Poll: Who Will Win The Metropolitan Division?
The Metropolitan Division is the most exciting in hockey these days. All eight teams are separated by fewer than 10 points, with the Washington Capitals out in front with 63 and the Carolina Hurricanes bringing up the rear with 54. In a matter of weeks the entire division could be completely flipped, especially after some trade deadline acquisitions.
The New York Islanders, currently sitting in seventh, have a lot riding on this season if they want to keep John Tavares in the organization. While he remains unsigned, success this season would be a nice way to show him where the Islanders are going with him at the top.
Pittsburgh of course can never be ruled out, thanks to their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Sidney Crosby is suddenly on a 10-game point streak (3 goals, 17 assists) and still isn’t the leader on the club. That’s Phil Kessel, who trails only Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon in scoring this season.
Even Philadelphia, who have dealt with a roller coaster season for the ages this year are within striking distance of the top. Looking at the assist leaderboard in the league you notice that Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux are first and (tied for) second respectively, and the team has three games in hand on the Penguins.
So who out of this meat grinder of a division will come out on top? The Capitals have the lead, however tenuous, but have shown cracks in their armor at times. They also have very little room to make any deadline moves, which could shift the balance of power somewhere else in the division. Vote below and explain who you think will win the division!
Who will win the Metropolitan Division?
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Washington Capitals 43% (496)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 23% (262)
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Philadelphia Flyers 11% (129)
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New Jersey Devils 7% (86)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 6% (66)
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New York Rangers 4% (52)
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New York Islanders 4% (45)
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Carolina Hurricanes 2% (27)
Total votes: 1,163
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Poll: Who Will Be The Next UFA To Sign A Contract Extension?
While there is plenty of trade talk in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline each year, there is also an uptick in pending free agents signing contract extensions. These are often done to ensure that the player won’t wind up being dealt as a rental while it also gives teams a better idea of what they have to spend beyond the season in case that plays a role in their deadline strategy.
Earlier this season, Kyle Turris was the first prominent unrestricted free agent to take himself off the open market when he signed a six-year, $36MM extension upon being dealt to Nashville. Odds are that someone else of note will do so in the next month leading up to the February 26th deadline.
Who will be the next potential free agent to put pen to paper on a new contract before deadline day? Make your predictions by voting in the poll below. Players are listed in the order that they appeared in our midseason UFA power rankings (1-10, 11-20, honorable mentions) from earlier this month.
Who will be the next pending UFA to sign an extension?
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James Neal (Golden Knights) 32% (229)
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John Tavares (Islanders) 17% (124)
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Mikael Backlund (Flames) 9% (61)
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Zdeno Chara (Bruins) 7% (52)
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John Carlson (Capitals) 6% (44)
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None of these will sign an extension 4% (27)
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Patric Hornqvist (Penguins) 4% (26)
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James van Riemsdyk (Maple Leafs) 4% (25)
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Josh Bailey (Islanders) 4% (25)
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Paul Stastny (Blues) 2% (13)
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David Perron (Golden Knights) 2% (12)
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Leo Komarov (Maple Leafs) 2% (11)
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Daniel Sedin (Canucks) 1% (8)
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Michael Grabner (Rangers) 1% (8)
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Evander Kane (Sabres) 1% (7)
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Calvin de Haan (Islanders) 1% (5)
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Mike Green (Red Wings) 1% (5)
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Henrik Sedin (Canucks) 1% (5)
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Luca Sbisa (Golden Knights) 1% (5)
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Joe Thornton (Sharks) 1% (4)
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Patrick Maroon (Oilers) 1% (4)
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Tyler Bozak (Maple Leafs) 0% (3)
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Jack Johnson (Blue Jackets) 0% (3)
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Ian Cole (Penguins) 0% (3)
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Lars Eller (Capitals) 0% (2)
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Thomas Vanek (Canucks) 0% (1)
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Erik Gudbranson (Canucks) 0% (1)
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Rick Nash (Rangers) 0% (0)
Total votes: 713
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Poll: Who Is The Most Valuable Trade Chip Available?
The NHL trade deadline is now just over a month away. On February 26th, teams from around the league will definitively lay forth their plan for the rest of the season. Sellers, will send expiring or aging assets off to contenders while trying to build for the future while buyers will happily snatch up players and give them a taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
So, who is the most valuable asset out there?
There is obviously a lot of debate over who really is on the market, so if we’re to answer the question above we’ll have to choose from some sort of list. Luckily Frank Seravalli of TSN maintains such a list on his Trade Bait board, a ranking of the top assets based on skill and availability. Right now that list is headed by Evander Kane, as it seems nearly guaranteed that he’ll be moved to a contender before next month’s deadline. After all, the Sabres haven’t even approached him about a potential contract extension.
It also includes some players who haven’t heard there names in the news much, but seem like logical assets that might be available for the right price. Below we’ve listed the top-10 options from TSN’s board, but feel free to add an option in the comments. If you feel as though Erik Karlsson or John Tavares are truly on the market, vote for the “other” option and make sure you explain why. You can also leave a comment if you don’t think one of the players listed is actually available.
Who is the most valuable asset on the trade market?
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Max Pacioretty (MTL) 30% (338)
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Evander Kane (BUF) 23% (265)
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James Neal (VGK) 13% (142)
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Mike Hoffman (OTT) 12% (138)
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Mike Green (DET) 7% (83)
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Other (leave in comments) 5% (58)
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Alex Galchenyuk (MTL) 5% (57)
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Patrick Maroon (EDM) 2% (20)
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Thomas Vanek (VAN) 2% (19)
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Erik Gudbranson (VAN) 1% (9)
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Zack Smith (OTT) 0% (2)
Total votes: 1,131
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Midseason Poll: Will John Tavares Re-Sign In New York?
In July, we asked out readers to take a look ahead at the free agent class of 2018 and determine who would be the very best option available. The instructions were to decide who was the best player, among those who would actually make it to free agency.
At that point, just a few weeks after the 2017 free agent frenzy had occurred, almost 66% of our readers picked John Tavares, believing he’d make it to the open market.
Has that changed with the knowledge that the Islanders will have a new home at Belmont Park within the next few years? Is Tavares going to re-sign with the only franchise he’s ever known?
Obviously, none of us can know for sure until Tavares signs a contract making him one of the highest paid players in the league, or July 1st rolls around. But, where does your confidence lie at this point? Vote below and explain what you think will play out over the next few months.
Will John Tavares Re-Sign In New York?
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No 55% (531)
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Yes 45% (430)
Total votes: 961
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Poll: Should Your Team Make A Play For Jaromir Jagr?
All signs have begun to point to a split between the Calgary Flames and legendary winger Jaromir Jagr, with either a trade or mutual termination the likely outcomes. Jagr never did fit in properly with the Flames, unable to find any chemistry in his limited minutes. It’s not clear if there would be any interest from other teams in the NHL, but should there be?
Jagr, 45, has just seven points on the season with Calgary but there are still reasons to believe he can contribute in the right situation. His ridiculously low shooting percentage of 3.1% on the year doesn’t help his numbers, and he’s actually still a positive possession player—though not quite the dominating presence he’s been down-low throughout his career.
If the reason for his struggles really are the lack of a real training camp, believing there is actually some short-term improvement to come seems plausible. If he’s given a regular role and steady minutes, perhaps the same 45-point player from last season could emerge. That kind of addition could be quite important for a club looking for some depth up front, if they can get past the off-ice eccentricities that come along with the second all-time leading NHL scorer.
Would you want your team to pursue Jagr for a playoff push, or is this the end of his NHL career? Vote below and leave your thoughts in the comments.
Should your team go after Jaromir Jagr?
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No, it's over. 52% (435)
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Yes, he still has something left! 48% (398)
Total votes: 833
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Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Poll: What Is The Best Division In Hockey?
The NHL is at an interesting place as we start the New Year, with four divisions split cleanly into two categories. Neither the Metropolitan nor the Central division has a single team below .500, while the Atlantic and Pacific hold the two best teams in the league.
The Metro is led once again by the Washington Capitals despite many believing they’d take a step backwards this year, and then contains seven more legitimate playoff contenders. Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet radio recently, and mentioned that there could be three teams in the Metro who miss the playoffs despite records that would earn them a spot anywhere else. It looks like both Eastern wildcard spots will come out of this division, and it will be a dogfight right until the end.
The Atlantic though houses the league’s best team overall, which could be interpreted as a qualification for being the toughest group in the league. Tampa Bay leads the entire NHL with 60 points through their first 39 games, and have gone 8-2 in their last ten. Steven Stamkos looks like he’ll be named an All-Star captain later today, while Nikita Kucherov is perhaps the league’s best offensive player currently.
In the West, the Pacific takes on the mantle of having the top team. The Vegas Golden Knights, a surprise to all, now have 56 points through 38 games and have shown they’re more than just a flash in the pan. The Golden Knights have been on a tear recently, beating those same league-leading Lightning, along with the Capitals, Ducks, Kings, Maple Leafs and Predators, all of whom sit in playoff spots at the moment.
The Central though is the West’s version of the Metro, with seven teams above .500 that all carry positive goal differentials. While the Winnipeg Jets currently lead the group with 53 points in 41 games, the last place Chicago Blackhawks trail the final wildcard spot (Anaheim) by only four points with three games in hand. Any one of the Central teams could be in a playoff position by the end of next week, and could be Stanley Cup contenders—yes, even the Colorado Avalanche—before long.
So what makes the toughest division? Is it the powerful, almost unbeatable juggernauts at the top? Or is it the division-wide depth and uncertainty on any given night? Vote below and explain what you think makes up the strength of a division.
Which division is the toughest?
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Metropolitan Division 40% (366)
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Central Division 35% (320)
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Atlantic Division 14% (126)
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Pacific Division 10% (95)
Total votes: 907
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Poll: Did Outdoor Game Taint Result Of World Junior Championships?
While there is still a lot of hockey to be played in the 2018 World Junior Championships, currently underway in Buffalo, New York, today’s game has many up in arms as to the validity of this year’s title. For those who missed the action this afternoon, the U.S. and Canada took part in a re-match of the 2017 WJC Final as part of round robin group play. Down by two in the third period, the Americans rallied back to tie the game 3-3. When overtime was not enough to decide a winner, the game went to a shootout, in which Dallas Stars goalie prospect Jake Oettinger stood tall and Team USA took home the comeback win.
Almost immediately, the result was met with negative response from many, particularly those in the media supporting the Canadians. It’s not the shootout that has people riled up though – the U.S. beat Canada via shootout to win the entire tournament last year – but instead the weather. Today’s game was held outdoors at New Era Field, home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and, much like the Bill’s game against the Indianapolis Colts earlier this month, the game was greatly impacted by snow. It wasn’t blizzard conditions, but the consistent precipitation surely was enough to effect the pace and play of the game. The argument by many is that this outdoor game, particularly with the difficult weather, has spoiled the 2018 WJC. No other teams are set to play outdoor games and the U.S.-Canada match-up thus stands out as more of an individual event rather than part of an overarching tournament. The result will impact future rounds and, one way or another, the end result.
The counter, though, is that the only impact that mattered was the equal impact of the weather on each team. Neither team was given any specific advantage or disadvantage by the snow and the game, while unique in it’s location and conditions, is still a valid result. This message has been echoed by the players and coaches of both teams following the game. The best case for this perspective though is perhaps the timing of many of the complaints; few hated the concept of the outdoor game when it was announced to be a record WJC attendance and the Canadians got off to a quick 2-0 start. It was only after a long, drawn-out, snowy game in which the U.S. was able to mount a comeback when talks of the event “spoiling” the WJC came about.
So what do you think? Was the game a fun and fair spectacle and true evaluation of team talent? Or was it a gimmick which will taint the entire result of the tournament?
Did Outdoor U.S.-Canada Game Taint The 2018 WJC?
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No, both teams endured the same conditions and the result was fair 53% (381)
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Yes, an outdoor game doesn't belong in a tournament 33% (234)
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No, it was a great game and the WJC is just for fun 8% (55)
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Yes, but only because of the bad conditions 7% (47)
Total votes: 717
Poll: What Does Your Team Need For Christmas?
The holiday season is all about giving, but what could your team use this winter? Last year, we asked the same question and nearly 43% of respondents picked a Top-4 defenseman. Is that still the trend, or are teams more in need of a top offensive talent instead this time around?
With only a few clear sellers at this point in the year, but several “hockey trades” having already been accomplished—Adam Henrique and Sami Vatanen seem to be fitting in nicely in their new locales—it seems that Christmas lists could comprise of almost anything, for any team.
If your team had a chance to pick up a piece in early January in order to take a run at the playoffs, solidify their status as a cup contender, or improve their long-term future what would it be? Vote in the poll and be sure to leave a comment below explaining your decision.
What do you want your favorite team to add?
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Scoring Winger (i.e. James van Riemsdyk, Evander Kane) 38% (313)
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Top 4 Defenseman (i.e. Ryan Murray, Mike Green) 29% (241)
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Draft Picks (It's over folks) 12% (97)
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Young Talent (i.e. Sam Reinhart, Andreas Athanasiou) 9% (75)
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Other (explain in comments) 6% (53)
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Goaltending Depth (i.e. Petr Mrazek, Aaron Dell) 5% (45)
Total votes: 824
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Poll: Which Team Will Be First To Sell?
On Tuesday, the NHL will enter its holiday roster freeze. For all players on the active roster, they’ll be given a week’s reprieve from trade speculation, or reassignment anxiety. No one will be traded, waived or loaned between the 19th and 27th of December.
But after the rosters thaw and the holiday season starts to drift into the past, which NHL team will be first to pick up the phone and decide enough is enough? Which general manager will send out messages explaining he’s open for business and start selling off assets to the highest bidder?
The Arizona Coyotes are currently in last place, even after several offseason moves designed to make them more competitive this year. Will they decide that the Derek Stepan experiment was a mistake, or even take a shot at a big return by moving Oliver Ekman-Larsson?
What about the Buffalo Sabres, currently in 30th and with a league-low 68 goals for? Will Evander Kane be celebrating New Year’s Eve in another district? Jack Eichel is surely safe, but the rest of the roster should be looking over their shoulders come 2018.
The Oilers and Senators both believed they could compete for the Stanley Cup this season, but nothing has seemed to go right. With high-end players still on the roster, do they decide to sell off for a season and try to bounce-back next October?
Who will be the first to start selling this season? Cast your vote below, and make sure to explain who you think will move first. We’ve included the bottom 10 teams in the standings, but make sure to comment with whoever you think should have been included.
Who will be first to sell this season?
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Buffalo Sabres 40% (223)
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Ottawa Senators 18% (99)
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Arizona Coyotes 16% (91)
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Detroit Red Wings 8% (46)
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Montreal Canadiens 5% (26)
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Edmonton Oilers 4% (21)
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Carolina Hurricanes 3% (18)
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Vancouver Canucks 2% (12)
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Colorado Avalanche 2% (11)
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Florida Panthers 2% (10)
Total votes: 557
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Poll: Which Would You Watch First–World Juniors Or Olympics?
The U20 World Junior Championships start on December 26th, and camps have already started to determine the final rosters that will be heading to Buffalo this year. USA, Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus and Switzerland will have dozens of scouts keeping a close eye on the next wave of hockey stars, as they do battle in what has turned into one of the premiere international tournaments available.
This year, the World Juniors will be followed by the Olympic Games in February. With the NHL not allowing their players to head to the tournament, rosters are filled with former prospects and older professionals looking to represent their country one last time. Many have expressed outrage at the NHL’s decision, but many others have a new excitement over the tournament. Some of the best Olympic hockey moments in history were performed by amateurs, and though this tournament will be filled mostly by European professionals, it could have its fair share of intrigue.
So which will you watch with more fervor? Which would you stay up late to watch? What tournament are you more excited for? Vote below and make sure to share your feelings in the comments section.
Which would you watch first--World Juniors or Olympics?
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World Juniors 67% (440)
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Olympics 15% (96)
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Both 14% (95)
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Neither 4% (25)
Total votes: 656
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