2011-2012 Northeast Division Preview - Part 2

by Zachary Zielonka on Oct 5, 2011 12:03 PM EDT

Yesterday, we took a look at what we think are going to be the top two teams in the Northeast Division. Now, we take a look at the bottom teams in the division.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Season Recap

The Maple Leafs finished the season 10th in the Eastern Conference with 85 points, nine points outside of the playoffs. The team allowed the third most goals in the Eastern Conference with 251 goals and had a goal differential of -33.

Who's In

The Maple Leafs did upgrade at the center position with the addition of Tim Connolly. Connolly, who was the Sabres' scapegoat for much of his career, is able to slide into a role that is slightly less out of the spotlight for the Leafs. While still injury prone, if Connolly continues his average career production for the Leafs this season, it would be an upgrade at that position for Toronto. Also, the Leafs added Matthew Lombardi from Nashville as well. Lombardi had a lost season last year, playing in only two games for the Predators, but has a career average of .5 points/game.

On defense, the Leafs added John Michael Liles from the Colorado Avalanche. Liles played seven seasons for the Avalanche and last season had six goals and 46 points in 76 games for Colorado. The addition shores up some major holes on the Leafs defense, but it may not be enough to overcome one of the worst defenses in the league.

Who's Out

No major players left the Leafs during the offseason but the keys to the net will be left squarely in the hands of James Reimer after Jean Sebastian Giguere was let go. Reimer played well in the second half of the season for the Leafs and should now have the starting role for the team.

What To Watch For

The Leafs defense and goaltending are going to be the key areas for the team if they want to make the playoffs. The questions of whether James Reimer can handle a full season and whether the defense is going to be better are the keys to a playoff season for the Leafs.

Prediction

The Leafs will be improved and will probably end the season with 92 points. Whether that point total makes the playoffs is yet to be seen.

Ottawa Senators

Season Recap

The Senators young team finished the season with 74 points and ended the season 13th in the Eastern Conference. The Senators had questions at pretty much every spot in the lineup last year. Their offense scored 192 goals, the least in the Eastern Conference. Their goal differential of -58 was the lowest in the Eastern Conference as well.

Who's In

Zenon Konopka is the team's major addition in the offseason, bringing his aggressive nature to the team and giving the Senators some added grit. Konopka had 307 penalty minutes last season which led the NHL. The Senators also brought in Alex Auld as a backup goaltender to Craig Anderson. Auld has bounced around to eight different teams and is settling down in Ottawa for the second time in his career.

Who's Out

The Senators didn't move anyone overly important either in the offseason, with the biggest player moved was winger Ryan Shannon. Shannon played with the Senators for three seasons and played in 79 games last year with 11 goals and 16 assists.

What To Watch For

The Senators are a young team that will still go through growing pains and continue to struggle this season as well. The team still has some impressive forwards in Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, but those two players aren't going to completely turnaround this team. They should compete for lottery pick as well.

Prediction

The Senators will finish with 70 points and compete for a lottery pick.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Let me read between the lines here:

You say Boston and Montreal are going to be the top two teams in the division, with Montreal at 94 points and scrambling to make the playoffs. You also say that Toronto and Ottawa will be the bottom two teams in the division, with Toronto at 92 points and possibly missing the playoffs. If all of those statements were true, Buffalo would be third in the division with 92-94 points and possibly out of the playoffs.

Now I must ask, what kind of crack have you been smoking? Maybe I am reading into this too much, but it seems like you don’t think the Sabres outcome will improve over last year’s, and that they may even regress and miss the playoffs. I think that is absurd, the Sabres should be able to amass 100 points (or damned close) and fight with Boston for the division title. I don’t think I am being overly-subjective in that analysis, either…

by lassathrax on Oct 5, 2011 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Easy bud...

I don’t think he is counting the Sabres in this analysis of the NE division. Though I do understand a little bit the ambiguity between Montreal’s 94 points and Toronto’s 92, I believe the overall sentiment is that Buffalo will compete with the B’s for the top spot of the division.

by LetsGoBuffalo23 on Oct 5, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I could be incorrect, but I was under the impression that the division preview only included the four other teams not named the Sabres because there was already a 4 part preview on the team itself. I don’t think their omission necessarily means they are predicted to finish 3rd.

I’m thinking the Leafs will fall just a few points short of making it this year, although they seem to be heading in the right direction.

by kitaman27 on Oct 5, 2011 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve got the Bruins at 102, the Sabres at 98 and the Canadiens at 94. I meant top two and bottom two as the four teams left in the division after us.

Die By The Blade - Where we've even turned ourselves around since January 1st.

by Zachary Zielonka on Oct 5, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Gotchya, much more sane.

by lassathrax on Oct 5, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Tend to Agree

On paper the Sabres do look fabulous, but that’s on paper. They had a good preseason, but lost to the only good team they played – Washington. Too me that’s disturbing, because it is vintage Sabres. Just can’t win the big ones. I know it’s preseason and it doesn’t count in the standings, but it does matter to the players. Washington knows they can beat the Sabres if they bear down and play their best. The Sabres players know that the can take the lead into the Third Period and snatch defeat from victory. That is something were were really good at last season.

The Sabres made significant changes in the off season, but they are still playing like the Sabres of last season and the season before. That said, they should still vie with Boston for the lead in the Division. Montreal, Toronto and Ottowa will be also rans. I think that Montreal may not even make the playoffs; other teams in the Conference have made improvements while Montreal is content with stasis.

Back to the Sabres, currently there are just too many intangebles to predict accurately where they will finish. I believe that if the new players mesh well with the other players on the team that have been there for a number of years, the Sabres could finish third in the Conference. If not, they will likely make the playoffs and bow out after Round One.

by Geolover on Oct 5, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Only good team they played? What about Adler Mannheim?!?

by Frank Reich Revolution on Oct 5, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Last year

The team tended to play down to opponents I thought, (losing to Islanders, etc.)

Bring it on down to PEGULAVILLE!

by BuffalosMainSqueezes90 on Oct 5, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Connolly

Lets set the over/under on the number of games it will take for Timmy to become the latest scapegoat up in Toronto at 55. I don’t think it will happen right away, even though he is already expected to miss at least the season opener with an upper body injury (SHOCKING), I think he has some cover if he struggles – they seem to be more focused on Lupul as the weak leak on that line so he’ll probably get the blame first. Of course, if they do struggle it won’t take long for the big bad Toronto media to start asking questions, especially with that contract, and we all know how Timmy responds to that. And then there’s always the possibility that he plays well for them and this never happens. But this is a fanbase that tends to criticize players who they perceive as soft or not giving their all (much, to be fair, like we do), so I’m going to predict (based on absolutely nothing) that sometime soon after the all-star break we will start to see a clear shift in the way he’s perceived up there. What do you guys think?

by Frank Reich Revolution on Oct 5, 2011 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

I’d give it 25-30 games. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Connolly, but the Toronto media is far too brutal and unforgiving to wait 55 games to turn him into a scapegoat. The team will struggle and any player (Connolly included) is bound to have some rough stretches by 30 games in, especially while adjusting to new teammates/coaches/system.

by lassathrax on Oct 5, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus, the scapegoat factor increases with salary. Look at the common perceptions of Vanek before and after the offer sheet fiasco, he is just starting to meet those lofty expectations after having years to adjust to them. Connolly may take even longer if he can only play ~50 games per season.

by lassathrax on Oct 5, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions