Post by hockeyfreak (Hurricanes GM) on Aug 16, 2011 1:34:18 GMT -5
Pre Season Power Rankings!
And just like that, the DHL enters it's second season. Furious off season trading and a mad free agent frenzy leaves for an unpredictable sequel to DHL Season 1. But here I will predict the unpredictable! So while the usual suspects still hope to be in the hunt, while others have decided to blow it up completely, here is to a second season to be better than the first.
#30: Phoenix Coyotes
The Coyotes had a milestone this summer drafting the new face of the franchise in Parjeet Lilja. However, the rest remains a work in progress. Another developmental year lurks in the distance for the Yotes. Expect to see them come on hot late in the year as their youth develops, but having rested dormant over the off season, dont expect much from this team to start.
#29: Columbus Blue Jackets
Few teams can compete with the high end talent that the Jackets have in Crosby and Malkin, but for now, there is not much in the way of support to keep this team in the hunt next season. They are a few top four defenders short of having some greater expectations. For now, all they have is a hope and a prayer that Crosby and Malkin enter God mode and carry this team. Otherwise, it could be a long season in Columbus.
#28: Colorado Avalanche
The Avs have made strides in the off season, but their dependance on Matt Duchene could prove to be too much to bare. Without any other top flight offensive threats, the Avs will withstand another bottom of the barrel season until Mikhail Grigorenko becomes NHL ready. But when he does, that Grigorenko/Duchene tandem could create a high flying offense especially given the boost that a defender like Cam Fowler can provide. When the Avs make it through this season, it should be smooth sailing ahead, though.
#27: Minnesota Wild
While the Wild made tremendous progression in the off season by acquiring Jordan Eberle, Carey Price and drafting Nail Yakupov, they still have a ways to go in terms of development. Their offense is still underwhelming, and their defense, while potent, is still developing. In a years time, maybe we can expect more out of this team, but for now, they'd be best to see what another lottery pick can do for them.
#26: Dallas Stars
The Stars are very much a work in progress as well. Not much seems to be going on in terms of development however. With John Tavares running the show, there may be something to cheer about, but the rest of the show seems to be very dull. No light at the end of this tunnel until they can find some stable ownership and some back up for Tavares.
#25: Florida Panthers
Another team that hasnt seemed to attract much star power. With Gagner, Voracek and Gudbranson, not all is bad in Miami, though. Another development year here as well, but this one needs a long term fix. Without a high pick in this draft, the Panthers dont have any super star talent to be hopeful for after this year either. The current talent should be able to put together a respectable year, but any hopes for a playoff birth seem to be over before it even starts.
#24: Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks seem very much content to keep the status quo. Built around Claude Giroux, the Ducks dont have much star talent to keep him company however. Hopefully Nazem Kadri can turn himself into a top notch talent. For now, the Ducks faithful should be patient and wait for Ryan Murray to become their savior. Maybe not this season, but the Ducks do have a lot to be hopeful for.
#23: Edmonton Oilers
Moving on from last place last year, the Oilers have a very sturdy core around Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Parise. The trio should be able to carry the team for stretches, but they will need a lot more help if they hope to make the playoffs. A good start here, but not close to a finish product, we hope.
#22: Ottawa Senators
The Sens have made leaps and bounds in their development this off season. With the drafting of Andrew Watson, the Sens management hopes to have found their franchise defender. But for now, their defense is severely lacking. While their forwards can hold the fort, they just cant be a playoff team with such a weak D core at the current time.
#21: Calgary Flames
The first real off the board shot in the dark here. The Flames have another D core that seems suspect. With six puck moving defenders and no defenseman capable of playing a shut down game, the Flames will be relying on a run and gun offense to keep them alive. Iginla and Lecavalier could very well provide a spark, but the support behind them could be the downfall of the Flames. Although with Miikka Kiprusoff manning the twine, anything is certainly possible.
#20: Montreal Canadiens
The Habs took measures to create an offense capable of carrying the team. With a star studded top line featuring Thomas Vanek, Daniel Briere and Marian Hossa, the Habs could surprise this season. But the real problems lay behind the center line. Trading Carey Price and PK Subban could turn out to be their poison pill. At least last season, they had a stud goaltender to bail them out of trouble. But now with not much talent to support Ryan Suter and a questionable starter in Sergei Bobrovsky, this is a team that could be very hit or miss.
#19: New York Rangers
The Rangers seemed content to keep the status quo as well. Too bad for them, though, the rest of the league got better. Built with a solid defense core in John Carlson, Oliver Ekman Larsson and Michael Del Zotto, the Rangers have a good foundation, but they lack the secondary scoring depth behind Bobby Ryan to make any real noise next season. If the Rangers want to get better, they need to start making moves that fill the holes in their lineup.
#18: Tampa Bay Lightning
Traded Henrik Zetterberg for a less than spectacular return, but with Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers, the Lightning could just as easily be in the playoffs as out. The Lightning have no prime time scorers, however, and that could be a huge obstacle for them to over come. Ryan Miller will have to be incredible just to keep the Bolts' playoff hopes alive.
#17: Winnipeg Jets
The Jets, on the receiving end of the Zetterberg deal, could turn some heads this season as long as they get top notch goaltending from Roberto Luongo. The Jets made a questionable move to deal Evander Kane, but bringing in a veteran with an elite skill set like Zetterberg can be a huge benefit for the young talent that the Jets have amassed. However, with many rookies projected to be in the lineup, Winnipeg could very easily find themselves in the cellar next season.
16: Nashville Predators
The Predators are a team that seems hard to predict. While they have an impressive core built around Jeff Skinner, Pavel Datsyuk and Andrei Markov, the rest of their team seems to be lacking in one way or another. With shaky goaltending after the trade of Pekka Rinne, the Predators will have to fight for a playoff spot and could just as easily find themselves golfing in April. Without much defensive depth behind Markov and very uncertain goaltending, the Predators will have very much to prove on opening day.
Thanks for reading, rankings 15-1 will be released tomorrow
And just like that, the DHL enters it's second season. Furious off season trading and a mad free agent frenzy leaves for an unpredictable sequel to DHL Season 1. But here I will predict the unpredictable! So while the usual suspects still hope to be in the hunt, while others have decided to blow it up completely, here is to a second season to be better than the first.
#30: Phoenix Coyotes
The Coyotes had a milestone this summer drafting the new face of the franchise in Parjeet Lilja. However, the rest remains a work in progress. Another developmental year lurks in the distance for the Yotes. Expect to see them come on hot late in the year as their youth develops, but having rested dormant over the off season, dont expect much from this team to start.
#29: Columbus Blue Jackets
Few teams can compete with the high end talent that the Jackets have in Crosby and Malkin, but for now, there is not much in the way of support to keep this team in the hunt next season. They are a few top four defenders short of having some greater expectations. For now, all they have is a hope and a prayer that Crosby and Malkin enter God mode and carry this team. Otherwise, it could be a long season in Columbus.
#28: Colorado Avalanche
The Avs have made strides in the off season, but their dependance on Matt Duchene could prove to be too much to bare. Without any other top flight offensive threats, the Avs will withstand another bottom of the barrel season until Mikhail Grigorenko becomes NHL ready. But when he does, that Grigorenko/Duchene tandem could create a high flying offense especially given the boost that a defender like Cam Fowler can provide. When the Avs make it through this season, it should be smooth sailing ahead, though.
#27: Minnesota Wild
While the Wild made tremendous progression in the off season by acquiring Jordan Eberle, Carey Price and drafting Nail Yakupov, they still have a ways to go in terms of development. Their offense is still underwhelming, and their defense, while potent, is still developing. In a years time, maybe we can expect more out of this team, but for now, they'd be best to see what another lottery pick can do for them.
#26: Dallas Stars
The Stars are very much a work in progress as well. Not much seems to be going on in terms of development however. With John Tavares running the show, there may be something to cheer about, but the rest of the show seems to be very dull. No light at the end of this tunnel until they can find some stable ownership and some back up for Tavares.
#25: Florida Panthers
Another team that hasnt seemed to attract much star power. With Gagner, Voracek and Gudbranson, not all is bad in Miami, though. Another development year here as well, but this one needs a long term fix. Without a high pick in this draft, the Panthers dont have any super star talent to be hopeful for after this year either. The current talent should be able to put together a respectable year, but any hopes for a playoff birth seem to be over before it even starts.
#24: Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks seem very much content to keep the status quo. Built around Claude Giroux, the Ducks dont have much star talent to keep him company however. Hopefully Nazem Kadri can turn himself into a top notch talent. For now, the Ducks faithful should be patient and wait for Ryan Murray to become their savior. Maybe not this season, but the Ducks do have a lot to be hopeful for.
#23: Edmonton Oilers
Moving on from last place last year, the Oilers have a very sturdy core around Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Parise. The trio should be able to carry the team for stretches, but they will need a lot more help if they hope to make the playoffs. A good start here, but not close to a finish product, we hope.
#22: Ottawa Senators
The Sens have made leaps and bounds in their development this off season. With the drafting of Andrew Watson, the Sens management hopes to have found their franchise defender. But for now, their defense is severely lacking. While their forwards can hold the fort, they just cant be a playoff team with such a weak D core at the current time.
#21: Calgary Flames
The first real off the board shot in the dark here. The Flames have another D core that seems suspect. With six puck moving defenders and no defenseman capable of playing a shut down game, the Flames will be relying on a run and gun offense to keep them alive. Iginla and Lecavalier could very well provide a spark, but the support behind them could be the downfall of the Flames. Although with Miikka Kiprusoff manning the twine, anything is certainly possible.
#20: Montreal Canadiens
The Habs took measures to create an offense capable of carrying the team. With a star studded top line featuring Thomas Vanek, Daniel Briere and Marian Hossa, the Habs could surprise this season. But the real problems lay behind the center line. Trading Carey Price and PK Subban could turn out to be their poison pill. At least last season, they had a stud goaltender to bail them out of trouble. But now with not much talent to support Ryan Suter and a questionable starter in Sergei Bobrovsky, this is a team that could be very hit or miss.
#19: New York Rangers
The Rangers seemed content to keep the status quo as well. Too bad for them, though, the rest of the league got better. Built with a solid defense core in John Carlson, Oliver Ekman Larsson and Michael Del Zotto, the Rangers have a good foundation, but they lack the secondary scoring depth behind Bobby Ryan to make any real noise next season. If the Rangers want to get better, they need to start making moves that fill the holes in their lineup.
#18: Tampa Bay Lightning
Traded Henrik Zetterberg for a less than spectacular return, but with Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers, the Lightning could just as easily be in the playoffs as out. The Lightning have no prime time scorers, however, and that could be a huge obstacle for them to over come. Ryan Miller will have to be incredible just to keep the Bolts' playoff hopes alive.
#17: Winnipeg Jets
The Jets, on the receiving end of the Zetterberg deal, could turn some heads this season as long as they get top notch goaltending from Roberto Luongo. The Jets made a questionable move to deal Evander Kane, but bringing in a veteran with an elite skill set like Zetterberg can be a huge benefit for the young talent that the Jets have amassed. However, with many rookies projected to be in the lineup, Winnipeg could very easily find themselves in the cellar next season.
16: Nashville Predators
The Predators are a team that seems hard to predict. While they have an impressive core built around Jeff Skinner, Pavel Datsyuk and Andrei Markov, the rest of their team seems to be lacking in one way or another. With shaky goaltending after the trade of Pekka Rinne, the Predators will have to fight for a playoff spot and could just as easily find themselves golfing in April. Without much defensive depth behind Markov and very uncertain goaltending, the Predators will have very much to prove on opening day.
Thanks for reading, rankings 15-1 will be released tomorrow