CarterHud

         It has been five years since the Blackhawks last won a playoff series. That playoff series happened to be the Stanley Cup finals, as Chicago won their third cup of the decade. In 2018-19, they missed the playoffs for the second straight season, but they moved in the right direction. Their two superstars from the Cup winning teams had an unexpected career season, they saw a young player develop into a lethal scorer, and while their defense struggled, one defenseman broke out.

         Additions: Robin Lehner, Calvin de Haan, Olli Maatta, Andrew Shaw, Zack Smith, Ryan Carpenter, Alex Nylander, Aleksi Saarela, John Quenneville

         Subtractions: Dominik Kahun, Artem Anisimov, Henri Jokijarju, John Hayden, Cam Ward, Gustav Forsling, Chris Kunitz, Marcus Kruger, Brandon Davidson

         Forwards
The Blackhawks saw an increase in goal for, as Patrick Kane had an age 30 season to remember. His career low for points is 55, but that came in the shortened 2012-13 season. He has scored at least a point per game in eight seasons, including 2018-19, when he scored a career high 110 points, with 44 goals, the second most in his career to his Hart winning 2015-16 season. Jonathan Toews, always a Selke candidate, had career highs in goals (35), assists (46), points (81), and time on ice (21:00). Alex DeBrincat scored 28 goals in his rookie season, and never endured a sophomore slump, with 41 goals and 76 points. Dylan Strome was perceived as a bust, as the third overall pick in a star studded 2015 draft had 16 points in 48 games for Arizona. He was traded to the Blackhawks, and was an instant success. He scored 17 goals and 51 points in 58 games. Brandon Saad hasn\’t come close to the production of the player he was traded for, Artemi Panarin, but he scored 23 goals with 24 assists, improving on a terrible first season back in Chicago. Andrew Shaw returns to Chicago, after a career high 47 points in 63 games for Montreal last year. The Blackhawks traded 15 goal scorer Artem Anisimov to Ottawa for Zack Smith. Smith had just 28 points in 70 games last year. After a trade from Edmonton, Drake Caggiula scored five goals with seven assists in 26 games. Dylan Sikura played in 33 games, but failed to score his first NHL goal, with eight assists. Brendan Perlini scored 12 goals in 46 games after being part of the Strome trade. David Kampf scored 19 points in 63 games, and has settled in as a nice 4th line center and penalty killer. Ryan Carpenter comes from Vegas, coming off a career high 18 points. Dominik Kubalik comes from the Swiss league, after recording 57 points in 50 games.

           Defensemen
Erik Gustafsson was one of the most surprising defensemen in the entire league last year, scoring 17 goals with 60 points in 79 games. It has been two years since Duncan Keith last got Norris votes, but while his 70 penalty minutes were his most since 2006-07, he was a 40 point scorer and +13 again. The Blackhawks traded for reinforcements on the left side, acquiring Calvin de Haan and Olli Maatta. de Haan doesn\’t rack up many points, but he\’s a lock for a ton of blocked shots, a lot of hits, normally at least 100 of each, and great defensive play. Maatta is coming off a down year, with his point total cutting in half from 2017-18. He was also a healthy scratch in Pittsburgh\’s first round series, after returning from injury. He\’s still just 25. Connor Murphy, the only notable Connor M. in hockey, had a career high .25 points per game this past season, not including his 30 games in 2013-14. The Blackhawks traded young and promising right hander Henri Jokijarju, which doesn\’t make sense with Murphy as their top right handed shot defenseman. Brent Seabrook is one too, but he has completely fallen off. He was a -6 last year with 28 points, and at 34, his contract, with five years left with a $6.875 million cap hit, is arguably the worst in hockey. Former 10th overall pick Slater Koekkoek didn\’t get many chances in Tampa Bay, and after a trade to Chicago, he scored five points in 22 games. Carl Dahlstrom was decent in 38 games last year, with six assists and a +9 rating.

           Goalies
Corey Crawford is 34, and will be a free agent after 2019-20. He is coming off his worst career season, with a 2.93 GAA and .908 SV% in 39 games. Cam Ward was terrible as a backup last year, so the Blackhawks brought in Vezina finalist Robin Lehner on a one year deal. Lehner, who also won the Jennings and Masterton Trophies, had a .930 SV% and 2.13 GAA last year for the Islanders. If Crawford is injured, which he has been many times over the last few seasons, Colin Delia will back up Lehner. He had a .908 SV% in 16 games last year, earning himself a three year deal.

            Deep Depths
John Quenneville, a former first rounder, comes from New Jersey after scoring just one goal in 19 games last year, but he did have 39 points in 37 AHL games. Aleksi Saarela, part of the de Haan trade, made his NHL debut in the playoffs this past season, and scored 30 goals in 69 AHL games, plus seven more in 17 playoff games. Anton Wedin comes from the Swedish League. He had 27 points in 32 games last season. Alexandre Fortin scored three goals in 24 NHL games last year.

            Up and Coming
Alex Nylander, acquired for Jokijarju, was selected eighth overall in 2016, but hasn\’t hit his stride. He has six points in 19 career NHL games, and 31 points in 49 AHL games last year. He\’s still just 21. Kirby Dach, drafted third overall this past draft, had 73 points in 62 WHL games this season. He could start the season with the team. Adam Boqvist transitioned well into the OHL, with 60 points in 54 games, and he\’s a defenseman. Another offensive defenseman, Nicolas Beaudin, continued to dominate the QMJHL, with 56 points in 53 games. Both have chances to play in the NHL this year, but they aren\’t great.

            2019 draft class
Round 1, 3rd overall: Kirby Dach
Round 2, 43rd overall: Alex Vlasic
Round 4, 105th overall: Michael Teply
Round 4, 123rd overall: Antti Saarela
Round 6, 167th overall: Dominic Basse
Round 7, 194th overall: Cole Moberg

             Management
After 15 games, the Blackhawks fired legendary head coach Joel Quenneville, and hired unsuccessful player Jeremy Colliton, who wasn\’t bad. Colliton is 34, younger than starting goalie Corey Crawford (by 13 days), and lead defenseman Duncan Keith. Stan Bowman is still the GM, and while he has made some questionable moves in the past, he\’s job security seems good.

             Projected Lineup
Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Dylan Sikura
Alex DeBrincat – Dylan Strome – Patrick Kane
Drake Caggiula – Zack Smith – Brendan Perlini
Ryan Carpenter – David Kampf – Andrew Shaw
Extras: Dominik Kubalik, Alex Nylander, John Quenneville

             Duncan Keith – Calvin de Haan
             Erik Gustafsson – Connor Murphy
             Olli Maatta – Brent Seabrook
Extras: Slater Koekkoek, Carl Dahlstrom

                           Corey Crawford
                           Robin Lehner
Extras: Colin Delia

               Prediction
The Blackhawks are promising, but they are still aging, and they don\’t have the tools to go to the playoffs, even in a weak Western Conference. I predict they\’ll finish 6th in the Central Division.

       Going to the playoffs in the NHL means nothing if you can\’t win when you get there. The Carolina Hurricanes don\’t make it to the playoffs often, they\’ve made it just five times in the 21st century, but when they qualify, they make it count. They made the Conference Finals in 2018-19, their first time in the playoffs since 2008-09, which was the longest drought in the NHL. When they did make it in \’09, they made it to the Conference Finals. The time before that was in 2006, when they won the Stanley Cup. Before that, they lost in the Cup finals in 2002. And in 2001, they made it to the second round. In the 21 year history of the Hurricanes, they have never lost in the first round. Their problem is getting there. They have a good chance of making the playoffs in 2019-20, but they have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons once.

         Additions: Ryan Dzingel, Erik Haula, James Reimer, Gustav Forsling, Anton Forsberg, Brian Gibbons, Chase Priskie

         Subtractions: Michael Ferland, Calvin de Haan, Curtis McElhinney, Greg McKegg, Scott Darling, Adam Fox

         Forwards
Sebastian Aho became the first player since Ryan O\’Reilly in 2013 to be offer sheeted, as Montreal offered Aho a five year, front loaded, $42 million contract, which he accepted. Carolina quickly matched. It was a no-brainer. A $8.454 million cap hit for a player coming off a 30 goal, 83 point season is way worth it. Aho finished 10th in Hart voting and 12th in Selke. Teuvo Teravainen has gotten better in every season, especially since a trade from Chicago. He had a career high 76 points last year. Nino Niederreiter had just nine goals and 23 points in 46 games for the Wild when they traded him to Carolina for Victor Rask. After the trade, Niederreiter scored 14 goals with 30 points in 36 games. Rask had three points in 23 games for Minnesota, and his contract is looking terrible. Niederreiter would have had his best season by far on an 82 game pace for the Canes. While Justin Williams and his 53 points remain unsigned as a UFA, there is still a very good chance he returns to Carolina. The Canes could use Williams. They have a strong core of left wingers but their right wingers are lacking. They\’d be playing multiple lefties on their off wing. Michael Ferland left, but they replaced him by getting a better player for less money. Ryan Dzingel had a career season in 2018-19, with 26 goals and 30 assists. But he didn\’t fit in well in Columbus after a trade deadline deal from Ottawa. The second overall selection in 2018, Andrei Svechnikov, had an underrated age 18 season, scoring 20 goals, though he only finished 7th in Calder voting. Jordan Staal got Selke votes for the 11th time in his 13 year career, but he only played in 50 games, amounting to 28 points, breaking a three year 45 points streak. Erik Haula comes from Vegas, where a gruesome injury ended his 2018-19 season after 15 games. He broke out in 2017-18, with 29 goals and 55 points. In his first season in Carolina, Jordan Martinook scored a career high 15 goals. Lucas Wallmark played in just 19 games entering 2018-19, but missed just one regular season game last year, scoring 10 goals with 28 points. Brock McGinn scored 10 goals after a 16 goal season, but was a +10, and averaged over two minutes on the penalty kill a game. He led Carolina forwards in that category. Warren Foegele scored two goals in two games in 2017-18, and earned himself a 2018-19 opportunity, scoring 10 goals in 77 games. Saku Maenalanen scored four goals in 34 games in a depth role.

           Defensemen
The Hurricanes have a crop of young defensemen. Dougie Hamilton scored double digit goals for the fifth consecutive season, with a career high of 18. He lead Carolina defensemen with 39 points. Hamilton probably isn\’t their best defenseman. Jaccob Slavin\’s eight goals and 31 points aren\’t special, but he is an amazing defender, getting Norris votes. He averaged over 23 minutes a night. Justin Faulk could be trade bait. He scored 11 goals and 35 points last year, but he has regressed as he has hit his prime. Brett Pesce had a career high 29 points, averaged 20:29 a night, and was a +35. He finished 18th in Norris voting. The main issue with the Canes is that Pesce, Faulk and Hamilton are all right handers, and so is Trevor van Riemsdyk. The Canes don\’t have a great option as a lefty. Haydn Fleury will likely jump in. After playing in 67 games in 2017-18, Fleury played in just 20 last year, recording one assist, averaging 12:32 minutes. The team did trade Calvin de Haan, so they trust Fleury. Gustav Forsling, acquired for de Haan, could be an option to step in.

            Goalies
Petr Mrazek re-signed, which was monumental for Carolina. Mrazek got his career back on track, with a .914 SV% and 2.39 GAA after a rough two year stretch in Detroit and Philly. Curtis McElhinney left for Tampa Bay, but the team traded Scott Darling for James Reimer. Reimer has had good seasons and bad seasons in his career, and the last two have been bad. He had a .900 SV% and a 3.09 GAA for Florida last year. Alex Nedeljkovic has played in two NHL games, and has been impressive in both of them. In the AHL last year, he had a 2.26 GAA and .916 SV%. He will compete with Reimer for the backup role.

            Deep Depths
Clark Bishop debuted in a depth role, with three points in 20 games. Due to many injuries, he got to play in two playoff games. Brian Gibbons scored 29 points in 56 games for the Devils in 2017-18. He struggled last year in Anaheim but after a trade to Ottawa he had 14 points in 20 games. Anton Forsberg, a goalie that was a part of the de Haan trade, has a 3.21 GAA with a .901 V% inn 45 career NHL games. He had a 2.64 GAA and .919 SV% in the AHL last year. Max McCormick has 10 points in 71 career NHL games.

            Up and Coming
Martin Necas, drafted 12th overall in 2017, had a goal in seven NHL games last year. He had 52 points in 62 games in the AHL last year. Carolina\’s two first rounders in 2016, Jake Bean and Julien Gauthier, have combined for two NHL games, both coming from Bean. He had 44 points in 70 AHL games. Gauthier scored 27 goals in 75 AHL games. Both should be starters by 2020-21. Janne Kuokkanen, a 2016 second rounder, has 11 scoreless NHL games of experience. He has 78 points in 108 AHL games.

             2019 draft class
Round 1, 28th overall: Ryan Suzuki
Round 2, 36th overall: Pyotr Kochetkov
Round 2, 44th overall: Jamieson Rees
Round 3, 73rd overall: Patrick Puistola
Round 3, 83rd overall: Anttoni Honka
Round 3, 90th overall: Domenick Fensore
Round 4, 99th overall: Cade Webber
Round 4, 121st overall: Tuuka Tieksola
Round 5, 152nd overall: Kirill Slepets
Round 6, 181st overall: Kevin Wall
Round 6, 183rd overall: Blake Murray
Round 7, 216th overall: Massimo Rizzo

              Management
Under all new owner Tom Dundon, the Canes got a new GM and Head Coach, while firing Ron Francis and Bill Peters. While Peters was a Jack Adams contender in Calgary, and Francis will be running the Seattle expansion franchise, the Hurricanes are happy with how it turned out. Former Carolina great Rod Brind\’Amour became Head Coach, and was an instant success. Like Peters, he was a Jack Adams contender, but not a finalist. New GM Don Waddell was a finalist for the GM of the Year award.

              Projected lineup
Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Teuvo Teravainen
Ryan Dzingel – Jordan Staal – Nino Niederreiter
Warren Foegele – Erik Haula – Brock McGinn
Martin Necas – Lucas Wallmark – Jordan Martinook
Extras: Brian Gibbons, Clark Bishop, Saku Maenalanen

               Jaccob Slavin – Dougie Hamilton
               Brett Pesce – Justin Faulk
               Haydn Fleury – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Extras: Jake Bean, Gustav Forsling

                           Petr Mrazek
                           James Reimer
Extras: Alex Nedeljkovic, Anton Forsberg

                Prediction
The Hurricanes are a good team, but their history shows inconsistency and inability to make the playoffs. I predict they\’ll finish 5th in the Metropolitan Division, but still make the playoffs, potentially in a tie.

From USA Today

       Consistency is a thing NHL teams strive for. Recently, the Calgary Flames have had none. Since 2013-14, here are their point totals, by year: 77, 97, 77, 94, 84, 107. That\’s an average point difference of 18 points. Their 23 point jump from 2017-18 to 2018-19 made no sense, as they traded away Dougie Hamilton and Michael Ferland, and while Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin were pleasant surprises, their biggest acquisition, James Neal, was a colossal bust. They were first in the Pacific Division, but were eliminated in the first round. A quiet offseason that saw the Flames ship out Neal for Milan Lucic, another failure of a contract, shouldn\’t hurt the Flames too much, but with their recent history, it isn\’t wild to predict a playoff miss, even in a terrible Pacific Division.

        Additions: Cam Talbot, Milan Lucic, Brandon Davidson

        Subtractions: Mike Smith, James Neal, Garnet Hathaway, Oscar Fantenberg, Curtis Lazar, Dalton Prout

        Forwards
The Flames\’ first line of Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Elias Lindholm produced big time. Gaudreau had a career high 36 goals and 63 assists for 99 points, finishing fourth in Hart voting. Sean Monahan was finally a point per game player, with career highs in goals (34), assists (48 assists) and points (82) in 78 games. Elias Lindholm had 51 assists, and his previous career high in POINTS was 45. He also reached 20 goals for the first time, with 27. Matthew Tkachuk is currently an RFA, and wants more than the $7.75 million the Flames have in cap space. He had a career high 34 goals and 77 points, while annoying opposing players. In 224 career games, he has 228 penalty minutes. Mikael Backlund scored 21 goals with 26 assists, matching his production in 2015-16, but in five less games. It was his second best offensive season to 2016-17. Michael Frolik improved from a horrid 2017-18 season, but with one more year left until hitting free agency, he could be dealt to free up cap space. Derek Ryan had another good season at 32, matching his career high 38 points. Former 4th overall pick Sam Bennett is still a bust, but his 27 points were his highest since his rookie season. Milan Lucic is earning $6 million a year (Flames are paying $5.25) but has scored just 16 goals over the past two seasons, missing just three games. He had six last year. The Flames are hoping a chance of scenery helps. Mark Jankowski produced a career high 32 points. Not amazing for a former first rounder, but good bottom six production. In 54 games, Austin Czarnik had a career high six goals and 18 points. In his first big NHL shot, Andrew Mangiapane had 13 points in 44 games.

         Defensemen
Entering 2018-19, Mark Giordano\’s career high in assists was 37. He obliterated that, with 57 assists, plus 17 goals for a career high 74 points, and a league leading +39 rating. He won the Norris trophy, capping off a career season at age 35. In his first year in Calgary, Noah Hanifin had a career high 33 points, and had a career high +18 rating. His previous career high was an awful -14. TJ Brodie has been unable to build on an 86 point stretch from 2014-15 to 2015-16. His nine goals in 2018-19 was his most since 2014-15. The Travis Hamonic trade hasn\’t been kind to the Flames, but he did have a career high seven goals and plus +21 rating last year. Both Hamonic and Brodie are free agents after 2019-20. The Flames likely can\’t afford both of them, so one could be dealt. Due to some depth on the left side, my guess would be that Brodie leaves. At 22, Rasmus Andersson had a good rookie season, with 19 points and a +17 rating. Oscar Kylington had eight points in a 38 game rookie season. He\’s primed for a starting role.

          Goalies
With Mike Smith leaving for Edmonton, the Flames signed a former Oiler in Cam Talbot. Talbot had a terrible .892 SV% and 3.40 GAA in 35 games for the Oilers and Flyers last year. He was top 5 in Vezina voting in 2016-17. He was overworked in Edmonton, with 140 games over the two year stretch from 2016-17 to 2017-18. He\’ll split time with David Rittich, who had a .911 SV% and 2.61 GAA last year.

          Management
In his first season with Calgary, Bill Peters was a Jack Adams candidate. GM Brad Treliving has made some questionable moves in the past, and the Lucic trade could be one of them.
          Deep Depths
Alan Quine had five points in 13 games for the Flames last year, which is a 31.5 point pace in 82 games. Enforcer Ryan Lomberg has played in 11 games over the last two seasons, with 32 penalty minutes. Byron Froese didn\’t play in the NHL last year, but he had 11 points in 48 games for Montreal in 2017-18. Brandon Davidson was signed after a bad run in Chicago last year. He has 162 games of experience over five seasons. Jon Gillies didn\’t play in the NHL last year, and was passed over by Rittich. He has a .903 SV% and 2.71 GAA in 12 career NHL games.

           Up and Coming
Dillon Dube is NHL ready. The question is whether he\’ll make the team. He had just five points in 25 NHL games last year, but he scored 15 goals with 39 points in 37 AHL games. Juuso Valimaki, the 16th overall pick in 2017, was primed for a starting role this year, but he tore his ACL earlier this month, which has him out indefinitely.

            2019 draft class

Round 1, 26th overall: Jakob Pelletier
Round 3, 88th overall: Ilya Nikolaev
Round 4, 116th overall: Lucas Feuk
Round 5, 150th overall: Josh Nodler
Round 7, 214th overall: Dustin Wolf

            Projection lineup
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Elias Lindholm
Matthew Tkachuk – Mikael Backlund – Mikael Backlund
Milan Lucic – Mark Jankowski – Sam Bennett
Andrew Mangiapane – Derek Ryan – Austin Czarnik
Extras: Dillon Dube, Alan Quine

             Mark Giordano – Rasmus Andersson
             Noah Hanifin – Travis Hamonic
             Oscar Kylington – TJ Brodie
Extras: Brandon Davidson

                         David Rittich
                         Cam Talbot
Extras: Jon Gillies
              Prediction
The Flames are a good team, but have shown in their past to be totally different year to year, but in a weak Pacific Division, the Flames are one of the better teams. I predict they\’ll finish second in the Pacific Divsion, and win one playoff round in 2019-20.

         One good month in an NHL season doesn\’t mean anything, as Buffalo Sabres fans found out the hard way in 2018-19. As November concluded, the Sabres were tied with the Lightning for first in the NHL, with 37 points. One team would finish with 128 points. The other would finish with 76, extending a playoff drought to eight seasons. With the Hurricanes making the postseason, the Sabres\’ drought is now the league\’s longest. The Sabres made some cheap moves in the offseason, spending up to (and $1 million over) the salary cap.

         Additions: Marcus Johansson, Colin Miller, Henri Jokijarju, Jimmy Vesey, Andrew Hammond

         Subtractions: Jason Pominville, Alexander Nylander, Matt Tennyson, Danny O\’Regan

         Forwards
The Sabres are over the cap right now, and they have 12 notable forwards that will either by a UFA or an RFA after 2019-20. Jack Eichel had his healthiest season since he was a rookie, and was a point per game player for the first time, with 82 points in 77 games, including 28 goals. He didn\’t need to score all the goals, since his new linemate, Jeff Skinner, broke out with 40 goals. Skinner received a very nice payday in late June. Sam Reinhart had a career high 65 points, but the former second overall pick still hasn\’t lived up to expectations. Conor Sheary was dumped to the Sabres as the Penguins needed cap room, then scored a career low 14 goals (not including 2015-16, when he played in 44 games). Marcus Johansson enters on a two year deal. He dealt with many injuries in his two seasons in New Jersey, but scored 11 points in 22 games for the Bruins this postseason. Jimmy Vesey hasn\’t lived up to expectations after the Hobey Baker award, and the Rangers dealt him for cap room for Artemi Panarin. He has scored 17 goals in two straight seasons. Rookie Casey Mittelstadt was hyped up heavily before the season, but scored just 12 goals with 13 assists in 77 games. Kyle Okposo was healthy, but posted his worst full season numbers ever. Evan Rodrigues had a nice 29 point season playing decent minutes. Zemgus Girgensons scored a career low five goals, but was a big part of Buffalo\’s penalty kill. Vladimir Sobotka, Tage Thompson and Patrik Berglund, the three players acquired for 2019 Conn Smythe winner Ryan O\’Reilly, combined for 29 points in 157 games, and Berglund was eventually released. Thompson is still 21, so there is hope. Scott Wilson was a -8 in 15 games last year, so don\’t expect him to get much action. Johan Larsson rebounded from a -30 2017-18, but he still had a weak season.

              Defensemen
The Sabres have 11 defensemen who could legitimately get a shot this year, so it\’s a surprise that they haven\’t traded one yet. Rasmus Ristolainen probably should have been dealt already, as the team acquired Brandon Montour last February, plus Colin Miller and Henri Jokijarju in the offseason. All three players are right handed, like Ristolainen, Zach Bogosian and Casey Nelson. Ristolainen was a league worst -41, but he did hit the 40 point mark again. Reigning first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin was a Calder finalist, and at 18, he had 44 points while playing 21 minutes a game. Colin Miller had 29 points in 65 games for Vegas last year, but he was passed over as their cap crunch hurt. Brandon Montour ended up costing them a first and prospect Brendan Guhle, but he had 10 points in 20 games after the trade. Zach Bogosian might see less time as the Sabres added defensemen, and he is one year away from free agency. Henri Jokijarju was good as a 19 year old in 38 NHL games for Chicago last year. Jake McCabe has been unable to be anything better than a third pairing defenseman. Lawrence Pilut was good in 33 games. Matt Hunwick played in just 14 games, and his playing days are ending fast. Casey Nelson had a good season, but is another player that will be hurt by this offseason\’s additions. Marco Scandella has been a -28 in two seasons as a Sabre.

                Goalies
Carter Hutton was amazing for St. Louis in 2017-18, but was terrible as a starter last year, with a 3.00 GAA and .908 SV%. Linus Ullmark had similar numbers as his backup. Andrew \”The Hamburgular\” Hammond enters as the third goalie.

               Deep Depths
Remi Elie was claimed off waivers from Dallas, then had an assist in 16 games. CJ Smith scored two goals in 11 games, but was nearly a point per game player in the AHL. Former 17th overall pick Curtis Lazar is on to his 3rd organization after failing to break through in Ottawa and Calgary. JS Dea had six points in 23 games for New Jersey and Pittsburgh last year.

               Up and Coming
The Sabres drafted Dylan Cozens 7th overall, and while he has already had thumb surgery, the big forward could be a starter by 2020-21. He had 84 points in 68 WHL games. Victor Olofsson scored 30 goals in 66 AHL games, then scored four goals in six NHL games. He is in line for a starting role. William Borgen was gifted a four game NHL cameo last year. The Sabres own the top goalie prospect in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who had a great OHL season as he transferred to North America.

                 2019 draft class
Round 1, 7th overall: Dylan Cozens
Round 1, 31st overall: Ryan Johnson
Round 3, 67th overall: Erik Portillo
Round 4, 102nd overall: Aaron Huglen
Round 5, 143rd overall: Filip Cederqvist
Round 6, 160th overall: Lukas Rousek

                  Management
Jason Botterill is still the GM, but if the Sabres struggle again, he might be gone. Ralph Krueger is the new head coach. Since Lindy Ruff\’s 14+ season tenure as Sabres\’ bench boss ended 17 games into 2012-13 season, Krueger is Buffalo\’s 5th head coach.

                  Projected Lineup
Jeff Skinner – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart
Conor Sheary – Casey Mittelstadt – Victor Olofsson
Jimmy Vesey – Evan Rodrigues – Marcus Johansson
Johan Larsson – Zemgus Girgensons – Kyle Okposo
Extras: Vladimir Sobotka, Scott Wilson, Tage Thompson

                 Rasmus Dahlin – Rasmus Ristolainen
                 Henri Jokijarju – Brandon Montour
                 Jake McCabe – Colin Miller
Extras: Zach Bogosian, Marco Scandella, Casey Nelson, Lawrence Pilut

                                     Carter Hutton
                                     Linus Ullmark
Extras: Andrew Hammond

                    Predictions
The Sabres have gotten better from 2018-19, but the changes aren\’t drastic. They are playing in a tough Eastern Conference. I predict they will once again miss the playoffs, finishing 6th in the Atlantic Division again.

From NESN

      Over the course of an 82 game NHL season (and more including playoffs), a team is bound to a have a bad game. For the Boston Bruins, it happened at the worst time. Game seven of the Stanley Cup finals saw the Bruins get dominated at home by the Blues, as Boston lost their second Cup final of the decade, but at least they won one. On the bright side, they tied for second in the NHL, they had a lethal power play throughout the regular season and postseason, and each member of their first line was well over a point per game, even missing a lot of time. While they aren\’t the youngest team, and they have cap issues, the Bruins are still in a very good position.

       Additions: Brett Ritchie, Par Lindholm, Maxime Legace, Brendan Gaunce

       Subtractions: Marcus Johansson, Noel Acciari, Gemel Smith, Zane McIntyre

       Forwards
Probably the second best line in all of hockey, the Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak line each scored 30 goals, and combined for 260 points in 210 games, or 1.24 points per game. For perspective, the leading scorer in 2018-19, Nikita Kucherov, scored 1.56 points per game. While Bergeron will be 34 and Marchand 31, Pastrnak is just 23, and all three are signed for at least three more seasons each at a steal of a cap hit under $7 million. Second line center David Krejci chipped in for 53 assists, plus 20 goals, making his $7.25 million cap hit worth it. The infamous 2015 draft had many superstars, and while the Bruins had three consecutive picks in the middle of the first round, and missed on two of them, Jake DeBrusk did score 27 goals, a career high. Charlie Coyle was acquired in a February trade, and while he was terrible in the regular season, with six points in 21 games post trade, he became a post season hero, with nine goals and seven assists in 24 games. He can center or play right wing. Danton Heinen took a step back, but 11 goals and 34 points isn\’t terrible third line production. The David Backes contract is a disaster. Backes was a healthy scratch in the final two games of the Stanley Cup final, and had just seven goals and 13 assists in 70 regular season games. Karson Kuhlman, who replaced Backes in those final two games, had five points in 11 regular season games, then had three points in eight playoff games. The Bruins\’ fourth line was strong in the playoffs, lead by Sean Kuraly, who had a career high 21 points, including 10 more in the playoffs. In his first year as a Bruin, Joakim Nordstrom scored seven goals, and three more in the postseason. He was also a big part of their penalty kill. While the final member of that line, Noel Acciari, left for Florida, Brett Ritchie replaces him. Ritchie scored 16 goals in 2016-17, but had been passed over in Dallas the last two years. Chris Wagner was hurt in the playoffs, but had a career high 12 goals and 19 points. Par Lindholm is extra insurance, though the Bruins don\’t need it.

          Defensemen
Captain Zdeno Chara is back for another season. He is now 42, but still playing top minutes. He averaged 21:05 minutes a game, plus 3:02 on the penalty kill. If it is Big Z\’s last season, he\’ll be a first ballot hall of famer. Chara\’s partner, Charlie McAvoy, became Boston\’s best defenseman, leading them in average ice time (22:10), while scoring 28 points in just 54 games. He is currently an RFA, so it will be interesting to see how much money he gets. Another current RFA, Brandon Carlo, only had 10 points, but averaged nearly 21 minutes a night, and was tied with Chara for second on the team with a +22 rating. Torey Krug is a UFA after the season, and the team will want to lock him up. He had a career high 47 assists in 2018-19. Matt Grzelcyk missed time in the Cup finals due to a concussion, but he had a second consecutive solid season, with 18 points, getting more than a two minute jump in ice time. Connor Clifton had just one point in 19 regular season games, but earned the trust in head coach Bruce Cassidy in the playoffs, playing in 18 games, and scored his first two NHL goals. Kevan Miller had a very unlucky season, dealing with multiple injuries that saw him miss the entire postseason. He\’s now likely been passed over by Clifton. John Moore signed a questionable five year deal in the offseason, dealt with injuries, and was a healthy scratch in multiple playoff games. He\’s the 8th defenseman. Steven Kampfer had his highest goal total since his rookie season, but he\’s far back in the depth chart on a healthy team.

             Goalies
Tuukka Rask is now 32, and has been very inconsistent. The former Vezina winner had a .912 SV% and 2.48 GAA in the regular season, but was sensational in the playoffs, with a .934 SV% and a 2.02 GAA. In 89 playoff games, he has a .927 SV% and a 2.19 GAA, but hasn\’t won a Stanley Cup as a starter (he was Tim Thomas\’ backup when they won in 2011). Jaroslav Halak enjoyed a nice bounce back season, adapting to life as a backup. He had a .922 SV% and 2.34 GAA.

             Deep Depths
Paul Carey started the season by playing five games for the Senators, then finished it playing two more for the Bruins. For the AHL Providence Bruins, he scored 22 goals in 30 games. Anton Blidh had another mediocre AHL season, as he has fallen on the depth chart. Maxime Legace enters as the third goalie.

              Up and Coming
The Bruins have ton of young players ready for NHL action by 2020-21. Anders Bjork entered the season eyeing a starting role, but he struggled in 20 NHL games, and injuries cost him a season, and a place on the depth chart. Former first rounder Trent Frederic was gifted a 15 game cameo, and while he averaged a penalty minute a game, he was  -4 and failed to get his first NHL point. Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson had nine points in 28 NHL games, but he\’s not in line for an NHL job. Part of that 2015 bust of a Bruins draft class, Zach Senyshyn scored his first NHL goal in a two game season, but hasn\’t even scored 15 goals in two AHL seasons. Jack Studnicka goes to the AHL after scoring 24 goals in 30 OHL games. Top prospect Urho Vaakanainen made his NHL debut, and was decent in 30 AHL games. The last Bruins\’ first rounder in 2015, Jakub Zboril debuted, but hasn\’t been able to get past four goals and 15 assists in two AHL seasons.

                2019 draft class

Round 1, 30th overall: John Beecher
Round 3, 92nd overall: Quinn Olson
Round 5, 154th overall: Roman Bychkov
Round 6, 185th overall: Matias Mantykivi
Round 7, 192nd overall: Jake Schmaltz

                 Management
Bruce Cassidy has received Jack Adams consideration the past two seasons, and unless the Bruins endure a terrible season, he\’ll stay behind the bench for the next couple of seasons. Don Sweeney won the GM of the Year award.

                Projected Lineup

Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk – David Krejci – Karson Kuhlman
Danton Heinen – Charlie Coyle – Chris Wagner
Joakim Nordstrom – Sean Kuraly – Brett Ritchie
Extras: David Backes, Par Lindholm, Anders Bjork

               Zdeno Chara – Charlie McAvoy
               Torey Krug – Brandon Carlo
               Matt Grzelcyk – Connor Clifton
Extras: Kevan Miller, John Moore, Steven Kampfer

                                Tuuka Rask
                                Jaroslav Halak
Extras: Maxime Legace

                  Predictions
The Bruins are a really good team, which was demonstrated by them making the Stanley Cup Finals in 2018-19. They may not make it back there in 2019-20, but they have a really good chance of winning it all, even with the Lightning in their division. I predict the Bruins will finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division, making the playoffs, and winning at least one round.