Clean Hits Episode 63 – NHL Team Ranks

Clean Hits Episode 63 – NHL Team Ranks

We now on the gas slow down we holding it down. We know we running it now. Change the game change. It is the first week of September, which means we’re gez just about a month before the NHL regular season begins. This is the Clean Hit Podcast and we figured what better time than now to rank and tier all 32 NHL teams. Gives you a little bit of an offse recap. Gives you a preview of how this season may go. And we’ll probably have a little fun with it, maybe some hot takes. Uh definitely show us what you think in the comments. Were we way off on this tier ranking or we spot on? Let us know your thoughts. But first, Corey, how are you doing? Like you said, hockey season’s just around the corner, right? So, obviously, lots of excitement around that. Uh, you see NHL teams, they tweet out a player like yesterday was Austin Matthews. So, 34 days until the season starts. So, today’s 33. So, who’s I guess Patrick Wah 33. I don’t know who a current player is, but yeah. Yeah, that would that would be my favorite. I mean, that’s my favorite number. So, that would have been mine. If I had made it to the NHL, I would have picked 33. Awesome. Yeah. Oh man, I can’t believe it though. It it, you know, it’s actually not 100 degrees in Phoenix today. We’ve gotten some rain. The nights are getting a little bit cooler. It feels like autumn. What we call autumn out here. Yeah. Yeah. Even though Arizona hockey weather. Yeah. Just not sweltering anymore. Um but yeah, you can kind of feel the excitement. It feels like things are just about wrapped up. Don’t think we’ll get really any big surprises. Maybe Edmonington goalie situation, but otherwise I think the teams are pretty well set. Yeah, there’s not much left out there in free agency or restricted free agency. I know like Mason McA still needs a new deal, but they’ll get that figured out. And then like who’s the best unrestricted free agent left? Probably. Um I don’t know. There always surprises me who’s like out there. And those will they’ll get camp invites so they could potentially call in a couple of weeks here like us last year with Yamamoto. So Yep. Yeah. And you know just kind of really quickly I don’t think the team’s going to have any big name camp invites like we did with Yamamoto last year. It really doesn’t feel like there’s room on the roster. Maybe a defenseman or I don’t know. But now even with Ingram coming back like got three goalies. So many forwards. I know. Too many forwards. a lot of defensemen with good depth there. So I I feel like what you see is what you get for the Mammoth at least. Yeah. I feel like generally PTO’s are kind of a waste of time. I know last year it turned out well with Yamamoto, but usually like yeah, they’re almost always getting released and for part of it they’re there because they’re doing a favor for the agent or you need to hit the requirement for a number of veterans to play in a preseason game. So you bring in a guy who can play a couple preseason games and then two weeks later you let him go. So, he comes in, plays a couple games, gets a couple free meals, and then he’s gone. Yep. Well, let’s get right to it because last year when me and Kenny did this, it took like a whopping two and a half hours. We’re going to try to keep it quicker today. So, I made the tiers as Stanley Cup finals. So, I would say this tier, we can only put four teams in here. Two from the West, two from the East. So, the two teams most likely to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. the remainder of our playoff teams fighting for a spot, the not so good tier, and then the McKenna tier, uh, which is obviously going to be our bottom. We’re just going to do this in alphabetical order. So, starting right up with Trent’s favorite team in the league, the Anaheim Ducks. I think there’s two spots that they could be fighting for a spot because of how weak the playoffs or the Pacific is or that not so good tier. To me, I lean with a not so good too. That’s kind of where they were distance from Utah last year. And I know they made some changes. I think uh not necessarily the Quinnville edition, but getting rid of Cronin is huge. Uh I curious to see how Quinnville does with having been removed from the NHL for so long and there’s such an age gap between himself and some of the the key players there. But yeah, um I’m not convinced it’s a great coaching move to be honest. it it it could easily be exactly what this team needs, but there’s this kind of Babcock vibe to it, too, where he just may not be the guy for a younger team or or the NHL period anymore. So the other big piece here is Gibson is gone. And I know they got Morazz back in that trade, but if Dostel isn’t the guy and you’re relying on Morazzic, I mean, the Red Wings know how this went or Chicago knows how that went. And I that could be a big big issue here. And that defense core is still very young. We got um thin. Let’s see. Lome raco guda. Still Trouba is a nice addition for a vet. Uh Zelwagger and Mchikov are all very young on the the left side of Lome Zelwagger and Mchikov. Um they have a nice sprinkling of vets in the forward roster. They still have Korn obviously. uh added Krider, which I think is going to be a fairly decent addition as far as leadership goes, but and oh, Muel Granland. That was the other big ad, but yeah, losing I I Yeah, crazy. Losing Zris is going to sting a little bit. I think I think culturally it may be good but that’s a lot of skill that left and again you replace it with the aging Krider Granlin who had a really nice year last year but I I don’t know if I believe that he will repeat it and and Clin I think is well past his prime. Yeah, as much as a pain in the ass as Ziggress is, they got like Ryan Paling and a couple of picks back. So just the talent disparity between those two. Uh, I think Anaheim is very similar to another team in the Pacific in San Jose who I don’t think they’re going to be very good, but in a year from now, I think they’ll both make a pretty good jump then, but they’re still a year away. Yep, agreed. Okay, we’ll keep on moving on. Boston. I got to put them in the McKenna tier. Yeah, they’re uh they’re running or maybe at the very back of the not so good. They always tend to surprise me. I’m going to leave them in not so good for now. Fair enough. I would have them in McKenna, but I can see putting them in the not so good because they do still have Pernax, so they have a 100 point winger there and I think Swayman will have a bounce back. He had a bit of an awkward year last year missing camp and everything was kind of offkilter, but I mean you look at the rest of that team and like right and then you look at the division they’re in, right? So you got to play Toronto regularly, Tampa, Florida, Montreal is going to be pretty good. So hard to get those points division. Yes. Um um just a lot of needs to go right for Boston to be more than bad and and they can begin selling. As soon as they begin selling, then you know the the signals are there. If they were to move pasta, holy cow, that team is going to be bad. But um again, they still have it’s still the Bruins. They’re still they still will play to that identity of being tough. Makavoy and Lynholm uh as kind of your top pieces of your back end. It’s still pretty decent. And again, goalie situations better than a lot of teams in the league. So, right now, I think you got to put them in the not so good tier. And again, once we start filling these out, I think they’ll be near the back end of that. But, yep. All right. Buffalo Sabres, who uh how many teams are we putting in McKenna? Five. Yeah, four to five. I would say I think they’re still McKenna. And it’s just like I’ll I’ll I’ll see it or I’ll believe it when I see it. And whoa, it’s just some injury issues there. Um you know, you look at Josh Norris who I have no faith in him being a healthy player at this point. Um the young team, I don’t like a lot of their veterans like Jason Zucker. We saw him in Arizona. Uh there’s a lot of pieces there for sure, especially on the back end when you got Owen Power and Dalene and now you got Michael Kessler. But I don’t really like a lot of what’s going on in Buffalo. And again, same as Boston, they’re in that division, right? So, good luck getting points against Toronto and Tampa and and pretty much any team in that division. Ottawa, Montreal. Yeah. Yeah. So, there’s they’re still McKenna until they’re not. Yeah. I don’t know, man. I was going to say maybe at the end of fighting for a spot. I I I look at the roster and I still just think like there’s a lot of intriguing pieces here if they put it together. I don’t know about the goalending situation. Obviously, we love knowing Josh Don is there and hoping that he can bring a lot of character. But yeah, you lost Purka. That top six does look a little wonky right now on Daily Face Off. It’s Lissa, Zack Benson, Yuri Kulick, Paige Thompson, Jason Zucker, Josh Norse, Alex Tuck. Huh. I wonder if Lindy Ruff is the first coach fired. Probably his last year anyway. Yeah. Yeah. Last year anyway for him given age and then there’s I mean you would think there’s playoff expectations in Buffalo because it needs to be. They need it. Yeah. It’s going to be difficult. I’m going to put them right ahead of Boston right now. That may change. But here’s the thing. I think they’re even out of the McKenna teams. I think they’re the least likely to sell. I don’t think they have to sell anymore. And and I I just feel like H everything is just too young to sell. Yeah, exactly. So unless they do something catastrophic like move tage and say we want McKenna for our new top center. But if they miss right now going going into this I think their expectations are to be fighting for a spot. I think the roster is more in that not so good area and I think they are more unlikely to sell than a lot of these teams that we’ll be going through. So right now let’s leave them here. Maybe that can change a little bit. Yep, fair enough. All right, Calgary Flames. I think uh I want to put them in McKenna. Same. Uh I think a lot went right for them last year, a lot with Wolf especially. So, it’s going to be very hard for him to repeat that. Uh I think they’re a team that can’t score and they’re an older team. I don’t know if Jonathan Hubedo is more of than a 60point guy at this point. Uh Kadri has some term, but I wonder if he is a piece that gets moved. Uh teams will will pay for him. Y uh I like a lot of the pieces like Connor Zer, but I don’t know. Is he more than like a second liner? It’s kind of like shades of Arizona when you’re just hoping you can get 20 guy goals out of this guy and 20 goals out of that guy where yeah, there’s just not a lot of star players. And then you look at the whole Anderson situation. Um, is he going to get traded? So, uh, the one benefit for the Flames is just being in that Pacific division, right, where there’s a lot of comparable teams that they can get some points off of. Yeah. I I I mean, there are still a lot of Rasmus Anderson uh rumors out there. Um, Kadri rumors obviously as well. And I think when you have those rumors floating around, uh, it indicates that the team is willing to move those pieces in order to tank into the standings. And I agree. I think this is a team that the young core pieces that they do have and Zaryi and uh, I mean, even the addition of Morgan Frost in some capacity here. Uh, Coronado was another name that was starting to kind of come through last season, but I I I just think that those are going to be more of those second, third line guys down the road when when all is said and done. Um, and and you got to keep building then. I mean, they got Zayn Perk waiting in the pipelines. Fortunately, they kind of played themselves out of a nice pick this year. And I I think they probably are more likely to be bottom five than Yeah. I mean, you look at last year, everything went right for them and they still didn’t make the playoffs. So, yeah, they didn’t really do anything this summer either. I mean, I know they brought in Morgan Frost ahead of last year’s deadline, but no real big changes. So, I just don’t I think I’m going to put them at the bottom of McKenna. Yeah, fair enough. Oh, and I guess we should clarify if you don’t have not heard, McKenna is potentially the second coming of a McDavid level prospect will be selected first overall this year. Uh so that’s why that tier is there. These are the teams that will be selling and hoping that the hockey gods give them some a lot of luck and win a potential generational prospect. All right, Carolina Hurricanes. I think this is a playoffs for sure. It’s the top team in the East or not. I think playoffs for sure. I don’t think they corrected the issues that they have. Um if they run into Florida again in the third round, I will easily pick Florida. I like some of the changes. I’m a Condre Miller fan. I am I like Nick Eers, but I don’t really think Nick Eers is a playoff player. He had a decent playoff last year in Winnipeg, but I don’t think he’s a difference maker for them. And that’s really what they need as a difference maker. They tried that last year with Rantin and he didn’t fit. Um I like Freddy Anderson, but he’s always hurt. I like Kachchov, too, but I don’t know if he’s going to win you a Stanley Cup. And there’s just there’s a lot of good there, but I just don’t know if there’s great. And I think that’s going to continue to hold them back. I agree. The nice thing with Hurricanes, and if you’re a Hurricane fan though, is there is some pieces in the pipeline that could start making a big impression on this team. Uh Nishkin is one of those players who may take a big step this season. Um but yeah, until you see more star power, I I think they’re one of those teams that have a lot of depth and and can beat you with it. But when you’re going up against a guy, a true elite player, a game breaker, if you will, a guy who can totally change the momentum of a game, you’re going to struggle. And I just don’t see them with players like that. Chevnikov is probably your closest player to that caliber. And uh last year in the playoffs, he really struggled, especially on the discipline side of things. So they’ll be interesting to see uh if he can tighten up that game and maybe take that next step. But yeah, right now I think they’re maybe at the near the top of the tier of the playoff teams that are potentially cup contender favorite, but not there yet. Uh, Chicago straight to McKenna, right? Yeah, Baddard. And now that’s it. Nice contract for Nazar, but yeah, there’s just not a lot there for Bard to work with. So, we’ll see what he does this year. Can he hit 70 points? Maybe, but there’s some hit 60 yet, right? Don’t believe so. Um, yeah, but he’ll he’ll continue to get better. But you look at that team like look at the blue line. Blastic, Renel, Kaiser, Levunov, Delmstro, and Connor Murphy, right? That’s easily the worst blue line in the league. Um, I do like the Spencer Knight edition last year. He’s going to get shelled, though. Uh, but this is his is his opportunity to be a number one, but then there’s just not the depth there. It’s coming. This is a rebuild that’s gone a little bit slower than Utah’s and a little bit slower than San Jose’s. Uh, and I think there is some intent there. Uh Chicago is probably one of two teams in the league who’s not really focused on this season, right? Because there is that McKenna prize. So if you can get McKenna and put him on uh Baddard’s wing, there’s your new I mean that that’s potentially beyond what they had in Kane and Taves. Oh yeah. Or or Baddard on McKenna’s wing. That works too. Yeah. Um it would be absolutely disgusting and we cannot let that happen. And it won’t because uh we’ll get to it. So, I think uh it’s been predetermined where McKenna’s going. I’m just going to Who who do you want to see when McKenna, I guess. And we’ll need to talk it through more. I need to think of our bottom. But but I I think right now I mean the Flames would be great because they’ve never really I don’t think they’ve ever had a lot of win. Um I don’t know when their first overall would have been first overall pick either. Um, it would just help with balancing the league a little bit with the top prospects, too. Um, and I mean, especially after Edmonton picks four, Calgary can have one at the top, right? So, yeah. And I I’ll get to my other pick later. Uh, Colorado, the Avalanche division. I think they’re playoffs. I think uh I don’t think they’re Stanley Cup. Two west, two east. Yeah. Um I don’t think they’re going to come out of the central though, so I don’t think it’s them. I I like a lot of their pieces. They’re a lot like Carolina where I mean obviously they have the stars like McKinnon and Mar, but and I think Blackwood is maybe a little bit underrated, but I I don’t know. Uh I just don’t know if there’s the depth there. They’re not nearly as good as Carolina. It’s like they have Yes. two almost three back breakers but or game breakers but the depth’s not great. The goalending is questionable. Arguably I think they look better on paper this year than last year but and what are your expectations for Landisk? I don’t know. And that I don’t think I have any. Yeah. How many games did Nushkin play last season? Doesn’t I don’t think he I think he missed a lot of the season. He did miss a lot of time. Um, they brought in Brock Nelson at the deadline and then they gave him the extension. Yeah. Um, like I I like a lot of Yeah, he’s still there. I like a lot of the pieces, but I don’t think this is a Stanley Cup team. I think they have a better chance to get to the cup finals than Carolina. Yes, I would agree to that. Okay, I’m going to put them ahead of Carolina then for playoffs. And I would consider them in that Stanley Cup tier, but let’s keep on talking through it all first and maybe that will change. Um, Columbus, Columbus, the Blue Jackets. surprised everybody had uh such a fantastic season for all the tragedy that came into last season uh with Johnny Goodro passing. The team played with their hearts. The young kids took a big step. Was that who they are in the trajectory they’re on or was that a little bit of everything went right? because at one point they had the top goal scorer per game at home across the entire league. They were unstoppable for a little bit there, but they did coach there. Me, too. Uh I would put them probably top of the not so good. That’s kind of where they’ve always fighting for a spot, huh? No, because I think there’s going to be two or three other teams that are comparable, if not ahead of them, by a couple of points. Uh, they didn’t really do anything in the summer. They brought in Charlie Coyle. Um, a lot of nice pieces there. Um, I think you’re going to have to bring in Severson. Severson. Uh, Severson. Was he on the lineup here? Was he brought in this summer or was he already I don’t remember. He was on Montreal, right? or was he there last year too though? I don’t know. No, he was there last year. Um Sean Monahan had a uh nice bounceback year. I think he’ll probably take a step back. Maybe not a gigantic step back, but I think he’ll take a step back. Um take another step forward. Same as Ken Johnson here. He could. I like him. I like Marenko. I like Ken Johnson. I like Cylinger. Um I don’t know. I don’t think it’s uh it’s enough for playoffs. Okay. I I I agree. I’ll put them at the top of not so good. That’s another one that Let’s see how many teams we put in the fighting for a playoff spot. All right. Another Central division rival. Maybe the top team of the Central. And I think this is my first confident vote for a Stanley Cup final appearance, the Dallas Stars. I like everything about them except the coach. Um I understood why they had to make the change there, but I didn’t like the replacement they brought in in Gulletson. I think you’re in that window of trying to win the Stanley Cup. You hear there’s a whole bunch of coaches like, “Oh, he’s he’s a win now coach.” Well, Glenn Gullson isn’t that. He failed in Dallas before. He wasn’t very good in Calgary. And like I in my mind, Golant would have been perfect for Dallas, right? Go and try and win a cup in the next two, three years. Like how does he not get that job? Veteran team fits with what he’s worked with. You look at the lineup, like there’s no holes in that lineup. Um, no. Jason Robertson had a bit of a slow year last year with all the Team USA pressure, but then had a really nice bounceback. Uh, Maverick Bourke is coming along. They got some nice veteran depth and Duchine and Jamie Ben. Tyler Sean was back last year. Um Thomas Harley taking that huge step forward. Yeah, right now they have two number one defenseman. I do think that is probably the one area they need to continue to add and that could be something where they just play with what they have up until the deadline and then they could bring in another piece um on the back end. But I love I there’s no holes on this team. maybe some defensive depth, but uh my caveats would be the coaching and then I do think they kind of choked a little bit in the playoffs last year. So yeah, be curious to see what a full season of Ranton in Dallas looks like. Yes, I would agree. Um but yeah, I I think star power game breakers, they got you got it all in the depth. Um probably on paper maybe the most complete team in the entire league. Oh, there’s one other one. And a GM who’s won the GM of the year award two, if not three times in a row. So, yeah. Um has the wherewithal and will continue to add to this team to push them um into that winner circle. Yep, I would agree. Uh Detroit, I think I think you have to say fighting for a spot. They got a GM fighting for a job. Yeah, there’s that very awkward headline like next April when uh Steve Eisermanman gets promoted right to president of the Red Wings. Um I don’t think they’re going to make the playoffs, but they had a nice little turnaround last year after the coaching change to Todd Mlullen. I wonder if they just kind of ran out of runway, but didn’t really make a lot of changes in the offseason. They brought in Terara Senko, who’s taken a step back. Um, and it’s just another one of those moves Eer Eisermanerman’s done with the the Red Wings, which I just feel like this the style of roster building he has had with them just feels night and day to what he was doing in Tampa and it’s just so perplexing. It’s just like getting castaways and and you don’t like the John Gibson Cam Talbet pairing. I that’s awful. Gibson’s always hurt. I’m not a huge Cam P fan. I think he’s kind of a oneb at best goalie and like why you bringing in goalies? They have they got Trey Austinine. They have Sebastian Kosa who I think is probably ready to take a backup role this year but he’s not going to because there’s not a spot for him. John Gibson will inevitably get hurt so he’ll play sometime. But I don’t know. It’s just a very awkward team because you have some veterans in there but they’re always hurt or they’ve taken a step back like like JVR Patrick Kane like this would have been a great team like 10 years ago. Yeah. No, I know. I guess you’re hoping Edson makes another step takes another step forward forward maybe even Cider taking another step. Uh Marco Casper was looking fantastic at the end of the season. So you’re hoping maybe he solidifies himself as their 2C. Right now on Daily Faceoff, he’s listed in between De Brinket and Patrick Kane. Um Raymond really solidified himself as a top four top winger in the league. Um but yeah, JVR is sitting right next to him and Larkin and it it’s it’s just puzzling. Um, but I think all that said and done, I I think this is a team that is good enough to be fighting for a playoff spot. Um, the entire season, I think the team themselves know that that is the goal uh much like Ottawa last season. Do I think they make that next step? Probably not. And as we build out this tier of fighting for a playoff spot, they may be near the bottom for me. Yeah, I’m only confident for their division that they’re better than Boston. I don’t think they’re better than Ottawa. I don’t think they’re better than Montreal. Buffalo, we’ll see. Yeah, I agree. I mean, Buffalo, if everything goes right for Buffalo, I think they are in that fighting for a playoff spot again. But I I also see where the concerns are of like feeling confident to put them there. I think this is if Detroit doesn’t make it, I think this is 10 years. And what a disgrace after what that franchise was up until 9 years ago, right? So I know I know and and the ending the end of this doesn’t seem to be anywhere in sight because this is a team that hasn’t had top prospects. They they’ve been in that like 8 to 12 spot at the end of the season for so long now that it seems like every time that they could be picking high, they didn’t. And and in weaker drafts, it’s when they did pick in the top five. And yeah, and they never won a lottery, too. So may maybe Yeah, maybe that’s the McKenna pick. No, there’s another one. Fair enough. that there’s a destiny pick here. Um, okay. Yeah. All right. Edmonton. Boy, do I not want to put them in the cup final spot, but I’m still trying to figure out how they got to the cup final two years in a row. McDavid. Yeah. But it’s such an incredibly flawed roster, right? I know. Um, like if if they said to Bill Armstrong like, “Hey, outside of those two, you can take anything you want from our roster free of charge. Maybe Zach Heyman, maybe Nan Hopkins. I don’t really want anything else. I’m good. Yeah, Bushard is there, but he’s awful on his own end. Uh, I guess you could use a piece like Ekcom, but Well, Silly Pod Cole’s on the second line. Yeah, Isaac Howard’s an interesting addition here. Um and then there yes daily Faceoff is projecting that former Buffalo Sabres first round pick uh in the same year as uh Logan Culie Matthew Seavoy uh will be on the same line as Dry Cidle. Isaac Howard is pencled into the top line with Hyman and McDavid. Um that’s a lot of hope, right? Um this that is to me those are two players that could help change the dynamic of the offense because man last year going into the season that forward roster looked awful. Yes. Um devoid of skill outside of the top guys. Heyman just wasn’t the same. Um, so I I actually do think there’s a chance that this forward group moving forward uh will be a lot better and maybe a good mix. Um, the defense is pretty much the same. Goalending is still very questionable. I mean, I think they’re in the playoffs area. kind of think they’re worse than Colorado, though. I think with Edmonton, the thing is they might have a decent path to the final just being in the Pacific, right? So, you really just need to be better than Vegas. And they’ve shown in the last couple years they can beat Vegas in the playoffs. So, there might be another path to the final here as well. True. Vegas has proven they can beat them, too, though. That too. Um, I would have put them for now. What’s that? I’m going to put them behind Colorado for now. Okay. But I’m open to moving it. I I next step Florida Panthers. I don’t think there’s any debate here. I mean, I’m picking them to win the Stanley Cup because I I don’t see a team that’s better than them. I know it’s going to be difficult to do it three years in a row. Uh, I don’t believe any team has done that since was it the Islanders? I don’t think Edmonton won. I think Edmonton won four and five. Two and then Montreal in between and then another two by Edmonton. I think I think it was the Islanders back in the early 80s was the last three in a row. No one’s done it in the Cap era. Um, I think you’ll see them continue to change pieces in and out to get some fresh legs ahead of the deadline. going to have a season. So, he’ll be pretty [Music] there’s just not a lot of chips left to continue to add to this team, right? They’ve traded away so many draft picks. They haven’t had any prospects to trade because they haven’t made those picks. Um they’ll find ways to add to this team. I know they’re already starting some of the the cap tricks with like six years for Brad Marshan, but um right now they’re still my pick to win the cup. So, three in a row for Florida. H would be insane. But yeah, I I think they are on paper maybe the best team in the league. I mean, we saw how dominant they were last year and then they didn’t lose anyone, right? I I mean I if the roster is exactly the same as the the same ro the roster that won you the cup I don’t know how you can say I guess they lost Nate Schmidt to the Utah Mammoth. Yes. Vanichek but and yeah difference makers they’re all still there right and there’s so many there’s I mean not only the big names right like like Barov and Reinhardt and and Eklad and Babroski but Verhagi and Bennett and Rodriguez and Seth Jones there are so many pieces on this team I know Cup yeah all right moving on Los Angeles Kings. I don’t know why whoever made this tier list made their logo so big. Uh so obnoxious. I think this team is lucky to be in the playoff tier because I think they are a whole lot worse than last season, but they are in the arguably the worst division in the the league. Yes, that’s definitely going to help them. um didn’t like any of their additions, Cody CC and some of the other names they brought in. Um it wasn’t even like additions through subtraction. It was just bad addition. Yes, that um saying that there’s still I forgot they brought in Cory Perry. Wow. Um yeah, there’s still enough of a core there. Kopitar, Dowy, Keer can drag them to the playoffs. I think LA is going to be one of the teams that we’re fighting with to get one of those wild card spots. Um, oh, because they will probably have the third spot of their division. So, Vegas and Edmonton in whatever order and then yeah, LA might be the next one, right? Because we’re we’re not including Calgary. Um, Vancouver is really the only other team in the Pacific that I would So, they might be in just off of that. So, they’re gonna get in and then we’re just going to get smoked in the first round. Moilers, Edmonton again. Yeah. Right. I am moving more and more toward getting rid of this playoff format because watching the same matchups every year. Go back to the 1 to8. Right. I see LA versus Winnipeg or something. So I agree. Yeah. Yeah. I I think they are lucky to be placed here. I think in a one through eight format. Maybe we’ll talk about that once we have this all lined up. But in a one, they can’t score, but they also don’t let in any goals either. So, yes. But, and they also have the depth where a key injury probably doesn’t prevent them from falling too far in the standings. So, um I said, uh, Terasenko for the Red Wings, but he’s on Minnesota. I totally forgot he’s there now. Oh, yeah, that’s right. Tinko was on traded for nothing, I believe. Yeah. So, speaking of Minnesota, they’re up next. Playoffs, fighting for a spot. Uh, they’re right in the thick of it with us, right? So, I think if we’re making it, it’s in one of those wild card spots. And I think if Minnesota makes it, it’s also in one of those wild card spots. Um, are they a better team than Utah, man? I mean, I obviously am biased here. contract year for Capri off. That’s scary. Yeah, missed some time last year, so he might have a, you know, some lots of energy in the tank even more. So, I think I think their center depth is better than it has been before because I think your your boy Marco Rossi is starting to really himself as a center for that team. I think they’ll probably be a little bit give him a little bit longer of a leash this season. Erikson E has proven to be fantastic uh on that top line as a shutdown center who can score as well and his chemistry with Capri really kind of exploded this season. Zacharella is a year older. Baldi has looked fantastic. Uh now you got young guys like Ogrren who have made the roster and kind of found their place there. Z Buham is going to be potentially making a big impact on that team. Brock Faber will be in year three. Mhm. I think we beat them on depth. We beat them on depth. Sure. I don’t know if they have any scoring after the top two lines and even then it gets a little thin, right? Yeah. Like Terasenko’s on the second line probably right now. Baldi Rossi and then you have Capri up, Eric and Zukarella. even like Zukarelloo, right? So, yeah, I think we can beat them there. Um, which I think is why we tried to trade Nick Schmaltz there for so long. Um, but I would put Utah ahead of Minnesota. I would put Minnesota in that fighting for a spot and maybe they just miss by a couple of points. Yeah, I’d agree. But that Capri off factor is a little terrifying if he comes out and gets 120 points. Yep. Hard to beat that. Yep. All right, moving on along. Montreal Canadians uh took a huge step last season and made the playoffs before getting bested by the Washington Capitals. Think if anything, this is a team who looks much better than even last season. Lane Hudson obviously wins the Calder. Um they add Noah Doppson which is a fantastic piece for their defense. Um Demadov is kind of the Calder favorite. So this would be a team that would have rookie of the year two years in a row. There’s really nothing on this roster that screams um there’s nothing on here that screams a lock to the playoffs to me. I think there’s issues with depth. I think there’s issues with goalending. I think this is a team who can definitely score, but I think the blue line’s pretty decent overall, but there’s some questions there, especially with depth. Montbo is going to have to really repeat what he did last season. I think I think there’s a lot of mirrors of of Utah’s goalie situation in Montreal’s as well. And actually, these are two very similar teams in a lot of ways of younger teams that are kind of turning the corner. Um, but I like our depth more. Um, there’s injury concern issues with Montreal with Kirby Doc having not really played full seasons. Uh, New Hook has question. Yeah. Even even Patrick Line is a question mark at this point in his career. I don’t know what you’re getting there. Yes. No. No. And that’s a that’s a away from the power play. Yep. Um and then Book was a nice addition here, but I like that they still have Gallagher. I think there’s a lot of heart and soul on this team. I think this is a fighting for the playoffs. Maybe near the bottom of making the playoffs if we can find enough Eastern teams. Yeah, that’s kind of my thinking. I think um I like a lot of this team but I just there’s enough question marks with Doc and New Hook and line a I do like Montto and I do like Jacob Dov and as well and I like the Dobson edition and I think Nick Suzuki is probably one of the more underrated players in the league. Saying that you look at this division they’re not going to be in the top three so then it’s two spots right so and then I think there’s at least one other team in their division which could take one of those wild card spots so you’re really looking at one. So, I would put them on the outside looking in, which looks like a step backward from last season considering they made the playoffs, but yeah, uh it’s coming in Montreal. Maybe they take a step back, but it’s coming, right? I agree. I agree. And and you see this a lot with teams, the younger teams. They may make the playoffs one year and surprise people and then the next they miss and then all the pieces kind of come together. But yeah, um I think if we can’t find another enough eight Eastern teams, then I think we pop them in there. But right now, I think they are right behind Minnesota in terms of ranking. Uh Nashville Predators. Uh McKenna. I mean, that’s a McKenna, right? Yeah. I don’t like a lot of what they’ve done. Um, no. I think they need to stop fooling around with this O’Reilly thing. And he does not have any sort of trade protection. So, and they would get a killing for him if they moved him. Um, I would I would start with moving him. Uh, plus it’s an older team, right? So, um, Stamos has taken a step back. Um, there’s some pieces there who I wouldn’t mind picking up like a Michael Bunting or a Zachary Laroo who are just kind of some dirt bags you can bring in. Um, but I don’t think they have any intention to sell. So, um, I I I I also think Nashville could be one of the first teams to make a coaching change as well. And I think that was pretty close last year. I agree. Now, there’s part of me that says a team with Philip Forsber, Ryan O’Reilly, Marsha Schul, Roman Yosi, and Jussi Sorrowos shouldn’t be bottom five. So, they may end up in this the end of this not so good tier, but uh right now my gut says they are going to be a bottom five team, but let’s see how this plays out. Yeah, fair enough. Uh, the New Jersey Devils. I think they were Yeah, that’s the thing with them, right? They lost They lost Hughes last year. They lost Hamilton. Hamilton. Um, I think they’re a playoff team for sure. Um, I think they’re a playoff team. I don’t think they’re a Stanley Cup contender. Um, man, this team was so promising at one point. Yeah. And was it just injuries that derailed it? Yeah, partially. But I I even feel like they lost that trajectory when when they first added Teemo Meer and then uh was it last? No, two seasons ago adding Tyler to Foley. like there’s some too much too soon things that have maybe and and all of these moves have looked really good on paper and they did kind of seem like just the what the doctor ordered to to make this team and roster even better but it didn’t work out. It’s really strange. I don’t I mean you look at that top six, it looks fantastic. I think the the plot signing was I don’t know didn’t like the Connor Brown signing this summer and I don’t like Cody Gloss um especially fourth line role um Denov is not really what you want in the fourth line I did like you really need Luke Hughes to step take a huge step forward was a nice pickup but well here’s a here’s a scenario for It’s March and I don’t know what moves out, but Quinn Hughes comes to New Jersey as well. Yeah, right. Because that apparently is things don’t work out in Vancouver. He wants to join the two brothers there in New Jersey. So, um, we’ll see. So then, but moving Simon Ne and Yeah, because he was making some noise last year, too, right? Getting stuck in, uh, wherever the hell New Jerseys farm team is. Oh, yeah. Um, I’m in offseason mode still. I don’t know. Yeah, I did like the the resigning of Jake Gallon. I don’t really like the five-year thing, but at least it was a reasonable contract. It wasn’t some kind of cap shenanigans thing. And he’s some nice insurance because Jacob Marstrom is um kind of hit and miss and miss some time last year with injury as well. So, yeah. So, I think playoffs, I don’t think they’re a threat to win around. I think they’re probably the same as last year where they’ll get in and probably lose fully healthy they could surprise depending on who they match up to. Yeah, I think that’s fair. But I don’t think if they get Yeah. If if if they get, you know, like the third spot in the Metro and have to play Washington. Yeah. Right. I could see them beating Washington. Yeah, I think that’s where I just think they’re off the path. They were like two years ago a lot of people I think even last year I had them going to the finals and yeah I don’t think that’s even a possibility anymore and I’m not entirely sure what changed. I don’t either. I I mean again it’s pretty much the same players. Mhm. Maybe just everyone around them got better. Like Washington came out of nowhere. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean they felt like they were on the same trajectory as Colorado for a moment there where Jack Hughes was going to be their Nathan McKinnon and uh he sure kind of like the cadrey back on Colorado had that kind of one-two punch and and they have some good potential superstars on defense but it’s stagnating a little bit. It’s a weird mix. It’s a weird mix. I think maybe they are a good fit for a trade then cuz usually that is if the mix is off, right? Then you got to fix it and trade is the way to go. But yeah, I think the playoffs I don’t think they’re going to the cup. No. All right, the New York Islanders who [Music] kind of accidentally gotten put into a tank position um with winning the lotto. I don’t think last season and and missing the playoffs was the intention. I mean, they made it the year before. Um, they haven’t really sold too many pieces outside of Noah Dobson’s, but I I do think that is signaling that they’re okay with stripping this down further. But you still have one of the best goalies in the league. So, unless you’re trading him, there’s not many pieces you could trade. I mean, you still have Horvat somebody that we were thinking would be a nice fit for Utah, but one of those situations that Yeah. I mean, what what team did we say was too young to sell off? Buffalo. Maybe Buffalo and the Islanders would be a good mix. Move out some of the youth in Buffalo and bring in some of these vets from the Islanders. Um like a Horvat or a or Anders Lee or a Barzel. Um, yeah, I I don’t really like the makeup of this team. I think they’re very old. I think there’s going to be some drama there with Patrick Wah. There’s a new GM, so potentially a change behind the bench there, right? GM bringing in his own guy. Um, Wah has a clash with Anthony Duclair last season. Um Jonathan Drew has come in and he has some history there as well as not necessarily a problematic player but um there’s always a bit of a a side story with Tran as well. So um that’s kind of what I’m thinking if they’re McKenna or if they’re just a tier better than that. Like are they who’s better Nashville the Islanders? You know what’s crazy? I was just thinking this. Nashville may be better. Yeah, they both got a Is Nashville a team where everything went wrong last season and um or are they that bad? I mean, they were pushing their chips in. Even if a lot won like what do you what do you want to get out of Stamco at this point? I I don’t know. 60 points. I mean, he didn’t come close to that last year, but um if Nashville is better this year, I don’t think they’re going to be drastically better. No, I don’t. But um they’re just such an old team last and they they weren’t really in the fight last year either, right? So, and now they’re a year older. So, and they don’t have Noah Dobson who argument could be made was their best player. All right. I only see two other teams I’d put in the bottom tier and I think one may be on its way out. So I’m going to do right here right after Nashville. Okay. So Calgary being the best out of these bottom feeders than the Islanders than Nashville than Chicago right now. Oh man, Chicago looks so bad on paper. And I do think if Calgary sells, they could easily go to the very bottom there. But yes, because they can’t. Honestly, if any of these three teams sell, they could. The thing with Chicago is they don’t really have anything they can move. No. Conor Murphy maybe. But that’s okay. Yeah. Yep. All right. the Rangers, uh, surprise team who used to be kind of one of the top teams in the league and then nothing went right last year as far as chemistry. Moved their captain, [Music] Trouba, Crider now move. I mean, it’s it it was a strange season and then things seem to be shaping up a little bit after some of those big moves. They kind of got in a fight a little bit. Yeah. Um I definitely think they’re fighting for a spot. I mean, this is still a team with Panera and Troek. Lafrenier, who was former first overall pick in 2020. Uh feel like this is a make or break year for him. I do too. Lafrenir like get your together and get 70 points. Yep. Aaron contract year. Yeah. Uh but he could also be moved, you know. Could be. Um this is another team I maybe is this a function of expansion because he like where’s the depth, right? some nice names at the top, but it gets very thin very fast. And that blue line looks so much worse than last season, even though Oh, yes, it does. Ga may be kind of that piece they need. Where did Okay, here I want to rephrase this. This blue line looks way less quote unquote sexy than it did last season where last season you had Keandre. Um, I mean, even Trouba still had some shine at that point. Y uh Schneider was taking a big step forward. He still had or you have Fox. Um it just seemed young and dynamic and then now it looks older and Vak and then But it could be a better mix. It could be what they need is the thing. Yes. And it could be with a new coach, right? Bringing in Mike Sullivan, making him the highest paid coach in the league. Maybe these are some defenseman who can play Mike Sullivan hockey. Yes. And I always forget Gaverick’s only 29. Mhm. And also, I mean, just having um Shurka in there, right? So, I’m sorry. I keep There’s 30 wins right there. Yes. And you have Jonathan Quick who has shown he’s pretty solid in a backup role. Yep. I definitely think fighting for a playoff spot. I think you could maybe make the argument that they take the last wild card. Mhm. So if the if the Pacific is the worst and the Atlantic is the best, are we saying the Metro is probably third? Atlantic Central and then Metro and then Pacific because there’s some bad teams in this division, not just the Islanders. I know the they the the Metro may be the worst. Actually, I’m thinking that too now. But you look at the Pacific and you have probably two teams in that bottom five. Uh yeah, maybe I don’t know. And then you look at this division and coming up to a couple pretty awful ones here. So yeah. H that’s a good that’s an interesting question. Well, let’s keep on moving forward. Ottawa Senators playoffs again. You believe it? Uh you look at that division. Toronto’s going to be in. Florida’s going to be in. And I think Tampa is going to take a step back, but yeah, Ottawa’s probably in because the metro is going to be bad. Mhm. Now they’re not in the Metro, but they’re able to punish a little bit. So it be it’ll be one more wild card open for them. They’re probably two wild cards from the Metro. The only the only team, I’m sorry, from the the Atlantic. The only team I think that could uh take a wild card spot in the metro is the Rangers, but man, yeah, I think I would agree with that. Um, Lionus Almark kind of collapsed in the playoffs last year, but I mean, he still got them there, and that’s what we’re talking about here if they’re going to be a playoff team. Um, and he liked a lot of the pieces, right? uh not only Allark there but Mel Linan came in last year and he showed he can place minutes. Uh obviously Brady Kachchuck, Tim Stutla, uh Dylan Cousins was a great fit there especially if it washes your hands of the not only the Josh Norris contract but all his injury history. Um it brought back Shiru. Um I like you know what this in ter we talk about depth I don’t really have any concerns with their forward group. Um, no, not at all. I don’t really I don’t really love Zetterland or Amario, but I mean, David Pon has always been a favorite. Ridley Greg is kind of like the next David Pon, just this irritating guy who can get 20 goals. Uh, Sanderson Shabbat, I mean, that Jordan Spence, I think that was a a nice little addition. reminded me a lot of the Shawn Dury move, not only because he came from LA, but he’s this right shot. Uh kind of undersized defenseman who can get you some points. Really kind of a moneyball move by the Senators there. Uh yeah, I think they’re in and I think in that division, I think when we were talking about Montreal, I was thinking, are they better than Ottawa? And no, I don’t think Montreal is better than Ottawa. So, I would have them in the playoffs. And we still have a lot of playoff spots open here, right? We if with Ottawa in there, we only have what? We have eight. So, we got eight more to hand out. Wow. Yeah, you’re right. Okay. Yep. And again, I think we’re going to be moving a fighting for a spot up there, too. But yeah, uh the Flyers. Um I I think this is they’re too good to be bottom tier here. Um, I think they may have the worst goalie tandem in the league. Yes. I did not like that ladar idea at all. No. And we’ve seen that Rick for Rick Tocket seem to have any hope needs a star. So, they’re they’re toast. Yeah, I would have to agree. And then I look at that blue line. Cam York was having had some nice games last season. I think he’s showing that he can be a pretty decent second pair guy, but he is pencled in for the top. Uh Sanheim had a really nice season last year. I thought he finally kind of shown some of those potential that so many people were wanting to see for years and years and years, but uh now he’s on the older side of things. Uh Dale was kind of that big piece for Cut Cutter Goier last season from the Ducks. Um I believe he got injured. I like dry but he’s always hurt. Yep. Um so I just don’t really trust that blue line especially playing in front of Yeah. Ursen and Ladar McKenna. They got Christian D’vorick pencled in as their two se points 45. Uh I see they have him here with Ziggress and Tippet. So got some pretty good wings, but yeah, I I think Christian Nvor is a safe bet for 30 35 points, but like how far can you push that? Uh let’s say he plays all 82 games, which is not a sure thing with Christian D’vorak. Um maybe 45 points. Yeah, I think they’re I think they’re about here. Oh, you you don’t have them in McKenna? I would have them in MCA. I think they’re going to be um you know what I would have between Chicago and Nashville. I think they’re going to be very bad. Really? Yeah. I just They outperformed two years in a row. I think Yeah. Uh I just, you know, you look at the talking edition and then does Mitchov take a step back? Curier is always hurt. Um Zegris is a dice roll. I don’t see it. Blue line is thin. Gold heading is uh not great. Um here’s one problem. I don’t think they have any pieces they would be willing to sell. Yeah. Uh D’Vor had got a one-year deal. So, I mean, just the fact that he’s a center and if he can put together a 40-ish point season, uh maybe he moves at the deadline. Um, but that doesn’t hurt you like the way moving Noah adopson hurts your team or moving Pro would hurt your team. Yes. Even moving somebody like Owen Tippet wouldn’t hurt you like some of what some of these teams could do like Cadri or Rasmus Anderson from the Flames like Yosi or Sorrowos from Nashville or Riley. If both Couturia and D’vorak geta hurt, which isn’t a crazy possibility, Nola Kates is their number one center. Well, um I do think they’re in that McKenna tier, but I also think there’s at least one more team from that same division in the McKenna tier, so maybe they’re not there for long. Okay. And speaking of that team, there we go. Yes. Uh maybe the question with this team is uh let’s say percentage uh 0 to 100. What is Crosby going to be a Penguin after the deadline? Man say uh you think he’s going to move? He should say I he should but I don’t think he’s going to. I think he’s he’s going to stick around. Um, well, what if they lose Malcolin or what if they lose Eric Carlson, right? Uh, I’m so over Eric Carlson. Um, yeah, but bad team though, right? Oh my god. Uh, this is a bad team though. Uh it’s it’s it’s easy to think Crosby Mulan and uh Eric Carlson and and like how could they be bad in the Tang. Yeah, that’s true. Um but Raquel and Rush are both on the trade rumors already. I mean, if you start gutting some of that, how long does Crosby want to stay? How long does Latang want to stay? Yeah, because this is like fullon rebuild otherwise. Um there’s not a lot coming. One of the worst prospect pools in the league, right? You’d think this is McKenna. Lemieux cross. This is who’s going to win McKenna. I don’t know what my reaction to that would be. Um I know I I would be annoyed, but at the same time, it it’s better than Chicago. Oh, for sure. Better than Nashville just because Nashville’s in our division. They won. That was by next spring. That’s going to be 21 years ago, right? And they had all kinds of success, but they’ve also been bad for a very very long time now. Um like I don’t even know the last time they won a playoff round. Um I don’t remember the last time they won one, but they’ve been they were in it just like three years ago. Yeah, they’ve been bad for like six years. Um yeah, I don’t know what my reaction would be if Pittsburgh won. just I mean the fact that you had teams like Arizona who went 25 years or however long they existed without a star quality player like that and for one franchise to go from uh Lemieux and younger to Crosby and Malcan to McKenna and whatever else. Yep. Right. I know. But I would rather see Pittsburgh win it than Chicago. I don’t want him going to Nashville or the Islanders. Um, I wouldn’t mind that him going to the Islanders and Islanders can win. I wouldn’t mind him going to Philly. I wouldn’t mind him going to Calgary. I’d be a little annoyed if he went to Boston. Yeah. Um, I actually thought Boston was going to win last year’s lottery. Um, not Buffalo. It’s not the end of the world. I again, I’d rather him go to a team that is not stacked with prospects already like the Sharks. That would be a disaster. Yeah, I would rather him be in our division. That too. Yeah, put him in the East. Um Yeah, but yes, I do think McKenna is or Pittsburgh is in that McKenna tier. I do too. I think they’re near the bottom because again, I think right now on paper they’re probably actually near the top. Okay. But I think they’re I think they’re more likely to sell than a lot of them than Philly. And they have bigger pieces that are really going to hurt. I think they have more pieces that they would be willing to sell than the Islanders that will really hurt them. I mean, if they were to move Crosby, holy cow, what’s this team look like, right? if they move with him. Good luck selling a ticket. Yep. Um and I don’t even know if the return would be that great. Like if he’s going to Colorado No, he’s I mean he’s going to pick where he’s going, right? And if there’s only one team in bidding, I don’t think the return is Can you imagine? I think it’ll be a fair return, but it won’t be like a video game style return, which it should be. Yeah. Now that I’m looking, I kind of want to leave this at the bottom five. I think I think Islanders move themselves out. Okay. I just don’t think I think they’re more of a I mean with Sroken that helps. Yeah. Is San Jose in that bottom tier though? Uh I don’t think so anymore. So, I think I mean I wouldn’t be against not putting them that tier, but I think San Jose I think San Jose’s kind of like Anaheim. I don’t think they’re as good as Anaheim, but I think they’re going to be bad again and then a year from now they’re going to take a really big jump, like a I would agree. 15 point jump. I’d agree. I don’t think their rebuild has been as nice on paper as Utah’s. And I think they’ve done some stuff um that I don’t really like like uh um who was it? Thomas Hurdle to Vegas. Um yeah, and they kept a huge piece of it. I didn’t really like that. Um but I like a lot of the players here. Obviously Cabbrini and Will Smith. Um Jeff Skinner. I don’t know why they’re bothering with that. I know. Um now that I’m looking at this roster, it is a little bit worse than I was thinking it was. I was thinking they had added some better pieces, but you know, Timothy Lilid Grin as as a defensive piece here. You’ve added John Clingberg. I think they had him last year, too. Yeah, adding Clingberg. Or is a nice pickup for this team. But man, that that I mean, it’s Ferraro, Lilligrren, Clingberg, and Orv as your top four right now. I think the most exciting thing in San Jose is Ascrov is going to be the starter for the full season. Um, if I was a Sharks fan, that would be one of the most exciting storylines. After they did the Blackwood thing, they did the uh Gorgv uh and they brought in Nad, what’s his name? Um, Ned, that’s I don’t want to say his full name because I’ll stumble through it. Nadik. Yeah. Um, so two new goalies there. Um, but young goalies, especially Ascarov, but I do think they’re probably a year from making a a big jump. Um, now now it could be one of those situations. So, right, I I actually bumped Philly up into the not so good because I want to keep McKenna just bottom five. Yep. Yep. Um, now let’s say they start talking to the the Islanders and they bring in Horvat or Barczelle or Romanov. I could see them starting to take a jump. Or maybe they are the ones who bring back Oh gosh, what if they brought back Eric Carlson? I know that’s not exactly what they need, but uh I don’t even know if being able to move puck is a it’s a good thing for a young team like that. Or or what if they were to be able to land or what if they take more pieces from Nashville and get Ryan O’Reilly to to be kind of that second line center for them? You know, I think I think they would be in that position to maybe make some move to improve the roster a little bit with with some of these vets. Probably more so than I mean, I know Chicago should want to, and I know they they could, too, but Chicago just doesn’t have the same pieces. No. Um, yeah, I don’t know. Uh, I don’t know if there’s a whole lot to sell off here. If you’re San Jose, they are the one team I don’t want to see win. McKenna. I know being in our division, they already won Cabbrini. They don’t need to win again. Yeah. Um Misa that too, right? Um I think this is the last year though when San Jose is going to be I don’t know if they’re going to be as bad as they’ve been because the last couple years they’ve been brutal, especially at the start of the year. I don’t know if they’re going to be that bad, but yeah, I don’t think they’re in that not so good category. Yeah, I think you’re right. I think that this bottom five. I feel pretty good about that. And again, partially because I think some of these teams have a better I think your Flames Pittsburgh and Nashville even have the best odds of selling pieces that could really really burn them. Mhm. Um I know Islanders if they were to move Horvat or Sroen obviously that would too, but I just don’t know if they’re willing to yet. I mean they had a really really nice draft. I haven’t heard anything that this the new GM wants to keep on gutting. Yeah. And I don’t know if Philly’s there so Right. Seattle. Um, just looking at their lines here, they are a little bit better than I was thinking off the top of my head. They did bring in a new coach as well in Lane Lambert. So, they’re going to play some very boring defensive hockey that can win some games. But I don’t I just there’s a whole lot about this team I don’t like. I don’t I don’t like the name. I don’t like the logo. Um there’s some I like a lot of these pieces, but just together I just I don’t know. Um it does seem like they’re getting rid of some of the just third line vets that made up the entirety of their forward group. Um yes, you know, seeing Manny Beneers with Ko again at the top line, but they’re still stapled to Schwarz unless something happens. Jared McCann had a really bad downyear. Uh Chandler Stevenson edition was a big question mark. Yep. Still have Everlay on the team. It’s just crazy. And the Mason Margman was just not what they needed. You know, this was the team that bring in Ziggress. Like this would be a team to see if Zerris can blend can blend but and they didn’t do the group and I really like the KO pick up for them and but even even Ko started stalling out a little bit. Shane Wright, can he make that next step? Maybe, but I don’t think that’s enough. No, I think he’s kind of in that Lafrenier category like okay, like yeah, let’s get going here, right? Um, and then there just nothing interesting on the blue line to me outside of Don and and Montour. I feel like this team is the definition of not so good. I do too. And I think kind of where you have them placed is perfectly there. With Buffalo, there’s hope and Boston is just on the down slide. Um, yeah, I think all the teams ahead of them have more youth that could really help push them forward. I even think Buffalo’s mix is I I still think Buffalo may be closer to finding the playoff spot, but I’m fine with this still. Then all the people below them, I feel have that potential to tank um and probably at this point have worse rosters. But I I think all three teams below them probably have some spots that Seattle doesn’t have. Boston the goalending. Islanders the goalending. [Music] Philadelphia has Mishkov. Um, right. And some younger pieces, I guess. But yeah, that seems about right. St. Louis Blues. I think that’s still a fighting for a spot, right? Yeah, there’s still enough of a a core there. Um, side note, love the colors of the new jerseys. kind of the throwback. I don’t like what they did with the logo, but it’s controversial. I know. I like the colors. I like the blue and I like the yellow, but the logo looks like it got like crunched. Um, it’s it’s one of the better logos in the league. Like, don’t touch it. I know. I know. Um, yeah, there’s uh there’s enough of a veteran presence here that will drag them into the fight. Uh, one of the better coaches, one of the better GMs. Um, are they a playoff team? Uh, I I really do think everything went right for them after Four Nations and Bennington got They didn’t lose any games. No. Uh, are they better than Utah? I don’t I don’t Again, it’s hard to say cuz I think that’s one of the teams we’re fighting with for that wild card, right? And they’re in their division, too. So, yep. Um I don’t know. Um their depth. I might have them in the playoffs. I don’t like their blue line as much as ours. [Music] Yeah, that’s fair. Cam Fowler and Perryo. Philip Roberg who would look great for them. Uh Justin Folks year older. Tucker Maleru and if Bennington is a head case and and takes kind of goes back to how he had been outside of his Stanley winning season and and the last of last season. Uh is there a scenario where both St. Lewis and Utah make the playoffs, then Minnesota would have to miss unless they get one of the top three, which don’t think top three I assume is going to be Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg. I kind of like this now that I reshuffled them. Montreal as the top of the fighting for a playoff spot partially because they’re in the East. If they’re in the West, I’d probably bump them down. Then Minnesota and St. Louis back like neck and neck. Okay. And just looking at it here right now, we don’t have any team in the playoffs that didn’t make it last year. And I think generally I think two, three change out. Yep. So, okay. Um, Tampa, could that be one of those teams that changes out? Man, you can’t see their logo. Um, Tampa, I don’t think so. just I mean you have point you got Cuchv you got Vaselvki uh you got Jake Gensel you got Brandon Hegel um yeah whoever designed that Tampa logo on this thing um they’re probably in um I think so that division right Florida and Toronto are going to get the Toron they’ll get at the top the Atlantic and then Tampa’s probably the next one up so it just based on that division I Tampa Zen and I think uh if we want to jump right to Toronto, I think Toronto is in too. I don’t think Toronto is nearly as good as last year. Um don’t think Matias Machelli is anywhere near Mitch Mner. Let’s hope he gets 51 points and then we can get that uh conditional pick. Um but I don’t think Toronto is as good. The Nick Wah getting something out of nothing essentially with Mner is is pretty good. Um, did they really do anything else? I don’t think so. Um, no. But you have a full year of Carlo on the team now. I think that blue line does look I mean, honestly, I think I I could make the argument to put them out here. I know. I’m sorry. Like, is this is do they have the mix now to do that? I mean, their thing is addition to it by subtraction situation here. Uh, no, because they still need to get to the playoffs. I think they’re going to make the playoffs, but they basically subtracted a 100 point guy and replaced him with a 50 point 50 points like at best. What if they add Cadrey? Uh, I don’t think they can. I don’t think they have the pieces to do it. Um, I’m still not even sold on Calgary moving him. I I mean Toronto’s thing is just if they can get by Florida, sure, but I don’t think they can get by Florida. So, I think it’s going to be the same thing all over again. So, they’ll play whoever in the first round, unless it’s Florida, and beat them, and then they’re going to run into Florida and lose. Yeah, format sucks. Yes. Um I just don’t know which other Eastern team I think is better to go to the finals. Uh um I think Washington might be a little underrated. Wow. They got so I wonder how much of last year’s was Carolina though. Ovie Magic. Sorry. Uh how much of last year was OV Magic? Yeah. Yeah. Saying that though, a lot. Look at the goalies. Um, I like Dylan Stro. I think they missed. Uh, sorry. I think they missed the playoffs. Wow. Okay. Uh, I would not say that. I would have them in. Um, so who’s making it in place? Oh, yeah. Cuz they’re in the metro. Yes. So, you would have Carolina in, you would have New Jersey in. So, then you got to put like the Rangers in otherwise. But I mean, Michael Dubois Wilson right here though. Okay. See, I mean to me they’re similar to Florida just in terms of that path or even Edmonton where you’re going to have a probably an easy first round where you can take out a wild card team and then you might be able to get in just on the the weakness of that division. Um so I I could see a Eastern final of Washington and Florida. Wow, man. I just don’t think they have the speed. I think they would struggle against Jersey. I think they would struggle again against Carolina. Um I I I don’t think they could beat either of those teams. A healthy jersey, I think, would take them. Okay. Uh so, how many have we got in the playoffs now? Four, six, eight. One, two, three, four, five. That’s 11. Uh, unless we’re putting all the four remaining teams in, we still got to bump up one team. Um, wow. Holy cow. So, if we want to just wrap up these last four, I don’t think Vancouver is making it. No, I think they’re in all that drama from last year, I think, is going to carry over. Uh, yeah. And I think they’re like in this real and and I mean if the Quinn Hughes thing I mean if that and they didn’t really address any of the moves they made. No. And like Person all that is still a question mark. Uh they brought back uh Adam Foot old assistant coach. Oh yeah. Um Oh yeah. They add because he’s close with Hughes. Yeah. They brought in Kane for whatever reason. Uh they ressigned Besser. They resigned Garland. Um P Marquez Patterson and huge question marks in net with uh Thatcher Demco’s health. Yeah, Kevin Lankin I think is I don’t really have concerns about him but gave him the contract as well. I think it’s going to be a bit of a sideshow year in Vancouver. Um yeah, I think it could be too. I think I think you have to put them in that fighting for a playoff spot just because of Hughes Person and the other Persons. Uh yeah, I would have them there too, but if things go like way off the rails here, they could be in Vegas. I could see them slipping and blow Anaheim in that. I do. Oh, yeah. Same. Same. Yep. All right. Vegas Cup final. Yeah. Need I I think so, too. I think they’re there, though. I think they were a little bit embarrassed last year. Um, I think is going to be a thing and I I actually do think MNER is going to potentially shape up a little bit after that. Get away from the Toronto Circus. Yeah. Um, he can just be a human in Vegas and he’s not constantly under the microscope. Yeah. Contract for Eel. Losing Petrangelo obviously sucks but yeah but they still have Hannah family they still have Theodore who might improve with they have that role now right so I agree yeah I think low buried to be honest I think their blue line even without Peter Angelo is probably top five they have two number one defenseman there if we’re calling Hannneathan a number one because I think is a one I agree and I think when they had Petrangelo they had Any concerns in net with Hill and Akira Schmid? No, no, not just the way they play systematically and everything. Okay, fair enough. Um, one of the better coaches. I think they could struggle against Edmonington again, but we’ll see. That’s the thing, right? They’re Edmonton is Toronto’s Florida. Yep. But I think uh I think they’re a better team than Edmonton, but that just has not seemed to matter in the playoffs for whatever reason. No. Except for the year they beat them and won the cup. So that happened. Uh I don’t think they’re a better team than Dallas, but I do think they Yeah. could go to the Western Final. Yep. Okay. the Winnipeg Jets. Um, playoffs just because we don’t have a spot left for the West final. Um, I think kind of scared shitless about Connor Halbuk because he was the worst player in the playoffs last year by a considerable margin. Like, can you not let in four goals every game? Yep. Um, awful. Losing Eers hurts. Yep. They brought in. It’s always going to be hard to bring in new players. Yep. I don’t who knows what Jonathan Tayes is going to be for them. Yeah, that’s I kind of put him in the Lanniskog box where if you get anything out of him, great. But I had no expectations there. Um Kyle Connor contract year. Not only that, but I mean, does he want to go back to Winnipeg? I don’t know. He’s not he’s not Canadian. Uh it’s always hard to recruit players to play there. Um, but this is a lot of the same team that just crushed it last season. Yeah. Um, I think they’re a playoff team. I think they could I don’t think they’re getting to the West final because I don’t think they’re a better team than Dallas. Um, I think just Dallas had kind of a weird playoffs last year. Winnipeg ended up beating them, but uh, right. Winnipeg get to the No, Winnipeg lose to Dallas. Winnipeg lost to Dallas. Yeah. Okay. Um, yeah. I I think I think Winnipeg’s in, especially in in our division. I think there’s a gap between Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg, and the rest. So, I think they’re in. Okay. And then, dude, do you think the Utah man sneak in? I Yeah, I do. I was a little unsure heading into this, but just seeing it all on paper ahead of us here. I think they’re in um I think they’re one of those wild card spots. Like I said, I don’t think they’re better than Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg. Um but I think they’re in that kind of that same window as LA and Minnesota and St. Louis. Um I think they can outscore LA. I think they can outscore Minnesota. You know what? Minnesota and probably St. Louis as well. Um yeah, we’re going to need some health and some consistency from Carella. don’t know what to expect from Connor Ingram and Vetek Banichek. I mean, 15 20 games, whatever. It’s not going to make a big difference. Um, if we make the playoffs or not, I do think Ingram could rebound and could be the starter. I mean, this whole dark horse, right? Yep. Um, and I I think that actually is one reason why I have a little bit more confidence in in the tandem than say the Blues Tandem. Yes. Um, blue line is better than the Blues as well and just younger, hungrier, not like tired like Clayton Keller is way better than I think St. Louis has up front. Um, Robert Thomas had a 90 point season. Yeah, I would agree. I would agree. Keller’s more of a game breaker. How many points for Keller this year? Over under 95. Uh, I I will take 95. Yeah. Um, I do think he has a 100 point season. I’ve been saying that for a while. I do think it’s coming. I don’t know if it’s going to come this year, but soon as Kulie and Gunther get a little bit older. Uh, I think it’s going to come. Uh, so yeah, I would have Utah in the playoffs. So, in this scenario, they’re probably playing Dallas in the first round. Um, boy. Yeah. Right. get in and then you have a welcome. Um, so what do we have this right? Do we have eight and eight? Well, we need to move up an Eastern team for cup final potentially. Okay. Um, if you want to do Toronto, you can do Toronto. I think it’d be Washington, but that’s right. I would maybe consider Jersey too, but I don’t this and again this is this is this exercise is more like on paper and what we know about these teams. This is how I feel. If I was trying to plant a flag, I think maybe I would say Jersey. But but I think Toronto I mean Toronto looked the best against Florida. Yes, for sure. They had them on the ropes. Yep. And I also think Toronto has the potential to make more moves than say Jersey does uh throughout the season to improve. And they tried last year. They tried with Ransin. They tried with a couple other things. Um right now I believe I I could I could actually see Ottawa maybe being that team too. It just if everything falls in place and and they get great goalending from and and everything goes right. I feel like they have more game-breaking talent than Carolina, Ottawa. Oh, for sure. Yes. But but I feel more confident saying that it’s these these are the top four. Okay. So, in that we need 12 here scenario. I would have I would have Florida beating Toronto and I would have Oh god. Um I think I would have Vegas over Dallas and then I would have Florida beating Vegas for the cup. A rematch. Wow. Yeah. Rematch here. So that would be four years in the final for Florida, right? Cuz they lost to Vegas and then they went to Yeah. Wow. That’s a dynasty. Yeah. Are we over? Okay. We need one Western team still. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10. One Eastern. Oh, so is it seven and seven what we have? Yeah. So, who do we have from our division? We got Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg, and then us. And that would leave one spot. So then I assume we have four from the other. Minnesota. I feel like Minnesota gets in. St. Louis doesn’t. So then who do we have from the Pacific? And we got Vegas. We got Edmonton and the Kings. We have the Kings. So do you put one more Pacific? Wild from the Central. So St. Louis over Minnesota. Oh. off so for so much of the year who have two young defenseman who might be okay. So yeah, then I had Minnesota over St. Louis. Yeah, keep that. And then Bennington I I just don’t think Bennington’s going to be able to do what he did again, right? So do we need one more team here? We need one more Eastern, which this feels right, but man, I would go Montreal. In this case, we only have one playoff team different and it’s I know us over St. Lewis, which seems a little odd, but like how we have it right now, who is the biggest like one you’re unsure about where you could see we’re not even close? I think Capital, man, if Capitals weren’t in the metro, I could see that being an issue. Mhm. because I I moved Columbus into that fighting first spot because man, Columbus, Buffalo, I mean, every single team in the Atlantic is good outside of Philadelphia. No, the Phillies Metro. I’m looking at those two tiers fighting for spot, not so good. I I don’t think the McKenna tiered teams have any chance. Um, if there’s like one team of those group of what is that 11 teams that we’ve wildly miscast, I think this is I think Rangers have a shot to bump Montreal out. Mhm. I I think I would pick Anaheim if there’s one team that we’ve totally just missed the mark on. If a lot goes right there Yeah. and they take the step now instead of a season from now, which isn’t unprecedented. Montreal did it last season, right? I actually I actually think I like this. I think Anaheim is more in that fighting for a spot than Columbus this year. I think Columbus has had all that uh everything to play for last year and everything kind of going right. I think I think Ducks take that step up and and are fighting for a spot. Especially because Wait, Columbus are in the metro? Columbus is the metro. That helps. Or is that the reason why they played so well last year? Part of it for sure. What if this happens? [Laughter] I mean, maybe. Yeah. New York could be like this year’s Vancouver, right? Where just everything goes Yeah. or last year’s Vancouver. We just everything goes wrong. Yeah. But V I mean, Vancouver is still fighting for a spot. Yeah. Um I don’t think there’s a team out of the mix right now. Like because I’m looking at it, we only have one team different, which isn’t unheard of. I think it’s generally like two, three teams change. Um especially with this new format. Oh, well the second one, the other one would be Utah making it. Utah and Minnesota would be two teams. Oh, true. Okay. So, who do we have out? We have St. Louis out and we have Who do we take out? No, Minnesota made it last year because they lost to Vegas. That’s right. Yeah, that’s right. Because Mark got knocked down to the fourth line. Um, but this did make me more confident in Utah making it. It’s just a they need to be a better team than Minnesota and St. Louis. That’s it. Um, the Pacific is so weak that uh those games and LA are pretty safe, I think. So, yeah, better than the Ducks, but I I don’t I don’t The thing is is if LA were to have some injury issues and fall out of it, the problem is that doesn’t make another spot for a Central team. No. If anything, it just means Vancouver makes it or Anaheim makes it. So, Utah makes the playoffs as a wild card. Uh, let’s say they could potentially play any of Vegas or Dallas or Colorado or Edmonton. Who do you want to play the most? And who do you want to play the least? Vegas, Dallas, Winnipeg or Edmonington. So, uh, Vegas Edmonton from Pacific and then Dallas Colorado from our own division. Feel like we always have trouble with Dallas and Colorado would be really fun. Yeah. Not only because they’re right next door, but we we see even going back to Arizona days, I mean, not including that series, but we were kind of decently competitive against Colorado. Yeah. Um, Edmonton. Oh jeez. Um it’d be great to knock them out, but man insufferable if they But it be embarrassing to lose them. Yes. Yeah. Uh but I I wonder um cuz I think we’re the better team outside of the top two. We don’t have a McDavid or we don’t have a dry side. But I mean, even if you take away one of those guys, I think we might be able to knock out Edmonton. also a contract year for Conor McDavid. Yeah. So, one more year before he signs in. I wonder it’s going to be interesting to see how it all plays out. But you’re right. I mean, there there’s usually more than one playoff team that switches out. So, I mean, it’s also easy enough to say couple things go wrong. Montreal, Detroit slips in or the Rangers slip in because they didn’t make it last year. So, this could be it. And then injuries changes up another two teams. But y like I said, this gave me a lot more confidence of Utah making it, which is good because I know Bill Armstrong has basically said playoffs are bust this year. So, Yep. And lots of chips if they want to add at the deadline. So, they do. Yes. Yep. Yeah. All right. Well, let us know how you think we did. Which ones did we get right? Which ones did we get wrong? Is the whole thing kapoot or uh are we like Houdinis here and we just figured out how this season goes? Um make sure you like and subscribe to Clean Hits on YouTube. You can also find us on Spotify and Apple Podcast. And don’t forget you can pick up some uh t-shirts and swag at shop.cleanhits.com or I’m sorry, shop.cleanhitockey.com. Uh, and you can find us on our Discord at discord.cleanhitshockey.com. And brushing off the rust of the off season, uh, with some of my readalouds right now. Um, we got our first guest of this upcoming season, uh, next week, uh, or maybe this week as you’re watching this. Um, so be sure to tune into that. It’s going to be a really good episode along with one more of the future face off that is Trent’s series with uh different kind of prospect uh influencers or podcasters or bloggers from other teams. He will be taking on the Montreal Canadians. He had a short delay of when he was able to record, but that should be coming out next week as well. And then man, rookie camp rookie camp begins next week. Two weeks. Next week. Yeah. right there. So, the 11th or the 12th. So, there is going to be NHL quality hockey in the Utah area. So, make sure you’re going and checking out uh the scrimmages and practices. Is the new practice rink all set up, too. Uh saw some photos the other day. Looks like they’re made a hell of a lot of progress. I don’t think it’s ready to go just yet, but I don’t think it’s too far off. So, Delta Center as well. I know we’re starting with a couple of road games on the start of the year, but the Reno at least phase one of the Delta Center will be ready to go uh mid October. Yep. Yep. We’ll need to get some of our boots on the ground friends on the show to get us up to date and uh yeah, it is right around the corner. So, we will have some awesome content as we ramp back up into the season, get all that rust brushed off. Uh, and again, you can find us all throughout the socials or join us in the Discord. And, uh, this is going to be a fun season. I cannot wait to see what this offense brings. Tusks up. Yep. All right. See you everybody. We holding it down. We know we watch the game change. Watch the game change. Watch the game change.

The Clean Hits crew ranks all 32 NHL teams and how their seasons may go. Are the Utah Mammoth playoff-bound? Find out. Only one more month until puck drop. Time to get ready for the 2025-2026 NHL season.

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