Most surprising teams of 2017/18 so far

[FireGilbert]

Every team has now played at least 10 games and there have been many surprises so far with teams expected to be bad looking good and teams expected to be good looking bad. What teams are you most surprised with? Will they continue to surprise or fall back to expectations?

I'll do a top 10:

1. Vegas: Obviously the biggest surprise with the best expansion start ever. They are starting to struggle and have no chance at staying in a playoff spot but I no longer think they will be worst in the league.
2. New Jersey: A rebuilding team that seemed a few years off from contending. I can't see them remaining at the top of their division but believe they can grab a wild card.
3. Montreal: They didn't have a great off season but I thought Price was enough to lead them to a playoff spot. They look to be improving but I can't see them making the playoffs.
4. LA: I thought they would continue to be a bubble team stuck with overpaid and aging players however the coaching change has completely turned things around. They are the early favourite to win the Pacific.
5. Tampa: We knew they would be improved from last year but I didn't expect them to be the best team in the league lighting it up every night. They are the early favourite for the President's trophy and the Cup.
6. Rangers: Like Montreal they are a team hurt by a struggling star goalie. They are going to improve but I think they will finish just outside the playoffs.
7. Vancouver: They were supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league but so far have a winning record. I expect them to fall back to earth and easily miss the playoffs.
8. St Louis: A team I thought was stagnating and would turn into a playoff bubble team, not a division winner. They are the early favourite to win the Central.
9. Colorado: They didn't do much to improve from last season but so far have a winning record. I seem them falling back to earth and soon being last in the division.
10. Arizona: I thought they improved enough in the off season to finish 6th in the Pacific but instead they are by far the worst team in the league. They are the early favourite to finish last.

[drewtastic]

Not Edmonton.

[dissentowner]

Tampa doesn't surprise me at all, I actually bet on them before the season started to win the SC this year. Then again, I made the same bet last year so what do I know? I agree with everything else.

[Captaincanada80]

You forgot one...

The cup favoured Oilers sitting in the basement while Mark Spector sheds Koop-aid flavoured tears all over his keyboard

[btimbit]

Vegas obviously, but LA for me. Really thought they'd be a .500 team pretty much all year long

[FireGilbert]

I considered including Edmonton and they would probably be 11th. I thought they would just squeak into the playoffs so their start is only a little surprising. If you are like Mark Spector however and spent the off season talking about multiple Stanley Cups, then yes the Oilers are the biggest surprise so far.

[Huntingwhale]

Vegas for obvious reasons. I know most people expect them to be at the bottom, but I'm really rooting for them, even though they are a division rival. A team of castaways that seem to play for each other and really came together after the shooting. Definitely a feel good story and proof that IMO chemistry is the biggest factor when it comes to a team playing well.

[flamesforcup]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Vegas obviously, but LA for me. Really thought they'd be a .500 team pretty much all year long

Ya LA was probably my most surprising too. As well as the Devilds

[White Out 403]

Good list but I dont think I'd have Tampa as a surprise. I expected them to be great.

[trublmaker]

the grease don't surprise me at all

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Anyone outside of Spector and the TSN clowns could have predicted the Oilers gongshow.

[calgarywinning]

LA is really responding, is this a direct response to bye bye Sutter? Dustin Brown is looking great again.

Also, I agree with the Montreal and NY Ranger goaltender struggles. Really shocked in the lack of performance of these stars which can steal games.

[CaptainCrunch]

I can proudly say this about my predictions about the Oilers going back to way before the season.



Which makes me

[FireGilbert]

^Haha you are such a Star Wars nerd.

Your posts in the off season on the Oilers were definitely the most vocal, detailed, and so far correct. You have earned the right to be a little smug.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Yeah, I don't think many are surprised by Tampa. 8-1-1 to finish the season to finish 1 point out of the playoffs. That young surging team didn't lose anyone of consequence in free agency itself.

The oldest players on the roster to end the season, outside of backup goalie Budaj, were 32 year old Coburn and Callahan with Stralman at 31. The only other player over 30, Garrison, was taken by Vegas after they sweetened the deal to get rid of him. Behind those guys, the next oldest players were 27 years old. Literally, with exception of 31 Stalman, the entirety of the core is 27 or younger and entering their prime with most of their best players last season younger (Kucherov, Hedman)

So bringing in vets in the off-season like Kunitz and Girardi made sense, even if they were past their prime. Overall it's hard to argue they didn't improve in free-agency just because no one important was lost.

Trade wise, Drouin for Sergachev was the only one that mattered. It's up for debate long-term, but short term Drouin was a contributing player and Sergachev is 19. So they do take a hit for the time-being in this trade.

But none of that really matters to the most important player they received this year. Stamkos. Last year Tampa had a great start to the season 10-6-1 with Stamkos in the lineup before losing the first overall, former Rocket Richard Trophy and at the time well over a point-per-game Stamkos. Any team that loses a player like that is going to struggle. As long as Vasilevskiy could repeat and prove to be a number 1, I don't think anyone would be surprised to see Tampa at the top of the standings.

[Yrebmi]

I am failing that meme

(Assuming you're is misspelled,) Leah doesn't have a sister.

Some pop culture thing I am missing?

[Flames_F.T.W]

NJ has been a big surprise for me

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Yeah, I don't think many are surprised by Tampa. 8-1-1 to finish the season to finish 1 point out of the playoffs. That young surging team didn't lose anyone of consequence in free agency itself.

The oldest players on the roster to end the season, outside of backup goalie Budaj, were 32 year old Coburn and Callahan with Stralman at 31. The only other player over 30, Garrison, was taken by Vegas after they sweetened the deal to get rid of him. Behind those guys, the next oldest players were 27 years old. Literally, with exception of 31 Stalman, the entirety of the core is 27 or younger and entering their prime with most of their best players last season younger (Kucherov, Hedman)

So bringing in vets in the off-season like Kunitz and Girardi made sense, even if they were past their prime. Overall it's hard to argue they didn't improve in free-agency just because no one important was lost.

Trade wise, Drouin for Sergachev was the only one that mattered. It's up for debate long-term, but short term Drouin was a contributing player and Sergachev is 19. So they do take a hit for the time-being in this trade.

But none of that really matters to the most important player they received this year. Stamkos. Last year Tampa had a great start to the season 10-6-1 with Stamkos in the lineup before losing the first overall, former Rocket Richard Trophy and at the time well over a point-per-game Stamkos. Any team that loses a player like that is going to struggle. As long as Vasilevskiy could repeat and prove to be a number 1, I don't think anyone would be surprised to see Tampa at the top of the standings.

Nah I don't think so been an even trade Sergachev has been a great addition to the Lightning blueline.

[Backlunds_socks]

the oilers tank is impressive.

[GranteedEV]

19 year old defenseman Sergachev has more points (11 in 13GP) than 22 year old winger Drouin (9 in 12GP) while having far more elite tools.

That trade is looking like a fleecing so far.