Quoting: EthanK24
Since Pittsburgh, Columbus, Washington, New York Rangers, Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Toronto are almost certainly locks for the playoffs, who will the last team be?
In my opinion Pittsburgh is really the only lock in the East. All the other teams could lose one player and easily not make the playoffs.
Columbus could easily make the playoffs if Bobrovsky gets injured.
Washington lost a lot of key pieces and I think their cup window is already closed.
I think the Rangers window to win the cup has also already closed, if neither Zibanejad or Miller prove that they can be a #1 C or Lundqvist doesn't improve from last season they could easily not make the playoffs.
If Price gets injured I think it's extremely unlikely that Montreal make the playoffs, even with him I really don't like their defense and they could definitely miss the playoffs.
I would have said the Tampa was a lock to make the playoffs last year, but the didn't so I wouldn't say they are a lock this year.
Toronto's defence is still very questionable and an injury to Rielly or Andersen would make it very hard for them to make the playoffs.
My predictions for the Eastern standings would be:
1. Pittsburgh
2. Toronto
3. Tampa Bay
4. Columbus
5. Washington
6. Florida
7. Rangers
8. Philadelphia
9. Ottawa
10. Montreal
11. Boston
12. Carolina
13. Buffalo
14. Islanders
15. New Jersey
16. Detroit