"HockeyBuzz + New Jersey Devils Season Ticket Holder"
New Jersey, NJ • United States • 28 Years Old • Male
2009-10 Predictions
Posted 12:54 PM ET | Comments 18
As the lazy days of summer begin to fade away, NHL teams will soon begin to reconvene for training camp. So, in that spirit, I'd like to throw my 2009-10 final standings predictions out there. Nothing detailed, just straight to the point. I'll get back into the swing of heavy analysis next time around when I take a closer look at the Atlantic Division. Of course, predictions in August are like a certain part of the human anatomy: everyone's got them, and they all stink. So take this with an regulation NHL rink-sized grain of salt.
Atlantic Division
1. Pittsburgh - It's hard to bet against the champs, no matter what.
2. Philadelphia - I don't understand why people think Chris Pronger = Stanley Cup, but they'll certainly be one of the better teams.
3. New Jersey - Rebuild or no, it takes a Devils fan to truly understand why it's never safe to bet against my team.
4. NY Rangers - One awesome scoring line and a cast of scrubs. They're like the Senators...if the Senators had a goaltender.
5. NY Islanders - It looks as if their massive rebuild will pay dividends, but this is still a few years away.
Northeast Division
1. Boston - Even if Phil Kessel appears to be on his way out, this is still a very scary team.
2. Montreal - It's either a return to the upper echelon or a failed experiment for the new look Habs.
3. Toronto - The Leafs have lost so much dead weight over the past few months, they should do a Subway commercial.
4. Buffalo - Poor Ryan Miller needs a lot of help.
5. Ottawa - This team didn't impress me even before Dany Heatley turned all primadonna.
Southeast Division
1. Washington - A Varlamov sophomore slump is the only thing preventing the Caps from maintaining their elite status.
2. Carolina - As much as it pains me to say this, the Canes will be very good again.
3. Tampa Bay - They finally have a decent goalie, and I'm really starting to like their defense corps.
4. Florida - Sooner or later they have to live up to the promise they show at the start of every season, right?
5. Atlanta - It's the Atlanta Thrashers...enough said.
Central Division
1. Chicago - Marian Hossa's contract is stupid and will kill them in the long run, but not before it brings them success in the short term.
2. Detroit - Oh don't worry, they'll still be freakishly efficient.
3. Columbus - Look who's finally becoming a pretty darn good hockey team!
4. St. Louis - The Blues have a lot of potential, but are also victims of their own suddenly stacked division.
5. Nashville - Nothing remotely impressive about this team.
Northwest Division
1. Calgary - Not just because of Jay Bouwmeester, but he's sure going to help.
2. Vancouver - Like it or not, it all still comes down to Luongo.
3. Minnesota - Let's be honest, they've been used to playing without Gaborik for a while now.
4. Edmonton - The Bulin Wall will be awfully cold, but not for long...summer in Edmonton always starts in April.
5. Colorado - Joe Sakic picked a good time to retire, because this could get ugly.
Pacific Division
1. Anaheim - A very well put-together team, even before Saku Koivu arrived.
2. San Jose - The window for this group is rapidly closing...it's now or never.
3. Dallas - Never flashy, but always manage to get the job done.
4. Los Angeles - The Kings are fashioning themselves a great young team, but may still be a year or two away.
5. Phoenix - Like Florida, there always seems to be an aura of upside around the young Coyotes, yet they never seem to get it done.
Atlantic Division
1. Pittsburgh - It's hard to bet against the champs, no matter what.
2. Philadelphia - I don't understand why people think Chris Pronger = Stanley Cup, but they'll certainly be one of the better teams.
3. New Jersey - Rebuild or no, it takes a Devils fan to truly understand why it's never safe to bet against my team.
4. NY Rangers - One awesome scoring line and a cast of scrubs. They're like the Senators...if the Senators had a goaltender.
5. NY Islanders - It looks as if their massive rebuild will pay dividends, but this is still a few years away.
Northeast Division
1. Boston - Even if Phil Kessel appears to be on his way out, this is still a very scary team.
2. Montreal - It's either a return to the upper echelon or a failed experiment for the new look Habs.
3. Toronto - The Leafs have lost so much dead weight over the past few months, they should do a Subway commercial.
4. Buffalo - Poor Ryan Miller needs a lot of help.
5. Ottawa - This team didn't impress me even before Dany Heatley turned all primadonna.
Southeast Division
1. Washington - A Varlamov sophomore slump is the only thing preventing the Caps from maintaining their elite status.
2. Carolina - As much as it pains me to say this, the Canes will be very good again.
3. Tampa Bay - They finally have a decent goalie, and I'm really starting to like their defense corps.
4. Florida - Sooner or later they have to live up to the promise they show at the start of every season, right?
5. Atlanta - It's the Atlanta Thrashers...enough said.
Central Division
1. Chicago - Marian Hossa's contract is stupid and will kill them in the long run, but not before it brings them success in the short term.
2. Detroit - Oh don't worry, they'll still be freakishly efficient.
3. Columbus - Look who's finally becoming a pretty darn good hockey team!
4. St. Louis - The Blues have a lot of potential, but are also victims of their own suddenly stacked division.
5. Nashville - Nothing remotely impressive about this team.
Northwest Division
1. Calgary - Not just because of Jay Bouwmeester, but he's sure going to help.
2. Vancouver - Like it or not, it all still comes down to Luongo.
3. Minnesota - Let's be honest, they've been used to playing without Gaborik for a while now.
4. Edmonton - The Bulin Wall will be awfully cold, but not for long...summer in Edmonton always starts in April.
5. Colorado - Joe Sakic picked a good time to retire, because this could get ugly.
Pacific Division
1. Anaheim - A very well put-together team, even before Saku Koivu arrived.
2. San Jose - The window for this group is rapidly closing...it's now or never.
3. Dallas - Never flashy, but always manage to get the job done.
4. Los Angeles - The Kings are fashioning themselves a great young team, but may still be a year or two away.
5. Phoenix - Like Florida, there always seems to be an aura of upside around the young Coyotes, yet they never seem to get it done.
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05 Why Hockey Is The Best Sport
15 2008-09 Predictions
21 Captaining the Captainless
27 All-Time Greatest
30 Glory Days
15 2008-09 Predictions
21 Captaining the Captainless
27 All-Time Greatest
30 Glory Days
01 Offseason 09: How to Fix the Devils
09 Brylin? We're Talking About BRYLIN??
09 Good Riddance
11 Remember This Name
15 NJD Top Five Potential Draft Selections
24 An Open Letter to the Future Coach of the New Jersey Devils
28 Reviewing the Devils Draft
09 Brylin? We're Talking About BRYLIN??
09 Good Riddance
11 Remember This Name
15 NJD Top Five Potential Draft Selections
24 An Open Letter to the Future Coach of the New Jersey Devils
28 Reviewing the Devils Draft
1 scoring line for the rangers??we have 7 20 goal scorers.. this year budinsky will make it 8.. and anisimov maybe 9..thats what i call three solid lines..
*dubinsky..
Very well written post. If Heatley doesn't get traded, though, Ottawa will leapfrog over TO and Buffalo in the Northeast division...and if Price doesn't play well Montreal could be a last place team.
Vancouver - Like it or not, it all still comes down to Luongo. Despite winning the division(albeit rather weak these days) after only having him for 54 games last year?
Message Posted
Your an idiot. That's all I gotta say. 1 scoring line lol and the devils have what??? Rangers have a better offense than the devils, and a better goalie than the devils. I will say that the devils have a better defense and that's about it. Can't wait to see Lemaire put a lockdown on your offense.
Senators didn't impress??? They had one of the best records under their new coach
The Northeast will be the most interesting division this year. It has the most question marks with MTL, TOR, and OTT all revamping their teams. Four teams could bust (not Boston) yet all 5 teams have the potential to make the playoffs (Atlanta, NYI, Nashville, Colorado and Phoenix have no chance in their respective divisions).
Lovin' the Flames sitting atop the NW. It's like butter on bread.. we simply belong there. Vancouver, as much as I hate them are always a contender, good spot for them in second. Only thing I don't agree with is the Rangers placement. They have some hidden talent on that team, Sjostrom, a recent Flames signing, is a great example. Philly can't be placed that high, switch em' with the Blue Shirts.
Pronger doesn't mean cup your right.. but he does add that big hard hitting boost on our D.. your the first person to not say something about our "crazy" goalie.. which is good.. because I think he knows this is his last chance.. unless he likes the KHL .. 2nd is good for them tho.. thats where I see them as well.. Rangers may have more offence as someone posted.. but the D is a little suspect.. for them its all up to Hank..
Ranger fans this is exactly why I said to take it with a grain of salt. Did I say the Devils' offense was any better? No, I did not. I'm well aware of the fact that we also don't have more than 3 or 4 quality forwards. I guess the difference between you and me is that I can admit my own team's weaknesses and you clearly cannot. And personally I don't really care if Lemaire turns the Devils into a trap fest as long as it means we'll be clutching and grabbing our way to another Cup parade.
I agree with a lot of what you said....I think people are a little high on Philly as of now...they really can finish anywhere from 1-4 in my opinion as can any of the other Atlantic teams (except for the islanders)....my only other switch would be Dallas and LA...i can see LA finally pulling together a good team to make some kind of playoff push....other than that though I'd say your in the August-sized prediciton ball park
[quote]Rangers have a better goalie than the devils.[/quote]No they don't! Brodeur is at least 10 times better than Lundquist will ever be!