No.

If I were to rate the odds on a scale of 1 to 10? Nein

5th or 6th in the division. Last year was kinda of a fluke. Division was weak.

Metro got A LOT tougher. Think they'll still find a way as a wildcard or something. Expecting a big step from Barzal this season

The only “bad” contract on this team right now is Ladd. Leddy, Boychuk and even Komarov are all still serviceable for their contracts, with Boychuk being the next closest to a “bad” contract but not there yet.

Please enlighten me as to who else you view as a bad contract?

Also, the eastern conference is essentially the same with CLB (losing all their FAs) and FLA (addition of Bob) switching places. NYR and NJD are still a year or two away from serious contenders. Philly could improve if Hart plays well for a full season. Other than that I don’t see many other teams who might push for a playoff spot.

Isles may not finish 4th overall, but no one is likely to push them out of the playoffs.

I don’t even think they’re better than nyr or nj only reason they made it was because their goalies had career years.

Lee lad Boychuk Leddy varlomov with Bailey and Nelson with a good chance of being bad

Haha, you clearly know nothing about hockey.

Leddy at 5.5m per is pretty good for a Top 4 LHD that can skate and move the puck.

Lee, the only thing wrong with his contract is it is 2 years too long. It should have been a 5 year deal, other than that it is a fine deal and FAR from bad.

Bailey and Nelson, for that they bring to the table are steals on their deals. Nelson easily could have surpassed the Hayes deal on the open market and Bailey has turned into a reliable 2 way player who puts up 50+ points a year.

Varlamov is and will be a better goalie than Lehrer. I love Lehrer and wish he resigned, but he was mostly a product of Koran and the defensive system Trotz uses... Varlamov a better overall goalie, will have those same things.

Boychuk is the only one you have a case for, but last year he showed he can still play the game in a reduced role. And while 6m is a lot of money, it’s still not a “bad” contract.

Are you even an Isles fan??

Oh, and to address the other thing... NYR and NJD finished 20 and 26 points out of the playoffs last year. And while, yes, they’ve added talent, neither team has stable goaltending (Lundquist is old and declining and Schneider hasn’t been able to stay healthy and isn’t the goalie he was a few years ago). Not to mention the Rangers will likely need to sell off a few pieces to get under the CAP which will only hurt them more

But you wanna claim they are better than a team that put up 103 points and had the best defense in the league?? Come on man.

Lol

Good response. Just saw you’re a Leafs fan, so the idiocy makes total sense now.

Lolllllll