We got teams coming in with new bench bosses this year. St Louis got the interim tag removed in Montreal. Meanwhile Winnipeg (Rick Bowness), Vegas (Bruce Cassidy), San Jose (David Quinn), Philadelphia (John Tortorella), the Islanders (Lane Lambert), Florida (Paul Maurice), Detroit (Derek Lalonde), Dallas (Peter DeBoer), Chicago (Luke Richardson), and Boston (Jim Montgomery) are all starting the year off with new bench bosses.
So with all that coming down, here's how the 2022-23 season goes down, as we see it.
Western Conference:
Central Division:
1. Colorado Avalanche (115 points)*
2. St Louis Blues (110 Points)*
3. Winnipeg Jets (105 Points)*
4. Minnesota Wild (100 Points)*
5. Dallas Stars (96 Points)
6. Nashville Predators (91 Points)
7. Chicago Blackhawks (79 Points)
8. Arizona Coyotes (70 Points)
It should come as no surprise that the Avalanche win this division, they are the defending champs and didn't lose too many pieces from the end of last season. They changed it up between the pipes adding Alexandar Georgiev as their number one in net. Core of the D with Makar and Toews leading the charge the Avs look pretty good. Up front is still mostly in tact, with Kadri gone and MacKionnion and Landeskog possibly missing time at start of the year, they still deep and in good shape. Then there's the Blues, who are going to have a big bounce back season this year. They have a solid core, lead by Ryan O'Reilly, Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Binnington. They lost David Perron in the offseason, but added Nick Leddy to the mix. Should be a good year in St Louis. As for the Jets, making the playoffs is a good possibility for this club. They got their man in net in Connor Hellebuyck, and now they added a solid backup in David Rittich. Josh Morrissey going to be counted on to carry the load from the blue line, something he hasn't had much trouble doing in recent years. You got plenty to work with up front with Connor, Lowry, Scheifele and trying to get every ounce left out of Sam Ganger. With the Wild, they take a bit of a step back from last season after finishing 2nd in the division. It's still more than good enough for a playoff team this year with Kirill Kaprizov having yet another monster season. They have a very young core and still have Marc-Andre Fleury with something left to prove on a two year deal.
Now the teams that are gonna come up close in this division but miss out, starting with the Stars in Dallas. The core in Dallas is here and with Benn and Seguin still at the top of the offense, it may help keep Dallas close this season, But Dallas didn't really do much to improve while some of the other teams around them got better. And some of the Stars biggest stars aren't getting any younger. Now for the Predators, they locked in Filip Forsberg in for a long term deal, which is one of the smartest moves that the Nashville front office has made. There's positive stuff with Saros starting in net. Still have a solid blueline in Josi and they brought in Ryan McDonagh. They got a young core up front around Forsberg, with Nino, Granlund, and Jeannot. This team could be in the hunt for most of the year. Now is where we get the sharp drop off, because things aren't looking good for the Blackhawks right about now. Biggest loss in Chicago is Alex deBrincat now in Ottawa. They still have Kane and Towes, but both guys are getting a little bit older. There isn't much depth otherwise here and its going to be a long year in the windy city. The only team that could have a rougher season is the Coyotes, who are playing in a college arena for the season. There's no goaltending in the desert this season. Phil Kessel is gone. Clayton Keller, Nick Bjugstad and Nick Schmaltz are providing the offensive firepower for a bad team.
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers (115 Points)*
2. Calgary Flames (109 Points)*
3. Vegas Golden Knights (106 Points)*
4. Los Angeles Kings (101 Points)*
5 Vancouver Canucks (97 Points)
6. Seattle Kraken (90 Points)
7. San Jose Sharks (80 Points)
8. Anaheim Ducks (72 Points)
The facts are, the Oilers have the best player in the game right now in Connor McDavid, and another top five player in Leon Draisaitl. They have a balanced offense with Kane and Heyman and Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton trying to sure up the problems in net by adding Jack Campbell to the mix. The Oilers are deep and balanced enough this should be their division to take. The battle of Alberta won't be over so quickly, as the Flames will be in the mix with the Oilers most of the year. The Flames took some steps backwards. Gaudreau was lost to free agency, Monahan traded to the Canadiens, Tkachuk traded to the Panthers. But they came back with Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar added via trade and Kadri brought in as a free agent. They still a deep team and built well to go on a solid playoff run. And with Markstrom holding down the fort in net, expect good things again this year in Calgary. Its been a good run at the start of the franchise for the Golden Knights. Goaltending could be a problem with Robin Lehnar out hurt to start the year and Aldin Hill starting. But Vegas has a good enough team to make up for some or most of it. They have Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore on the top of their blue line and should do just fine holding down the fort in front of Hill or whoever is in net. Yes Pacioretty is gone, but Phil Kessel is in to replace him, and he might not be as good at producing, he can still provide a bit of a jolt. The core is in tact and there's big things expected again in Vegas. Finally, there's the Kings, who are going to be the only California team to make the playoffs. Sure, they lost some depth players, but the core is still in tact and plenty of talent to go around.
As for the teams that mis out from the Pacific, the Canucks make the strongest push at making the playoffs. And why not with the group they have in Vancouver. They have the best shot to scoop up the outside shot at the playoffs from this division. The offense is loaded, with Miller, Horvat, Besser and Garland. Hughes and Besser lead from the back end and if healthy Markstrom can have a very productive season for the Canucks. In their second year, big steps will be taken in the right direction for the Kraken. Starting in goal they added Martin Jones to back up or split time with Grubauer. They got decent defense lead by Larson and Dunn. Andre Burakovsky was added to bolster the offense, and drafting Shane Wright 4th overall are major additions to this club. Not a playoff team yet, but they will be getting better. Here's where we see the drop off in the division, starting with the Sharks. Here's how you know they moving on for a new era, they traded Brent Burns. Vlasic and Karlsson lead the back end but it got a little harder with Burns not in the picture. Got a solid young core with Hertl, Bonino and Lebanc but the other guys are getting older and aren't being replaced fast enough. Finally, there's the Ducks. Anaheim brought in Strome, Kulikov and Vatrano. Getzlaf no longer in the Pond. Still upside with Gibson and Fowler, but not much else.
Eastern Conference:
Atlantic Division:
1. Florida Panthers (111 Points)*
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (109 Points)*
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (107 Points)*
4. Boston Bruins (100 Points)*
5. Ottawa Senators (90 Points)
6. buffalo Sabres (84 Points)
7. Detroit Red Wings (80 Points)
8. Montreal Canadiens (70 Points)
It still feels a little weird to see the Panthers as the top team in this division, but its possible with this core group. Florida got rid of Huberdeau and Weager, but in that trade brought in Matthew Tkachuk. He's added to a young core with Barkov, Verhage, Bennett and Ekblad. They have Spencer Knight as a solid backup and splitting time with Babrovsky. This is a team that won the Presidents trophy a season ago, and most of that core group is still in tact but they taking a step back this season. Right behind them are a regular season powerhouse in the Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell is gone, Ilya Samsonov replaced him in net. They still have Rilety and Muzzin and Brodie on a solid back end. Scoring won't be a problem in Toronto, with Matthews, Tavares, Marner and now added Jarnkrok at the core of this team. Now the big question is, can this team get it done come playoff time? Then there's the three time defending conference champions the Lightning. Tampa lost McDonagh, Palat and Rutta. They brought in Namestnikov and Cole. Tampa core is still in tact. Stamkos, Kucherov, Killorn, Paul, Hedman, Sergachev, Vasilevskiy. This team is very good and are going to be for a long time. Now there's been a few changes made to the Bruins lineup. They got solid young goaltending in Swayman and Ullmark in net, which is good but may leave a little something to be desired come playoff time. Back end still solid with Carlo, Clifton and McAvoy leading the way. Pavel Zacha was brought in to add more depth up the middle. Hall and Bergeron are going to miss the start of the season due to injury, but when healthy and add them in with Marchand, the Bruins have the talent to make the playoffs.
For a team that's outside looking in, the Senators are on the rise and quickly. Cam Talbot was brought in but will miss start due to injury so Anton Forsberg will start at the beginning of the year. Ottawa bolstered their lineup bigtime around Stuzel and Thakuck. How? Brought in Alex deBrincat and Claude Giroux. bluelinie still needs little bit of work, but there's a good young core in Canada's Capital and its going to get better from here. Goaltending is going to be a of a problem for the Sabres this year, but then again it has been for a while now. Craig Anderson is decent, but won't be the long term answer in Western New York. The blue line looks god and has two stars to build around with Power and Dahlin. Thompson is the emerging star up front, with Cousins and Skinner and Olofsson to work with. They a solid team but haven't quite turned the corner yet. The Red Wings are getting better with that youth core they've built around. Two solid young goalies in Villie Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic. They have very high hopes for Montez Seider on the back end and plan to really be able to build around him. They have solid veteran leadership up front with Larkin and Copp up front and with youth like Suter to build around there is a little hope in the Motor City. Same isn't likely to be said for the Canadiens up in Montreal. Sean Monahan and Mike Matheson both brought in via trades to add depth to this team. Jake Allen is set to take over in net while Carey Price figures things out. Youth looks good in Montreal, but its going to take time to build it all together.
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes (108 Points)*
2. New York Rangers (107 Points)*
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (100 Points)*
4. Washington Capitals (98 Points)*
5. New York Islanders (96 Points)
6. New Jersey Devils (89 Points)
7. Columbus Blue Jackets (85 Points)
8. Philadelphia Flyers (76 Points)
There are a few pieces missing from last year squad with the Hurricanes, but they still have enough talent in their core to take a division title. Fredrick Andersen and Antti Raanta are a solid one two punch in net. They added depth with Brent Burns on the back end with Slavin and Skjeiu. Up front, Carolina has Aho and Svechnikov leading a solid and deep group. Even adding Max Pacioretti from Vegas was a huge move to bolster an already solid club. Right on their heels this year are going to be the Rangers. They have the top goalie from last season in Sersterkin and a new backup for him in Jaro Halak. Biggest other addition was adding Vincent Torcheck up front to bolster a pretty good offense that still has Panarin and Zibanijad. Adam Fox anchors that blueline, with new captain Jacob Truba and Ryan Lindgrin. This team from Broadway is going to be very very good and is going to put the most pressure on Carolina for top spot in the division. Another team you can never count out are the Penguins. The core of Crosby, Malkin and Letang are back together again for one more season. The goaltending is solid with DeSmith and Jarry, but who knows if they can pull it off come springtime. They have youth to mix in with the veterans, guys like Rickell, Rust, Zucker and Guentzel. It will be enough to get in, but deep runs is a bit of a worry. When your the Capitals, as long as you still have Alex Ovechkin in the lineup, you always got a chance. In net its going to leave some worry, as I wonder how deep Darcy Kemper can really take this team. You still have Carlson and Orlov leading the blueline. Then they have Ovie up front with Kuznetzov, Mantha, Sheery, Strome and Johansson. They have talent but will it be enough to get there.
Now for the teams on the outside in, the Islanders get us going there. Goaltending looks really good with Sorokin and Varlamov. Back end with Pullock, Pelech and Dobson is going to be good. Adding Romanov at the draft could be a sleeper steal for the Isles if he can pan out. Matt Barzal is locked into a new long term deal, but can they actually get scoring depth around him. Lee and Nelson can. Beauviller is a streaky player and there's questions with Bellows and Wahlstrom and their consistent play. Then there's the Devils, who look like they could be taking steps in the right direction to be a team on the rise. They have Vaneck and Blackwood maning the pipes, and with both guys still young, it gives a lot of hope in net. Subban is gone due to retirement, leaving Hamilton, Smith and Severson as the stalworths on the back end. Up front, Hischier and Hughes are going to be the top dogs for this team for a long time. Add in Palat, Bratt, Sharangovich There's a lot to be hopeful for with this team. Making the biggest splash in the offseason this year was the Blue Jackets. Johnny Gaudreau comes in on a shiny new deal and is going to be worth it and then some. Add in patrik Laine and his potential, along with Jenner and
We got teams coming in with new bench bosses this year. St Louis got the interim tag removed in Montreal. Meanwhile Winnipeg (Rick Bowness), Vegas (Bruce Cassidy), San Jose (David Quinn), Philadelphia (John Tortorella), the Islanders (Lane Lambert), Florida (Paul Maurice), Detroit (Derek Lalonde), Dallas (Peter DeBoer), Chicago (Luke Richardson), and Boston (Jim Montgomery) are all starting the year off with new bench bosses.
So with all that coming down, here's how the 2022-23 season goes down, as we see it.
Western Conference:
Central Division:
1. Colorado Avalanche (115 points)*
2. St Louis Blues (110 Points)*
3. Winnipeg Jets (105 Points)*
4. Minnesota Wild (100 Points)*
5. Dallas Stars (96 Points)
6. Nashville Predators (91 Points)
7. Chicago Blackhawks (79 Points)
8. Arizona Coyotes (70 Points)
It should come as no surprise that the Avalanche win this division, they are the defending champs and didn't lose too many pieces from the end of last season. They changed it up between the pipes adding Alexandar Georgiev as their number one in net. Core of the D with Makar and Toews leading the charge the Avs look pretty good. Up front is still mostly in tact, with Kadri gone and MacKionnion and Landeskog possibly missing time at start of the year, they still deep and in good shape. Then there's the Blues, who are going to have a big bounce back season this year. They have a solid core, lead by Ryan O'Reilly, Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Binnington. They lost David Perron in the offseason, but added Nick Leddy to the mix. Should be a good year in St Louis. As for the Jets, making the playoffs is a good possibility for this club. They got their man in net in Connor Hellebuyck, and now they added a solid backup in David Rittich. Josh Morrissey going to be counted on to carry the load from the blue line, something he hasn't had much trouble doing in recent years. You got plenty to work with up front with Connor, Lowry, Scheifele and trying to get every ounce left out of Sam Ganger. With the Wild, they take a bit of a step back from last season after finishing 2nd in the division. It's still more than good enough for a playoff team this year with Kirill Kaprizov having yet another monster season. They have a very young core and still have Marc-Andre Fleury with something left to prove on a two year deal.
Now the teams that are gonna come up close in this division but miss out, starting with the Stars in Dallas. The core in Dallas is here and with Benn and Seguin still at the top of the offense, it may help keep Dallas close this season, But Dallas didn't really do much to improve while some of the other teams around them got better. And some of the Stars biggest stars aren't getting any younger. Now for the Predators, they locked in Filip Forsberg in for a long term deal, which is one of the smartest moves that the Nashville front office has made. There's positive stuff with Saros starting in net. Still have a solid blueline in Josi and they brought in Ryan McDonagh. They got a young core up front around Forsberg, with Nino, Granlund, and Jeannot. This team could be in the hunt for most of the year. Now is where we get the sharp drop off, because things aren't looking good for the Blackhawks right about now. Biggest loss in Chicago is Alex deBrincat now in Ottawa. They still have Kane and Towes, but both guys are getting a little bit older. There isn't much depth otherwise here and its going to be a long year in the windy city. The only team that could have a rougher season is the Coyotes, who are playing in a college arena for the season. There's no goaltending in the desert this season. Phil Kessel is gone. Clayton Keller, Nick Bjugstad and Nick Schmaltz are providing the offensive firepower for a bad team.
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers (115 Points)*
2. Calgary Flames (109 Points)*
3. Vegas Golden Knights (106 Points)*
4. Los Angeles Kings (101 Points)*
5 Vancouver Canucks (97 Points)
6. Seattle Kraken (90 Points)
7. San Jose Sharks (80 Points)
8. Anaheim Ducks (72 Points)
The facts are, the Oilers have the best player in the game right now in Connor McDavid, and another top five player in Leon Draisaitl. They have a balanced offense with Kane and Heyman and Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton trying to sure up the problems in net by adding Jack Campbell to the mix. The Oilers are deep and balanced enough this should be their division to take. The battle of Alberta won't be over so quickly, as the Flames will be in the mix with the Oilers most of the year. The Flames took some steps backwards. Gaudreau was lost to free agency, Monahan traded to the Canadiens, Tkachuk traded to the Panthers. But they came back with Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar added via trade and Kadri brought in as a free agent. They still a deep team and built well to go on a solid playoff run. And with Markstrom holding down the fort in net, expect good things again this year in Calgary. Its been a good run at the start of the franchise for the Golden Knights. Goaltending could be a problem with Robin Lehnar out hurt to start the year and Aldin Hill starting. But Vegas has a good enough team to make up for some or most of it. They have Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore on the top of their blue line and should do just fine holding down the fort in front of Hill or whoever is in net. Yes Pacioretty is gone, but Phil Kessel is in to replace him, and he might not be as good at producing, he can still provide a bit of a jolt. The core is in tact and there's big things expected again in Vegas. Finally, there's the Kings, who are going to be the only California team to make the playoffs. Sure, they lost some depth players, but the core is still in tact and plenty of talent to go around.
As for the teams that mis out from the Pacific, the Canucks make the strongest push at making the playoffs. And why not with the group they have in Vancouver. They have the best shot to scoop up the outside shot at the playoffs from this division. The offense is loaded, with Miller, Horvat, Besser and Garland. Hughes and Besser lead from the back end and if healthy Markstrom can have a very productive season for the Canucks. In their second year, big steps will be taken in the right direction for the Kraken. Starting in goal they added Martin Jones to back up or split time with Grubauer. They got decent defense lead by Larson and Dunn. Andre Burakovsky was added to bolster the offense, and drafting Shane Wright 4th overall are major additions to this club. Not a playoff team yet, but they will be getting better. Here's where we see the drop off in the division, starting with the Sharks. Here's how you know they moving on for a new era, they traded Brent Burns. Vlasic and Karlsson lead the back end but it got a little harder with Burns not in the picture. Got a solid young core with Hertl, Bonino and Lebanc but the other guys are getting older and aren't being replaced fast enough. Finally, there's the Ducks. Anaheim brought in Strome, Kulikov and Vatrano. Getzlaf no longer in the Pond. Still upside with Gibson and Fowler, but not much else.
Eastern Conference:
Atlantic Division:
1. Florida Panthers (111 Points)*
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (109 Points)*
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (107 Points)*
4. Boston Bruins (100 Points)*
5. Ottawa Senators (90 Points)
6. buffalo Sabres (84 Points)
7. Detroit Red Wings (80 Points)
8. Montreal Canadiens (70 Points)
It still feels a little weird to see the Panthers as the top team in this division, but its possible with this core group. Florida got rid of Huberdeau and Weager, but in that trade brought in Matthew Tkachuk. He's added to a young core with Barkov, Verhage, Bennett and Ekblad. They have Spencer Knight as a solid backup and splitting time with Babrovsky. This is a team that won the Presidents trophy a season ago, and most of that core group is still in tact but they taking a step back this season. Right behind them are a regular season powerhouse in the Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell is gone, Ilya Samsonov replaced him in net. They still have Rilety and Muzzin and Brodie on a solid back end. Scoring won't be a problem in Toronto, with Matthews, Tavares, Marner and now added Jarnkrok at the core of this team. Now the big question is, can this team get it done come playoff time? Then there's the three time defending conference champions the Lightning. Tampa lost McDonagh, Palat and Rutta. They brought in Namestnikov and Cole. Tampa core is still in tact. Stamkos, Kucherov, Killorn, Paul, Hedman, Sergachev, Vasilevskiy. This team is very good and are going to be for a long time. Now there's been a few changes made to the Bruins lineup. They got solid young goaltending in Swayman and Ullmark in net, which is good but may leave a little something to be desired come playoff time. Back end still solid with Carlo, Clifton and McAvoy leading the way. Pavel Zacha was brought in to add more depth up the middle. Hall and Bergeron are going to miss the start of the season due to injury, but when healthy and add them in with Marchand, the Bruins have the talent to make the playoffs.
For a team that's outside looking in, the Senators are on the rise and quickly. Cam Talbot was brought in but will miss start due to injury so Anton Forsberg will start at the beginning of the year. Ottawa bolstered their lineup bigtime around Stuzel and Thakuck. How? Brought in Alex deBrincat and Claude Giroux. bluelinie still needs little bit of work, but there's a good young core in Canada's Capital and its going to get better from here. Goaltending is going to be a of a problem for the Sabres this year, but then again it has been for a while now. Craig Anderson is decent, but won't be the long term answer in Western New York. The blue line looks god and has two stars to build around with Power and Dahlin. Thompson is the emerging star up front, with Cousins and Skinner and Olofsson to work with. They a solid team but haven't quite turned the corner yet. The Red Wings are getting better with that youth core they've built around. Two solid young goalies in Villie Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic. They have very high hopes for Montez Seider on the back end and plan to really be able to build around him. They have solid veteran leadership up front with Larkin and Copp up front and with youth like Suter to build around there is a little hope in the Motor City. Same isn't likely to be said for the Canadiens up in Montreal. Sean Monahan and Mike Matheson both brought in via trades to add depth to this team. Jake Allen is set to take over in net while Carey Price figures things out. Youth looks good in Montreal, but its going to take time to build it all together.
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes (108 Points)*
2. New York Rangers (107 Points)*
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (100 Points)*
4. Washington Capitals (98 Points)*
5. New York Islanders (96 Points)
6. New Jersey Devils (89 Points)
7. Columbus Blue Jackets (85 Points)
8. Philadelphia Flyers (76 Points)
There are a few pieces missing from last year squad with the Hurricanes, but they still have enough talent in their core to take a division title. Fredrick Andersen and Antti Raanta are a solid one two punch in net. They added depth with Brent Burns on the back end with Slavin and Skjeiu. Up front, Carolina has Aho and Svechnikov leading a solid and deep group. Even adding Max Pacioretti from Vegas was a huge move to bolster an already solid club. Right on their heels this year are going to be the Rangers. They have the top goalie from last season in Sersterkin and a new backup for him in Jaro Halak. Biggest other addition was adding Vincent Torcheck up front to bolster a pretty good offense that still has Panarin and Zibanijad. Adam Fox anchors that blueline, with new captain Jacob Truba and Ryan Lindgrin. This team from Broadway is going to be very very good and is going to put the most pressure on Carolina for top spot in the division. Another team you can never count out are the Penguins. The core of Crosby, Malkin and Letang are back together again for one more season. The goaltending is solid with DeSmith and Jarry, but who knows if they can pull it off come springtime. They have youth to mix in with the veterans, guys like Rickell, Rust, Zucker and Guentzel. It will be enough to get in, but deep runs is a bit of a worry. When your the Capitals, as long as you still have Alex Ovechkin in the lineup, you always got a chance. In net its going to leave some worry, as I wonder how deep Darcy Kemper can really take this team. You still have Carlson and Orlov leading the blueline. Then they have Ovie up front with Kuznetzov, Mantha, Sheery, Strome and Johansson. They have talent but will it be enough to get there.
Now for the teams on the outside in, the Islanders get us going there. Goaltending looks really good with Sorokin and Varlamov. Back end with Pullock, Pelech and Dobson is going to be good. Adding Romanov at the draft could be a sleeper steal for the Isles if he can pan out. Matt Barzal is locked into a new long term deal, but can they actually get scoring depth around him. Lee and Nelson can. Beauviller is a streaky player and there's questions with Bellows and Wahlstrom and their consistent play. Then there's the Devils, who look like they could be taking steps in the right direction to be a team on the rise. They have Vaneck and Blackwood maning the pipes, and with both guys still young, it gives a lot of hope in net. Subban is gone due to retirement, leaving Hamilton, Smith and Severson as the stalworths on the back end. Up front, Hischier and Hughes are going to be the top dogs for this team for a long time. Add in Palat, Bratt, Sharangovich There's a lot to be hopeful for with this team. Making the biggest splash in the offseason this year was the Blue Jackets. Johnny Gaudreau comes in on a shiny new deal and is going to be worth it and then some. Add in patrik Laine and his potential, along with Jenner and
We got teams coming in with new bench bosses this year. St Louis got the interim tag removed in Montreal. Meanwhile Winnipeg (Rick Bowness), Vegas (Bruce Cassidy), San Jose (David Quinn), Philadelphia (John Tortorella), the Islanders (Lane Lambert), Florida (Paul Maurice), Detroit (Derek Lalonde), Dallas (Peter DeBoer), Chicago (Luke Richardson), and Boston (Jim Montgomery) are all starting the year off with new bench bosses.
So with all that coming down, here's how the 2022-23 season goes down, as we see it.
Western Conference:
Central Division:
1. Colorado Avalanche (115 points)*
2. St Louis Blues (110 Points)*
3. Winnipeg Jets (105 Points)*
4. Minnesota Wild (100 Points)*
5. Dallas Stars (96 Points)
6. Nashville Predators (91 Points)
7. Chicago Blackhawks (79 Points)
8. Arizona Coyotes (70 Points)
It should come as no surprise that the Avalanche win this division, they are the defending champs and didn't lose too many pieces from the end of last season. They changed it up between the pipes adding Alexandar Georgiev as their number one in net. Core of the D with Makar and Toews leading the charge the Avs look pretty good. Up front is still mostly in tact, with Kadri gone and MacKionnion and Landeskog possibly missing time at start of the year, they still deep and in good shape. Then there's the Blues, who are going to have a big bounce back season this year. They have a solid core, lead by Ryan O'Reilly, Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Binnington. They lost David Perron in the offseason, but added Nick Leddy to the mix. Should be a good year in St Louis. As for the Jets, making the playoffs is a good possibility for this club. They got their man in net in Connor Hellebuyck, and now they added a solid backup in David Rittich. Josh Morrissey going to be counted on to carry the load from the blue line, something he hasn't had much trouble doing in recent years. You got plenty to work with up front with Connor, Lowry, Scheifele and trying to get every ounce left out of Sam Ganger. With the Wild, they take a bit of a step back from last season after finishing 2nd in the division. It's still more than good enough for a playoff team this year with Kirill Kaprizov having yet another monster season. They have a very young core and still have Marc-Andre Fleury with something left to prove on a two year deal.
Now the teams that are gonna come up close in this division but miss out, starting with the Stars in Dallas. The core in Dallas is here and with Benn and Seguin still at the top of the offense, it may help keep Dallas close this season, But Dallas didn't really do much to improve while some of the other teams around them got better. And some of the Stars biggest stars aren't getting any younger. Now for the Predators, they locked in Filip Forsberg in for a long term deal, which is one of the smartest moves that the Nashville front office has made. There's positive stuff with Saros starting in net. Still have a solid blueline in Josi and they brought in Ryan McDonagh. They got a young core up front around Forsberg, with Nino, Granlund, and Jeannot. This team could be in the hunt for most of the year. Now is where we get the sharp drop off, because things aren't looking good for the Blackhawks right about now. Biggest loss in Chicago is Alex deBrincat now in Ottawa. They still have Kane and Towes, but both guys are getting a little bit older. There isn't much depth otherwise here and its going to be a long year in the windy city. The only team that could have a rougher season is the Coyotes, who are playing in a college arena for the season. There's no goaltending in the desert this season. Phil Kessel is gone. Clayton Keller, Nick Bjugstad and Nick Schmaltz are providing the offensive firepower for a bad team.
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers (115 Points)*
2. Calgary Flames (109 Points)*
3. Vegas Golden Knights (106 Points)*
4. Los Angeles Kings (101 Points)*
5 Vancouver Canucks (97 Points)
6. Seattle Kraken (90 Points)
7. San Jose Sharks (80 Points)
8. Anaheim Ducks (72 Points)
The facts are, the Oilers have the best player in the game right now in Connor McDavid, and another top five player in Leon Draisaitl. They have a balanced offense with Kane and Heyman and Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton trying to sure up the problems in net by adding Jack Campbell to the mix. The Oilers are deep and balanced enough this should be their division to take. The battle of Alberta won't be over so quickly, as the Flames will be in the mix with the Oilers most of the year. The Flames took some steps backwards. Gaudreau was lost to free agency, Monahan traded to the Canadiens, Tkachuk traded to the Panthers. But they came back with Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar added via trade and Kadri brought in as a free agent. They still a deep team and built well to go on a solid playoff run. And with Markstrom holding down the fort in net, expect good things again this year in Calgary. Its been a good run at the start of the franchise for the Golden Knights. Goaltending could be a problem with Robin Lehnar out hurt to start the year and Aldin Hill starting. But Vegas has a good enough team to make up for some or most of it. They have Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore on the top of their blue line and should do just fine holding down the fort in front of Hill or whoever is in net. Yes Pacioretty is gone, but Phil Kessel is in to replace him, and he might not be as good at producing, he can still provide a bit of a jolt. The core is in tact and there's big things expected again in Vegas. Finally, there's the Kings, who are going to be the only California team to make the playoffs. Sure, they lost some depth players, but the core is still in tact and plenty of talent to go around.
As for the teams that mis out from the Pacific, the Canucks make the strongest push at making the playoffs. And why not with the group they have in Vancouver. They have the best shot to scoop up the outside shot at the playoffs from this division. The offense is loaded, with Miller, Horvat, Besser and Garland. Hughes and Besser lead from the back end and if healthy Markstrom can have a very productive season for the Canucks. In their second year, big steps will be taken in the right direction for the Kraken. Starting in goal they added Martin Jones to back up or split time with Grubauer. They got decent defense lead by Larson and Dunn. Andre Burakovsky was added to bolster the offense, and drafting Shane Wright 4th overall are major additions to this club. Not a playoff team yet, but they will be getting better. Here's where we see the drop off in the division, starting with the Sharks. Here's how you know they moving on for a new era, they traded Brent Burns. Vlasic and Karlsson lead the back end but it got a little harder with Burns not in the picture. Got a solid young core with Hertl, Bonino and Lebanc but the other guys are getting older and aren't being replaced fast enough. Finally, there's the Ducks. Anaheim brought in Strome, Kulikov and Vatrano. Getzlaf no longer in the Pond. Still upside with Gibson and Fowler, but not much else.
Eastern Conference:
Atlantic Division:
1. Florida Panthers (111 Points)*
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (109 Points)*
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (107 Points)*
4. Boston Bruins (100 Points)*
5. Ottawa Senators (90 Points)
6. buffalo Sabres (84 Points)
7. Detroit Red Wings (80 Points)
8. Montreal Canadiens (70 Points)
It still feels a little weird to see the Panthers as the top team in this division, but its possible with this core group. Florida got rid of Huberdeau and Weager, but in that trade brought in Matthew Tkachuk. He's added to a young core with Barkov, Verhage, Bennett and Ekblad. They have Spencer Knight as a solid backup and splitting time with Babrovsky. This is a team that won the Presidents trophy a season ago, and most of that core group is still in tact but they taking a step back this season. Right behind them are a regular season powerhouse in the Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell is gone, Ilya Samsonov replaced him in net. They still have Rilety and Muzzin and Brodie on a solid back end. Scoring won't be a problem in Toronto, with Matthews, Tavares, Marner and now added Jarnkrok at the core of this team. Now the big question is, can this team get it done come playoff time? Then there's the three time defending conference champions the Lightning. Tampa lost McDonagh, Palat and Rutta. They brought in Namestnikov and Cole. Tampa core is still in tact. Stamkos, Kucherov, Killorn, Paul, Hedman, Sergachev, Vasilevskiy. This team is very good and are going to be for a long time. Now there's been a few changes made to the Bruins lineup. They got solid young goaltending in Swayman and Ullmark in net, which is good but may leave a little something to be desired come playoff time. Back end still solid with Carlo, Clifton and McAvoy leading the way. Pavel Zacha was brought in to add more depth up the middle. Hall and Bergeron are going to miss the start of the season due to injury, but when healthy and add them in with Marchand, the Bruins have the talent to make the playoffs.
For a team that's outside looking in, the Senators are on the rise and quickly. Cam Talbot was brought in but will miss start due to injury so Anton Forsberg will start at the beginning of the year. Ottawa bolstered their lineup bigtime around Stuzel and Thakuck. How? Brought in Alex deBrincat and Claude Giroux. bluelinie still needs little bit of work, but there's a good young core in Canada's Capital and its going to get better from here. Goaltending is going to be a of a problem for the Sabres this year, but then again it has been for a while now. Craig Anderson is decent, but won't be the long term answer in Western New York. The blue line looks god and has two stars to build around with Power and Dahlin. Thompson is the emerging star up front, with Cousins and Skinner and Olofsson to work with. They a solid team but haven't quite turned the corner yet. The Red Wings are getting better with that youth core they've built around. Two solid young goalies in Villie Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic. They have very high hopes for Montez Seider on the back end and plan to really be able to build around him. They have solid veteran leadership up front with Larkin and Copp up front and with youth like Suter to build around there is a little hope in the Motor City. Same isn't likely to be said for the Canadiens up in Montreal. Sean Monahan and Mike Matheson both brought in via trades to add depth to this team. Jake Allen is set to take over in net while Carey Price figures things out. Youth looks good in Montreal, but its going to take time to build it all together.
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes (108 Points)*
2. New York Rangers (107 Points)*
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (100 Points)*
4. Washington Capitals (98 Points)*
5. New York Islanders (96 Points)
6. New Jersey Devils (89 Points)
7. Columbus Blue Jackets (85 Points)
8. Philadelphia Flyers (76 Points)
There are a few pieces missing from last year squad with the Hurricanes, but they still have enough talent in their core to take a division title. Fredrick Andersen and Antti Raanta are a solid one two punch in net. They added depth with Brent Burns on the back end with Slavin and Skjeiu. Up front, Carolina has Aho and Svechnikov leading a solid and deep group. Even adding Max Pacioretti from Vegas was a huge move to bolster an already solid club. Right on their heels this year are going to be the Rangers. They have the top goalie from last season in Sersterkin and a new backup for him in Jaro Halak. Biggest other addition was adding Vincent Torcheck up front to bolster a pretty good offense that still has Panarin and Zibanijad. Adam Fox anchors that blueline, with new captain Jacob Truba and Ryan Lindgrin. This team from Broadway is going to be very very good and is going to put the most pressure on Carolina for top spot in the division. Another team you can never count out are the Penguins. The core of Crosby, Malkin and Letang are back together again for one more season. The goaltending is solid with DeSmith and Jarry, but who knows if they can pull it off come springtime. They have youth to mix in with the veterans, guys like Rickell, Rust, Zucker and Guentzel. It will be enough to get in, but deep runs is a bit of a worry. When your the Capitals, as long as you still have Alex Ovechkin in the lineup, you always got a chance. In net its going to leave some worry, as I wonder how deep Darcy Kemper can really take this team. You still have Carlson and Orlov leading the blueline. Then they have Ovie up front with Kuznetzov, Mantha, Sheery, Strome and Johansson. They have talent but will it be enough to get there.
Now for the teams on the outside in, the Islanders get us going there. Goaltending looks really good with Sorokin and Varlamov. Back end with Pullock, Pelech and Dobson is going to be good. Adding Romanov at the draft could be a sleeper steal for the Isles if he can pan out. Matt Barzal is locked into a new long term deal, but can they actually get scoring depth around him. Lee and Nelson can. Beauviller is a streaky player and there's questions with Bellows and Wahlstrom and their consistent play. Then there's the Devils, who look like they could be taking steps in the right direction to be a team on the rise. They have Vaneck and Blackwood maning the pipes, and with both guys still young, it gives a lot of hope in net. Subban is gone due to retirement, leaving Hamilton, Smith and Severson as the stalworths on the back end. Up front, Hischier and Hughes are going to be the top dogs for this team for a long time. Add in Palat, Bratt, Sharangovich There's a lot to be hopeful for with this team. Making the biggest splash in the offseason this year was the Blue Jackets. Johnny Gaudreau comes in on a shiny new deal and is going to be worth it and then some. Add in patrik Laine and his potential, along with Jenner and
We got teams coming in with new bench bosses this year. St Louis got the interim tag removed in Montreal. Meanwhile Winnipeg (Rick Bowness), Vegas (Bruce Cassidy), San Jose (David Quinn), Philadelphia (John Tortorella), the Islanders (Lane Lambert), Florida (Paul Maurice), Detroit (Derek Lalonde), Dallas (Peter DeBoer), Chicago (Luke Richardson), and Boston (Jim Montgomery) are all starting the year off with new bench bosses.
So with all that coming down, here's how the 2022-23 season goes down, as we see it.
Western Conference:
Central Division:
1. Colorado Avalanche (115 points)*
2. St Louis Blues (110 Points)*
3. Winnipeg Jets (105 Points)*
4. Minnesota Wild (100 Points)*
5. Dallas Stars (96 Points)
6. Nashville Predators (91 Points)
7. Chicago Blackhawks (79 Points)
8. Arizona Coyotes (70 Points)
It should come as no surprise that the Avalanche win this division, they are the defending champs and didn't lose too many pieces from the end of last season. They changed it up between the pipes adding Alexandar Georgiev as their number one in net. Core of the D with Makar and Toews leading the charge the Avs look pretty good. Up front is still mostly in tact, with Kadri gone and MacKionnion and Landeskog possibly missing time at start of the year, they still deep and in good shape. Then there's the Blues, who are going to have a big bounce back season this year. They have a solid core, lead by Ryan O'Reilly, Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Binnington. They lost David Perron in the offseason, but added Nick Leddy to the mix. Should be a good year in St Louis. As for the Jets, making the playoffs is a good possibility for this club. They got their man in net in Connor Hellebuyck, and now they added a solid backup in David Rittich. Josh Morrissey going to be counted on to carry the load from the blue line, something he hasn't had much trouble doing in recent years. You got plenty to work with up front with Connor, Lowry, Scheifele and trying to get every ounce left out of Sam Ganger. With the Wild, they take a bit of a step back from last season after finishing 2nd in the division. It's still more than good enough for a playoff team this year with Kirill Kaprizov having yet another monster season. They have a very young core and still have Marc-Andre Fleury with something left to prove on a two year deal.
Now the teams that are gonna come up close in this division but miss out, starting with the Stars in Dallas. The core in Dallas is here and with Benn and Seguin still at the top of the offense, it may help keep Dallas close this season, But Dallas didn't really do much to improve while some of the other teams around them got better. And some of the Stars biggest stars aren't getting any younger. Now for the Predators, they locked in Filip Forsberg in for a long term deal, which is one of the smartest moves that the Nashville front office has made. There's positive stuff with Saros starting in net. Still have a solid blueline in Josi and they brought in Ryan McDonagh. They got a young core up front around Forsberg, with Nino, Granlund, and Jeannot. This team could be in the hunt for most of the year. Now is where we get the sharp drop off, because things aren't looking good for the Blackhawks right about now. Biggest loss in Chicago is Alex deBrincat now in Ottawa. They still have Kane and Towes, but both guys are getting a little bit older. There isn't much depth otherwise here and its going to be a long year in the windy city. The only team that could have a rougher season is the Coyotes, who are playing in a college arena for the season. There's no goaltending in the desert this season. Phil Kessel is gone. Clayton Keller, Nick Bjugstad and Nick Schmaltz are providing the offensive firepower for a bad team.
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers (115 Points)*
2. Calgary Flames (109 Points)*
3. Vegas Golden Knights (106 Points)*
4. Los Angeles Kings (101 Points)*
5 Vancouver Canucks (97 Points)
6. Seattle Kraken (90 Points)
7. San Jose Sharks (80 Points)
8. Anaheim Ducks (72 Points)
The facts are, the Oilers have the best player in the game right now in Connor McDavid, and another top five player in Leon Draisaitl. They have a balanced offense with Kane and Heyman and Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton trying to sure up the problems in net by adding Jack Campbell to the mix. The Oilers are deep and balanced enough this should be their division to take. The battle of Alberta won't be over so quickly, as the Flames will be in the mix with the Oilers most of the year. The Flames took some steps backwards. Gaudreau was lost to free agency, Monahan traded to the Canadiens, Tkachuk traded to the Panthers. But they came back with Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar added via trade and Kadri brought in as a free agent. They still a deep team and built well to go on a solid playoff run. And with Markstrom holding down the fort in net, expect good things again this year in Calgary. Its been a good run at the start of the franchise for the Golden Knights. Goaltending could be a problem with Robin Lehnar out hurt to start the year and Aldin Hill starting. But Vegas has a good enough team to make up for some or most of it. They have Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore on the top of their blue line and should do just fine holding down the fort in front of Hill or whoever is in net. Yes Pacioretty is gone, but Phil Kessel is in to replace him, and he might not be as good at producing, he can still provide a bit of a jolt. The core is in tact and there's big things expected again in Vegas. Finally, there's the Kings, who are going to be the only California team to make the playoffs. Sure, they lost some depth players, but the core is still in tact and plenty of talent to go around.
As for the teams that mis out from the Pacific, the Canucks make the strongest push at making the playoffs. And why not with the group they have in Vancouver. They have the best shot to scoop up the outside shot at the playoffs from this division. The offense is loaded, with Miller, Horvat, Besser and Garland. Hughes and Besser lead from the back end and if healthy Markstrom can have a very productive season for the Canucks. In their second year, big steps will be taken in the right direction for the Kraken. Starting in goal they added Martin Jones to back up or split time with Grubauer. They got decent defense lead by Larson and Dunn. Andre Burakovsky was added to bolster the offense, and drafting Shane Wright 4th overall are major additions to this club. Not a playoff team yet, but they will be getting better. Here's where we see the drop off in the division, starting with the Sharks. Here's how you know they moving on for a new era, they traded Brent Burns. Vlasic and Karlsson lead the back end but it got a little harder with Burns not in the picture. Got a solid young core with Hertl, Bonino and Lebanc but the other guys are getting older and aren't being replaced fast enough. Finally, there's the Ducks. Anaheim brought in Strome, Kulikov and Vatrano. Getzlaf no longer in the Pond. Still upside with Gibson and Fowler, but not much else.
Eastern Conference:
Atlantic Division:
1. Florida Panthers (111 Points)*
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (109 Points)*
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (107 Points)*
4. Boston Bruins (100 Points)*
5. Ottawa Senators (90 Points)
6. buffalo Sabres (84 Points)
7. Detroit Red Wings (80 Points)
8. Montreal Canadiens (70 Points)
It still feels a little weird to see the Panthers as the top team in this division, but its possible with this core group. Florida got rid of Huberdeau and Weager, but in that trade brought in Matthew Tkachuk. He's added to a young core with Barkov, Verhage, Bennett and Ekblad. They have Spencer Knight as a solid backup and splitting time with Babrovsky. This is a team that won the Presidents trophy a season ago, and most of that core group is still in tact but they taking a step back this season. Right behind them are a regular season powerhouse in the Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell is gone, Ilya Samsonov replaced him in net. They still have Rilety and Muzzin and Brodie on a solid back end. Scoring won't be a problem in Toronto, with Matthews, Tavares, Marner and now added Jarnkrok at the core of this team. Now the big question is, can this team get it done come playoff time? Then there's the three time defending conference champions the Lightning. Tampa lost McDonagh, Palat and Rutta. They brought in Namestnikov and Cole. Tampa core is still in tact. Stamkos, Kucherov, Killorn, Paul, Hedman, Sergachev, Vasilevskiy. This team is very good and are going to be for a long time. Now there's been a few changes made to the Bruins lineup. They got solid young goaltending in Swayman and Ullmark in net, which is good but may leave a little something to be desired come playoff time. Back end still solid with Carlo, Clifton and McAvoy leading the way. Pavel Zacha was brought in to add more depth up the middle. Hall and Bergeron are going to miss the start of the season due to injury, but when healthy and add them in with Marchand, the Bruins have the talent to make the playoffs.
For a team that's outside looking in, the Senators are on the rise and quickly. Cam Talbot was brought in but will miss start due to injury so Anton Forsberg will start at the beginning of the year. Ottawa bolstered their lineup bigtime around Stuzel and Thakuck. How? Brought in Alex deBrincat and Claude Giroux. bluelinie still needs little bit of work, but there's a good young core in Canada's Capital and its going to get better from here. Goaltending is going to be a of a problem for the Sabres this year, but then again it has been for a while now. Craig Anderson is decent, but won't be the long term answer in Western New York. The blue line looks god and has two stars to build around with Power and Dahlin. Thompson is the emerging star up front, with Cousins and Skinner and Olofsson to work with. They a solid team but haven't quite turned the corner yet. The Red Wings are getting better with that youth core they've built around. Two solid young goalies in Villie Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic. They have very high hopes for Montez Seider on the back end and plan to really be able to build around him. They have solid veteran leadership up front with Larkin and Copp up front and with youth like Suter to build around there is a little hope in the Motor City. Same isn't likely to be said for the Canadiens up in Montreal. Sean Monahan and Mike Matheson both brought in via trades to add depth to this team. Jake Allen is set to take over in net while Carey Price figures things out. Youth looks good in Montreal, but its going to take time to build it all together.
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes (108 Points)*
2. New York Rangers (107 Points)*
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (100 Points)*
4. Washington Capitals (98 Points)*
5. New York Islanders (96 Points)
6. New Jersey Devils (89 Points)
7. Columbus Blue Jackets (85 Points)
8. Philadelphia Flyers (76 Points)
There are a few pieces missing from last year squad with the Hurricanes, but they still have enough talent in their core to take a division title. Fredrick Andersen and Antti Raanta are a solid one two punch in net. They added depth with Brent Burns on the back end with Slavin and Skjeiu. Up front, Carolina has Aho and Svechnikov leading a solid and deep group. Even adding Max Pacioretti from Vegas was a huge move to bolster an already solid club. Right on their heels this year are going to be the Rangers. They have the top goalie from last season in Sersterkin and a new backup for him in Jaro Halak. Biggest other addition was adding Vincent Torcheck up front to bolster a pretty good offense that still has Panarin and Zibanijad. Adam Fox anchors that blueline, with new captain Jacob Truba and Ryan Lindgrin. This team from Broadway is going to be very very good and is going to put the most pressure on Carolina for top spot in the division. Another team you can never count out are the Penguins. The core of Crosby, Malkin and Letang are back together again for one more season. The goaltending is solid with DeSmith and Jarry, but who knows if they can pull it off come springtime. They have youth to mix in with the veterans, guys like Rickell, Rust, Zucker and Guentzel. It will be enough to get in, but deep runs is a bit of a worry. When your the Capitals, as long as you still have Alex Ovechkin in the lineup, you always got a chance. In net its going to leave some worry, as I wonder how deep Darcy Kemper can really take this team. You still have Carlson and Orlov leading the blueline. Then they have Ovie up front with Kuznetzov, Mantha, Sheery, Strome and Johansson. They have talent but will it be enough to get there.
Now for the teams on the outside in, the Islanders get us going there. Goaltending looks really good with Sorokin and Varlamov. Back end with Pullock, Pelech and Dobson is going to be good. Adding Romanov at the draft could be a sleeper steal for the Isles if he can pan out. Matt Barzal is locked into a new long term deal, but can they actually get scoring depth around him. Lee and Nelson can. Beauviller is a streaky player and there's questions with Bellows and Wahlstrom and their consistent play. Then there's the Devils, who look like they could be taking steps in the right direction to be a team on the rise. They have Vaneck and Blackwood maning the pipes, and with both guys still young, it gives a lot of hope in net. Subban is gone due to retirement, leaving Hamilton, Smith and Severson as the stalworths on the back end. Up front, Hischier and Hughes are going to be the top dogs for this team for a long time. Add in Palat, Bratt, Sharangovich There's a lot to be hopeful for with this team. Making the biggest splash in the offseason this year was the Blue Jackets. Johnny Gaudreau comes in on a shiny new deal and is going to be worth it and then some. Add in patrik Laine and his potential, along with Jenner and Roslovic and you got something brewing up front in Columbus. Goaltending even looks solid with Merzlikins. Its the blue line and lack of depth that worry. Werenski is fine but after that it's not much to go on. Bringing up the rear are going to be the Flyers. Carter Hart is a solid goalie and will be good for a while in the Philly nets. Tony DeAngelo brought in to help out the back end with Ivan Proverov. Up front, JVR, Hayes, Konecny and Atkinson are going to be carrying the load of a weak team.
No comments:
Post a Comment