2011-12 Eastern Conference Preview

2011-10-27

15.Carolina Hurricanes

Last Year: Predicition (14) Actual (14)

The Good: ........................Adam Larsson in the prospect pool? Fail for Nail? Some good role guys up front in Gerbe, Foligno and Kennedy. Goaltending isnt the best but is reliable.

The Bad: Defense is weak. Offense is even weaker with no really shining spots and will be starved to find a goal.

And the Verdict: Hope is coming soon but not soon enough in Carolina. Very weak pro team that will struggle all year. Another top pick for them.

14.Toronto Maple Leafs

Last Year: Predicition (10) Actual (10)

The Good: Ryan Whitney and Bryan Little. They aren't horrible up front but they are far from good.

The Bad: No goaltending, ok defense but they have Andy Wozniewski and Wade Redden. Offense is very weak and will have trouble putting up any offense.

And the Verdict: Not much better than the Canes. Both will be gunning for that 1st overall pick and the bottom of the East.

13.New Jersey Devils

Last Year: Prediction (13) Actual (11)

The Good: Have more future than the Leafs and Canes. Dipietro can win games if he isnt on the IR.

The Bad: Offense bad, defense medicore, goaltending meh. Nothing good happens when Jason Blake is your best forward.

And the Verdict: Its a battle for the basement. Who will win? At least the Devils are ahead of the curve with a good group of prospects.

12.Washington Capitals

Last Year: Predicition (11) Actual (9)

The Good: Defense is solid, have good young players in Alzner and Russell. Morris and Tyutin are solid vets. Have good secondary guys upfront in Simmonds, Wheeler and Berglund.

The Bad: A plague of the East is weak offensive depth, and its no different here. No real offensive threat. Really weak in net, Giguere and Danis wont win them games.

11.Montreal Canadiens

Last Year: Prediciton (9) Actual (2)

The Good: Anze Kopitar and Joe Pavelski gives them an excellent top two centres. Girardi and Boychuk are solid on the blueline.

The Bad: Where art thou wing depth. Cole, Penner and Lupul is all they have, the rest will make you cringe. No goaltending at all, Aebischer and Emery are not who you want when you need a win.

And the Verdict: One of the better teams last year, will have a hard time just making the playoffs this season. Some rough times ahead but they have the talent to win.

10.Tampa Bay Lightning

Last Year: Predicition (8) Actual (12)

The Good: Pekka Rinne is a beast in net and Craig Anderson is an excellent backup. The defense is young and very good. Dave Bolland and Colin Wilson upfront are great young players.

The Bad: Offensive depth really kills this team. They don't have any players that you can count on to score goals.

And the Verdict: Will have to press to win low scoring games all year. If Rinne holds up, they have a chance at the playoffs.

9.New York Rangers.

Last Year: Predicition (1) Actual (1)

The Good: Defense is very good and keeps them in games. New addition in net Jimmy Howard is good and will win games.

The Bad: Trading Steckel and Koivu really kills their centre depth. The offense depth on the bottom lines isnt that strong. Up front they have good players but not good enough to be the better team most nights.

And the Verdict: Recent trades show the team going down a different path. But knowing Phil this picture can change drastically in no time at all.

8. Winnipeg Jets

Last Year: Predicition (2) Actual (3)

The Good: Have a good mix on their D with guys in their prime, vets and youngsters. Alfredsson is old but good, Erikkson and Briere will provide good offense.

The Bad: Depth is weak but not horrible upfront. The goaltending is very weak with the departure of Brodeur. Biron and Hedberg are no the answer.

And the Verdict: One of the better teams in the East the last few years has a new home in Winnipeg. Goaltending is really going to hold them back.

7.New York Islanders

Last Year: Predicition (5) Actual (4)

The Good: Last years champs still have a lot going for them. Their defense is very strong led by Meszaros and Streit. They have 4 strong forward lines and a good young goalie.

The Bad: The offense is solid but they dont have a real threat on the wings. They have a good future in net but how reliable it is at the time being is a question mark.

And the Verdict: The defending champs are going to fall off a little bit this year, but are still a good team and will challenge.

6. Buffalo Sabres

Last Year: Predicition (15) Actual (15)

The Good: What a difference a year can make. Have two excellent forward lines with especially with the addition of Joe Thornton. The D is young but has lots of potential and is really good even now. Ondrej Pavelec is solid in net.

The Bad: The inexperience in some of their D hurts. Khabby as the backup can still win games but is getting old and not as reliable.

And the Verdict: A much better team compared to last year. Should be fighting for a playoff spot all year.

5.Ottawa Senators

Last Year: Predicition (7) Actual (8)

The Good: Adding two top tier wingers in Nash and Kovalchuk this summer was huge. Already had Backstrom and Weiss down the middle and have the wingers to help them now. Doughty is a stud on defense.

The Bad: Lacking depth on the wing after their top guys. Pascal Leclaire is a huge question mark in net and could cost them some games.

And the Verdict: Have the talent to be one of the better teams in the East, just dont have the depth or the goaltending to match.

4.Philadelphia Flyers

Last Year: Prediction (6) Actual (7)

The Good: Very good top depth on the wings. Having Selanne, Neal and Lucic shows that they have all speed, size and skill up front.Vinny Lecavalier and David Krejic are a great 1-2 punch down the middle. Defense is a little older but very good all around. Tim Thomas is a stud in net.

The Bad: A little weak on their bottom line. They need a backup goaltender as Timmy is old and needs someone to shoulder the load.

And the Verdict: One of the better teams in the East this year. Have a lot of good assets and will be pushing for the stanley cup this year.

*3.Florida Panthers

Last Year: Prediction (12) Actual (13)

The Good: Everything...........oh wait I did that last year. Top two lines are solid led by Getzlaf and Backes. Defense got a huge add with the veteran Lydman to help the younger cast. Crawford is solid in net.

The Bad: No scoring depth on the bottom two lines except for Ennis. Bottom pairing D is not the best and can get beat. Mason is a big question mark as the backup.

And the Verdict: A team that has had a top 5 pick every year under GM Wilson. Though with no 1st this year it is expected that the team will spend all year fighting for the playoffs.

*2. Boston Bruins

Last Year: Prediction (3) Actual (5)

The Good: Have 3 really good deep lines up front, led by captain cool Jonathon Toews. Have one of the best D in the league with Shea Weber not to mention solid cast with Subban and Martin. Top notch goaltending with Miller and Neuvirth.

The Bad: 4th line is very weak, will easily get less than 5 minutes a game. A little old on the backend of their D.

And the Verdict: A team that is looking to build on last years success. Will be looking to make that extra push this year to the top of the standings.

*1.Pittsburgh Penguins

Last Year: Predicition (4) Actual (6)

The Good: An amazing defense that can shut you down and score goals is their greatest strength. Carey Price and Martin Brodeur in net is just unbelievable. And Sidney Crosby upfront with Kessel, Kulemin and Gaborik gives this team a lot of good pieces. Armstrong and Clutterbuck in the bottom 6 provide grittiness and offense.

The Bad: A little bit thin in their bottom 6 but nothing determential. Team is very similar to the Leafs?

And the Verdict: Built from top to bottom no real weaknesses in this team. If they hold well and have no major injuries, they are a cup favourite.

30	174
Panthers	1
Stars	2
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30	175
Flyers	2
Bruins	4
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30	176
Kings	7
Blackhawks	3
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30	177
Capitals	4
Blue Jackets	2
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