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 Sequence in Czechia. This summer season noticed vital adjustments throughout the divisions, with a number of prime gamers discovering new groups.
In the beginning 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 section intention to stay aggressive and present enchancment. Nonetheless, as a lot as each crew aspires to win, just one will declare the last word prize.
As in earlier years, NHLRumors.com will preview the Japanese 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 12 months 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 crew that may go all the way in which once more.
Are the Florida Panthers the Staff to Beat This Season?
GM Invoice Zito added Adam Boqvist and Nate Schmidt to the combo. As well as, he stored Dmitry Kulikov on protection. Upfront, he added Tomas Nosek to go along 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, and so they nonetheless have Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes. There’s a motive why the Panthers are a favourite to win the Stanley Cup once more this season. It’s a troublesome job, however the Panthers know it’s about this 12 months, and final 12 months is previously.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (Final 12 months 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 along 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 could possibly be the final 12 months of the core with Mitch Marner and John Tavares free brokers on the finish of the 12 months. It’s a new period with Auston Matthews because the Leafs captain. William Nylander is seeking to take the following step.
Nonetheless, the query stays: Can this crew 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 subject 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 crew will not be proper there. However they should present extra fireplace to win when it issues. We are saying it yearly: adjustments are coming if this crew fails within the playoffs. Let’s see what occurs this 12 months because the Maple Leafs are operating it again once more.
3. Boston Bruins (Final 12 months completed Second)
That is the place issues can get tough within the NHL Atlantic Division. The Boston Bruins are nonetheless a superb crew. You’ll be able to by no means depend them out. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman lastly agreed to a contract and will probably be their primary goalie when prepared.
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Joonas Korpisalo is the backup, with Linus Ullmark now with the Ottawa Senators. Boston has a superb 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 crew within the division.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning (Final 12 months completed Fourth)
One other crew that has a number 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.
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So, this crew is completely different. Victor Hedman is the brand new captain. Sure, they nonetheless have a superb first line of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Level, and Guentzel, however what else have they got offensively? Brandon Hagel is respectable. Cam Atkinson will not be the participant he was.
BriseBois made a few questionable choices through the years. The primary was the Tanner Jeannot commerce. He obtained out of that. If the Lightning do not need comparable success, you’ll be able to level to the Stamkos saga as one other mistake. Whereas Andrei Vasilevskiy remains to be there, McDonagh is older and the protection corps took successful with no Sergachev.
Tampa Bay will probably be a bubble crew once more this season.
5. Detroit Purple Wings (Final 12 months 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 crew that resembles a few of these Purple Wings groups from the mid to late Nineteen Nineties.
Do the Detroit Purple Wings Should Make the Playoffs This Season?
The younger children Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider obtained new extensions. Patrick Kane is again, Vladimir Tarasenko signed a brand new two-year deal. Alex DeBrincat is wholesome, Dylan Larkin is wholesome, and so they have a pleasant complement of items with J.T. Compher, Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte, and others.
This crew is sweet 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 executed on this crew for the final couple of seasons. Detroit was in final 12 months however missed out due to tiebreakers.
Is that this the 12 months they get in? There’s potential there, for positive. It feels prefer it. Let’s see if they’ll make a save or two.
6. Ottawa Senators (Final 12 months completed Seventh)
One other crew that many individuals anticipate to do one thing this 12 months 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.
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Ullmark has appeared good within the preseason. The important thing for the Senators is getting off to a superb 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 crew to play higher defensively. Having a full season of Shane Pinto will assist.
This can be a robust division. Ottawa will probably be improved, however will it’s sufficient for the playoffs?
7. Montreal Canadiens Final 12 months completed Eighth)
The Montreal Canadiens could possibly be sixth or could possibly be eighth once more. All of it relies on how issues click on this season. That is the 12 months they’re alleged to take the following step of their rebuild. Regardless of what administration says, Montreal needs to play significant video games in March and April. It will 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 will probably be out for a few months with a left knee damage suffered within the preseason. He would have helped the Canadiens’ aim totals this season. Nonetheless, it’s the subsequent man up for Montreal as they proceed to be a household that gamers wish to be round.
One other 12 months of Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Alex Newhook, and Kaiden Guhle has made them battle-tested. If Kirby Dach stays wholesome, he could possibly be an X-factor for the Canadiens. On the backend, Lane Hutson will probably be with the crew and will make a much bigger affect than some might imagine. Control Montreal.
8. Buffalo Sabres (Final 12 months completed Sixth)
Sadly, the Buffalo Sabres will probably be close to the underside of the Atlantic Division once more. Buffalo didn’t do a lot within the low season aside from extending Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, signing Jason Zucker, and making the head-scratching choice 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 appears to be like to finish the playoff drought. Keep 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.
It is going to be one other robust 12 months in Buffalo. This could possibly be 14 years with out making the playoffs.
