First off, welcome to a new Backyard NHL season! Looking forward to competing against all of you and hopefully taking home my first title! Hopefully I don't offend anyone, this is just my thoughts and opinions and if I do offend you oh well. You guys should know me by now. I will try to do rankings periodically throughout the year (aiming at every 4 weeks). We all know that rankings are a great addition to the league and hopefully I can keep them up!
18.
(winter)
Key pieces: McDavid, Matthews, Marner, Zibanejad, S. Jones., Lehner
Sorry winter, you take this one again this year but look at the positive, you'll add another young stud. Los Angeles continues to build a team of 1st overall and 1st round studs but still needs to build that net presence. McDavid will take a step forward this year into a top scorer and Matthews and Marner will add to this team as well. Their record trend is going up but until a solid platform is found in goal, this team may not be able to get over the hump.
2016-17 Predicted Record 4-183 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 2-222014-15 Record - 1-212013-14 Record - 0-2117.
(themarksman13)
Key pieces: Forsberg, Kessel, Steen, Okposo, Johnson Laine, Letang
Tampa Bay's recent moves were a step in the right direction for this annual basement feeder. The Lightning added some youth while removing some middling veterans whose production are dropping off. Tampa has many great players but the problems arise in net. Is Reimer the heir to Luongo's throne? Is Pickard ready to take over for Varlamov? Neither are a sure thing and while both will be decent backups this year neither will get a starters job without a significant injury to the starters ahead of them.
2016-17 Predicted Record 4-183 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 5-172014-15 Record - 5-172013-14 Record - 5-1616.
(izaman3)
Key pieces: Crosby, Zuccarello, Nash, O'Reilly, Markov, Andersen, Murray
Detroit has hit a downward spiral in the past years and the question comes up are they losing Crosby's prime? Detroit has two solid tenders but one is playing for Toronto and the other is "still" stuck behind Fleury as a backup. Nash and O'Reilly are great players but Detroit seems to be missing those top end difference makers to turn their fortunes around.
2016-17 Predicted Record 6-163 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 8-142014-15 Record - 13-92013-14 Record - 14-715.
(norrya66)
Key pieces: Barkov, Getzlaf, Kuznetsov, Larkin, Couture, Bennett, M. Jones
Every year, I believe "This is Washington's year" and every year I am proved wrong. This year I will rank them low with the belief that they can again prove me wrong. Martin Jones is a great tender which he proved last year but he is a one man show in Washington. Washington has ton of forward talent that will contend with any team this year but their goaltending may let them down.
2016-17 Predicted Record 6-163 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 6-162014-15 Record - 7-152013-14 Record - 8-1314.
(jwalk100)
Key pieces: Johansen, Parise, Hertl, Monahan, Hossa, Keith, Price
Columbus again is another team with a one man show in goal, but it is a great one man show in Price! Columbus will win some matches this year but another a minor league tender steps up there solid outer core will come up short unless Price stay playing like Price. This team will have to ride the waves and take their wins where they can.
2016-17 Predicted Record 7-153 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 7-152014-15 Record - 11-112013-14 Record - 9-1213.
(hockeyfreak47)
Key pieces: Stepan, Palat, Schenn, Voracek, Pacioretty, Hedman, Stars Goalies
Dallas has been a team on the rise, getting more and more competitve year after year. This year I believe they take one step back before they can take 2 more forward when they can finally solidify this former Gilly team. The problem remains in net, the Stars goalies will make this team in every game this year but Montoya is going to be relatively ineffective in relief. Dallas hopes their big signing of Pacioretty keeps it going and adds that star they needed up front.
2016-17 Predicted Record 9-133 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 11-112014-15 Record - 7-152013-14 Record - 5-1612.
(Tyler)
Key pieces: Bergeron, Gaudreau, Panarin, Oshie, Drouin Ryan, OEL, Doughty, Quick
This may be Anaheim's lowest ranking ever! Anaheim has slowly been dropping but they may drop even further before they can turn it around. Anaheim has gotten younger and quicker but I am unsure with what Quick will be able to solely provide from the goalie position. Bernier has lost his starting job and now is in Anaheim. Gaudreau is now taking as the top dog in Anaheim which is huge for the next years in Anaheim.
2016-17 Predicted Record 10-123 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 14-82014-15 Record - 18-42013-14 Record - 16-511.
(Leatherhelmets)
Key pieces: Giroux, Reinhart, Eichel, Toews, Ladd, Kadri, Green, Bishop
Montreal made their biggest move last year by acquiring Bishop which has turned their fate. Also stable ownership has been great for Montreal. This team has already hit rock bottom and are trending upwards. Montreal needs to start taking advantage now while they top players are still around and their young players continue to perform.
2016-17 Predicted Record 11-113 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 6-162014-15 Record - 2-202013-14 Record - 7-1410.
(abbyroad)
Key pieces: Galchenyuk, Neal, Teravainen, Kesler, Wheeler, Subban, Klingberg, Nurse, Smith, Talbot
Calgary has all the right things in all the right places. Their signing of James Neal could be key after he helped the Blues to the cup last year. Two solid starting goaltending options but they come with many question marks. If the young stars can step up, the Flames will challenge for a playoff spot again!
2016-17 Predicted Record 12-103 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 9-132014-15 Record - 11-112013-14 Record - 13-89.
(jlapo11)
Key pieces: H. Sedin, Lindholm, Gallagher, Simmonds, Giordano, Weber, Fleury, Bobrovsky
Toronto has a well rounded team that doesn't have that stand out stud but many solid contributors at each position. I believe their downward trend can turn around this season. Sprinkled throughout their lineup are rookies who could have major impacts or return back to the minors for more seasoning. If both Fleury and Bob can keep their starting jobs, Toronto will contend for the playoffs this season.
2016-17 Predicted Record 12-103 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 10-122014-15 Record - 13-92013-14 Record - 14-78.
(Rob)
Key pieces: Seguin, Stamkos, Domi, JVR, Skinner, Yandle, Rielly, Halak, Varlamov
The Bruins were my 2015-16 sleeper pick to contend for the cup and now I have them right on the edge of a playoff spot. The team is relatively in tact and with the hopeful health of both Stamkos and Seguin, this team could both be a top or a middling team. Halak also needs to stay healthy as that greatly affected the team's performance. Look for Boston to step up from their record in 2014-15.
2016-17 Predicted Record 12-103 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 7-152014-15 Record - 11-112013-14 Record - 5-167.
(Mariner)
Key pieces: Kane, Tavares, Tarasenko, Ehlers, Pavelski, Phaneuf, Pietrangelo, Gibson, Allen
Pittsburgh is another one of the teams I always think they will contend this year. Pittsburgh has so much top end talent to go with now 2 solid starting goaltenders so how can they not contend not only for a playoff spot but for the cup? I continue to love Pittsburgh's team makeup but now they need to show me that "we can do this!"
2016-17 Predicted Record 13-93 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 11-112014-15 Record - 10-122013-14 Record - 8-136.
(Drew)
Key pieces: Ovechkin, Hall, Eberle, Kopitar, Backstrom, Ekblad, Miller, Carolina Goalies
I am hoping that this is the year that I rank myself down the charts and that I can finally break through. Again tons of top end talent and the performance will depend on the consistency of the goalies. But let's not talk about me for long.
2016-17 Predicted Record 14-83 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 17-52014-15 Record - 19-32013-14 Record - 12-95.
(Tarheels55)
Key pieces: Malkin, Perry, Marchard, Saad, Gostisbehere, Josi, Lundqvist, Detroit Goalies
Dave has just taken over from Walt so he hasn't yet put his spin on this yearly contender but they remain that yearly contender! Solid lineup throughout but I don't have this team winning their division this season so a turning of the guard has begun. Philly always proves me wrong due to their "lack" of top end talent compared to the other top dogs but keep the pace everytime. Look for another great season from the Flyers.
2016-17 Predicted Record 14-83 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 19-32014-15 Record - 18-42013-14 Record - 16-54.
(Tony)
Key pieces: Backas, Kunitz, Foligno, Hornqvist, Shattenkirk, Muzzin, Crawford, Flyers Goalies
Let's just start this off by saying "I hate Tony!"
I don't know how he constructs his team's each team to be as competitive as they are but if you looking on paper they seem to be missing "it". But his teams always perform way above what is expected. Goaltending is key and having Crawford along with all Philadelphia starts has proven to work for Tony. Chicago will be looking for revenge this season so beware the angry cup finalist.
2016-17 Predicted Record 17-53 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 20-22014-15 Record - 16-62013-14 Record - 20-13.
(nelly85)
Key pieces: Spezza, Radulov, Vlasic, Big Buff, Williams, Anderson, Dubnyk, Rinne
It all begins in net for Vancouver and if they play as expected, Vancouver could be very scary this year! The problem is whether the goalies can carry the team this year as the team in front of the goalies is sparse in the talent column. Some changes up front would greatly benefit this team. We shall see whether this is the year Vancouver completes it rebuild.
2016-17 Predicted Record 17-53 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 10-11-12014-15 Record - 9-132013-14 Record - 6-152.
(SlackJack)
Key pieces: Carter, Schwartz, Kucherov, Toffoli, Burns, Karlsson, Rask, Luongo
Here is our 2015-16 Stanley Cup Champion, not as #1 but as #2. Many of their key pieces are still in place but they are one year wiser! I expect St. Louis to set the pace in Backyard but my one concern is their goaltending. Rask is solid. Luongo is getting older and they paid Reimer for 5 years! Greiss who knows as it all depends on Halak's health.
2016-17 Predicted Record 19-33 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 20-22014-15 Record - 18-42013-14 Record - 16-51.
(cho34)
Key pieces: Scheifele, Draisaitl, Duchene, Benn, Landeskog, MacKinnon, Boychuk, Seabrook, Holtby, Schneider, Elliott
And your 2017 Stanley Cup Champions are the New York Rangers. Hey I called it last year so maybe I can do it again. The Rangers have one of the scariest goaltending trios that I do not want to face and they are paid handsomely to do so. Be ready Atlantic Division! Their skaters are also no slouches with some of the best young talent in the game ready to attack. When their skaters go on a mental vacation the goaltending will hold down the fort.
2016-17 Predicted Record 20-23 Year Record Trend2015-16 Record - 15-6-12014-15 Record - 9-132013-14 Record - 4-17
