Projected League Standings + Playoffs + Draft (all teams) - Thoughts?

Team: 2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 3, 2018

Published: Sep. 3, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

These are not necessarily based on hard evidence, just where I think teams are, and where they will be.
Lineup below is a leafs projected lineup on day 1.

Atlantic:
Z-TOR: 111p - Leafs step up in regular season, Tavares shoots for a 100 point season, and the D core step up big time (zaitzev rebounds).
X-TBL: 108p - Takes step back in regular season, but goes deep in post season.
X-FLA: 101p - Bobby Lu pulls another rabbit out of the hat and plays well, Reimer gets 35 games to give Lu a breather and also does well. Hoffman gets along well in FLA and the team rockets up the standings. Barkov gets league wide recognition.
X-BOS: 100p - Takes a step back in points, younger players really hit their stride. Will return big time next year.
BUF: 84p - New room and good off season moves plus a calder candidate in Dahlen lead this team to a better year.
DET: 79p - Whether the gm likes it or not, this team is tanking. Kids take step up, vets and inconsistent goal tending let them down.
MTL: 76p - The room is destroyed and the culture is a bust, needs that 1C badly. Price keeps them from being a total joke and steals games, but they finish low, go for Hughes.
OTT: 73p - The tire fire continues to burn as the culture is destroyed by bad management and discontent players. Duchene and Stone walk, likely Karlsson too. Watch for deadline trades.

Metro:
Y-PIT: 106p - Angry they missed the 3-peat, storm back to win the division.
X-WSH: 103p - Takes a small step back in the dog fight that is the metro, holds steady in a top position with a good season.
X-PHI: 99p - Takes a step forward in the skating team, goalies let them down.
X-CBJ: 96p - Contract situation and uncertain future distracts team, still do relatively well. Look for deadline pickups to make use of final year of their superstars.
NJD: 95p - Hall regresses to only being a damn good hockey player and rest of team takes step forwards, just misses thanks to metro being a war.
CAR: 93p - Darling rebounds to league average (ish) with Mrazek holding the fort playing 30+ games. Aho plays C and could turn into the #1 they need.
NYR: 85p - You can't keep this team down, not with the King in net, they have a decent year but finish low thanks to being in the metro.
NYI: 71p - Still on the backfoot after losing JT, Barzal regresses in point totals while imporving in overall play thanks to a weaker team and tougher competition. Tank year. Keep drafting well and you should return in a few years.

Central:
P-WPG: 119 - Win the presidents trophy with a massive season, odds on favourite to win the cup. Laine ties Ovi for the Rocket and takes a step forward playing on the first line. Look for WPG to pick up Duchene at the deadline to make an all in push for the cup. This is their year.
X-STL: 105: - A strong off season gives good centre depth to go with some good wings. WPG runs away with it but STL sticks in top of division. Allen is slightly above league average and management starts to look for future replacements.
X-DAL: 101p - A rebound season and a motivated Seguin gun for the playoffs. Bishop is nothing special, but steady in net, and the depth players out perform to push them over the top. Look for regression next season and management do nothing to add to depth.
X-NSH: 99p - Takes a huge step back in the standings, team still plays well. Always a dark horse for playoff success.
COL: 95p - Mackinnon regresses in points, though not in play as he leads this team well. Will just miss, next year will return to playoffs.
MIN: 95p - Misses the playoffs and has a rough season. Look for a potential retool here.
CHI: 76p - Crawford is not healthy to start season and okay doesn't cut it in the Central. Ageing stars continue to decline while younger players keep a steady pace. Tank year.

Pacific:
Y-SJ: 103p - A steady season brings on a division win in the weak Pacific. Kane brings down the locker room culture and Merkley is a head case. End of an era with this team as they try and fail once more to reach their ultimate goal.
X-LA: 101p - Kovalchuk looks bad to start season and he struggles to get his feet under him. Rebounds mid season and gets 25+ goals. Team stays steady as Quick goes for the Vezina.
X-CAL: 98p - Team makes playoffs with new renewed vigour, Smith is just above average and is saved by skater core. Neal fails at #1RW and team looks to add at deadline. I expect they pick up McElhinney from the Leafs to back up Smith and Stone from the Sens to be the number 1 RW and make a playoff push.
X-VGK: 96p - Regresses in points as the team falls down to earth. Karlsson regresses and the team is just average. Teams pick apart the young D-core and go side to side to beat Fleury (a la Washington in the SCF).
ANH: 93p - Ageing stars and more injures lead to a regression. Solid future ahead, don't expect them to be out long.
EDM: 87p - Talbot cannot rebound fast enough as the Oilers continue to waste McDavid's youth. The D-core is suspect at best, Talbot is just average and the forward core is made up of 3 guys and the local rec league.
ARI: 85p - A strong off season leads me to expect they will jump in points, but not necessarily the standings. Team is on the right course, keep going. Galch is mediocre at centre but rebounds in terms of goals. Habs look stupid.
VAN: 69p - A tank year to get Quinn's brother. The Sedins leave a big hole and the kids really have to step up. Young guys develop well but vets and everything else lets them down.

Overall standings: (Teams with equal point totals I have ranked by who I think will have a better year)
1: P-WPG - 119
2: Z-TOR - 111
3: X-TBL - 108
4: Y-PIT - 106
5: X-STL: 105
6: X-WSH -103
7: Y-SJ - 103
8: X-FLA - 101
9: X-LA - 101
10: X-DAL - 101
11: X-BOS - 100
12: X-NSH - 99
13: X-PHI - 99
14: X-CAL - 98
15: X-VGK - 96
16: X-CBJ - 96
17: COL - 95
18: MIN - 95
19: NJD - 95
20: CAR - 93
21: ANH - 93
22: EDM - 87
23: ARI - 85
24: NYR - 85
25: BUF - 84
26: DET - 79
27: CHI - 76
28: MTL - 76
29: OTT - 73
30: NYI - 71
31: VAN - 69

Playoffs: (cutoff is 96p in both conferences)
East Round 1: (w means won series, left side means home ice advantage)
(w)TOR v CBJ
(w)PIT v BOS
(w)TBL v FLA
(w)WSH v PHI

West Round 1:
(w)WPG v VGK
SJ v NSH(w)
(w)STL v DAL
LA v CAL(w)

East Round 2:
TOR v TBL(w)
(w)PIT v WSH

West Round 2:
(w)WPG v STL
(w)NSH v CAL

East Round 3:
(w)TBL v PIT

West Round 3:
(w)WPG v NSH

Stanley Cup Finals:
(w)WPG v TBL

I'll be honest, I have no clue who wins that final. I'd be rooting for WPG to bring Lord Stanley home.

Most Likely Draft Order:
1: VAN
2: NYI
3: OTT
4: MTL
5: CHI
6: DET
7: BUF
8: NYR
9: ARI
10: EDM
11: ANH
12: CAR
13: NJD
14: MIN
15: COL
16: CBJ
17: VGK
18: CAL
19: PHI
20: BOS
21: DAL
22: LA
23: FLA
24: WSH
25: STL
26: SJ
27: TOR
28: NSH
29: PIT
30: TBL
31: WPG