Post by Beans (BOS) on Mar 16, 2016 11:24:00 GMT -5
TSN Staff - March 16, 2016
With the 2016-17 pre-season around the corner, we're ready to release our 1st edition of this season's power rankings. With hope in the air for all 30 franchises, we're looking at why each team has a shot to win it all this season!
These rankings are based on a combination of last season's results and our analysis of off-season moves to date.
1) St. Louis Blues - Because they're the only ones who have done it before.
2) Tampa Bay Lightning - Because Lindholm will team up with Hedman to form one of the most dominant D-pairings in recent history.
3) Washington Capitals - Because coming up a goal short makes the fire burn that much stronger.
4) New Jersey Devils - Because defense wins championships and Robin Lehner was the best offseason pickup.
5) San Jose Sharks - Because Isaac is a wizard and the Sharks will eventually be healthy.
6) Los Angeles Kings - Because Drew Doughty will back up his Norris-winning campaign.
7) Chicago Blackhawks - Because Ranek's bold moves are going to pay off.
8) Detroit Red Wings - Because Getzlaf and RyJo are going to revitalize the Motor City.
9) Pittsburgh Penguins - Because Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, and Letang are still all-world players and Duranium is a silent assassin.
10) Ottawa Senators - Because Benn, Seguin, and Karlsson will provide no shortage of goals.
11) Edmonton Oilers - Because McJesus was only 18 last season.
12) Nashville Predators - Because Filip Forsberg is ready to become a perennial MVP-candidate.
13) Montreal Canadiens - Because (everyone has forgotten) they added Giordano, Eberle, and Bobby Ryan last season and all 3 will be more comfortable playing in pressure cooker of Montreal.
14) Hartford Whalers - Because Ekblad and Barkov will establish themselves as generational talents and Bjugstad is a first-liner on half the teams in the iNHL.
15) Minnesota Wild - Because sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make.
16) Calgary Flames - Because Gaudreau-Monahan-Foligno is a first line that can do a lot of damage.
17) Philadelphia Flyers - Because Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Couturier, and Rask are in their primes and because Chara and Streit still have a lot to give.
18) New York Islanders - Because they finally have leadership in the GM's office and Tavares is ready to breakout.
19) New York Rangers - Because the second line of Evander Kane - Derick Brassard - Brad Marchand is going to drive opponents insane while burying pucks in the back of the net.
20) Winnipeg Jets - Because Dax has quietly assembled an excellent defense core.
21) Colorado Avalanche - Because MacKinnon - Duchene - Matthews is disgusting.
22) Columbus Blue Jackets - Because RNH and Stastny are joining a club that shocked the iNHL world last season.
23) Boston Bruins - Because speed kills in the iNHL and no skater is slower than a 15/20.
24) Anaheim Ducks - Because Chris has made some shrewd moves to free up cap space and bring in elite talent.
25) Vancouver Canucks - Because the Canucks have a stable of young centers (Horvat, McCann, Draisaitl) who are hoping to get to the next level in the near future.
26) Dallas Stars - Because the Sedins are running out of time to cap off their marvelous careers.
27) Carolina Hurricanes - Because the 'Canes have arguably the best group of D-prospects in the iNHL.
28) Buffalo Sabres - Because Kristian has surrounded Jack Eichel with spades of top young talent.
29) Arizona Coyotes - Because the Coyotes were extremely productive in free agency adding multiple gems to a crop of elite prospects.
30) Toronto Maple Leafs - Because Alex is a stats junkie who knows what he's talking about.
