I’m biased, but I’d say Detroit.
My question for the group is about Ottawa. With the talent they have, why have they been so inconsistent? Maybe they are a different team with Linus in net.
- NC_Scott
The core talent is more than good enough to make the playoffs, but Pierre Dorion followed up the team's drafting success by making several of the worst trades and roster moves in franchise history. When they needed help at D/G they brought in a top-line scoring winger, who they immediately demoted to the 2nd line, which resulted in a -30 season and trading them away for pennies on the dollar. When they specifically needed a top-4 stay-at-home RHD, they brought in an offensive-minded LHD who they forced to play on the wrong side, which resulted in a -30 season and trading them away for pennies on the dollar. When they needed a steady veteran G, they overpaid for a UFA goaltender who'd never played a single game for them, which led to the worst statistical season of any starting G in the NHL last year.
Several media outlets noted last year that if the Senators had gotten even just average goaltending, they would have been in the wild card hunt. They've also had fewer than 40GP over the past 3 seasons where all of Stutzle, Norris, and Pinto have been in the lineup at the same time as the top-3C. Now factor in the disruption of a mid-season change to both the GM/coaching staff, and you're starting to get a taste of the bizarro world this team has been in recently. But as you noted, a page has been turned. Ullmark should make quite a difference in goal, and they've made numerous off-season moves to improve the defensive quality of the supporting roster. Personally, I think they'll pass BUF/DET this season, but they'll need to come out of the gate ready to prove a lot of people wrong.