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CaptainCrunch · 07-03-2017, 05:17 PM

Just making initial predictions, I know the season is a ways away, but for the most party from July until the start of camp we don't see a lot of activity. It also feels like most GM's have blown their loads.

Pacific

Anaheim - Still incredibly strong and well balanced. Didn't really get hurt in the expansion draft at all. The team is aging and the window might be closing, but they should still own the Pacific this year.

Calgary - No team was more active then Calgary in fixing their holes. Picking up Hamonic while resigning Stone creates a very strong blueline. Up front they could still use that strong skilled Right Winger, but I think they're also banking on Monahan and Gaudreau not going through extended slumps. Mike Smith should provide more consistent goaltending and his puck handling really works well with the Flames defense.

San Jose - They're still fairly strong up front, they have a strong blueline as well, They still need to pick up a couple of forwards, But they have about 9 million in cap space to do that. Their goaltending should continue to be strong.

Edmonton - They're weaker then they were at the start of the off season, Strome isn't an adequate replacement for Eberle's offense, and Sekera being out until December of Jan is going to hurt a lot. They are basically a house of cards team, Their blueline really won't provide much offense. They're fairly incomplete up front after McDavid and Draisaitl. Talbot will have to continue to excel. With their contract situation they can't be aggressive on the market and their window might just close after this year. McDavid and Draisaitl are a great duel, but they won't be enough

Arizona - Their GM continues to be baffling. But he has done a lot of moves to show that he's trying to be more competitive. Bringing in Stephan and Hjalmarsson were strong moves. Raanta could be a real gamble, but if it works out Arizona becomes one of those bubble teams thats not an easy two points.

LA - Just a utter mess, they won't be an easy out, They just look slow, but their blueline is tough to play against. Quick needs to be on his game, like Arizona I think they're a bubble team.

Vancouver - They're like that joke that your drunk uncle tells you that you don't get. I guess they want one more run for the Sedin's but their moves are bringing in also rans.

LV - they look like a typical expansion team so I don't expect much.

Central

Nashville - Just a strong blueline adding Emelin makes them more difficult to play against.

Minnesota - I don't think the loss of Hanzel will hurt all that much. Solid lineup

St Louis - picking up Schenn is a nice little move, Solid all around team.

Dallas - Going for it, but their blueline is still bad, Ben Bishop should turn this team around though. The Radulov signing is dangerous as it makes him too secure

Chicago - Yeah, I said it sue me. I think that this team has been cap eroded, and I think that their blueline is going to struggle. I think the window has closed.

Winnipeg - I think Kulikov is a bad signing overall. I like Mason, but at the same time the Central is a murderers row, that first line should be spectacular.

Colorado - The quest to trade Duchene and Mckinnon continues, their future hinges on the return for those two players

Western standings

x-Nashville
x-Calgary
x- Anaheim
x - Minny
x - St Louis
x- San Jose
y - Dallas
y - Edmonton/Chicago
Winnipeg
Arizona
LA
Vancouver
Colorado
LV

07-03-2017, 05:17 PM	#1
CaptainCrunch Norm! Join Date: Jun 2002 Exp:	Looking at the West after free agency Just making initial predictions, I know the season is a ways away, but for the most party from July until the start of camp we don't see a lot of activity. It also feels like most GM's have blown their loads. Pacific Anaheim - Still incredibly strong and well balanced. Didn't really get hurt in the expansion draft at all. The team is aging and the window might be closing, but they should still own the Pacific this year. Calgary - No team was more active then Calgary in fixing their holes. Picking up Hamonic while resigning Stone creates a very strong blueline. Up front they could still use that strong skilled Right Winger, but I think they're also banking on Monahan and Gaudreau not going through extended slumps. Mike Smith should provide more consistent goaltending and his puck handling really works well with the Flames defense. San Jose - They're still fairly strong up front, they have a strong blueline as well, They still need to pick up a couple of forwards, But they have about 9 million in cap space to do that. Their goaltending should continue to be strong. Edmonton - They're weaker then they were at the start of the off season, Strome isn't an adequate replacement for Eberle's offense, and Sekera being out until December of Jan is going to hurt a lot. They are basically a house of cards team, Their blueline really won't provide much offense. They're fairly incomplete up front after McDavid and Draisaitl. Talbot will have to continue to excel. With their contract situation they can't be aggressive on the market and their window might just close after this year. McDavid and Draisaitl are a great duel, but they won't be enough Arizona - Their GM continues to be baffling. But he has done a lot of moves to show that he's trying to be more competitive. Bringing in Stephan and Hjalmarsson were strong moves. Raanta could be a real gamble, but if it works out Arizona becomes one of those bubble teams thats not an easy two points. LA - Just a utter mess, they won't be an easy out, They just look slow, but their blueline is tough to play against. Quick needs to be on his game, like Arizona I think they're a bubble team. Vancouver - They're like that joke that your drunk uncle tells you that you don't get. I guess they want one more run for the Sedin's but their moves are bringing in also rans. LV - they look like a typical expansion team so I don't expect much. Central Nashville - Just a strong blueline adding Emelin makes them more difficult to play against. Minnesota - I don't think the loss of Hanzel will hurt all that much. Solid lineup St Louis - picking up Schenn is a nice little move, Solid all around team. Dallas - Going for it, but their blueline is still bad, Ben Bishop should turn this team around though. The Radulov signing is dangerous as it makes him too secure Chicago - Yeah, I said it sue me. I think that this team has been cap eroded, and I think that their blueline is going to struggle. I think the window has closed. Winnipeg - I think Kulikov is a bad signing overall. I like Mason, but at the same time the Central is a murderers row, that first line should be spectacular. Colorado - The quest to trade Duchene and Mckinnon continues, their future hinges on the return for those two players Western standings x-Nashville x-Calgary x- Anaheim x - Minny x - St Louis x- San Jose y - Dallas y - Edmonton/Chicago Winnipeg Arizona LA Vancouver Colorado LV __________________ My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!