I doubt they'll make the playoffs, but you never know.
Rangers - it's all going to depend on the play of Redden and Rosival. The offense has the potential to be good, even without Jagr; but the defense can be GREAT, if Redden and Roszival play to their potential (and there is no reason to think they won't)
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J WILSON 11 months ago
A healthy Bergeron in the Boston lineup puts them no lower than 5-6 in the East.
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NYI Fan Central 11 months ago
Rick DiPietro was an all-star last season, he kept his team in contention on a team that scored two goals or less fourteen games in a row and had them five games over in January in a playoff spot.
DiPietro the year before had a 9.19 save percentage on a team that allowed close to the most shots in the league.
As usual when the season starts and the Isles are in a playoff spot you'll be wondering why.
They have been to the playoffs four times in the last six years and of course beat the Rangers and Devils head to head.
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Matthew Hogan 11 months ago
"Since his record-contract signing, Rick Dipietro has put up average numbers, but numbers that aren’t good enough for a franchise goalie." - That means I am acknowledging the fact that "DP" put up good numbers two seasons ago; but combined with last season, they are simply "average numbers." My overall argument isn't that Dipietro is a bad goalie, it's that he is an average goalie on a horrible team.
"As usual when the season starts and the Isles are in a playoff spot you'll be wondering why." It's not the beginning of the season that matters.
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John LoGiudice 11 months ago
The Islanders are a HORRIBLE team. DiPietro is the only thing keeping them from breaking the 1976 Capitals record for fewest points. They have maybe a line and their defence is more suspect than OJ Simpson at a kitchen cutlery show. They will only be battling the Panthers to see who gets to the golf course first (might see OJ there).
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Matthew Hogan 11 months ago
Amen brother, just preaching to the choir.
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NYI Fan Central 11 months ago
Matthew, your correct it's not the beginning of the season that only matters.
The New York Islanders have been to the playoffs four of the last six seasons a lot of clubs in this league have not come close to that. Outside of a fifty shot loss to Pittsburgh that would have evened a very close season series had a winning record against three of the clubs in the division last season.
Martin Brodeur is quoted as saying Rick DiPietro is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, when your selected to the All-Star game you are not avg.
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Matthew Hogan 10 months ago
Each team has someone selected, Dipietro is the best the Islanders have to offer, which isn't much at all.
"...he kept his team in contention on a team that scored two goals or less fourteen games in a row and had them five games over in January in a playoff spot." - The fact that the Islanders scored two goals a game for fourteen straight games is just solidifying the fact that they are not a good team. Dipietro had them five games over in January. JANUARY MEANS NOTHING, the beginning of April is what matters.
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Shawn Owens 10 months ago
Bruins are better than what people are giving them credit for. The young players all came to play the last half of the season and put up a good effort in the playoffs. Confidence for them will roll over into this season.
Bruins will have a tough goalie tandem in Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez (if he stays healthy). Second year with Coach Julien at the helm will prove very beneficial for system play.
I will give them maybe the 6 or 7th spot in the playoffs this season.
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