Ok, based on the criteria, I'm going to ignore it
Toronto - Really pourous defense, the forwards are notorious one way, they kept close at all. The lockout shortened season disguised a lot of problems with the team. I don't think their coaching is the answer. Their prospect base is terrible. Chances of next year. Without significant change to the attitude of the team and their blueline, nope
Ottawa - They have a lot of good young pieces and a very good coach. their goaltending killed them this year. They have a good prospect base to call from. They really should move Spezza for immediate help through their lineup. If they get better goaltending and see progression from their young players they should make it.
Montreal - Good prospect base, great goaltending and they're pretty solid throughout. I think their coach is their kryptonite. I think that their window is pretty wide open. Are they a Cup contender? Nope, I don't like their chances of grinding through 4 series against bigger teams. Playoffs yes
Winnipeg - Another team with a good young core, I think their management group is too tentative, they are afraid to make the moves to take that leap. Decent prospects, bad goaltending, but they have size and the coaching change to Maurice was smart. Playoffs - Yes as a lower run connon fodder team
Edmonton - We've talked about the holes in their lineup, which are vast. They are not mentally strong enough to do anything. Even Hall who is suppossed to be their heart and soul guy is dog sh%t when he doesn't have the puck in terms of effort. That blue line could be worse next year. Their prospect cupboard is pretty bare and the thing that they really needed in the draft is going to be gone, and Lowe in company will draft the biggest sissypants player that they can find as long as he looks good on youtube. Eakins is a terrible coach. Until this team gets a heart transplant and a brain transplant and a give a crap transplant. Don't talk to me about playoffs. They'll be lucky if they improve next year.
Calgary - Long ways off, love the effort, but we also saw a lot of growth in our prospect pool, however I'm not convinced that all of the young guy will continue to progress. The Flames got stellar goaltending from Ramo but is it real or memorex? They are still too small, lack high end skill but the culture is there. I don't think this team is as far out as we think. But tomorrow will be a bottom out year so playoffs. No Playoffs for you.
Vancouver - Too old, no depth, terrible prospect pool. Its going to take time to adjust to a new coach and organizational culture shift under a new GM. The area that could have kept them in, which is goaltending is gone now. Kesler will be traded, but it depends on what they get back. They got no offense from the blueline and very little from their bottom 3 lines. I'd have to say that they're heading into an involuntary rebuild. They believe that they are still a good team and are going to try to take a shot, but they're going to plummet.
On the rise
Montreal, Ottawa Winnipeg
On the fall
Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto
Pathetic and a mess
Edmonton
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