The NHL season is quick approaching for the remaining 30 groups, whereas Buffalo and New Jersey have already begun their campaigns abroad within the World Collection in Czechia. This summer season noticed vital adjustments throughout the divisions, with a number of prime gamers discovering new groups.
Firstly of a brand new season, hope is at all times excessive. The elite groups set their sights on successful the Stanley Cup, whereas these in a rebuilding part goal to stay aggressive and present enchancment. Nevertheless, as a lot as each staff aspires to win, just one will declare the last word prize.
As in earlier years, NHLRumors.com will preview the Jap and Western Conferences, offering rankings for groups in every of the 4 divisions. Let’s kick off the brand new season by diving into the Atlantic Division.
NHL Atlantic Division Rankings
1. Florida Panthers (Final yr completed First)
The defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers will end first within the NHL Atlantic Division as they did a season in the past. Even with the losses of Brandon Montour, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz, and Ryan Lomberg, the Panthers are nonetheless a deep staff that may go all the best way once more.
Are the Florida Panthers the Group to Beat This Season?
GM Invoice Zito added Adam Boqvist and Nate Schmidt to the combo. As well as, he saved Dmitry Kulikov on protection. Upfront, he added Tomas Nosek to go together with Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, and Sam Bennett. Oh yeah, Anton Lundell has a brand new contract extension.
The Panthers are loaded, they usually nonetheless have Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes. There’s a purpose why the Panthers are a favourite to win the Stanley Cup once more this season. It’s a tough process, however the Panthers know it’s about this yr, and final yr is previously.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (Final yr completed Third)
One of many extra improved groups within the NHL Atlantic Division is the Toronto Maple Leafs, particularly on protection. The Maple Leafs added Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Chris Tanev, and Jani Hakanpää. Plus, they signed Anthony Stolarz to go together with Joseph Woll.
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To not point out, administration determined that Craig Berube was the reply to be the top coach and get this core over the hump. This may very well be the final yr of the core with Mitch Marner and John Tavares free brokers on the finish of the yr. It’s a new period with Auston Matthews because the Leafs captain. William Nylander is trying to take the subsequent step.
Nevertheless, the query stays: Can this staff win within the playoffs? Are they deep sufficient and bodily sufficient to attain sufficient targets to win? The goalies and defence haven’t been their situation within the playoffs; it’s goal-scoring. The Maple Leafs are hoping that Berube can get everybody to purchase into the system they play.
This staff isn’t proper there. However they should present extra hearth to win when it issues. We are saying it yearly: adjustments are coming if this staff fails within the playoffs. Let’s see what occurs this yr because the Maple Leafs are working it again once more.
3. Boston Bruins (Final yr completed Second)
That is the place issues can get difficult within the NHL Atlantic Division. The Boston Bruins are nonetheless staff. You may by no means depend them out. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman lastly agreed to a contract and shall be their primary goalie when prepared.
Has Bruins Goalie Jeremy Swayman Jumped into the Prime Tier of Goaltenders?
Joonas Korpisalo is the backup, with Linus Ullmark now with the Ottawa Senators. Boston has goalie coach in Bob Essena, who has labored wonders for goalies previously. Boston addressed areas of want with the signings of Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. With Swayman, the Bruins are a top-three staff within the division.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning (Final yr completed Fourth)
One other staff that has loads of intrigue round within the NHL Atlantic Division is the Tampa Bay Lightning. GM Julien BriseBois made a alternative. He selected Jake Guentzel over Steven Stamkos. BriseBois additionally introduced again Ryan McDonagh and despatched Mikhail Sergachev to Utah.
The Relationship Between Tampa Bay and Steven Stamkos was Damaged Final Summer season
So, this staff is completely different. Victor Hedman is the brand new captain. Sure, they nonetheless have first line of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Level, and Guentzel, however what else have they got offensively? Brandon Hagel is respectable. Cam Atkinson isn’t the participant he was.
BriseBois made a few questionable selections through the years. The primary was the Tanner Jeannot commerce. He received out of that. If the Lightning do not need related success, you possibly can level to the Stamkos saga as one other mistake. Whereas Andrei Vasilevskiy continues to be there, McDonagh is older and the protection corps took a success with no Sergachev.
Tampa Bay shall be a bubble staff once more this season.
5. Detroit Purple Wings (Final yr completed Fifth)
If Tampa Bay doesn’t end fourth, the Detroit Purple Wings can and will get into the playoffs this season. They need to, anyway. GM Steve Yzerman has put collectively a staff that resembles a few of these Purple Wings groups from the mid to late Nineties.
Do the Detroit Purple Wings Must Make the Playoffs This Season?
The younger children Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider received new extensions. Patrick Kane is again, Vladimir Tarasenko signed a brand new two-year deal. Alex DeBrincat is wholesome, Dylan Larkin is wholesome, they usually have a pleasant complement of items with J.T. Compher, Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte, and others.
This staff is nice defensively with the addition of Erik Gustafsson. The query is whether or not they can get a save from Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, and Cam Talbot. Goaltending has been accomplished on this staff for the final couple of seasons. Detroit was in final yr however missed out due to tiebreakers.
Is that this the yr they get in? There may be potential there, for positive. It feels prefer it. Let’s see if they’ll make a save or two.
6. Ottawa Senators (Final yr completed Seventh)
One other staff that many individuals count on to do one thing this yr is the Ottawa Senators. Now, the hype has cooled off from the final two seasons. The Senators have been disappointing. They’re hoping they solved their goalie points with Linus Ullmark.
NHL Rumors: Linus Ullmark and the Ottawa Senators Not Dashing to Make an Extension Occur
Ullmark has regarded good within the preseason. The important thing for the Senators is getting off to begin. The Senators added Nick Jensen from the Capitals for Jakob Chychrun to bolster the protection. As well as, David Perron joins the Senators offense, led by Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, and Claude Giroux.
The Senators want to attain targets this season and get off to a quick begin. October and November have been depressing for them the final two seasons, hurting their playoff possibilities. Hopefully, Travis Inexperienced can get his staff to play higher defensively. Having a full season of Shane Pinto will assist.
It is a powerful division. Ottawa shall be improved, however will or not it’s sufficient for the playoffs?
7. Montreal Canadiens Final yr completed Eighth)
The Montreal Canadiens may very well be sixth or may very well be eighth once more. All of it depends upon how issues click on this season. That is the yr they’re speculated to take the subsequent step of their rebuild. Regardless of what administration says, Montreal needs to play significant video games in March and April. It might be an enormous disappointment in the event that they didn’t.
The Highlight of Montreal Will Assist Patrik Laine Thrive with the Canadiens
The addition of Patrik Laine was going to assist that trigger. Laine shall be out for a few months with a left knee harm suffered within the preseason. He would have helped the Canadiens’ purpose totals this season. Nevertheless, it’s the subsequent man up for Montreal as they proceed to be a household that gamers need to be round.
One other yr of Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Alex Newhook, and Kaiden Guhle has made them battle-tested. If Kirby Dach stays wholesome, he may very well be an X-factor for the Canadiens. On the backend, Lane Hutson shall be with the staff and will make a much bigger impression than some might imagine. Keep watch over Montreal.
8. Buffalo Sabres (Final yr completed Sixth)
Sadly, the Buffalo Sabres shall be close to the underside of the Atlantic Division once more. Buffalo didn’t do a lot within the low season apart from extending Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, signing Jason Zucker, and making the head-scratching resolution to commerce Matthew Savoie.
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In addition they introduced again Lindy Ruff as the top coach. That is his second stint with the Sabres, and he seems to finish the playoff drought. Bear in mind the final time the Sabres made the playoffs, when Lindy Ruff was the top coach? Buffalo is caught on this countless rebuild. That they had all this expertise come and go and couldn’t make the playoffs.
Now the Sabres are loaded on protection with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Energy, Bowen Byram, and Mattias Samuelsson. To not point out, upfront, they’ve J.J. Peterka, Jack Quinn, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jordan Greenway. They want to determine a solution to rating targets.
Will probably be one other powerful yr in Buffalo. This may very well be 14 years with out making the playoffs.
