As promised here is my attempt to give predictions for the rest of the Eastern Conference before I break down the Atlantic.
Today we look at the SouthEast Division. Here were last years standings:
|
Team
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
OTL
|
Points
|
Goals For
|
Goals Allowed
|
|
Atlanta
|
43
|
28
|
11
|
97
|
246
|
245
|
|
Tampa Bay
|
44
|
33
|
5
|
93
|
253
|
261
|
|
Carolina
|
40
|
34
|
8
|
88
|
241
|
253
|
|
Florida
|
35
|
31
|
16
|
86
|
247
|
257
|
|
Washington
|
28
|
40
|
14
|
70
|
235
|
286
|
Let’s attack these teams one at a time.
Atlanta
Unrestricted Free Agents: LW J.P. Vigier, LW Cory Larose, D Andy Delmore.
Re-Signings: RW Brad Larsen, D Steve McCarthy, LW Pascal Dupuis (1-year, $880,000 contract), F Slava Kozlov (3-year, $11 million contract), D Garnett Exelby (multi-year contract), LW Eric Boulton, RW Jim Slater (2-year, $1.55 million contract).
Notable Additions: C Todd White (Wild, 4-year, $9.5 million contract), Chris Thorburn (Penguins - trade), LW Eric Perrin (Lightning 2-year, $1.5 million contract), D Ken Klee (Avalanche, multi-year contract), C Alexandre Giroux (Capitals, multi-year contract).
Notable Subtractions: LW Keith Tkachuk (Blues), RW Jon Sim (Islanders), D Greg de Vries (Predators), C Eric Belanger (Wild), D Shane Hnidy (Ducks), D Andy Sutton (Islanders).
Outlook: The Thrashers won the division last year only to be manhandled by the Rangers. In fact the only 2 teams that made the playoffs from this division, the Thrashers and Lightning, both got defeated by better Atlantic Division teams. This is not surprising. This division is incredibly weak, despite sporting 2 of the last 3 Stanley Cup Champions. The Thrashers will be decidedly weaker this year. With no additions of note, and suffering some fairly noticeable losses, particularly from the team that suited up in the playoffs, the Thrashers will be lucky to break 90 points this year. Expect a firing or 2 in Atlanta, with Waddell, who sacrificed their future by pushing for their quick playoff appearance last year likely to be on the hot seat, and coach Hartley who also made questionable decisions, not far behind.
Tampa Bay
Unrestricted Free Agents: D Nolan Pratt, LW Rob DiMaio, LW Eric Healey.
Re-Signings: D Shane O’Brien (2-year, $2 million contract), F Jan Hlavac (1-year contract), F Nick Tarnasky (2-year contract), F Kyle Wanvig (1-year, two-way contract), D Paul Ranger (3-year contract).
Notable Additions: F Chris Gratton (Panthers - trade), RW Michel Ouellet (Penguins, 2-year, $2.5 million contract), D Brad Lukowich (Devils, 3-year, $4.7 million contract).
Notable Subtractions: D Cory Sarich (Flames), LW Eric Perrin (Thrashers), LW Ruslan Fedotenko (Islanders), D Luke Richardson (Senators).
Outlook: These guys will score goals. We all know it. They have the epitome of a top heavy team. They have their big 3 who rival any other 3 forwards on any other team. They also have a stud defenseman, who is ridiculously underrated in Dan Boyle. The question is, can the bottom part of this top heavy team, which includes their goaltender, keep pace. My guess would be enough to make the playoffs but not much else. You don’t win in the playoffs without defense and goaltending. Getting rid of Cujo killed these guys, and you saw it last year when Ranger reject Johan Holmqvist looked flat out terrible against a very beatable New Jersey Devils team.
Carolina
Unrestricted Free Agents: RW Anson Carter, D David Tanabe, RW Shane Willis, RW Jesse Boulerice, C Josef Vasicek.
Re-Signings: F Scott Walker (3-year, $7.5 million contract).
Notable Additions: C Matt Cullen (Rangers - trade), G Michael Leighton (Canadiens - trade), D Wade Brookbank (Bruins, 1-year contract).
Notable Subtractions: D Andrew Hutchinson (Rangers).
Outlook: The Canes probably should have made the playoffs last year. However a horrendous start to their season due mainly to a ridiculous string of injuries really hampered their ability to do so. With these guys it all comes down to goaltending. If Ward is on, their offense is definitely dangerous enough to win them games. If Ward is terrible like he was for much of last year, they don’t stand a chance. I’m leaning more towards last years Ward being the actual Ward, rather than the Stanley Cup winning Ward of 2 years ago. They will miss the playoffs by a point or two, and Ward will be a goat.
Florida
Unrestricted Free Agents: G Jean-Marc Pelletier, RW Juraj Kolnik.
Re-Signings: RW Nathan Horton (6-year, $24 million contract), D Bryan Allen (5-year, $14.5 million contract), G Craig Anderson (2-year, $1 million contract), C Jozef Stumpel (2-year, $4.5 million contract), C Stephen Weiss (6-year, $18.6 million contract)
Notable Additions: F Richard Zednik (Islanders, 2-year, $3.25 million contract), F Brett McLean (Avalanche, 3-year, $5.1 million contract), G Tomas Vokoun (Predators - trade), RW Radek Dvorak (Blues, 2-year, $3.1 million contract).
Notable Subtractions: F Chris Gratton (Lightning), LW Martin Gelinas (Predators), D Alexei Semenov (Sharks), G Alex Auld (Coyotes), G Ed Belfour (Leksands - Sweden).
Outlook: Adding Tomas Vokoun was a coup-de-tat for the Panthers. They add an elite goaltender to a very good, young team. More importantly the Panthers will get a full season to play under Jacques Martin, a phenomenal hockey guy, and they get more time to forget what Mike Keenan taught them. Keenan might be the most overrated coach in history, riding the coattails of Mark Messier to fame in New York, and showing a consistent inability to maintain healthy relationships with his players. Negativity is infectious, getting away from Keenan will help this team a lot. I expect them to be far more competitive, though just missing the playoffs. A definite improvement should be expected.
Washington
Unrestricted Free Agents: D Bryan Muir.
Re-Signings: D Steve Eminger, C Brian Sutherby, F Chris Clark (3-year, $7.9 million contract extension), D John Erskine (2-year, $1.75 million contract).
Notable Additions: D Tom Poti (Islanders, 4-year, $14 million contract), C Viktor Kozlov (Islanders, 2-year, $5 million contract), C Michael Nylander (Rangers, 4-year, $19.5 million contract), C Joe Motzko (Ducks, 2-year contract).
Notable Subtractions: Kris Beech (Blue Jackets).
Outlook: Worst to First? It’s possible, and I think it’s going to happen. Last year I predicted Washington would be around the top of the division, and I was wrong, I’m hoping that doesn’t happen 2 years in a row. The addition of Nylander, and rookie sensation (and my predicted Calder winner) Backstrom should spell a complete turnaround for the Caps. You have to admit it, they did things right in Washington. They are doing it with youth, and a heckuva coaching staff. These kids play hard, and never ever give up. It really is a joy to watch kids grow up before your eyes, and with Alex the great and Semin already establishing themselves as stars the Caps are well on their way to being a legitimate threat.
Thoughts
I think this will be a tough division, in that all the teams are roughly as good as each other, however just because all the teams are even doesn’t mean all the teams will be very good. Youre going to see a frantic push by the bottom teams to make the playoffs, and some questionable deadline deals from a lot of these teams. Nobody is safe, nobody is the clear cut winner, and nobody is the clear cut loser. Put names in a hat, pick out your standings, and they could be right. There is just no telling with this division. Yet, with all that said, I still feel this is as good a prediction as you are going to see. Washington and Tampa will make it, barely. The rest will not.
Projected Final Standings
|
Team
|
Points
|
|
Washington
|
95
|
|
Tampa Bay
|
94
|
|
Carolina
|
92
|
|
Florida
|
88
|
|
Atlanta
|
86
|
-Inferno