NHL 2022-23 Atlantic Division Preview: Can anybody problem the highest 4?

Views: 354

Is there a stronger division in hockey? Probably not, sports activities followers.

No staff had extra common season wins final yr than the Florida Panthers, whereas the second- and third-seeded groups within the Atlantic, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, went toe-to-toe in Round 1 of the 2022 playoffs, and 7 video games later, the Maple Leafs — house owners of the fourth-best report in hockey — had been out, whereas the Lightning went on to the Final.

Looking forward to this season, on prime of the front-runners who’re set as much as contend once more, groups who discovered themselves decrease within the Atlantic standings final season made strikes this summer time to enhance their inventory, solely making this powerful division even more durable.

Let’s check out all eight groups, in alphabetical order.   

BOSTON BRUINS

2021-22 season final result: 51-26-5, fourth within the division; misplaced to Carolina in first spherical of the playoffs.

Notable low season roster additions: Pavel Zacha, A.J. Greer, David Krejci

Notable low season subtractions: Erik Haula

The excellent news: In the low season, the Bruins re-signed captain Patrice Bergeron, top-of-the-line two-way gamers within the sport, who at age 37 was mulling retirement. His return is big. They’ll additionally see the return of David Krejci, who went house to the Czech Republic final season to be nearer to his household. It means the core of this dynamic group remains to be in tact, together with David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Taylor Hall up entrance, and top-of-the-line defenders within the sport in Charlie McAvoy on the blue line.

Boston additionally boasts a strong one-two punch in internet with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, a pair of 20-somethings who final season mixed for the fourth-best GAA throughout the league (2.66) and who now have playoff expertise. Many of those Bruins have been collectively a very long time, and in what is probably going their final likelihood at a run collectively, they’ve the expertise and loads of incentive to make it occur.

The unhealthy information: The Bruins are arrange for a tough begin, as a result of they’ll be with out two of their greatest stars to open the season. Marchand (each hips) and McAvoy (shoulder) had low season surgical procedure, and neither participant is predicted again within the lineup till November or December. Defenceman Matt Grzelcyk additionally begins the season on the shelf after low season shoulder surgical procedure.

That’s actually not the way you need to open the yr, so it’ll be as much as the Bruins to climate an early storm, and so they’ll even have to take action below a brand new coach in Jim Montgomery. Most not too long ago an assistant in St. Louis, Montgomery was employed in the summertime after the Bruins fired Bruce Cassidy, who’d been the coach in Boston for seven seasons.  

BUFFALO SABRES

2021-22 season final result: 32-39-11, fifth within the division; missed playoffs.

Notable low season roster additions: Ilya Lyubushkin, Eric Comrie, Riley Sheahan

Notable low season subtractions: Cody Eakin, Dustin Tokarski, Drake Caggiula, Colin Miller, Aaron Dell, Mark Pysyk, John Hayden, Will Butcher

The excellent news: This is a younger staff, and there have been encouraging outcomes from a number of the older core gamers, whereas a crop of kids within the system proceed to develop.

Last season, the Sabres over-achieved, as a result of many put them on the very backside of this division. Jeff Skinner had 33 objectives — his most in three seasons — and fellow ahead Tage Thompson, who paced the Sabres with 38 objectives, hit a career-high there, and likewise in assists and whole factors, with 68. Thompson is simply 24 years outdated, so there’s loads of upside there. On the blue line, 21-year-old Rasmus Dahlin additionally had offensive career-highs, with 53 factors in all. Encouraging indicators, to make sure.

On prime of that, the Sabres have some creating younger draft picks like defenceman Owen Power, who’s 19, and 20-year-old ahead Jack Quinn. There’s lots to love about this staff’s future, and coach Don Granato, who took over in June of final yr, has been getting lots out of this staff.

The unhealthy information: The Sabres have missed out on the post-season for 11 straight seasons, and with a deal with constructing slowly, whereas there’s a lot to love about what this staff may seem like down the street, the playoffs don’t look to be in attain this season but once more.

The Sabres didn’t make any massive splashes within the low season, so in need of all of the prospects creating forward of schedule, that is shaping as much as be one other season with extra losses than wins.  

DETROIT RED WINGS

2021-22 season final result: 32-40-10, sixth within the division; missed playoffs.

Notable low season roster additions: Andrew Copp, Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, Ville Husso, David Perron, Dominik Kubalik

Notable low season subtractions: Sam Gagner, Danny DeKeyser, Thomas Griess, Marc Staal, Calvin Pickard, Thomas Greiss, Mitchell Stephens, Riley Barber

The excellent news: Detroit completed out of the playoff image and under .500 for the sixth straight season, however GM Steve Yzerman and the entrance workplace went to work over the low season, giving the staff the brand new look it wanted. That contains behind the bench with new head coach Derek Lalonde, who spent the final 4 years profitable back-to-back Cups in Tampa Bay as an assistant.  

Copp provides the offence a lift, and he’ll slot in because the second-line centre — the Michigan native had 53 factors final season (with the Jets and the Rangers), and his manufacturing can be a welcome addition up entrance for the Red Wings, who had been paced offensively by No. 1 centreman Dylan Larkin (69 factors) and Tyler Bertuzzi (62). This staff fared poorly when it got here to objectives towards final yr, and Husso — top-of-the-line goalies obtainable in free company— together with Chiarot and Maatta, ought to assist enhance these numbers.

Second-year gamers Moritz Seider on defence (50 factors as a Calder-winning rookie), and Lucas Raymond (57 factors) may also be key contributors as they proceed to develop. Detroit’s sixth general decide final season, defender Simon Edvinsson, can be anticipated to contend for a job out of coaching camp.

The unhealthy information: Building takes time. And whereas the Red Wings actually addressed some wants after a season spent close to the underside of the league in lots of key classes (like objectives for and objectives towards), there’s no telling whether or not Yzerman’s strikes can be sufficient to see this staff crack the playoffs. Looking at the remainder of this robust division, it’s going to be powerful for the Red Wings to be taking part in past the common season.

Everyone concerned understands the Red Wings are within the midst of rebuilding, so once more, persistence would be the key. It’s simply that being affected person isn’t normally enjoyable.   

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper
show: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
hole: 20px;

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
text-decoration: none;
coloration: black;

FLORIDA PANTHERS

2021-22 season final result: 58-18-6, first within the division; misplaced within the second spherical to Tampa Bay.

Notable low season roster additions: Matthew Tkachuk, Nick Cousins, Chris Tierney, Marc Staal, Michael Del Zotto, Colin White, Rudolfs Balcers

Notable low season subtractions: Jonathan Huberdeau, Claude Giroux, Ben Chiarot, Mason Marchment, Mackenzie Weegar, Joe Thornton, Markus Nutivaara

The excellent news: This staff received the Presidents’ Trophy final yr, and so they had been little doubt the most effective on this extremely stacked division, with a strong netminder in Sergei Bobrovsky. Now the Panthers have a brand new head coach in Paul Maurice, and so they added the grit they felt they had been missing, with the addition of Tkachuk.

Those two strikes seem like good ones for a staff that hasn’t had the playoff success they’ve been anticipating after common season dominance. Maurice led the Jets to the Stanley Cup Western Conference Final again in 2018, and that change behind the bench may repay within the post-season. Tkachuk, too, is likely one of the extra seen and plucky gamers within the league, that are good belongings within the post-season. There’s lots to love concerning the roster that additionally contains Aaron Ekblad on the purpose and Aleksander Barkov because the staff’s first-line centre.

The unhealthy information: Did the Panthers get higher? It’s laborious to say. This staff gave up lots to get Tkachuk, and in case you take a look at the deal statistically, they stated goodbye to a man who produced extra offensively final season (Huberdeau had 115 factors) than Tkachuk did (104 factors.)

Forward Anthony Duclair, who was fourth on the staff with 58 factors, additionally received’t be obtainable to the Panthers for a number of months. He’s recovering from surgical procedure on his left Achilles tendon again in July.

While change could be a good factor for a staff that had a fast and early second-round exit within the post-season, you additionally should surprise: Why so many shake-ups for the most effective staff in hockey over the last common season? And will the strikes repay? Only time (within the post-season) will inform.

MONTREAL CANADIENS

2021-22 season final result: 22-49-22, final within the Atlantic; missed the playoffs.

Notable low season roster additions: Sean Monahan, Kirby Dach, Evgenii Dadonov, Mike Matheson, Mitchell Stephens

Notable low season subtractions: Shea Weber, Jeff Petry, Alexander Romanov, Jeff Petry, Cedric Paquette, Mathieu Perreault, Tyler Pitlick

The excellent news: Montreal named 23-year-old Nick Suzuki captain this summer time, and he’s the youngest to put on the ‘C’ on this franchise’s historical past, and on a staff that’s in a rebuilding part and stuffed with youth.

The Canadiens may also see their No. 1 decide from earlier this yr, Juraj Slafkovsky, combating for a roster spot and hoping to affix different younger abilities up entrance, like Suzuki, who led the staff with 61 factors final season, and 21-year-old Cole Caulfield, who was second general with 43.

Dach, the newly-acquired centreman, can be simply 21, and the Canadiens acquired a veteran presence on their blue line with the addition of the smooth-skating, Quebec-born Matheson, who spent the previous couple of seasons in Pittsburgh.

Change is nice for the staff that completed useless final within the division final yr. General Manager Marc Bergevin is gone, changed by Kent Hughes, whereas Martin St. Louis will proceed teaching after taking on the function in an interim style in February of final season, when the Canadiens had been floundering. Players responded to St. Louis throughout a tricky season, and he was rewarded with a three-year contract extension this summer time.

The unhealthy information: This storied franchise is but once more in no place to contend for the playoffs, and final season was an actual fall from grace for a staff that went from cracking the Stanley Cup Final in 2021 (no person noticed that coming; that they had the worst report amongst groups to make the playoffs) to absolutely the worst staff in hockey in 2021-22 (two factors worse than Arizona, even).

And it doesn’t look too a lot better for the Canadiens this season. Goalie Carey Price is on long-term injured reserve, after issues from proper knee surgical procedure he had in July of 2021. While there are some good younger gamers on this staff, Montreal remains to be very a lot in rebuilding mode.  

.acf-block-preview .br-video-thumbnail::earlier than
content material: “”;
place: absolute;
prime: 50%;
left: 50%;
remodel: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-moz-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-ms-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-o-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-webkit-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
width: 20px;
top: 24px;
border-top: 14px strong clear;
border-left: 22px strong #fff;
border-bottom: 14px strong clear;
margin-left: 3px;

OTTAWA SENATORS

2021-22 season final result: 33-42-7, seventh within the Atlantic; missed the playoffs.

Notable low season roster additions: Claude Giroux, Alex DeBrincat, Cam Talbot

Notable low season subtractions: Matt Murray, Filip Gustavsson, Connor Brown, Colin White, Victor Mete, Michael Del Zotto, Chris Tierney, Tyler Annis, Adam Gudette.

The excellent news: The Senators made some large strikes this low season to sign they’re seeking to contend, buying DeBrincat from Chicago and signing Giroux to a three-year deal, whereas buying and selling for Talbot, who ought to carry some consistency between the pipes. It all alerts hope for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since an Eastern Conference Final look again in 2017.

Giroux is a confirmed chief and point-getter, and he’ll be be a key presence alongside a younger group of forwards that features captain Brady Tkachuk, who paced the staff with 67 factors final season. Tkachuk is 23 years outdated, and the subsequent three prime point-getters on this roster from final season — Tim Stutzle (58 factors), and Tkachuk’s linemates in Josh Norris (55 factors) and Drake Batherson (44 factors) — are all 24 years outdated and youthful.

Joining that spectacular younger group is DeBrincat, who’s 24, and who had a virtually point-per-game season in Chicago final yr. GM Pierre Dorion deserves a pat on the again for these low season strikes.

.acf-block-preview .instagram-twitter-container
width: 340px;
margin: 0 auto;

The unhealthy information: Talented defender Thomas Chabot doesn’t have a complete lot of assistance on the blue line, and that’s the place the Senators stay weak. It may very well be what stops this younger and offensively gifted lineup from cracking the playoffs.

There’s additionally lots driving on the youth on this lineup, and the younger 20-somethings will all should be firing at capability if this staff goes to contend on this tremendous robust division. 

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

2021-22 season final result: 51-23-8, third within the Atlantic; misplaced within the Stanley Cup Final to Colorado.

Notable low season roster additions: Vladislav Namestnikov, Ian Cole, Haydn Fleury, Philippe Myers

Notable low season subtractions: Ondrej Palat, Ryan McDonagh, Riley Nash, Jan Rutta

The excellent news: This staff got here a pair wins shy of a 3rd straight Stanley Cup final season, and although they did lose a few veteran gamers, the core of a stacked perennially contending (and sometimes profitable group) remains to be in tact, led up entrance by Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman on the purpose, and Andrei Vasilevskiy between the pipes.

The Lightning are nonetheless very a lot constructed to win, and since they’re so used to profitable, they’re little doubt extra-motivated to get again to the Final and do it once more, after a six-game loss earlier this yr to Colorado.  

The unhealthy information: On account of the wage cap, the Lightning needed to commerce McDonagh, and so they couldn’t re-sign Palat. Both had been long-time members of the staff, and main components when it got here to offering depth up entrance (Palat) and on the blue line (McDonagh).

The lack of McDonagh means Mikhail Sergachev must step up and play extra minutes than ever, which clearly the Lightning are relying on the 24-year-old to do. Sergachev signed an eight-year extension this summer time. Palat, too, leaves an enormous gap: He tied for the staff lead in objectives scored over the last playoffs, with 11.

The Lightning may also open the season with out Anthony Cirelli up entrance and Zach Bogosian on the again finish, as they’re each recovering from low season shoulder surgical procedure and are each anticipated to be on the shelf for a number of months. That’s one of many negatives when your staff makes a deep run: There’s much less time to get well from what ails you.  

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

2021-22 season final result: 54-21, second within the Atlantic; misplaced in Round 1 of the playoffs to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Notable low season roster additions: Matt Murray, Ilya Samsonov, Victor Mete, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Calle Jarnkrok, Jordie Benn, Zach Aston-Reese, Adam Gaudette

Notable low season subtractions: Jack Campbell, Ilya Mikheyev, Ondrej Kase, Colin Blackwell, Ilya Lyubushkin

The excellent news: This staff is stacked with expertise, led by final yr’s Hart Trophy winner, Auston Matthews. Toronto set franchise information in wins and factors final season, and this staff is basically the identical, save for adjustments between the pipes that’ll see Murray and Samsonov battle for that No. 1 spot beforehand held by Campbell.

If you’re to consider GM Kyle Dubas, there’s professional perception that this group can go on a deep run for the Stanley Cup, and that’s why Toronto is standing by the core of Matthews, Marner, William Nylander, veteran captain John Tavares, and blueliner Morgan Reilly.

.acf-block-preview .instagram-twitter-container
width: 340px;
margin: 0 auto;

The unhealthy information: Last season was proof that the most effective common season information can imply precisely … zilch. The Leafs received greater than they ever have, no person scored greater than Matthews’ 60 objectives, and but, Toronto as soon as once more didn’t get out of the primary spherical of the playoffs.

The Leafs haven’t received a playoff sequence since 2004. If this staff doesn’t progress this season when it issues, main change would be the solely acceptable reply to their fanbase.

An enormous query is in internet. Murray has had hassle staying wholesome of late, whereas Samsonov has had hassle with consistency. The Maple Leafs are betting on both one or each of these issues being a factor of the previous this season, and their hopes of a deep run little doubt additionally relaxation on that wager. 

Source link

#NHL #Atlantic #Division #Preview #problem #prime