as a flames fan that hasnt enjoyed or watched much the north division outside of the flames since day 1, you could easily convince me that ottawa is the best team in the league with the way they have taken the flames to the wood shed.

Since the trade deadline, Ottawa leads the entire NHL in save %. Something like 95% of 5v5 shots stopped. They just need to adding dead weight in the pursuit of toughness like they did last off season. If they can add one solid defensive D to play with Mete, and a good 2nd line C to go with Stützle and Dadonov, I think they can really take step. They won't get the ridiculous goaltending they've been getting, but the seem to have turned a corner under Zach Bierk. I think they can get a season of average goaltending next year.

The ironic part about Ottawa is, if it was still a 3 team nhl of the leafs, habs, and sens like it was at the nhl's start, the sens would win the stanley cup