CarterHud

            After finishing first in the Atlantic division in 2015-16, the Florida Panthers had a set-back in 2016-17, with 81 points, finishing 6th in the division. They received a really good season from winger Jonathan Marchessault, but lost him in the expansion draft. They also traded Reilly Smith to Vegas, and did not sign Jaromir Jagr. They replaced them with Radim Vrbata and Evgenii Dadonov. Let\’s take a full look at what the Panthers did.

               Notable additions: RW Radim Vrbata, F Evgenii Dadonov, F Michael Haley

               Notable subtractions: F Jonathan Marchessault, F Reilly Smith, F Jaromir Jagr, F Jussi Jokinen, F Tomas Vanek.

                             Forwards
Here are my projected forward lines.

Jonathan Huberdeau – Aleksander Barkov – Nick Bjugstad
Evgenii Dadonov – Vincent Trocheck – Radim Vrbata
Jared McCann – Denis Malgin – Colton Sceviour
Michael Haley – Derek MacKenzie – Alex Grenier

Huberdeau and Barkov are locks for the top line. Bjugstad will most likely be the third line center, but I like the idea of him as a 1st line winger. Trocheck was an all-star last year. Vrbata and Dadonov come in, and can be playmakers on the second line. Malgin and McCann are still young, but they should be ready for the next step this year. Grenier and Haley, two new guys, are okay 4th liners.

                          Defensemen
Here are my projected defensive pairs.

Keith Yandle – Aaron Ekblad
Alex Petrovic – Jason Demers
Michael Matheson – Mark Pysyk

Yandle and Ekblad will definitely play together. Demers and Petrovic and Matheson and Pysyk will most likely play together. They will start in the AHL, but if there\’s an injury, prospects, Ian McCoshen, Reece Scarlett and MacKenzie Weegar will be called up to start.

                               Goalies
                         Roberto Luongo
                         James Reimer
These guys will definitely play where I have them. \”Bobby Lou\” is still a solid starter. Reimer wasn\’t a good signing by them last offseason, but will be a backup to Luongo this year.

                           Prediction
The Panthers really got worse offensively this year. But, I like their defensive core, so I think they\’ll improve. They will improve to 87 points, and compete for the wild card. But, in a tough division, they will once again finish 6th in the Atlantic.

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              In 2016-17, the Edmonton Oilers finally exited their 10 year rebuild. They finished with 103 points, for 2nd in the Pacific division. Connor McDavid won the Art Ross and Hart, with 100 points. Leon Draisaitl had a great season. But, the Oilers signed McDavid and Draisaitl to new deals, and they had cap issues. The were forced to trade RW Jordan Eberle to the Islanders for Ryan Strome. They bought out Benoit Pouliot, and replaced him with Jussi Jokinen. Let\’s look at what they fully did this offseason.

              Notable additions: F Ryan Strome, F Jussi Jokinen, F Mitch Callahan, F Ty Rattie, C Brad Malone, D Keegan Lowe.

              Notable subtractions: RW Jordan Eberle, F Benoit Pouliot, RW Tyler Pitlick, LW Matt Hendricks, C David Desharnais.

                           Forwards
Here are my projected forward lines.

Patrick Maroon – Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl
Milan Lucic – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jesse Puljujarvi
Jussi Jokinen – Ryan Strome – Zack Kassian
Drake Caggiula – Mark Letestu – Ty Rattie

The first line showed chemistry last season. The second line is very solid. Lucic and Nugent-Hopkins (especially Nugent-Hopkins) could be traded, and Puljujarvi could start in the AHL, so that might not be a line. Strome is really just a third line center, and Jokinen takes the spot of Pouliot. There is a battle for the 4th line right wing spot, and I think Rattie wins it. Mitch Callahan, Brad Malone, Anton Slepyshev and Liro Pakarinen are also fighting for that spot.

                              Defensemen
Here are my projected defensive pairs.

Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera – Kris Russell
Darnell Nurse – Eric Gryba

Every defenseman but Gryba are similar skill-wise. But, there is a little edge for some players. The edge is where they are playing. So, the top pairing is slighty better than the second pairing. Matt Benning, Mark Fayne, Dillon Simpson and Ben Betker will be the extra defensemen or in the AHL.

                              Goaltending
                              Cam Talbot
                              Laurent Brossoit
Talbot is a solid starter, and Brossoit is a solid backup. It\’s simple.

                              Predictions
I think that McDavid will once again be a Hart finalist. And, once again, the Oilers will be in the playoffs, but this year, be at the top of the Pacific division.  

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           In 2016-17, the Detroit Red Wings begun their demise, finishing with 79 points, for 7th in the Atlantic division. Going into 2017-18, the Red Wings have cap problems, and still need to sign RFA Andreas Athanasiou (he\’s in their lines at the bottom assuming he\’ll sign). They didn\’t do much in the offseason, but they did sign defenseman Trevor Daley to a three year deal, and extended Tomas Tatar (four years). Here\’s a look at the few things GM Ken Holland did this offseason.

          Notable additions: D Trevor Daley, D Luke Witkowski.

          Notable subtractions: F Drew Miller, F Tomas Nosek, F Mitch Callahan.

      

                         Forwards
 Here are my projected forward lines.

Justin Abdelkader – Frans Nielson – Gustav Nyquist
Henrik Zetterberg – Dylan Larkin – Anthony Mantha
Tomas Tatar – Riley Sheahan – Andreas Athanasiou
Darren Helm – Luke Glendening – Evgeny Svechnikov

The first line is okay, but it would be a second line on most teams. Larkin and Mantha are looking for another good year, as Zetterberg looks to once again avoid a decline. Athanasiou had a good season last year. Sheahan only scored two goals in 80 games last year. He needs to bounce back this year. He is a trade candidate for the Wings. At just 20 years of age, Svechnikov has the chance to make the team this year, or he\’ll be in the minors. Ben Street is the extra forward.

                           Defensemen
Here are my projected defensive pairs.

Danny DeKeyser – Mike Green
Trevor Daley – Niklas Kronwall
Jonathan Ericsson – Nick Jensen

DeKeyser is, in my opinion, their best defenseman. Kronwall isn\’t a top four defenseman on most teams, but still is in Detroit. There will be a big battle for the six spot in training camp, but I think Jensen wins it. Honestly, Xavier Ouellet could beat out Ericsson. Dylan McIlrath, Robbie Russo, Ryan Sproul and Luke Witkowski are also in that battle.

                           Goaltending
                           Petr Mrazek
                           Jimmy Howard
This is a 1A, 1B situation between a younger guy, Mrazek, and a vet, Howard. If there\’s an injury, then Jared Coreau could get the call.

                           Prediction
Still rebuilders, I think the Red Wings will take a step back in 2017-18. I think they will finish eighth in the Atlantic division, also known as last.  

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         After a disappointing 2016-17 season, finishing with 79 points for 6th in the Central division, the Dallas Stars had what I think is the best offseason by any team. They were horrible last year due to defense and goaltending, but fixed that with the signing of Ben Bishop and drafting Miro Heiskanen. For the forwards, they lost Patrick Sharp, but signed Martin Hanzal and Alex Radulov. Also, here\’s a look at what they did in the entire offseason.

         Notable additions: G Ben Bishop, F Alex Radulov, D Marc Methot, C Martin Hanzal, RW Tyler Pitlick, F Brian Flynn.

         Notable subtractions: C Cody Eakin, LW Patrick Sharp, RW Ales Hemsky, G Antti Niemi.

                 Forwards
Here are my projected forward lines.

Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Alex Radulov
Mattias Janmark – Martin Hanzal – Jason Spezza
Antoine Roussel – Radek Faska – Brett Ritchie
Curtis McKenzie – Devin Shore – Tyler Pitlick

The first line is dynamic. Except for Janmark, the second line is really good. I could actually see them trading a younger guy like Janmark and someone like Remi Elie for a top six left-winger that could improve their team. James Neal, Jonathan Marchessault or Reilly Smith from Vegas would be some good candidates. The bottom six isn\’t the greatest, but it\’s manageable. Brian Flynn, Adam Cracknell and Mark McNeill are the extra forwards.

                   Defensemen
Here are my projected defensive pairs.

Marc Methot – John Klingberg
Esa Lindell – Greg Pateryn
Dan Hamhuis – Julius Honka

Methot and Klingberg is a good top pair. Lindell had a good rookie season, and is looking to avoid a sophomore slump this year. Hamhuis\’ career is falling, and needs to revive it this year. Stephen Johns, Jamie Oleksiak and Patrik Nemeth are the extra defenseman. If their is a long-term injury, Gavin Bayreuther can step in.

                      Goaltending
                    Ben Bishop
                    Kari Lehtonen

Bishop had a bad last year, but the former Vezina candidate is looking for a bounce back season in Dallas. Lehtonen is going to be a backup this year, after previously starting, but could decrease by seeing less ice-time. Mike McKenna is the injury call-up.

                               Prediction
The Dallas Stars improved wildly this offseason. I think, led by Lady Byng winner Tyler Seguin, the Stars will compete for a wild card spot, and make the playoffs.  

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                     The biggest surprise of the 2016-17 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets finished with 108 points, for third in the Metropolitan division. But, the fell to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins team in five games. But, GM Jarmo Kekalainen made a blockbuster trade, sending Brandon Saad to Chicago for Artemi Panarin, who\’s scored over 150 points in the last two seasons. The Blue Jackets didn\’t do much in the offseason besides that, but here\’s a look at what they did.

                     Notable additions: F Artemi Panarin, F Tyler Motte, Jordan Schroeder, D Andre Benoit.

                     Notable subtractions: F Brandon Saad, C Sam Gagner, F Scott Hartnell, G Anton Forsberg, C William Karlsson, D Kyle Quincey.

                  
                           Forwards 
Here are my projected forward lines.

Artemi Panrin – Alex Wennberg – Cam Atkinson
Nick Foligno – Brandon Dubinsky – Boone Jenner
Tyler Motte – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Oliver Bjorkstrand
Matt Calvert – Lukas Sedlak – Josh Anderson

The top-6 is really good. Dubois, a former third overall pick, is looking to break in to the NHL this year, with two players who are looking for breakout seasons. The fourth line is a good fourth line. Markus Hannikainen and Jordan Schroeder are the extra forwards.

                             Defensemen
Here are my projected defensive pairs

Zach Werenski – Seth Jones
Ryan Murray – David Savard
Gabriel Carlsson – Jack Johnson

The top pairing with Werenski and Jones is money. Murray is looking to breakout, or his days in Columbus could be over. Johnson could play with Carlsson, a rookie on the bottom pair. Andre Benoit, Markus Nutivaara and Scott Harrington are the extra defensemen.

                                   Goaltending
                                   Sergei Bobrovsky
                                   Joonas Korpisalo
Bobrovsky, the reigning Vezina winner, will once again be between the pipes in Columbus. Korpisalo is still young, and looking for a good season.

                                    Prediction
With a similar core, the Blue Jackets are still good. Led by Norris finalist Seth Jones, they will return to the playoffs in 2017-18. 

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