In the run-up to the NHL season, Sport Arena evaluates the prospects of each league team. Next up is the Center division.
Pavel Usenko
One should not expect an interesting struggle for the first place here, many sports analysts believe that the opponents will not cause much trouble to the owner of the Stanley Cup. In principle, a sharp struggle within the division is most likely not foreseen immediately, outsiders and leaders can be identified. Surely expect a fight is only for fourth place in the division, giving the right to reach the playoffs.
Carolina Hurricanes
Key changes in the off-season:
- Trevor Van Riemsdyk is gone, Justin Williams retires
- Jesper Fast has arrived
Carolina, a team that every year more and more turns into a real contender for the title. And this is not surprising, given that Andrey Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho their attack represents a formidable force. The young Russian (already entered into NHL history as the author of the first lacrosse goal in the league) is getting better every year and this season, perhaps, will reach the level of the main stars of the championship.
Will lead the defense Dougie Hamilton, a player who is an important link on the court, especially on the power play. The only thing that raises questions about the squad is the lack of a real top goalkeeper. Neither Petr Mrazek nor James Reimer show a stable game. Perhaps it is this factor that will become the main obstacle to the fight for leadership in the division, but it will obviously not prevent reaching the playoffs.
Forecast: 2nd place in the division and advance to the playoffs
Chicago Black Hawks
Key changes in the off-season:
- Gone are Corey Crawford, Brandon Saad and Ollie Myatta
- Drake Kaggiula, Matthias Yanmark and Nikita Zadorov came
Chicago enters the new season with a lot of uncertainty. The team obviously needs “fresh blood”, but the leaders’ contracts do not allow it. Defensively, the 37-year-old will continue to lead the way. Duncan Keith.
The goalkeeper’s line looks problematic. With the departure of Corey Crawford, the team does not have a stable first number, and this factor may complicate the fight for reaching the playoffs. In attack, the main burden should lie (like all recent seasons) on Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, but the latter misses training camp and the start of the season. If you add to this the injuries of young strikers Kirby Daha and Alexander Nylanderit becomes clear that the Black Hawks are waiting for a rather difficult season.
Analyzing the prospects for Chicago, we can conclude that Chicago is now paying the price for the unreasonable actions of its leadership, which handed out huge contracts to leaders after winning the Stanley Cup.
Forecast: 7th place in the division and not qualifying for the playoffs
Columbus Blue Jackets
Key changes in the off-season:
- Josh Anderson and Alexander Wenberg are gone
- Max Domi and Mikhail Grigorenko came
The team was the opening of last season, no one believed in them, but they all wiped their noses and made it to the playoffs. First of all, this is the merit of the goalkeeper line of the team. Tandem Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikin this season will play a major role for the “jackets”. What is important for the fans of the team is that both goalkeepers can play at a fairly high level and equally replace each other.
In defense, the main role will be taken by Zach Verensky, despite his youth (he is only 23 years old), in the last two regular seasons, he overcame the bar of 40 points scored. New season for the 3rd pick of the 2016 draft Pierre-Luc dubois will be a real test of strength, can the 23-year-old striker become a true team leader?
Forecast: 3rd-6th place in the division and the fight for the playoffs
Dallas Stars
Key changes in the off-season:
- Out: Matthias Janmark, Corey Perry and Martin Ganzl
For Dallas, it was like there was no break after the Stanley Cup final. Everything is the same with them, Ben Bishop is injured and all hope is in the gate for Anton Khudobin. With his phenomenal game, the Russian (first of all, it was he) pulled the team to the Cup final, and if he retains his fuse, then the fans should have less anxiety for a place in the playoffs.
It is difficult to say who will lead the attack of the stars, a long-term leader Tyler Seguin injured and possibly Alexander Radulov can finally become a full-fledged team leader. Among the defenders, the team’s management and its fans hope for further progress. Miro Heiskanen, who performed superbly in the recent playoffs. Separately, it is worth noting that Dallas became the first league team in which the first positive cases of coronavirus were recorded, so the first matches of the “stars” are planned to be postponed.
Forecast: 3rd-6th place in the division and the fight for the playoffs
Detroit Red Wings
Key changes in the off-season:
- Came: Thomas Greiss, Mark Staal, Bobby Ryan and Vladislav Namestnikov
Unfortunately for the fans of the Red Wings, this season does not bode well for them. The team that completely failed last season never received the first pick of the draft, and their chosen Lucas Raymond hardly ready to lead the team this season.
Strengthening can be considered a transition to the goalkeeper team Thomas Greiss, but to say that he will clearly help the team with access to the playoffs can only be a stretch. There are no star names in the team’s defensive line and it is worth highlighting, probably, only the Czech Philip Groneckwho scored well last season.
The offense of the team is somewhat similar to the defense. It seems that all the players are good, but there are not enough stars by the standards of the National Hockey League. The fans will most likely place their main hopes on the central striker of the first link Dylan Larkin. In general, most likely, this season again does not bode well for Detroit fans, they can only hope that the team’s general manager, the legendary Steve Yzerman, will be able to form a combat-ready team in a short period.
Forecast: 8th place in the division and not qualifying for the playoffs
Florida Panthers
Key changes in the off-season:
- Out: Eric Howla, Evgeny Dadonov and Mike Hoffman
- Included: Anthony Duclair, Alexander Wenberg and Patrick Hernquist
The big question for Panther fans this season is whether they will begin to fully work out their generous ten-million dollar contract. Sergei Bobrovsky. Goalie problem is a major factor in Florida’s playoff run and success. If Bobrovsky reaches the level when he received the Vezina Trophy, then the team should have fewer problems in the regular season.
It will be interesting to watch the attack tandem Alexandra Barkova and Jonathan Huberdeau. Will they be able to replenish the scorer’s account with the same regularity with the departure of Dadnov and Hoffman. Also, a lot depends on the defense of the team, Bobrovsky can do a lot, but if he is not supported by a confident game, then no goalkeeper alone will pull the season. The 24-year-old must provide support first. Aaron Ekbladwho in recent seasons has not only become the main defender, but also scores about 40 points in the “goal + pass” system.
Forecast: 3rd-6th place in the division and the fight for the playoffs
Nashville Predators
Key changes in the off-season:
- Out: Kyle Terris and Nick Bonino
- In: Eric Howla
The Predators enter the new season with a clear desire to improve on their last year’s results. And it’s no wonder featuring newly minted Norris Trophy winner Roman Yosiwhich plays a crucial role for the team both in the main direction of its activity (defense) and actively helping the attackers.
For a 26 year old Swede Philip Forsberg The team’s fans place their main hopes in the attacking line and hope that this season he will get as close as possible to the grandmaster result of 1 point per game. Nashville’s goaltending lineup has also seen a change. Longtime goalkeeper Pekka Rinne from now on it will be a backup of his compatriot Juuse Sarosawhich lost the competition in the playoffs last season.
Forecast: 3rd-6th place in the division and the fight for the playoffs
Tampa Bay Lightning
Key changes in the off-season:
- Kevin Schatenkirk is gone
There would be no happiness, but misfortune helped. It is under this motto that the Stanley Cup winner enters the season. Injury Nikita Kucherov, which allowed him to withdraw his salary from the team’s payroll during his treatment, made it possible for Tampa to get into the salary cap and solve problems with him throughout the season. Yes, the absence of such a player would be a problem for almost any NHL team, but not for lightning.
Judge for yourself: in the composition Braydon Point (leading scorer in last playoff) Victor Hedman (last playoff MVP) and Andrey Vasilevsky (which of the 56 matches of the season will be in the stratum in at least 50). And if you remember that the team has Steven Stamkos and Mikhail Sergachev, then you should not worry about getting into the playoffs. And by the playoffs, Kucherov will already recover.
Forecast: 1st place in the division and confident access to the playoffs
Source: Sportarena
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
