Atlantic Division Breakdown 10/30/08

Well ladies and gentlemen the 2008-2009 NHL hockey season is officially underway. We’re nearing the beginning of November and my friends it’s time to talk about the best division in hockey, the Atlantic Division.

This group sent four teams to the playoffs (Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, and Devils) last year. Though each team, including the Islanders, fell short of being world champions, all have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs and then some.

Good luck, Scott Gordon. The new coach of the Isles, promoted from their AHL affiliate, brings to the table a more aggressive style of fore-check and defense.

The Isles acquired defenseman Mark Streit, and forward Doug Weight in hopes of invigorating the Isles’ offense.

However, injuries have crippled the team contributing to a woeful 2-6 start. Joey Macdonald has played serviceable in net but won’t be able to carry the load. New coach, new system… it’s going to take time and once this group is healthy and finds its identity, there’s a possibility the Isles could be fighting for the eighth spot come late March.

Please welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Gone is their post-season hero, R.J. Umberger but this team has enough firepower to topple any team. Leading the league in scoring is great, getting off to a .500 record not so great.

This team was abysmal during the first couple weeks of the season but have turned it around as of late with a home and home sweep of the Devils. With Mike Richards leading the charge this club has the staying power to place itself in the 4th or 5th seed come playoff time.

MARRRTYYY, MARRRTYYY! These were the last words Brodeur and his club heard after being eliminated by the Rangers in the playoffs. The acquisition of Brian Rolston breathes new life into the power play that has been terrible since Brian Rafalski left.

Though Rolston’s injured, once he’s healthy no one in the league will want to go on the kill against this team. A 5-2-2 record is pretty good and the Devils seem to go at their own pace every year.

They’ll be there come playoff time but I don’t think there’s enough offensive talent on this team to send them past the second round.

Now we come to the New York Rangers. The Broadway Blue shirts are a different team this year. Jagr, Straka, and Avery are gone. Arriving in the Big Apple are Nikolai Zherdev and Markus Naslund and wow has that paid off.

Scott Gomez’s play along with rising stars Brandon Dubinsky and Marc Staal have lifted the team to a 9-2-1 start. Oh yeah, can’t forget about arguably the best goalie in the game, Henrik Lundqvist.

The team is atop the Atlantic Division and the expectations set extremely high. Picked by many to represent the East, anything less and those rabid Rangers fans will be fuming over another promising yet faltering season.

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury. When you talk about the top NHL players in the game today these three pop up every time. Losing Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone were big hits. If there are any questions with this team then it involves depth.

Other than Petr Sykora there aren’t many goal scorers in this lineup. Sure you have a scrappy Tyler Kennedy and Pascal Dupuis but with Malkin and Crosby now on the same line who else is going to contribute?

Fleury’s goaltending has been exceptional. He’s finally hit his stride as expected by the organization. As long as Gonchar comes back healthy this team will be right there fighting for the Stanley Cup.