This season looks to be one of the most competitive we have had in quite some. Some teams look better on paper than others but there is a reason we play the games right? With a lot of new GMs taking over there was a ton of uncertainty heading into draft day. I feel the rookie GMs did a decent job and looks like theres no definitive bottom feeder roster as I can see. Lets take a look at how the west size up with each other.
Colorado Avalanche
Returning verteran GM eggman returns and attempts to build on a dominant cup run. Resigns were vxWoytkiw8xv, Sedinpower, and himself. With the last pick in 1st round they took Breezy5457 and Ucantcme_kamakaz. This is a great starting roster and they also added, C Socotimmer13, lxl-C-lxl, Cam123mph, Neeposh_patrick, and FOXYHRC0314. I think this will be a very good team they arent as deep as last season but egg did a great job building a balanced roster. The top line looks to carry the Avs this season but still have some decent depth. I place the Avs in the upper echelon of the west.
Projected Starting Lineup
LW vxWoytkiw8xv
C Socotimmer13
RW Breezy5457
Rd sedinpower
LD eggman–1
G Ucantcme_kamakaz
Vegas Golden Knights
SliyumShady is a rookie GM but has been around this league for a while. Slim decided to retain SA_Pliskin, prodigytolegend, and captain21canada. With their 1st round selection they choose ShotI72I and in round 2 another RW in Kinglyme89. They followed up these picks with PoOkY_Qc_87, brenoamaral17, LukeTheDuke28, and TeamNutsak. I feel this team will be competitive but this team could falter due to a lack of defensive depth. Also an interesting development will be who gets more games between kinglyme and one shot. If they figure this situation out and slim and nutsack play well together this team could be legit.
Projected Starters
C prodigytolegend
LW brenoamaral17
RW Kinglyme89/ShotI72I
LD SliyumShady
RD TeamNutsak
G SA_Pliskin
Anaheim Ducks
Scalz_Yanks_24 takes a try at GM in SP but he is a veteran GM in other leagues. Shaynestaa and deadant were kept via resign and they chose Sudzy92_ with the 2nd pick in draft. They followed that up by taking ChiTownMenace, xXM1NORTHREATXx, dophares2000, Boutch_87, RIGHT-POWER, Etthan, and New360Guy. On paper this team looks to have some holes on LD and G because I have doubts that Sudzy is playing goalie. (no matter how much he tells us hes an elite tendy lol) If they solve these “problems” they could be a middle of the pack or higher team. The offense should be good and if RIGHT-POWER can keep them in games this team could do some work.
LW Boutch_87
C Sudzy92_
RW Etthan
LD Scalz_Yanks_24
RD Shaynestaa
G RIGHT-POWER
Winnipeg Jets
Multiple season vet and GM Reaper__2313 looks to return to prominence after a rough season. He resigned Kidmon3y (no surprise there) Barnickle_Sam, and M1keal. Round 1 Vezzzy_i30i and round 2 grabbed Dougcbj. The rest of their picks rounded out with M-A-G-N-U-M_316, Way2goal, Al_bundy128, and Jaycee241979. Some interesting developments as reap is moving to LW and kid going to RW they are hoping those changes make a difference. The biggest addition to this team will be vezzzy. If he can dominate like he has most of his SP career the Jets could be a contender. I feel this team will be a middle to top seed depending on how the new moves pay off.
Starting Lines
LW Reaper__2313
C Barnickle_Sam
RW Kidmon3y
LD Dougcbj
RD M1keal
G Vezzzy_i30i
Dallas Stars
Castles720 takes over in Dallas and traded all his resigns for draft picks. His 1st was Mclub326 and then Sfic16. They needed to make alot of picks fill out the roster and took PNCPark2k1, Ushkilledya, Droxx22, kc2917, Nba2k16islife201, Troublekid1999, TYLERisGOD69, Droxx22, kc2917,KRONWALL1924, and ChiefBigBear13. I dont particularly see this team being great but should fight for a playoff spot. If they could get a full time Center it would go a long way into making this roster better in my opinion. Also the defense looks a tad on weaker side. I honestly have no clue howbthese lines will play out but i just feel this team may struggle as constructed.
Starting Lineups
LW Mclub326
C TYLERisGOD69
RW Sfic16
LD kc2917
RD Ushkilledya
G Troublekid1999
Edmonton Oilers
Darling of the league SgtVandoos returns and hopes. to have more success than he sustained last season. DevilsPride4, Raja_Sandhu, Loyalty_Caper, and M_u_r_p_h_y_87 were all retained by vandoos. In a surprising turn of events they take MartyCeez23. They followed that up with Arrowhunter14, Jennjamty, Hockeyman22996, Dustywall33, and WickedSnapshot. Vandoos seems to have a much stronger roster on paper than in the past season but that shall be determined. I still expect this team to be battling for the final playoff spot or lower.
Starting Lineup
LW MartyCeez23
C Arrowhunter14
RW Jennjamty
LD M_u_r_p_h_y_87
RD Raja_Sandhu
G SgtVandoos
Arizona Coyotes
CantTreadOnMe_ takes over the yotes in his first season as GM. Tread resigned HartySauce67, xOneTimer, and goalieman92. With 1st round choice Coyotes select Mjvoell44 and in round 2 they snagged Tapthatpass_. SmashNgrab2, sINGLE-g6_, Grippinq, and KllerJ round out the Arizona roster. Technically the team has no LD on the roster but I think its safe to assume that smashNgrab21 and xOneTimer will fill the role. This squad should be able to play with most teams and should find themselves towards the top of the conference especially if they can effectively find a way to get Mjvoell44 and HartySauce67 on the ice. It will be interesting to see how the minutes on defense get distributed and will go a long way in their final positioning.
Starting Lines
LW Mjvoell44
C CantTreadOnMe_
RW HartySauce67
LD smashNgrab21
RDTapthatpass_
G goalieman92
Calgary Flames
Uberpwned_6969 takes a try at GM after being a player for a long time. He started his team by resigning Pooler2012, jamie14benn14, agesquod, and Zredbeard. In the draft he wasted no time getting Tyler91seguin91. After seguin, uber got Servnspike, Pemm, Rivnasty, and H-_A-_L-_A-_K. I feel uber drafted a competitive team and should be in thick of things come playoff time. Their defense is better than alot of teams and they will score their fair share of goals. This team could really surprise some people. They finish mid pack 3 to 4.
Starting Lineups
LW Tyler91seguin91
C servnpike
RW jamie14benn14
LD Uberpwned_6969
RD Pooler2012
G Pemm