...And the rant is...how can the former Atlanta team, now moved to Winnipeg, still be considered a Southeast Division team? The NHL can correct this.
Move Winnipeg to the Northwest Division.
Shift Colorado to the Central Division.
Swap Nashville to the Southeast Divison.
Ok, rant over...
How about predictions for the NHL season?
The Flyers will lose in the 1st round of the playoffs. Yes, they fixed their goalie problems, but at the expense of their offensive punch.
The Canucks won't return to the finals. I feel the Chicago Blackhawks, this same team that was decimated by free agency and salary cap hits last year almost pulled off the 3-0 comeback, and I think an extra year of experience with these new players will doom the Canucks if they so meet.
I think the Bruins have a strong chance to repeat this year. I'm still skeptical about the teams' inconsistent play...there were many times during last year's playoffs where they probably should've outright lost and yet Tim Thomas held them up the whole time, literally carried them to the title...but as long as they have both Thomas and Rask, two goaltenders that are capable of being starters, I can't count them out now.
The Hurricanes and Maple Leafs are my sleeper picks. The Leafs have a solid young goalie in Reimer, and the team is starting to gel well...the Hurricanes always seem to be teeter-totter for making the playoffs, either barely making it or barely missing it...They're due to sneak in again this year, and usually when they do make the playoffs they do a lot of damage.