Yes Montreal has Price, who is amazing, but I don't see how that fact can make Montreal Canada's best team. Without Price, that team is 15th (or so) in the league. I realize goaltending is a part of the team, but when the rest of the team is so inadequate that you have to rely on Price having one of the best seasons ever by a goalie to have success, you don't have a good team. Look what happened to them in the playoffs when Price's play dipped... they got absolutely smoked. If we had Price last year, we probably get an extra 10-15 points.
My ranking
1A) Winnipeg
1B) Calgary
*A lot to like about both teams, both now and going forward. Calgary is faster, Winnipeg is bigger, both teams have top 5-7 D in the league. Goaltending is a sore spot for both teams, but both have phenoms on the way. Both teams have young, emerging top talent at forward. I see Winnipeg developing into more of a rival for us than Edm or Van in the next few years as I think there is a great chance we meet in the playoffs sooner than those other two sad sacks.
2A) Ottawa
2B) Montreal
*These two teams are very close, I prefer Ottawa's D. I like Karlsson better than Subban, though 2-7 is reasonably close I still give Ott the edge. I prefer their F group as well as it seems younger, with more emerging talent. I like Pacioretti, Gallagher and Galchenyuk for the Habs but not much else in comparison the the Sens who just seem deeper, younger and more talented up front. The x factor for Ott is Ryan, if he can get his game back, Ott is looking good up front. Goaltending is the only thing that makes this close as Price is a god and might even will a team like Edmonton to an 75-80 point season last year. With no Price, I think Montreal is closer to Vancouver's level than Ottawa's.
5) Vancouver
6) Edmonton
*Things look very bleak for Vancouver, now and going forward. As soon as next season, they could be passed by the Oilers (that means they're bad). For now though I give them the edge over the Oilers even though Edmonton is more talented up front and goaltending is likely a wash. Vancouver's forwards actually know what their own zone looks like, so if I was trying to make the playoffs just for next year, I would take their group. Going forward, if the Oilers forwards ever figure things out, this will obviously change. I'm not holding my breath though. The Canucks have the better D, but it is still just average whereas the Oilers are abysmal in that area. Tanev/Edler is an OK top pairing but would be much better suited to the second pairing. Hamhuis is pretty good, but after that they aren't so hot. One lengthy injury to their top 3 and their season is over. Edmonton's D is like the land of misfit toys, just laughable considering how many YEARS they have had to fix this.
7) Toronto
*They're pretty, pretty, pretty... bad. Maybe they get 60 points next year, maybe not. With their luck they will draft 3rd with 52 points while the Oilers add Mathews with 75 points.
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