Who are the season’s favorites? Read on!
The National Hockey League is returning to an 82-game schedule this season, and gone is the “North” division as the league returns to pre-COVID-19 alignment. With Seattle joining the Pacific, the Arizona Coyotes will balance the ranks by shifting to the Central.
Here’s my take on division rankings.
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche
2. Dallas Stars
3. Minnesota Wild
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5. Winnipeg Jets
6. St. Louis Blues
7. Nashville Predators
8. Arizona Coyotes
The Colorado Avalanche boasts a formidable lineup from top to bottom, while the healthy Dallas Stars–a club that advanced to the Cup Finals two seasons ago–look to regain ground. I see the Minnesota Wild rounding out the top three, assuming they re-sign Calder Trophy winner Kirill Kaprizov. The Chicago Blackhawks made major off-season acquisitions in defenseman Seth Jones and future Hall of Fame goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Captain Jonathan Toews’s return could be the X-Factor. I expect Chicago to compete for a wildcard spot. The Winnipeg Jets are in the mix, too, but I am not sold on the Jets competing for a playoff spot in what is sure to be the highly contested Central. The same goes for the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, and (especially) the Arizona Coyotes. All three teams are rebuilding and look to be the division’s cellar dwellers.
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights
2. Edmonton Oilers
3. Vancouver Canucks
4. Seattle Kraken
5. Calgary Flames
6. Los Angeles Kings
7. San Jose Sharks
8. Anaheim Ducks
The Las Vegas Golden Knights are a powerhouse (again), and I see this team as a favorite to win the Stanley Cup. Finding an undisputed 1C is the only criticism. For the Edmonton Oilers, expect McDavid and the slightly revamped Oilers to lead an offensive-minded squad. But goaltending is a concern. For the Vancouver Canucks, the additions of Conor Garland and Oliver Ekman-Larsson should elevate the team in what looks to be one of the NHL weaker divisions. I predict that Thatcher Demko will finally show how good he is in goal. Out on the West Coast, the Seattle Kraken has a respectable defense, great goaltending, but mediocre offense. While a lack of scoring raises a red flag, I still think the team should compete for a wildcard slot–just don’t expect the Kraken to follow LV’s year one lead. While there’s excitement in Seattle, I think ‘disappointment’ is the best word to describe the Calgary Flames off-season. Outside of securing Blake Coleman, the team failed to make significant improvements. Finally, I see no happiness in California with the three Golden State teams–the LA Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks–rounding out the division’s bottom. That said, I don’t expect the Kings to be there for long. A better future is on the horizon.
Atlantic Division
1. Florida Panthers
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
4. Boston Bruins
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Buffalo Sabres
Count me as a true believer in the new-look Florida Panthers. The Panthers pushed the Lightning to the brink in their opening-round playoff series and continue to improve. Signing Sam Reinhart rounds out a dangerous top-six forward group with sufficient defense and dependable goaltending in Knight/Bobrovsky. Meanwhile, the back-to-back defending champ Tampa Bay Lightning lost some depth this off-season due to cap constraints. But I see this team as a top contender still. The Toronto Maple Leafs doubled down on its core group, hopefully finding suitable replacements for Hyman, Andersen, and Company. The Boston Bruins lost longtime C David Krejci and have an aging core. Expect a rebuild in the coming years. While the Montreal Canadiens were Cup Finalists last year, don’t expect another Cinderella run. Last year, this team was 18th best in the regular season and lost core players during the off-season. The Detroit Red Wings may be the division’s most improved club, but (even if they are) they aren’t quite there yet. The Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres will resume familiar spots at the division bottom, but watch out for some surprises from an extremely talented group of Senators.
Metropolitan Division
1. New York Islanders
2. Philadelphia Flyers
3. Carolina Hurricanes
4. Washington Capitals
5. New York Rangers
6. Pittsburgh Penguins
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Columbus Blue Jackets
This may be the NHL’s most stacked division. The New York Islanders retain their core outside of Jordan Eberle, adding veteran Zach Parise to the mix. Outcome? NYI is one of the most well-rounded teams in the league. The Philadelphia Flyers improved drastically on defense, acquiring big-name blueliners Ryan Ellis and Rasmus Ristolainen. The team also brought in veteran goalie Martin Jones to help Carter Hart rebound from a difficult season. The Carolina Hurricanes had an up-and-down off-season. They let Dougie Hamilton walk, traded young goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, signed Tony DeAngelo, and acquired young forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi via an offer sheet. Those moves motivated me to slot Carolina at #3. A different scenario is playing out with the Washington Capitals. Their window to win another championship is closing, and it’s now or never (at least not for a while). With an aging core and young, unproven goalies, I see the Caps as a bubble team that could/should find its way into the playoffs. Barely. If you want intrigue, then the New York Rangers are a team for you. NYR has a goldmine of young, elite talent that needs guidance. If this isn’t their year, it will come sooner than later. How high am I on this team? I believe the Rangers are one or two significant moves away from being an NHL force. The Pittsburgh Penguins are on the flip side. This old, war-torn core of savvy vets has seen its best days come and go. Injury-plagued stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin don’t have the supporting cast to compete with the best in this stacked division. I like the off-season acquisitions made by the New Jersey Devils and believe they are on the verge of being a playoff contender. Finally, there’s the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets. Patrik Laine will struggle to find his game consistently, and this team appears to lack the talent to elevate him on the ice.
How did I do? We’ll find out starting on October 12th. That’s when NHL 2021-22 begins. Enjoy, fans!
