I don't think I'd give up a 1st round pick for a 3rd liner. His arbitration rights would also cause problems going into the 21-22 season.

Baring major injuries that's pretty unlikely

It's not my inclination to do so either, but I'm just a huge fan of Bennett's and think he could be a great piece for the Leafs come playoff time. He really steps up his game in the postseason which is reflected on both the scoresheet (which, to be fair, I think can be attributed a bit to puck luck) and through his intensity.

Yeah, probably. It's just an 'if', though with how tight the Canadian division is likely to be, I wouldn't be overly shocked.

lol nic petan

forgot about him, poor guy. he's an NHLer lmao

I know, right. I feel bad for the guy.

I think Calgary is the team that looks most stable in the division. Assuming a likely bounce-back from the star players (except Gio due to age) Calgary should be that team that should make the playoffs simply due to lack of any glaring weaknesses. Sure you can say they lack a legitimate 1C but they make up for that with strong winger depth. The Canadian Division will be a fluster-cluck but IMO the flames are a safe bet when it comes to just a team making the playoffs.

Yeah, maybe. I'm not overly high on them and with how weird the division is, I wouldn't be surprised to see even my highest ranked teams miss the playoffs.

Eh, Markstrom/Rittich are a .910 goalie tandem on average and if they have a down year as a tandem...

If Giordano finally suffers age decline and all the young D aren't quite ready to be impact NHLers yet...

Granted the F core is superb so that helps alot but...

Winnipeg and Ottawa will miss IMO and I don't see Vancouver making it either simply because, they were worse than Calgary and Edmonton last year and got worse while Calgary and Edmonton got better. I'm really high on Montreal and obviously Toronto will finish top 4 so I have Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton top 4 in that order. I think Edmonton is the best team, but their goaltending sinks them substantially. Then I think Calgary and TO battle for 1st as Montreal doesn't have the fire power up front and Edmonton lacks a goalie but all teams (without Ottawa) could win this division, or at least finish top 4.

It's wide open. Wouldn't be at all surprised if this is how it goes.

Two all-star goalies in a tandem, giving each other rest every other game and pushing each other for the starting role behind a solid defence and good overall team. That's a recipe for success. Only problem is that goalies switching teams from a good situation don't historically have terrific seasons

Andersson, Hanifin and Tanev are proven NHLers
Valimaki and Kylington are ? but Valimaki will play like a #3 this year I can almost guarantee.

We agree on forwards.

Most sure fire team in this division besides maybe TO. Toronto is pretty rough on D, Montreal doesn't have any superstar, killers up front, Edmonton has the NHL's 2nd worst tandem, Ottawa is Ottawa, Vancouver got substantially worse and Winnipeg has terrible D

I don't know about that, unless I'm forgetting something. Pretty dependent on their goaltending, imo.

It kills me, he tears up every other league.

What do u expect from Valimaki? After one entire calendar year being out with an injury I mean...

Well hes still Calder eligible for this year but the competition is a lot tougher. I think he will be a lock for 3rd pair at minimum. Im very high on him but baring an injury he will probably be sheltered. Valimaki is around where Hughes was just before the season started last year. That doesnt mean he will explode the same way Hughes did but I would not be surprised if hes top 10 in Calder voting this year.

*edit, I originally read Calder where you said calendar

They lost Toffoli, Tanev, Markstrom, Leivo, Ferland and I think one more while only getting back Schmidt and Holtby. So worse up front, a bit worse in the net and better on D

I forgot about the Ferland injury, but he barely played for them this past year anyway. I still think they have the potential to be pretty okay. Toffoli was great for them, but he was a deadline acquisition. I agree with you that they got better on D. I really think if they get steady goaltending between Demko and Holtby, they've got a chance to be about what they were last year.