Expectations

I can't remember for sure if we were talking about this before, but I thought I might bring it up since I've been thinking about it. What does everyone expect for this upcoming season? What are you going to consider a successful season? Personally I would see finishing btn 10th and 8th in the conference as being a successful season. I just wanted to see where everyone else's thoughts lay.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Inferno on July 9, 2009 at 8:15pm: right now im going...
1)Philly (i dont think they are done, they have pieces to go and get a good goalie)
2)Boston
3)Washington
4)Pittsburgh
5)Carolina
6)Devils
7)Rangers
8)Tampa Bay
9)Montreal
10)Atlanta
11)Ottawa
12)Buffalo
13Toronto
14)Islanders
15)Florida; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by speak2planets on July 9, 2009 at 8:32pm: I think you have Carolina & Jersey a little high and the Islanders a little low. I really think the Isles will do pretty well this season. They made some pretty good moves and will definately not be 30th next season. I think the Thrash will be in the top 8 as long as we get a few more people signed (Kari & Army mostly) I just have a feeling that our Russians will be strong this year (Kovy, Anthro, Slava).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by TwistedWrister82 on July 10, 2009 at 3:11am: Philly signed Boucher and Emery, they are done for goalies.They're solid but not top in the East by any means. The Penguins should be top three in the east along with Carolina and Boston.

1)Boston <--- Chara, Thomas, and a good complement of forwards
2)Pitt<--- lost Scuderi/Gill/and most likely Sykora but signed MikeRupp/Jay McKee/Guerin/and GoGo will become a wonderful offensive defenseman to compliment McKee and Gonchar should be there the whole season
3)Carolina<-- nothing really changed in the off season
4)Devils <--- Brodeur and the defense first system
5)Rangers <--- Lundqvist can steal games but can they play better in their own end
6)Montreal <--- still have the talent to get in
7)Philly<--- lack of goaltending
8,9,10)Florida <---- we'll see how much JayBo meant to the Panthers
8,9,10)ATL <--- if they can get 50-60games out of Kari and sign Army have a shot at the playoffs
8,9,10)Capitals <--- loss of Kozlov/Fedorov/Brashear who's going to protect AO from his runs at players?
11,12) Buffalo <-- Ryan Miller
11,12) Islanders <--- best mix of youth and veterans but goaltending is the question
13)Ottawa <-- still have a scoring punch and decent D
14)Toronto <--- basically the Flyers in terms of toughness with no scoring depth.
15)TB <---- no goaltending and only josef melichar who played 39 games was a EVEN for the year, the rest of the D were minuses; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Thrashfan01 on July 10, 2009 at 6:54am: Dude hats off for posting this, we are going to tear it apart but good idea.

1.Philly - They are in cap hell. They have to move a COUPLE of pieces and those will be good players who leave bcause other GMs know they are in cap hell. This is too high. NHL goalie is the most important position in sports and they are counting on ....Ray Emerey? Finish 5th.

2. Boston - Solid top three.

3. Washington - Maybe the best team in the east.

4. Pittsburgh - If they stay healthy and do not have the hang over top three.

5. Carolina - Just keeps on getting older. Finish 8th

6. Devils - This is the year of the big drop. They lose Gionta and Madden, Colin White is a shadow of what he once was. Those are important pieces. Think 10th.

7. Rangers - If Lundqvist stays healthy this is about right.

8. Tampa - Smith is yet to stay healthy in the bay and Hedman is currently thier #1 defenseman. Ohlund is a nice pickup and #2 but the members of that blueline are either bad, inexperienced or just a bit over the hill. At best TB will finish 11th.

9.Montreal - They will get off to a slow start because of all the new pieces. 9 is about right.

11. Ottawa - What a hot mess. I think if Leclair is not healthy they are sunk. 12th

12. Buffalo - about spot on here

15. Florida might finish above Tampa again

I see us finishing 6th. Our young guys took thier lumps last season. This year there are better pieces and more experience. We just have to stay healthy.

Inferno said:
right now im going...
1)Philly (i dont think they are done, they have pieces to go and get a good goalie)
2)Boston
3)Washington
4)Pittsburgh
5)Carolina
6)Devils
7)Rangers
8)Tampa Bay
9)Montreal
10)Atlanta
11)Ottawa
12)Buffalo
13Toronto
14)Islanders
15)Florida; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Inferno on July 10, 2009 at 3:31pm: i dont think Philly is done with goalies..lets also not forget that this team is an offensive beast, now is also a defensive beast, all they are missing is goaltending...and Emery backstopped a team to the cup final a few years ago so hes got some potential..with that said, i still think they are going to make a move for a goalie....and right now, im thinking Kari Lehtonen might be their target...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Thrashfan01 on July 10, 2009 at 4:25pm: And the cost for Kari would be Jeff Carter. They would have to get some level of cap relief and would see around 2.5 mil per if Kari makes roughly 4 mil per we all expect him to. Carter seems like a player any other team would never give up but in order to get a goalie of Kari's caliber they will have to give up talent and possibly a pick.

I do not really see this trade happening but I do think you are right, Philly has to address the situation in goal.

Inferno said:
i dont think Philly is done with goalies..lets also not forget that this team is an offensive beast, now is also a defensive beast, all they are missing is goaltending...and Emery backstopped a team to the cup final a few years ago so hes got some potential..with that said, i still think they are going to make a move for a goalie....and right now, im thinking Kari Lehtonen might be their target...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Inferno on July 10, 2009 at 8:16pm: goalies have really low value, youre not getting a 40 goal scorer for Lehtonen, not by a long long long long shot. But you probably could get Briere, and a prospect to take on his salary, which might be worth while if you think the kid is ready.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dj Nowhere on July 11, 2009 at 12:33am: I just wanted to amend my original post now that the draft and FA is for the most part over. Before I saw us finishing between 10-8 in the conference, but now I see us finishing between 9-7. Yea, I know it's not really a big difference but I guess what I'm saying is that now I see us just barely missing out on the playoffs like 05-06 or being in their in the 7th or 8th spot. Based on where we were starting the 07-08 season, I'd say that's a drastic turn around. I really do see this team building something that's going to make us formitable for years to come.; ▶ Reply to This