Team: 2020-21 Custom Team

Initial Creation Date: Oct. 31, 2020

Published: Nov. 1, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Predictions for the "Canadian Division" as the teams now stand.

#1 (MTL) --This is a bit of a crazy prediction. I may be a bit biased on this one (as a PIT fan) who saw a far superior team beat by a bunch of grinders and a hot goalie but I love the additions this team has made. Add Tiffoli, Extend Gallagher, Allen can take a bunch of starts so a rested Price is a dangerous Price. subtract a not needed, 4th line relegated Domi and add in a "if healthy" power forward in Anderson. this team has potentially 3 2nd lines and 1 3rd line. the big 3 D are great and the others are good enough. they don't have superstars but Suzuki and KK certainly have high ceilings. I love Danault as well and he gives MTL a great 1/2/3 punch down the middle.

#2 (TOR) --Popular opinion is that the leafs got tougher, got a better bottom-6, and improved the D. Brodie is a nice add but I don't like Bogosian there. he could be like TBL, but more likely like BUF buyouts. he may be buoyed but I doubt it as he won't have a star beside him on the 3rd pairing and the forwards in front of him aren't pretty (bottom-6). Speaking of said bottom-6....the leafs REPLACED kyle Clifford with Wayne Simmons. NOT tougher. Clifford is strictly a stiff grinder. Simmons is a "has been a power forward with goals". not anymore, this isn't 2016 people. no one should be scared of Simmons anymore. he's old and washed up IMHO. having 4 decent (emphasis decent) goalies can't hurt but they are an injury away from a mix of Campbell/dell/hutchinson playing against McDavid, Draisaitl, Pettersson, Connor, Scheifele, wheeler, gaudreau, Monaghan, etc...

#3 (EDM) --once again a team that will try to outscore mistakes. that works in the regular season to some extent (see Toronto) and by that I mean it might get them playoffs but it won't get them 2nd round hockey. too top heavy. I don't like their goaltending at all. they could slip further down.

#4 (CGY) --This team continues to look good on paper and continues to underwhelm with mediocre playoff letdowns. I'm sick of predicting they'll finish top-3. even with Markstrom and tanev IDK if they can turn a corner. The stars have to shine.

#5 (WPG) --This ranking could change based on a potential Laine swap BUT for now, the top-6 is great, the Goalie is great, but the defense is ok at best. I like the add of Stastny but I wonder about their depth.

#6 (VAN) --This is the young team that could have taken a huge step forward with the right moves. but the "right moves'' were nowhere to be found. Holtby has regressed big time after the cup win in 2018. IDK if demko is legit or not. Tanev played with Hughes. who does now that he's gone? Tiffoli was such a great add for them and now he's gone. the young players may take another developmental year. I'm sorry to predict a low finish for them. I really like their young core.

#7 (OTT) --aside from seemingly overpaying alot of people recently (murray, c. brown, white) I like the pieces they added from the draft. they will stink but not as bad as some think probably. I wonder why they added Dadonov. I don't really see them contending in the next 3 years...why not overpay for he or Hoffman on a 1 yr. deal to flip them at the deadline??? I hope Murray can rebound and find himself again--just not when playing us (PIT).