Opening night is just around the corner. As with any team that wins a championship, you can guarantee they will be picked clean. The vultures have swooped in, picking apart the Vegas Golden Knights. Only 5 members of the Stanley Cup winning squad return this year. Can redconcept and plisk build another contender, only time will tell?
Eighteen teams all vying for the Stanley Cup. At this point in the season it’s all about who looks good on paper. Teams that stand out at first glance, Colorado, New York, and Toronto appear to be early season favorites. Honestly, everyone is a favorite because until tonight each team is tied for first place.
I’d love to do a breakdown on every team, show you statically their chances to win alongside the stats for each player. However, I have a full time job and time is of the essence, to get this out to the masses before opening night. I’m going to touch on the teams that I feel are the top teams this season. Then I will add a few of the teams I feel might surprise people. For an in-depth analysis check out Cuban’s channel, https://youtu.be/QW0K7EZ6ayI . They did a great job on the show and provide some excellent insight.
In no particular order, some of the top teams going into this season of SP.
Colorado
Eggman has put together a very competitive team. Stamkos and Woy didn’t play last season but are both solid players. Rancher is reliable in net nearing a career 80% save percentage. Adding toslick at right wing will make a formable top line. Defensively Eggman and Sedin will be the top defensive pair. Colorado is a team to watch this season.
Vegas
Last year’s Stanley Cup Champions. I have to include them as potential contenders. Bringing back Prodigy and adding hypey-, Vegas is certainly looking to pick up where they left off. I asked Red to give his thoughts on the season:
We have a solid core with good depth. A good group of guys never hurts. Biggest difference this year verses last year is our starting roster this season is better than last season. As always, we have to see how things play out but I’m confident in the group I have. One big change is Plisk moving to net this year. He is looking to be our starting goalie and I think he will contend as a top goalie this season.
Anaheim
Reaper is always able to put together a good team. Last year took them to the conference finals. What will he do differently this year? What does he think are his team’s strengths? For the answers to those questions, we went straight to the source:
Communication and chemistry is key to any team making the playoffs. While teams like Colorado and the Islanders stand out, everyone has a chance right now.
When asked about the biggest difference between this year’s squad and last, “For me, would have to be filling the void up at LW and the void at defense with Doug and m1keal not starting.”
Toronto
Rich has put together a solid team. There is only one guy on the roster that I do not recognize and that’s because he is a rookie. Smokeshow, u_1_2_b_me, vaipe, AAli, my boy Bubby67, and Scalz. With Sportsgeek in net and PNC backing him up. This team truly has the potential to win it all. After an upsetting first round knock out to Pittsburgh last season, this team is one to watch out for.
Pittsburgh
Last year’s runner up. Can Jayscott pull it together before the trade deadline this year? With Ajax returning alongside himself and Capone, Jayscott is hoping so. He was asked to provide his outlook for this season:
My teams have always found a way to be a contender. We’ve got a lot of the pieces that took us to the cup, last season, still here in Pittsburgh. While the team is similar I made it a priority to go out and get ourselves some left wings and defense. I am expecting us to put up points not just play shutdown defense.
Can they overcome the loss of Westside and DrWally? Two key pieces to that cup run, it will remain to be seen.
New York Islanders
Tyler91seguin91 and Jamie14benn14 in real life are a solid pair, these two will put up points this coming season. With Nocturnal_turtle in net who is a career 77% save percentage guy. They will be a tough team to go up against. With Fivestar and Gunz on defense, this is a good all-around team. Definitely a team to watch out for this season.
Teams that may turn some heads this season, again in no particular order.
Nashville
At_Ezz is at the helm for Nashville, repping his hometown. Chicks-n-whips while listed as LD, most of us are familiar with him in between the pipes. Benner is a lifetime 2.8 ppg forward. Add to that Jedi at 2.5 ppg and Hockeygamer 3.4 ppg, you have a line that can score. If they can work as a team, build that chemistry, Nashville might be a team that will come out of nowhere.
Boston
This may be surprising but after a successful season you always worry about the hangover. Can Boston and PistolPete build off the success of last season? With Dougcbj and Nowyodead on defense will bring stability to the backline. Adding Chadkillz who is a solid net minder to that backline could cause some problems for opposing offenses. Aside from Pete, the offense looks a bit lacking on the goal scoring. However, if he truly builds off of last season, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Dallas
Diirty, MJ and sFic will carry the offense, while defensively Dallas will be led by Entryy. Goaltending could see a battle between Jeiel and gAmErGoD as to who will own the starting spot. Dallas will be a tough team to play against but on paper they will not be a top team. Entryy can only cover so much of the ice.
St Louis
Looking at their roster, I just get a feeling they may do something special. Stonerboy is a solid player who can carry an offense. Not sure what the defensive pairing will be, one would assume Sullivan and Pooler will headline the defense.
Minnesota
Ttommyboii moved from LA to Minnesota. Guess he loves the cold. When asked what makes his team a contender he pointed to his teams depth. He looks to improve on his offense with the group he drafted. He also points to Goalieman92 as a player that might surprise some people this year. Known as more of a defenseman, watch his play in net.
That is it everyone. I’m not expert this is purely for fun. I’m sure there will be debates and arguments over who should be where, that should be exactly what happens. My opinion is just that an opinion.