isles are gonna finish top 3 in metro with a high pdo and then we get to repeat the process again next summer

I wanted to put them in over Pit but I feel like Crosby and Malkin will always have them at least in the playoffs even without a deep run. I think Carolina and Wash will be in again and I think Alain Vigneault leading that Philly roster will be extremely dangerous... and Florida should finally be good enough for a wild card at minimum. East is going to be bananas this year when you also factor in the potential for NYR, NJD, BUF, and MTL to all be in the hunt down the stretch....

Agree on the Flyers making the playoffs. Niskanen, a full year of Hart, a contract year for Couturier, and a bounce back from JVR make them one of the most improved teams this summer.

Why Pittsburgh over New Jersey? It seems like you're saying both Pittsburgh and Phoenix both won the Kessel trade. I'm guessing Pittsburgh won it, but whether that's enough to keep them ahead of NJ and Carolina? I don't know.

Boston in 2nd, I'd be surprised.

I'm just saying its hard to bet against Crosby and Malkin...I originally didn't put them in to make it but I feel like it would be hard to confidently say that any of these other teams are going to be better...even without Kessel. I like Galchenyuk to have a good year still on the wing of one of those two guys. And you'd be surprised if Boston comes in second- meaning you think they'll be worse, I assume? where do you get that idea

Chicago snubbed. We were damn close to getting in last season and you could easily argue that we have improved in all areas this offseason.

(Forwards- better bottom six, and forward depth… Carpenter, Kampf, Shaw, Smith etc…)
(Better defense: Matta, De-hann, room for a defense prospect.)
(Goaltending: Duo of Crawford and Lehner)

At the very least we are better than Arizona, provided Hossa stats on LTIR

true

I'm happy that people that aren't fans of the Flyers realize that they had a pretty decent summer and should be pretty good next year. Couturier still has 3 years left on his contract but it is a contract year for Patrick and he'll have a lighter load since he's going to be 3C.

stacked offense, as a NYR fan I think Hayes will be a great add (although 7 is a lot). Defense is looking strong too. Plus everyone seemed to agree that they already had high potential, and with AV this squad could go deep. I don't want them to lol but everything seems to be looking good for this year. Best case 1st place worst case wild card IMO

I agree that Hayes will be a good add and he got 7 because he said Philly wasn't his first choice and they needed to get it done before free agency. He probably would have gotten around 6.5-6.75 on the open market so yeah it's an overpay but not by too much.