IMO both Sens and Wings are on the right path to success but don't think they are playoff teams in 22/23.
But I must say, thanks to the Leafs acquiring Murray at 4.7m, the Leafs have no cap. If Murray does not perform well.....hard to believe the 4th best team in the league last season, the Leafs could be battling for a playoff position with the Wings.

Also, Bruins are in a tough spot with McAvoy and Marchand being out to December I'm pretty sure

Short answer no. They need some more pieces to make it there. Their goalies, coach, and some of their depth is a bit of a question mark. I think they will make stride but next year is likely to be the year.

I say they compete, but no they don't

The biggest need in Detroit right now I beleive is the need to a 2nd line centre..... Suter plugs a hole, but isn't the guy I would hang my hopes on.

Further, the LD is weak. Rutta is a good puck up, but behind him yikes. Oesterle as a 3rd pairing is fine, not sure I would want him out there 20+ minutes a night. Even Rutta wasn't getting that in Tampa.

Surprised Berggen isn't on the roster. I think he makes the team. His addition could spread offense over 3 lines.

Just the thoughts of a Leafs fan.

The Atlantic will be fun to watch.

The Leafs, the Panthers, the Lightning didn't really improve their roster from last season, while the Sabres, Senators, Red Wings, and Canadiens will all be better teams due to their acquisitions or their younger players getting better so I feel like the gap between the top and the bottom of the division is lessened. I can only see the Bruins regressing, possibly the Panthers as well if the new coach isn't a fit.

Could be neither, the top Atlantic teams might be TOR, TB, FLR, and BOS again leaving one wild card spot for an Atlantic team potentially. In the Metro you got CAR and NYR who will most likely make it and WSH/PIT/NYI take that 3rd spot.

Which would leave the last wild card spot for OTT, DET, NYI (assuming WSH is 3rd), PIT, and maybe NJ/BUF/PHI.

Basically, they need two of the ATL guys to regress a lot, BOS is a candidate due to injuries and perhaps FLR or TOR which would be surprising. I don't see two of them regressing enough this year though. Perhaps OTT plays lights out though and makes it in a top 3 spot.

Free agency hasn't even started yet though, so can't be too quick to try and predict.

This team as it is definitely not. That defence is horrendous. Not a chance they come close to be honest.

with the LD it has hope in the future with edvinson + next year you get a guy like Sanheim, Dumo or Orlov in free agentcy

1. Jealous of you gettin lane hutson
2. The alantic will be easily the toughest division for years
3. If the leafs suck they clean house

No they dont. In fact we probably finish worse in the standings than last year.

Not this one. Yikes. Giving Ruuta 4 mil? All we did here is add to the cap and get someone who doesn't fit our time frame and doesn't contribute immediately

We were talking about a constructed roster. Not a year or two down the line

I agree with that but even if they play better than last year they will more than likely finish worse than last season. I agree with @SevenLeg the Atlantic is going to be fun to watch.

Im with ya I just think teams like Ottawa and NJ are just ahead of us. Who knows maybe yzerman pulls something in free agency but I don't think that's what happens.

Maybe he upgrades Bertuzzi to Tarasenko (assuming they allow him to negotiate an extension beforehand), they can use a veteran presence with playoff pedigree in the long-term. I think that is unlikely though and they acquire a 2C/1C instead.

I agree and unless Yzerman goes completely crazy the Wings have little chance of making the playoffs. Which is probably for the best another season with a lottery pick can't hurt.

Tarasenko is 30 and 3yrs old than Bertuzzi plus Vrana and Raymond play a similar style. I really don't think Tarasenko is what Detroit needs at this point.

Absolutely, plus it seems like every ufa you hear about its been more a matter of term than dollars and we know yzerman isn't going to go out and sign a bunch of guys who want 6 or 7 years.

Yzerman is doing it the right way and when Detroit is ready to compete we will still have draft picks and prospects in the pipeline.

I don't think he will add a bunch of guys but I think he might add someone in FA even if it means some term. He gots his goalies and the D pool is too deep, so I'm thinking a forward but most likely a C if not perhaps Burakovsky.

I wish he was a bit more aggressive but what do I know.

Berggren, Veleno, and Edvinsson will all likely be in the opening night lineup. If the young guys take a step forward, then they COULD contend for a wild card spot.

Looks like OTT just added Talbot, and they are still trying to add to their Top 6 winger and get top 4 D. It's an arms race in the Atlantic, maybe they get both wild card spots.