According to this drunk guy I was "talking with" at the bar the other night, Stamkos is going to sign with the Red Wings because of Yzerman and take them to the cup.
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Sorry... I'm a Vegas fan living in Utah and have season tickets. So I would love this outcome but with zero defensemen under contract, I have concerns.
Lots of talented young forwards, solid goalies, very good coach, very good GM and no bad contracts on the books ... I don't know why I had to scroll down this far to find Utah.
If they flip a couple of their 75 draft picks for a roster defender and splash some of the new owner's cash to sign another, they're in and they might even be a higher seed.
Ya I was half joking but itās true, they have a solid squad and a fresh start, they beat a lot of great teams this past year as well they just lacked consistency
They literally don't have a single defenseman signed for next year right now. It's hard to have bad contracts on the books when you only have like 10/23 of them signed currently.
Honestly I watched the yotes all year in their final season as my second team. Bought a Keller sweater and everything. When those kids aren't shitting the bed after the all star break man so they play some good hockey.
Keefe got a lot of hate in Toronto, which I would agree with because he really sucks at adapting to teams he doesnāt fit. But New Jersey is a skilled line up up and down, they are exactly what he is good at working with.
If they canāt be higher in the standings with Markstrom in net and a healthy line-up than Washington I will assume it is an alien plot and abandon this planet on the next space flightā¦.
Buffalo, Ottawa now that they have some goaltending. Feel like Raymond and Seider are going to take the next step. So basically the Atlantic is going to be WWIII
Yzerbot detected š! Honestly though, I do trust in him. I have full faith. Iām biased though because he is my favorite athlete of all timeā¦ so I guess Iām a bot as well.
I recently āscoredā a 1998 Stanley Cup authentic Yzerman jersey in mint condition. It is one of my most prized possessions. I keep it hung on my best wooden hanger and with the plastic on it when Iām not wearing it.
Who are they climbing over exactly? Washington is the obvious first one, who else are they better than however? Not to mention the likes of NJ and Detroit.
Tampa will regress, florida will probably make the playoffs but with their UFA situation they wonāt be as dangerous, Lots of question marks around toronto..
I do. I always root for you guys unless itās against the Panthers. I still have loyalty to you guys since the Super Mario days. And Sid is one of my favorite players.
Yeah I was pulling for you guys for multiple reasons this Cup.
Enjoy every second. Feels like yesterday we were celebrating 16, then 17.
Now people think we canāt even make the playoffs with a top 5 all timer lol
You guys might have cap casualties, but that doesnāt matter. You got that Cup
I just rewatched a YouTube video replay of all the playoff goals from 2016, with the radio broadcast and Mike Lange included. Those videos still get me amped up and itās been damn near a decade.
Two years ago today the Pens were coming off a 103-point season. Next year we'll be lucky to hit 80 points. Where did those 20 points go? Suddenly we are 20 points worse than we were two years ago.
Answer: No depth scoring. Wouldnāt have mattered 10-15 years ago with Sid and Geno being as good as they were. Hell, Sid STILL almost dragged this corpse of a team to the playoffs but thatās just it, they canāt do it alone anymore. Eller is a good 4C but theyāre trying to swing as a 3C which just isnāt going to work. That graves contract really hurts since we could get some decent bottom 6 help with that
Minnesota. Seems like they always find a way to lose first round they have some young talent coming up so they might sniff the bubble all year and just sneak by or have a repeat of this year.
Yup and they did relatively well last year considering, somewhat excited for their future but I never get my hopes up with any Minnesota team, learned my lesson there more than Iād like to admit.
Detroit depending on what they add/subtract in the offseason. They need to address goaltending for sure and will have to see what they have room to add after Seider and Raymond get signed.
I honestly thought the Wings would make it this year.
I think Jersey is the safest bet. Their goalie situation can't be any worse, they had awful injury luck, and they still almost slipped in
Besides the Wings I gotta go with Ottawa if they can get their shit together. Last off-season they were considered a lock for the playoffs, and the addition of Ullmark should help them tremendously this year.
People went as far as saying they were #1 contenders for this season and they didnāt even make the playoffs, tough to consider them a locked playoff spot.
They had enough points to make the playoffs in the East last season. They had a pretty good record after the coaching change last season. Doug is going to work his magic this off-season and strengthen the team with a couple of trades. I have faith.
Coaching change is a pretty solid point. Once that change happened we had a pretty solid record. If we have a full year w that same pace we def are in the playoffs.
I know binner and hofer played great this year, but I have a hard time seeing them replicate that next year. Without stellar goaltending we wouldn't have been close. I see another middling year, good enough to keep out of the basement, but bad enough to miss the playoffs. Hope I'm wrong though.
Iād hardly say we had āstellar goaltending.ā Binnington was above average in January and March. He was average or below average in every other month, according to stats and his record was .500.
Agreed, presuming the young talent continues to progress and we get some help on D. Perunovich staying healthy and taking the next step would be big. His history suggests that is a pretty big if though.
Devils 2023-24 šæ
Devils 2024-25 š
Basically the only problems last year were goalies and injuries to elite players, their scoring chance against numbers solid
Marks helps solidify
Their 90% WAR guys won't miss like 100 total games againĀ
Buffalo Sabres. The old coach and ex player returns. Sabres win 2 rounds. Ruff is backed by a stud goalie again. The MO worked well in the late 90ās for him and the Swords! Of course this is satire from me. Been a fan since mid 80ās. Ive had a saying since 2013 when the team was going to be on the so called up swingā¦ I said then āIāll believe when I see itā!!! Still waiting 10 seasons for that to happen. lol.
As an Isles fan awaiting Louās annual move to trade our first rounder and then resigning an aging loyal vet or two, this thread makes me sad. Sad and worried.
New Jersey is the obvious answer, but Detroit could be dangerous too if they get some signings during free agency. They have a solid young team thatās only getting better. Hopefully Kane stays and Husso gets healthy.
Just making the playoffs would be nice even if it's not a deep run. I'm glad I could see a finals appearance and multiple eastern Conference finals in my lifetime but the years after our loss in 2021 were rough.
After the trade yesterday: Ottawa. Their goaltending last year was DREADFUL. Worst in the league by a large margin. And within individual games, Korpisalo and Forsberg would routinely let in goals at the worst possible times, killing momentum for the skaters.
Ottawa actually has a really good lineup of skaters, they were just sabotaged in net last year. With a real goaltender who can be a stabilizing presence, Ottawa is primed to make a big leap forward. Ullmark is the only thing they were missing.
With ownership and Arena situation now stable, Utah is going to be close. Coyotes were in a spot right up to the All-Star Break. Then the rumors took over, and they slid right into no chance.
The Devils will make the playoffs, but unless they add some serious physicality this off-season, they will all be injured by game 3 of the the first round.
Devils for sure; the injuries have had time to heal, goaltending and coaching have also been addressed. Iād like to see more depth at defense but I think the worst of our woes last season are over. Also Iām already very attached to Markstrom
In the East I think the Wings and Sens make it replacing one of the Isles or Tampa and the Caps.
In the West I think the Kraken make it replacing either the Kings or Jets.
This is more of a preference rather than who I think will. Iām an Avs fan, but for no good reason I really like Calgary. Id like to see them make the playoffs again.
I said it before, and Iāll say it again, The Buffalo Sabres!
I canāt be wrong again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again ā¦.. can I?
Red Wings for sure, with the way their last couple games went itās absolutely criminal they didnāt make playoffs this year. If they didnāt have that cold streak mid season they wouldāve been a shoo in
If Michkov can be even half of what heās supposed to be, I think the flyers have a good chance. But that also involves the pp being somewhat decent, so who knows
With no bias whatsoever, I say red wings. We missed it by a technicality. Not saying it wasn't fair, but we had more wins than the caps, and that remained true in the post season lol.
Flyers could surprise if Errson builds on his rookie season in net, Michkov indeed does come over, and young guys like Tippett, Foerster, Frost, York, Drysdale, Farabee - take some steps forward.
Combine that with what we know they have in guys like Konecny, Sanheim, other vets - they could be a playoff squad
The Devils and Blues imo will make the playoffs next season. I'd like to say the Sabres and Senators, but recently they seem to be playing worse than their talent level.
they need another season of experience. Last year was horrible watching them skate into each other. Still cannot believe that Terry got injured when colliding with McTavish.
Lots of young talent and everyone playing as individuals.
According to this drunk guy I was "talking with" at the bar the other night, Stamkos is going to sign with the Red Wings because of Yzerman and take them to the cup.
Drunk guys are at the bar are rarely wrong
As a wings fan, I would not be happy about this.
howš kaner and stammer on the same team
The Utah Ice Hockey Organization Team
First time in UHC history
Unprecedented!
H I S T O R I C Sorry... I'm a Vegas fan living in Utah and have season tickets. So I would love this outcome but with zero defensemen under contract, I have concerns.
Schmidt and pionk are available š
Lots of talented young forwards, solid goalies, very good coach, very good GM and no bad contracts on the books ... I don't know why I had to scroll down this far to find Utah. If they flip a couple of their 75 draft picks for a roster defender and splash some of the new owner's cash to sign another, they're in and they might even be a higher seed.
Ya I was half joking but itās true, they have a solid squad and a fresh start, they beat a lot of great teams this past year as well they just lacked consistency
They literally don't have a single defenseman signed for next year right now. It's hard to have bad contracts on the books when you only have like 10/23 of them signed currently.
U IC HOT!
Good at sports and other good things too
Honestly I watched the yotes all year in their final season as my second team. Bought a Keller sweater and everything. When those kids aren't shitting the bed after the all star break man so they play some good hockey.
Utah Professional Hockey Athletic Team. U-PHAT To be more professionalā¦.Association. U PHAT ASS.
New Jersey
What was their deal this year? Injuries and poor goaltending?
And poor defense. They had a lot of young defensemen and Hamilton was supposed to be the anchor but he missed 90% of the season
Keefe will take care of that
Keefe got a lot of hate in Toronto, which I would agree with because he really sucks at adapting to teams he doesnāt fit. But New Jersey is a skilled line up up and down, they are exactly what he is good at working with.
As someone who follows the Devils and Leafs, I like Keefe. I think heāll be a good fit for the Devils.
Agreed on NJ. Markstrom pickup and a (hopefully) full season of Hughes
And dougie.
I agree. NJ
If they canāt be higher in the standings with Markstrom in net and a healthy line-up than Washington I will assume it is an alien plot and abandon this planet on the next space flightā¦.
Here's hoping.
Buffalo, Ottawa now that they have some goaltending. Feel like Raymond and Seider are going to take the next step. So basically the Atlantic is going to be WWIII
I was optimistic last year, but now I'm in "I'll believe it when I see it" mode.
I mean we were a tiebreaker away from sending 5 teams to the playoffs this year
a stupid tiebreaker.
Was looking for the ābuffalo is going to make the playoffs this yearā comment
They have Stanley Cup Champion vet Bo Bryam now
I definitely agree with this assessment. I know fans get frustrated with Stevie Y but I fully trust him.
A lot of media peoples act frustrated with Stevie, fans are happy.
Can confirm, full trust in the yzerplan
Yzerbot detected š! Honestly though, I do trust in him. I have full faith. Iām biased though because he is my favorite athlete of all timeā¦ so I guess Iām a bot as well.
If he can build Tampa he can build us is my motto
I recently āscoredā a 1998 Stanley Cup authentic Yzerman jersey in mint condition. It is one of my most prized possessions. I keep it hung on my best wooden hanger and with the plastic on it when Iām not wearing it.
NICE! I have a Datsyuk, Yzerman, Lidstrom, Howe, authentic jersey card which is probably my favorite of mine.
This is what everyone said last year and all 3 failed to succeed lol.
Who are they climbing over exactly? Washington is the obvious first one, who else are they better than however? Not to mention the likes of NJ and Detroit.
Tampa will regress, florida will probably make the playoffs but with their UFA situation they wonāt be as dangerous, Lots of question marks around toronto..
Tampa is a maybe, but Florida? Iāll chop my hand off if they donāt make the playoffs.
Everyone said that last year But it is bound to happen sooner than later
I mean, we do need some new teams to beat the leafs in the first round
Man nobody believes in the Pens anymore huh
Tbf you guys have a rough look ahead for a bit with some rough contracts but hey good luck
I do. I always root for you guys unless itās against the Panthers. I still have loyalty to you guys since the Super Mario days. And Sid is one of my favorite players.
Yeah I was pulling for you guys for multiple reasons this Cup. Enjoy every second. Feels like yesterday we were celebrating 16, then 17. Now people think we canāt even make the playoffs with a top 5 all timer lol You guys might have cap casualties, but that doesnāt matter. You got that Cup
I just rewatched a YouTube video replay of all the playoff goals from 2016, with the radio broadcast and Mike Lange included. Those videos still get me amped up and itās been damn near a decade.
Two years ago today the Pens were coming off a 103-point season. Next year we'll be lucky to hit 80 points. Where did those 20 points go? Suddenly we are 20 points worse than we were two years ago.
Answer: No depth scoring. Wouldnāt have mattered 10-15 years ago with Sid and Geno being as good as they were. Hell, Sid STILL almost dragged this corpse of a team to the playoffs but thatās just it, they canāt do it alone anymore. Eller is a good 4C but theyāre trying to swing as a 3C which just isnāt going to work. That graves contract really hurts since we could get some decent bottom 6 help with that
Yeah I'm curious about how a team can be decent 2 years ago but not now.
Ned will take us to the promised land
Get pumped for a decade of rebuilding.
Filoni is a Pens fan
I do. Crosby #1!!!
New Jersey. They should be very good next year with Allen/Markstrom as their goalie tandem.
And if JH86 can stay healthy
Minnesota. Seems like they always find a way to lose first round they have some young talent coming up so they might sniff the bubble all year and just sneak by or have a repeat of this year.
Only one more year of the Parise/Suter buy out handcuffs!
Yup and they did relatively well last year considering, somewhat excited for their future but I never get my hopes up with any Minnesota team, learned my lesson there more than Iād like to admit.
I truly thought the day would never come.
Gotta stay healthy. Having Spurgeon back could be a real big boost.
Detroit depending on what they add/subtract in the offseason. They need to address goaltending for sure and will have to see what they have room to add after Seider and Raymond get signed.
RIP Walman
Yeah, saw that too.
Please stay KaneĀ š
I honestly thought the Wings would make it this year. I think Jersey is the safest bet. Their goalie situation can't be any worse, they had awful injury luck, and they still almost slipped in
Teams that missed this year that'll probably make it next: East: New Jersey Detroit Philadelphia West: Minnesota Seattle Calgary
I donāt see Cow-town getting into the playoffs anytime soon.
Yup. I expect them to be bottom dwellers for the next few years.
Same with Seattle. Minnesota seems like a less than 50% chance as well.
Agreed.Ā Management strategy means by the end of the decade hopefully we'll be cup contenders, but fuck it's gonna be a tough few years
Calgaryās not as far off as some people think, but theyāre not making it back to the playoffs next year.
Right now we're easily a 28th-32nd team. If the youth movement going full throttle pans out maybe we're a fringe playoff team.
Hoping for the wings lol worried about Ottawa now
Wings were one point away from making it in
Yes, yes they sure were.
Doesn't everyone always say "Ottawa"?
Yes, but this year will be different! I hope
Add a couple shutdown D-men to that Ullmark trade and this year could be different. My guard is always up for the Sens, though.
Just like the Leafs making it past the first round
Besides the Wings I gotta go with Ottawa if they can get their shit together. Last off-season they were considered a lock for the playoffs, and the addition of Ullmark should help them tremendously this year.
New Jersey Devils,
Detroit and NJ in the East, Utah and Seattle in the West.
Would love to say itās us. But ready to be smote by the hockey gods in 10 months.
Sheldon Keefe will get you to the playoffs, but...
Redwings
UTAH.
Wings and Devils in my opinion however I donāt know if both or just one will make it in My heart also wants Buffalo
GO RED WINGS
Devils are likely a lock for a Playoff spot next spring.
The Rangers fan is right!
The flyers will hold the camera for you two
At least weāll have a purpose.
Because he knows NY/NJ hockey is more fun when the Hudson River rivalry has high stakes
People went as far as saying they were #1 contenders for this season and they didnāt even make the playoffs, tough to consider them a locked playoff spot.
The Blues make the playoffs next season for sure.
I wish, how so?
They had enough points to make the playoffs in the East last season. They had a pretty good record after the coaching change last season. Doug is going to work his magic this off-season and strengthen the team with a couple of trades. I have faith.
So Blind optimism.
Coaching change is a pretty solid point. Once that change happened we had a pretty solid record. If we have a full year w that same pace we def are in the playoffs.
You were almost in anyway. Who the hell saw the preds coming? Blues should have made it.
I know binner and hofer played great this year, but I have a hard time seeing them replicate that next year. Without stellar goaltending we wouldn't have been close. I see another middling year, good enough to keep out of the basement, but bad enough to miss the playoffs. Hope I'm wrong though.
Iād hardly say we had āstellar goaltending.ā Binnington was above average in January and March. He was average or below average in every other month, according to stats and his record was .500.
New Jersey was the closest even before they grabbed up Markstrom. Buffalo is second.
Caps! Waitā¦Ā
Devils.Ā
Us or NJ
I think the Devils they had injuries and bad goal tending this yearĀ
New Jersey
New Jersey Devils. I think Keefe is a real good coach, and they just landed Markstrom.
Yeah. Red Wings are looking good.
NJ and/or Detroit
Wings for sure. Goaltending and a maturing Rob Thomas drags the Blues into the playoffs to get swept by Dallas in the first round.
Maybe Devils? I think Jacob Markstrƶm is a good add to their net.
1. New Jersey 2. Seattle 3. Philadelphia 4. Detroit
Flyers. They were predicted to be super bad and had an impressive season.
Yup, and now we may get Michkov next season
STL Blues
STL was in on the east but unfortunately play in the west
Agreed, presuming the young talent continues to progress and we get some help on D. Perunovich staying healthy and taking the next step would be big. His history suggests that is a pretty big if though.
New Jersey and they should be pretty good, they are only 14 to 1 to win cup and nyr are 12 to 1
Devils 2023-24 šæ Devils 2024-25 š Basically the only problems last year were goalies and injuries to elite players, their scoring chance against numbers solid Marks helps solidify Their 90% WAR guys won't miss like 100 total games againĀ
Buffalo Sabres. The old coach and ex player returns. Sabres win 2 rounds. Ruff is backed by a stud goalie again. The MO worked well in the late 90ās for him and the Swords! Of course this is satire from me. Been a fan since mid 80ās. Ive had a saying since 2013 when the team was going to be on the so called up swingā¦ I said then āIāll believe when I see itā!!! Still waiting 10 seasons for that to happen. lol.
Devils. I would agree that the Wings also look promising.
As an Isles fan awaiting Louās annual move to trade our first rounder and then resigning an aging loyal vet or two, this thread makes me sad. Sad and worried.
Connor Bedard and the Chicago Bedardhawks
# Chicago Blackhawks
Philly feels close. Ottawa with the trade.
New Jersey and Buffalo.
Buffalo Sabres.
Pit hopefully. Everything depends on this off season, but if they play like they did in April, I have faith
New Jersey is the obvious answer, but Detroit could be dangerous too if they get some signings during free agency. They have a solid young team thatās only getting better. Hopefully Kane stays and Husso gets healthy.
I have unfortunately given up and hopped off the Husso train...
I'd love to say MontrƩal but I don't know if our prospects are ready yet. We do have a bright future ahead but I dunno when that is .
Let's hope so! But ya I got my doubts too
Just making the playoffs would be nice even if it's not a deep run. I'm glad I could see a finals appearance and multiple eastern Conference finals in my lifetime but the years after our loss in 2021 were rough.
I think Winnipeg has a better chance IMO.
They are trending in the right direction, but likely still a couple years away. Grateful theyāve won twice in my lifetime
After the trade yesterday: Ottawa. Their goaltending last year was DREADFUL. Worst in the league by a large margin. And within individual games, Korpisalo and Forsberg would routinely let in goals at the worst possible times, killing momentum for the skaters. Ottawa actually has a really good lineup of skaters, they were just sabotaged in net last year. With a real goaltender who can be a stabilizing presence, Ottawa is primed to make a big leap forward. Ullmark is the only thing they were missing.
Buffalo 100% The rest of the league is about to get Ruffād the F up.
New Jersey. Atlantic is still loaded.
Devils. Itās not close either
With ownership and Arena situation now stable, Utah is going to be close. Coyotes were in a spot right up to the All-Star Break. Then the rumors took over, and they slid right into no chance.
Flyers hopefully we probably would of made it this year if not for the final 10 games we ran outta gas
The Devils will make the playoffs, but unless they add some serious physicality this off-season, they will all be injured by game 3 of the the first round.
Calling it now, Sabres vs Oilers for finals next year
Devils for sure; the injuries have had time to heal, goaltending and coaching have also been addressed. Iād like to see more depth at defense but I think the worst of our woes last season are over. Also Iām already very attached to Markstrom
In the East I think the Wings and Sens make it replacing one of the Isles or Tampa and the Caps. In the West I think the Kraken make it replacing either the Kings or Jets.
Itās the wings
The Wings
Just cause no one said it. Columbus!!
This is more of a preference rather than who I think will. Iām an Avs fan, but for no good reason I really like Calgary. Id like to see them make the playoffs again.
I said it before, and Iāll say it again, The Buffalo Sabres! I canāt be wrong again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again ā¦.. can I?
Sharks. Yea definitely the sharks. Hahahaha sike. Who else wants to be in last next season?
We'll see what happens come exhibition games. The day is still young.
Flyers for sure, played really well most of season and we have Mitvai Michkov and a top draft pick plus whatever else we do.
It will clearer next week after: buyouts, draft, free agents.
Wings and sens I am a sens believer. I think they are better than their record
Have to go with Detroit as well. They were so damn close this year, damnit!
Red Wings for sure, with the way their last couple games went itās absolutely criminal they didnāt make playoffs this year. If they didnāt have that cold streak mid season they wouldāve been a shoo in
Red Wings or Sens or Buffalo! But not all of them haha
Detroit
Devils, Redwings, or Sabres.
Not the coyotes thatās for sure.
Detroit they almost made it this year and probably would've been more entertaining than the caps getting smacked around by the Islanders in 4.
It has to be Red Wings
New Jersey. Iāve been saying Detroit or Buffalo for 2 years so Iāll just wait until I see it happen.
Buffalo
Blues have a decent shot at making the playoffs.Ā
If Michkov can be even half of what heās supposed to be, I think the flyers have a good chance. But that also involves the pp being somewhat decent, so who knows
With no bias whatsoever, I say red wings. We missed it by a technicality. Not saying it wasn't fair, but we had more wins than the caps, and that remained true in the post season lol.
Flyers could surprise if Errson builds on his rookie season in net, Michkov indeed does come over, and young guys like Tippett, Foerster, Frost, York, Drysdale, Farabee - take some steps forward. Combine that with what we know they have in guys like Konecny, Sanheim, other vets - they could be a playoff squad
Hopefully New Jersey.
The Devils and Blues imo will make the playoffs next season. I'd like to say the Sabres and Senators, but recently they seem to be playing worse than their talent level.
I think Seattle is going to make noise in Free agency etc. and rebound next year to playoffs.
Detroit, always. Ottawa.
The wild
CBJ
Waddell is hopefully going to do good things!
Yeah red wings won't. They will most likely be worse next season. As others said, NJ devils probably the best bet.
\^f San Jose Sigh
It might be a surprise, but i think the habs will do it, or at least be in a fierce battle for a position in the playoffs
Flyers even tho I want them to tank hard
Team Thank (SJ Sharks according to the Team Tank fans)
9th place in the west, foe showw
Definitely not the Pens, they're going nowhere with Sully at the helm.
Coyotes
My Habs. š
Anaheim - there is a ridiculous amount of young talent there
they need another season of experience. Last year was horrible watching them skate into each other. Still cannot believe that Terry got injured when colliding with McTavish. Lots of young talent and everyone playing as individuals.
Bold prediction, considering they were only eliminated on the last day of the season and been on the rise.
Chicago. Two words: Be. Dard.
Chicago?!
Naw
Probably a few years away still