Atlantic Division:
1. Tampa Bay(x)
2. Toronto (x)
3. Buffalo (x)
4. Ottawa
5. Montreal
6. Florida
7. Boston
8. Detroit

Metro:
1. Pittsburgh (x)
2. Washington (x)
3. Carolina (x)
4. New York Rangers (x)
5. Philadelphia (x)
6. Colombus
7. New Jersey
8. New York Islanders

(x)=playoff spot

The biggest underdog in this is Carolina in the obviously tougher Metro division. I think that everyone is sleeping on the Sabres in a weak division. (yes I know I am a Buffalo fan thank you very much) With the strong Metro and weak Atlantic, I see the Metro taking both wild card spots. NJ and NYI fail on depth IMO. Any questions?

Boston at 7 and below Florida?

How close in points do you have the metro teams at? Because well I agree it is entirely possible for Carolina to make the playoffs, I don't have them in 3rd. I also think Columbus is going to regress (other than their insane win streak they were pretty average) I still think they make the playoffs in a wild card spot. I think it is going to be a very close race for the 3rd spot in the metro and the two wildcard spot.

I just think the gritty play style is going to be inferior. With a young top Dman and an aging Rask, not sure they are going to fair well in a fast paced eastern conference. Also I think Florida is slept on a little.

I just think the gritty play style is going to be inferior. With a young top Dman and an aging Rask, not sure they are going to fair well in a fast paced eastern conference. Also I think Florida is slept on a little.

The Islanders aren't a cup contender or anything but they won't be last in the division ...

As you said, very close in the Metro. I honestly think Carolina sneaks in. I'm not as confident with Colombus and torts.

I totally agree on Columbus, They were average with a really good couple weeks. It complete depends on how Bob plays. I don't think I've seen a player get the coach fired in what 7 games? The Torts came in and the difference was he didn't have just someone wearing a Bobrovsky jersey, he has had Bobrovsky. My big question is how much Panarin is going contribute, because I don't think Torts will like his play style (Being a Chicago fan and knowing Panarin does not block many shots or is really hard nosed in the corner).

You're correct. They will be 2nd last.

Tampa (x)
Toronto (x)
Ottawa (x)
Boston (x)
Montreal
Buffalo
Florida
Detroit.

Pittsburgh (x)
Colombus (x)
Washington (x)
Carolina (x)
Rangers
Philadelphia
Islanders
New Jersey

Tampa Bay (x)
Toronto (x)
Montreal (x)
Boston
Ottawa
Buffalo
Florida
Detroit

Pittsburgh (x)
Washington (x)
NY Rangers (x)
Columbus (x)
Carolina (x)
Philadelphia
Islanders
New Jersey

Haven't we had 30 other threads exactly like the one already?

Try 1000. and guess who created the majority?

I love the Sabres to make the third spot in the Atlantic. I love the trade with Minnesota, Buffalo got the two best players in the deal. Scandella should really let Ristolainen's game explode, and they have a better 1-2 C punch than arguably anyone else in the division.

I do think Columbus is going to be in the playoffs, and I don't see the Flyers making it either. Biggest beef I have with this list is having Boston so low. I think they'll be fourth in the division, and certainly not below Florida

Fair. Columbus and Philly can go either way in my opinion. I may or may not have a grudge against the bruins....

May want to watch some B's pre-season tape, they are a very fast team now, in fact probably the fastest Boston team we've seen in years. They're not the big bad Bruins that everyone thinks of. They still play a more physical game, but they've add more speed with some of these young guys.

1. Tampa Bay (x)
2. Montreal (x)
3. Toronto (x)
4. Buffalo
5. Ottawa
6. Florida
7. Boston
8. Detroit

1. Columbus (x)
2. Pittsburgh (x)
3. Washington (x)
4. NY Rangers (x)
5. Carolina (x)
6. Philadelphia
7. NY Islanders
8. New Jersey

Buffalo or Carolina take 2WC.

3rd last is probably the worst they'll do ... NJ and Philly are worse.

1 Buffalo (x)
2 Montreal (x)
3 Tampa Bay (x)
4 Toronto
5 Ottawa
6 Boston
7 Detroit
8 Florida

1 Washington (x)
2 Pittsburgh (x)
3 Columbus (x)
4 NY Islanders (x)
5 NY Rangers (x)
6 Carolina
7 Philadelphia
8 New Jersey

Yeah, i know, you all think i'm crazy for my predictions about Buffalo, Toronto, and the Isles but i'm willing to explain my reason for Buffalo and Toronto (and not the Isles cause i've explained too many times).

tampa X
toronto X
Montreal X
Boston X
ottawa
buffalo
florida
detroit

Pittsburgh X
Washington X
Columbus X
Rangers X
Philly
Carolina
Islanders
devils

No need to explain. It probably won't make much sense anyway.

1. Tampa Bay (x)
2. Boston (x)
3. Toronto (x)
4. Montreal (x)
5. Ottawa
6. Buffalo
7. Florida
8. Detroit

1. Pittsburgh (x)
2. Washington (x)
3. NY Rangers (x)
4. Columbus (x)
5. Carolina
6. Philadelphia
7. NY Islanders
8. New Jersey

Please do explain them. I love Buffalo this year, but over Tampa? And how the hell is Toronto going to miss the playoffs?

Atlantic
1. Tampa
2. Toronto
3. Buffalo
4. Boston
5. Montreal
6. Ottawa
7. Florida
8. Detroit

Metro
1. Columbus
2. Washington
3. Pittsburgh
4. NY Rangers (WC1)
5. Carolina (WC2)
6. Philadelphia
7. NY Islanders
8. New Jersey