NHL 2011-2012: Southeast Division Prediction

The Florida Panthers did not disappoint this offseason as they made several moves to reach the cap floor, and the team got better.  The Capitals made a few moves as well.  Let's see how it all plays out in the Southeast Division.

With multiple offseason x-factors, unrestricted free agency, arbitration, trades and regular-season injuries, this has the potential to be flipped on its head, much like the Flyers roster.

Winnipeg Jets

Formerly known as the Atlanta Thrashers, the Winnipeg Jets will look for a fresh start.  In Canada.  The Thrashers took advance of the Chicago Blackhawks roster garage sale by picking up Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, and Brent Sopel, hoping they would bring some of the Stanley Cup magic to Atlanta.  Instead they found them in the bottom half of the East.

Evander Kane. This kid can play and score.  He can score some timely goals, in timely situations .  Rich Peverley Rich has shown some promise, but  was traded to last season.  To say the least the Jets lack offensive depth.

Tobias Enstrom and Dustin Byfuglien are two of the more offensive talented defense man in the league.  Byfuglien a risk taker and Enstrom a set up man could provide adding scoring from the blue line. 

Ondrej Pavelec will, most likely see the majority of the time in net as he begins to develop into a starting goaltender.  It might be a long road. 

The travel will end up taking its toll on this team. 

Prediction: 34-43-5 73 pts (miss the playoffs)

Florida Panthers

In an attempt to reach the cap floor, the Panther managed to improve their roster.

The biggest improvement came on the blue line.  Ed Jovanovski and Brian Campbell are both good offensive defensive man.  This will help the Panthers in the scoring department.  Jovanovski will provide leadership and could help develop younger defenders. 

Offensively, the Panthers added Tomas Fleischmann and Tomas Kopecky to the mix.  They could provide secondary scoring, but David Booth and Stephan Weiss will be looked upon to provide the primary.   

Knowing that Tomas Vokoun was looking to sign else where, the Florida Panthers decided to give the job to Jose Theodore.  Theodore was a decent goaltender in Montreal and a good goaltender in Washington.  Minnesota didn't fair so well.  The Panthers are giving him another shot to show what he can do.

Prediction: 35-41-6 76 pts (miss the playoffs)

Carolina Hurricane

The Carolina Hurricane waited until game 82 last year before they were elminated from playoff contention.  In an attempt to correct their last year's short comings they picked up Tomas Kaberle to replace Joe Corvo. 

Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner are very gifted offensively.  I do not see too much depth out side of those two.  I am not saying the Hurricane do not have people who can score, but I do not see them with the same strength as the rest of the Eastern Conference.  Eric Cole will prove to be a big loss in the long run.

Joe Corvo, last year saw himself on the score sheet a lot.  With him gone, Carolina will look to Tomas Kaberle to fill that role.  Kaberle has been known as a good puck moving defense man.  Joni Pitkanen and Tim Gleason will also provide help on the blue line. 

Cam Ward will carry the load again in the net.  Ward is capable of keeping his team in a game, but I really do not see him taking very many over. 

Predictions: 38-32-12 88 pts (miss the playoffs)

Tampa Bay Lightning

Steven Stamkos is back.

Steven Stamkos has netted 119 goals in three seasons.  Teamed up with Martin St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier, this team will wreak havoc on goaltenders around the league.  The secondary scoring will drop off a little with the loss of Simon Gagne, but the Lightning have a few players who will step up and contribute.

The Lightning signed Matt Gilroy who showed some promise last year with the Rangers, but ultimately Tampa Bay will look for Victor Hedman and Eric Brewer to anchor the blue line. 

Dwayne Roloson provided an epic performance in last years playoffs.  Tampa Bay hopes he can reproduce the same magic for a full 82 game season.  He has a team that can score in front of him, but he is aging.  Will age be a factor this year?

Prediction: 47-25-10 104 pts (fourth seed)

Washington Capitals

The Capitals have on of the most dynamic players in the world in Alex Ovechkin.  Alex Semin is almost just as dangerous.  This team has been a high-powered offensive team for years. This team has the best depth offensively.  They have grinders and finesse.  This offensive will once again be among the best in the league. 

Mike Green is coming off an injury but is still very capable of chipping in offensively. The defensive unit is dangerous. Karl Alzner, John Erskine and Jeff Schultz can chip in offensively as well but can match up against the top lines of the league.

Last year the Capitals switched their game from a run-and-gun to more of a defensively aware style in an attempt to make a postseason run.  It didn't pan out the way they wanted, but I see them continuing working on solidifying a defensive game.

The Capitals signed Tomas Vokoun at a discounted rate.  Vokoun has posted respectable numbers on a sub-par team.  With a better team in front of him, Vokoun can really show what he can do. 

Prediction: 49-25-8 105 pts (second seed)