In 5 years, which NHL team will be the strongest?

[Heavy Jack]

Seattle lol.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

if there's one thing the oilers, jackets, islanders, panthers have tought me, it's that great lottery picks, doesn't equate to on ice success.

I'd give the Panthers the benefit of the doubt. Dale Tallon has proven he can clean up a floundering organization like he did in Chicago. Florida looks like they've got a good stockpile of prospects.

Those other clubs though can't fix their organizational malaise with high picks. They're just going to ruin talent until they clear out the idiots running the show.

[North East Goon]

Minnesota is the team to watch over the next few years.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

I'd give the Panthers the benefit of the doubt. Dale Tallon has proven he can clean up a floundering organization like he did in Chicago. Florida looks like they've got a good stockpile of prospects.

Those other clubs though can't fix their organizational malaise with high picks. They're just going to ruin talent until they clear out the idiots running the show.

Agreed. I would throw the wild into that also, good core there, and a great prospect pool.

[Bertuzzied]

The Houston Oilers

[PlayfulGenius]

I'll go with Boston and Minnesota Cup Final in 5 years from now.

St Louis, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh should all still be upper echelon teams as well.

[Coach]

FLAMES!!! Lead by the top scoring 1st line in the league

Baertschi - Jankowski - Gaudreau

[dissentowner]

I detest them as much as the next diehard Flames fan but it will be the Edmonton Oilers.

[The Yen Man]

I'm cheering for the Wild to get better in the next few years. Despite them being division rivals, I've always thought they have a good fanbase and deserve a good hockey team.

[AltaGuy]

Philly, Boston, and Pittsburgh should remain powerhouses in the East. They're the strongest teams already, and all are young teams.

In the West it's a bit more wide open - but I think LA and St. Louis both look poised to remain the front-runners, with incredible depth at all positions and young teams.

Chicago would be my pick for a third from the West, as Toews, Keith, Kane, and Seabrook are all relatively young still - meaning they should remain a good team.

My two picks for disappointment - Edmonton and Minnesota. Edmonton couldn't build a well-balanced team if their lives depended on it, and I don't think Minnesota will ever amount to all that much.

[Bring_Back_Oliwa]

There is something about the Wild that will never excite me

I think its there Jerseys and Colour Scheme and the fact its Minnesota
Everything just so bland even Gaborik looked like a plug playing for them in my eyes I don't think I will ever be excited to see them play

[Matata]

The Oilers seem to perpetually be the best team in 5 years. They might as well just get that engraved on their stadium, because it will never stop being true.

[You Need a Thneed]

In 5 years? Randomly picking teams out of a hat would be just as accurate as any "educated" guesses.

[sun]

I wonder if there is a similar thread from five years ago we could bump.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by sun

I wonder if there is a similar thread from five years ago we could bump.

Chicago and Los Angeles were getting a lot of talk on Hfboards. And Edmonton. :P

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

I'd give the Panthers the benefit of the doubt. Dale Tallon has proven he can clean up a floundering organization like he did in Chicago. Florida looks like they've got a good stockpile of prospects.

Those other clubs though can't fix their organizational malaise with high picks. They're just going to ruin talent until they clear out the idiots running the show.

Basically this. I really think Florida will turn it around. Great prospects and good management.

[Bourque's Twin]

In 5 years I would say
Pittsburgh- veteran Crosby, Malkin and Letang
Philadelphia- veteran Giroux, Hartnell, Simmonds, Couturier, Schenn. Trouble will be D and Goalie.
St. Louis- I think they will be the best in the league.
Edmonton- tons of fire power. They may not be consistent on the backend but they will be a force up front
Los Angeles- Kopitar, Doughty, Quick, the list goes on and on...
Chicago- Toews and Kane are always going to be a force

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Basically this. I really think Florida will turn it around. Great prospects and good management.

I dunno. Florida had an awful goal differential last season. People are too willing to heap praise on Tallon for something that basically amounted to luck IMO.

Its like when everyone pressed the genius tag on Yzerman for turning around the Lightning. Next season, back in the ditch.

[topfiverecords]

Phoenix

[Drake]

I'm surprised with Boston not getting much love. They have some very good young players in their system and currently on their roster.