2019-2020 Preseason Standings Predictions

[Handsome&FairMike]

Gents,
Time for the annual pre-season standing rankings. Keen to see where everyone thinks they fit.
This won't be as in detail as some of our GM/team rankings, but figured I'd get the ball rolling here... enjoy.

ATLANTIC
1. Buffalo Sabres - The champs continue their reign... ?4-peat?
2. Toronto Maple Leafs - new GM, cap-crunched, but too much talent not to be challenging BUF.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning - solid top to bottom.
4. Florida Panthers - Don't love the goaltending, but C's could carry this team to playoffs.
5. Boston Bruins - slow decline continues... lacks depth but still some nice pieces.
6. Ottawa Senators - Will likely edge DET and challenge BOS/FLA with the forward complement, but season could hinge on Byfuglien's decision. Back end is gonna need some help.
7. Detroit Red Wings - Continues to be decent, but consistency will be an issue to crack playoff contention
8. Montreal Canadiens - rebuild continues with a push for a top draft pick.

METROPOLITAN
1. Washington Capitals - If Bishop can remain healthy for the season, WSH should regain top spot.
2. Philadelphia Flyers - Does Koskinen help or hurt the goaltending? Definitely get to GP. Should again challenge for the division title.
3. New Jersey Devils - Solid development continues with a rise up the standings. Should likely get a playoff spot over PIT/NYI
4. Pittsburgh Penguins - Solid peripherals and goaltending will have PIT being a nuisance in the Metro. Scoring will hold them back. Playoffs in their future but little more.
5. New York Islanders - Often dismissed too early, this may be the first year playoffs are missed in a long time for the Islanders... Should battle FLA/BOS/OTT for the 2nd wildcard.
6. New York Rangers - Detroit of the Metro... some solid pieces but not enough to challenge for playoffs.
7. Columbus Blue Jackets - Could Kopitar rebound and Binnington carry CBJ to challenge for WC2? ... unlikely.
8. Carolina Hurricanes - will the GM actually keep his 1st overall?! Your guess is as good as mine...

PACIFIC
1. Los Angeles Kings - Boss will continue to Boss. Easy division crown and top Cup challenger.
2. Edmonton Oilers - should score in bunches but will Lehner have a repeat performance?
3. Vancouver Canucks - very well balanced squad, but lack of depth may bite them in the arse.
4. Calgary Flames - solid squad, should continue to compete while putting together a massive prospect pool.
5. Anaheim Ducks - some big offseason moves with a full year from Willy could have this squad knocking on the playoffs... Defence and goaltending continue to be a soft spot.
6. Vegas Golden Knights - Lack of goaltending and depth will hold back the knights. May need the GM to make some moves to get this team into the playoffs.
7. San Jose Sharks - Should challenge VGK and ANA for WC2 spot. Scoring will ballast this squad while peripherals will sink it. Needs a move or two to shore up the backend.
8. Arizona Coyotes - Solid team with a couple good bounces couple move up the standings - team just not well balanced enough. A lot could rest on Grubauer.

CENTRAL
1. Nashville Predators - The AHL team may beat half of our league... nuff said. But still not sure they will get the Cup.
2. Dallas Stars - Powerhouse for sure - will they be cap compliant prior to start of the season?
3. Minnesota Wild - Solid as solid can be. Will be in contention for division title.
4. Colorado Avalanche - Less solid than Minne but still solid. Goaltending is the glaring concern. Gonna be a battle to get into the playoffs
5. Winnipeg Jets - Steady group but lacking depth... would moving one of his starting goalies provide a boost to the roster?
6. St. Louis Blues - Should have no trouble staying ahead of Chicago but little more than that... looking forward to the lottery.
7. Chicago Blackhawks - should challenge Carolina for the 1st overall pick.

Stanley Cup Predictions:
East:
1. Buffalo Sabres
2. Washington Capitals
3. Philadelphia Flyers
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
5. Tampa Bay Lightning
6. New Jersey Devils
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
8. Florida Panthers

West:
1. Los Angeles Kings
2. Nashville Predators
3. Dallas Stars
4. Edmonton Oilers
5. Minnesota Wild
6. Vancouver Canucks
7. Calgary Flames
8. Colorado Avalanche

West Final - LAK vs DAL
East Final - WSH vs BUF
SC Final - DAL vs BUF
SC Champion - DAL (...someone has to dethrone the champs)

[Da_Hawks]

Def on track to finish dead last again. The lotto watch is always the best/worst part of the season!

Standings look good to me. Always some surprises/break-out players/injuries than can wreak havoc on an entire season. Part of the excitement!

Good luck to everyone, except Nashville. Nobody wants to see them win.

[Sensfanjosh]

Nice work, love the write ups.

[Shep]

Nice write-up!

[Bruyns]

Thanks Mike, always appreciate when ppl take time to add to the league like this.

One tiny little mistake, I'm actually going for 4 straight this year.

[Handsome&FairMike]

Thanks Mike, always appreciate when ppl take time to add to the league like this.

One tiny little mistake, I'm actually going for 4 straight this year.

Good jesus... 4 in row? Go fack yourself lol.

[CasperX22]

Don't see Thom winning the Metro unless you believe Bishop repeats last season. Even if he does repeat...

Nice right up though.

[Fraser]

Thanks love these.

I'll finish ahead of Edm watch me. And I'd bet on that if anyone wants to have a dip.

My BBKL career has built toward this year. This is the year I take down Steve in round 2.

[thom54]

The division is mine. I agree

[Matthew]

Thanks love these.

I'll finish ahead of Edm watch me. And I'd bet on that if anyone wants to have a dip.

My BBKL career has built toward this year. This is the year I take down Steve in round 2.

You better do it this year or next, cuz after that divisions mine.

[Arian The Insider]

Nice write-up.

I have a feeling my team will start out slow so I can see myself slipping to 5th, although I also started slow last year and took 4th

[Loki]

Nice work, curious to see how far I can get in the Metro this year, this seems like a reasonable prediction

[kyuss]

Good luck to everyone, except Nashville. Nobody wants to see them win.

good to know lol

[Fraser]

Mik let it be known I'd rather Team Europe win than Matt 4peating

[Tony]

Mik let it be known I'd rather Team Europe win than Matt 4peating

My Italian blood would agree.

[Bruyns]

lol I'm sure most ppl would prefer a new champ. I've gotten lucky squeezing out B2B close wins against Steve or he would be the one with the dynasty.

[CasperX22]

I'd rather see a 4-peat

[kyuss]

That was never in question

[Matthew]

Atlantic
1. Buffalo Sabres - The Sabres have essentially stayed the same, while all other top teams seem to have either made no significant improvements or regressed. With 3 straight under his belt, seems like the safest bet to take down a 4th BBKL championship.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning- Finished 2nd in the division last year, and it won't be close this year. With Toronto doing a mini-rebuild its all tampa, and with guys such as Steel, Anderson-dolan, and Appleton they may even be able to catch Buffalo.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs- will finish 3rd in the division unless he goes full rebuild.
4. Florida Panthers- better centers than Boston, and decent wingers probably put them ahead of Boston.
5. Boston Bruins- not as deep as Florida,but has some good wingers.
6. Detroit Red Wings- sort of sitting in between. May be able to grab a 2nd wildcard spot, but likely finishes just outside. Possibility for rebuild given his star centers are 33 and 34.
7. Ottawa Senators- was looking closer to a playoff team than he had been in a few years, but then buff potentially retired. If buff decides to play another season or two then ottawa may end up in front of Detroit.
8. Montreal Canadiens - Fully rebuilding so will likely get a top 5 picks...most interesting story about his season will be what he gets for werenski/montour/keller.

Metropolitan
1. Philadelphia Flyers- I think the Flyers take this division pretty easily. Deep at all 3 skaters slots.
2. New Jersey Devils- he'll be adding. some key pieces (letang/thomas/hughes) this season. 2nd/3rd in this division should be close, but gimme pettersson over Coyle any day.
3. Washington Crapitals- Safe to get at worst 3rd in this division. adds Hughes, but doubt zibby repeats last season.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins - I put Pittsburgh here mostly based on their bigperiphs on the back end, and a balanced attack up front. He will hope Glass can fill in for Patrick until the center returns (if ever!). I feel this team probably takes down the 1st wildcard spot.
5. New York Islanders- Probably the dagger in the chest stopping NY from having a chance vs pitty is moving Glendening and losing his periods. Probably stays in front of the blue jackets due to having a deeper team. Keep an eye on Frost.
6. Columbus Blue Jackets- This team has been developing some nice talent, but lacks the depth of some of the other wild card teams. Will need to make a few trades to put himself in contention for the playoffs.
7. New York Rangers- one all star line and not much depth. Will need to make some moves to surround this group and could even bolster himself into a wildcard spot in the weak east.
8. Carolina Hurricanes- I put him here cuz he wouldn't trade me marchessault.

1. Buffalo (A1)
2. Philadelphia (M1)
3. Tampa Bay (A2)
4. Toronto (A3)
5. New Jersey (M2)
6. Washington (M3)
7. Pittsburgh (W1)
8. Florida (W2)
..............................
9. New York (I)
10. Boston
11. Columbus
12. New York (R)
13. Detroit
14. Ottawa
15. Carolina
16. Montreal

[thom54]

Great post Matthew, this probably got lost in the hectic time of year

Like fuck am I finishing 3rd , zibs has a new all star ppg winger