This team is easily in the 80-85 point realm.

Don't you have a different place to be toxic?

Is mittlstadt getting any better? I only see two buff games a year mostly and i feel like this team is in dire need of secondary scoring

Just like with any team, all it takes is a little luck. If a couple guys breakout, yeah this team can make it. Not 1st but maybe a WC spot.

Considering the moves the teams have made below or a few Ws above them in their conference you’re probably not going to be wrong. Same goalies, better on the right hand D, and Johansson, Vesey up front.

I say slightly better than last year maybe 80.

Tampa +- 115 pts
Boston +- 105 pts
Toronto +- 100 pts
Florida +- 99 pts
Buffalo +- 87
Mtl +- 80
Det +- 2
Ott +- 1 pts

I think the d should be at least average now with the upgrades. Which should help the goalies. The depth scoring and adding real depth at center is still tbd- if mittelstadt doesnt take a huge step it could cost a bunch of points. Vesey and johansson just isnt enough of an upgrade up front for a one line team. Players can improve of course, especially young ones. I think 72 is low, but it would show that- not enough was done up front, the d are an upgrade but not enough of an upgrade, the young players didnt take a step, and the new coach didnt get it done. Which falls on the gm. And it doesnt help that everybody above us seemingly got better.

This is what I love about NHL. You just don’t know. Last year people were saying Blues weren’t making playoffs, last year people said MTL will be in the bottom 3. Anaheim was apparently “Cup contender” “Vegas is making the finals no doubt” Like you just never know lol.

From the beginning of the season, I had expected the Blues to be cup contenders after adding Peron, Bozak and O'Reilly, it took Binnington to make it a playoff team then a cup champion.
Their first 40 games were a shocker to everyone in the hockey world.
I do expect the Sabres to be much better than last year, but I do not expect them to make the playoffs.
If Bales can do his magic with Ullmark and Hutton, if the bigger Mittelstadt can play up to his billing, if the UFA's and RFA's (Rodrigues, Sheary, Vesey, Montour and more) all elevate their game looking for contracts next year, they could be in the hunt until March.

With coaching changes , Additions made and core players a year older , wiser and stronger . I say 87 - 93 points and playing relevant games into late March.