I think youre overrating Coyotes and Panthers.

You and I are basically on the same page.

I think you are really under estimating the Senators & Rangers tbh

So Montreal, who had 3 more points in 2 more games than buffalo gets better because they traded domi for josh anderson and buffalo gets worse after trading for eric staal and signing taylor hall?

If Ullmark doesnt perform and those D stink it up, it could be a long year.

Canadiens have a better defense and goalie, Buffalo may have a good start to there season but I think It will crash in the 2nd half

Senators will still be a Lottery team at least for next season

The Sharks core is aging and they don't have a good goalie, and Arizona has a young team and 2 good goalies.

i assume Arizona will find themselves just out of a playoffs spot by the deadline and will become sellers with 4 rentals

Decent overall, I'd swap the Flames and Canucks though, Flames have improved significantly imo by bolstering their D and especially in net, and Canucks have taken a step back (Schmidt is better than Tanev but they lost Toffoli and Leivo which hurts fheir forward depth and replaced Markstrom with Holtby, who I don't think will be great if the Canucks continue to give up a ton of shots). I also think the Habs are a little high but idk how to rank 4-7 in that division because Florida got worse and while Buffalo got better up front, their defensive flaws are still staggering and Dahlin can't play 60 minutes a night, so it could turn out like that, with all of them ultimately missing the dance. I do think the Metro takes both wildcards (Pens missing is certainly a hot take but one I can respect, it'll be a tough fight with the Jackets for that 2nd wildcard).

and even when they crashed, they were still about the same and thats with no taylor hall, no eric staal, jeff skinner having his worst year by a mile. the idea that they will be worse with the same defense and same goaltending and phenominally better offense is....something.

I agree they are a lottery team. but do I think they are 7th in an Atlantic Division bad? That has really not changed a ton besides BUF having Hall? Think about it this way BUF has been SO bad the last 2 years they had hit the 40 point mark @ 30 games twice & still missed the playoffs by 10+ points in a reg 82 game season. I’d say OTT got sneaky good this year with the development of their young prospects & addition of FA signings/trade

Agreed on VAN and CGY. VAN finished 3rd last year and is expected to be worse; CGY finished 4th last year and is expected to be about the same / slightly better. I don't see VAN vaulting to 2nd.

If EDM gets the same level of goaltending that they did last year they could challenge VGK for the division title, as they have improved a bit while VGK likely lost some ground.

I think if EDM stops thinking Smith is good and rides Koskinen they might be a bit better, but Barrie doesn't help them defensively and their PP was already elite (plus losing Klefbom will hurt). Turris stabilizes 3C which is good though. Overall I see them about the same, don't think they can touch Vegas with a full season of Lehner in net, plus Pietrangelo (who is an upgrade on Schmidt). Losing Stastny shouldn't be too much of an issue if Stephenson, Reaves, and Tuch stay playing extremely well in the bottom six and Glass steps up into the 2C role like he should.

San José will be better and everyone will act surprised when its super predictable in reality

Vegas lost their 2C and their 3C. That's huge.