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Poll: What Is The Best Division In Hockey?

at CDT | by 1 Comment

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?
Metropolitan Division 40.35% (366 votes)
Central Division 35.28% (320 votes)
Atlantic Division 13.89% (126 votes)
Pacific Division 10.47% (95 votes)
Total Votes: 907

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Poll: Did Outdoor Game Taint Result Of World Junior Championships?

at CDT | by 19 Comments

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?
No, both teams endured the same conditions and the result was fair 53.14% (381 votes)
Yes, an outdoor game doesn't belong in a tournament 32.64% (234 votes)
No, it was a great game and the WJC is just for fun 7.67% (55 votes)
Yes, but only because of the bad conditions 6.56% (47 votes)
Total Votes: 717

Poll: What Does Your Team Need For Christmas?

at CDT | by 11 Comments

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?
Scoring Winger (i.e. James van Riemsdyk, Evander Kane) 37.99% (313 votes)
Top 4 Defenseman (i.e. Ryan Murray, Mike Green) 29.25% (241 votes)
Draft Picks (It's over folks) 11.77% (97 votes)
Young Talent (i.e. Sam Reinhart, Andreas Athanasiou) 9.10% (75 votes)
Other (explain in comments) 6.43% (53 votes)
Goaltending Depth (i.e. Petr Mrazek, Aaron Dell) 5.46% (45 votes)
Total Votes: 824

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Poll: Which Team Will Be First To Sell?

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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?
Buffalo Sabres 40.04% (223 votes)
Ottawa Senators 17.77% (99 votes)
Arizona Coyotes 16.34% (91 votes)
Detroit Red Wings 8.26% (46 votes)
Montreal Canadiens 4.67% (26 votes)
Edmonton Oilers 3.77% (21 votes)
Carolina Hurricanes 3.23% (18 votes)
Vancouver Canucks 2.15% (12 votes)
Colorado Avalanche 1.97% (11 votes)
Florida Panthers 1.80% (10 votes)
Total Votes: 557

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Poll: Which Would You Watch First–World Juniors Or Olympics?

at CDT | by 3 Comments

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?
World Juniors 67.07% (440 votes)
Olympics 14.63% (96 votes)
Both 14.48% (95 votes)
Neither 3.81% (25 votes)
Total Votes: 656

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Poll: Which Pending UFA Is The Most Underrated?

at CDT | by 7 Comments

When people break down the upcoming free agent class, most of the attention instantly goes to players like John Tavares, Joe Thornton, John Carlson, Evander Kane and James Neal. After all, these players are perennial offensive weapons that could be moved in-season if their teams fall out of the playoff picture.

But in every free agent class there are some very effective players who are less well known around the league. Players that will be heavily sought after even though they don’t bring the superstar brand or Stanley Cup history.

In this year’s group, that has such high-profile names available as we approach Christmas, there are also some excellent options in that second tier. Some of those may even be more valuable than the splashy names, especially if they come at a reasonable cost. Who do you think is the most underrated pending UFA? Who’s not talked about enough? We’ve listed some options, but make sure to point out who else you think is being overlooked.

Which pending UFA is the most underrated?
Josh Bailey (NYI) 25.25% (177 votes)
Mikael Backlund (CGY) 15.69% (110 votes)
Paul Stastny (STL) 15.55% (109 votes)
Calvin de Haan (NYI) 12.13% (85 votes)
Jack Johnson (CBJ) 11.84% (83 votes)
Ian Cole (PIT) 7.99% (56 votes)
Davin Perron (VGK) 7.85% (55 votes)
Other (leave in comments) 3.71% (26 votes)
Total Votes: 701

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Poll: Which Top Name Would You Rather Spend Free Agent Money On?

at CDT | by 5 Comments

John Tavares is still a pending unrestricted free agent. Every team in the NHL is keeping an eye on that situation, eager to know whether free agency will get its biggest star in quite some time (perhaps ever) when the calendar turns to July 1st. Chatter has already begun about the superstar class of 2019, headlined by Drew Doughty, Erik Karlsson, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tyler Seguin, Logan Couture, Jeff Skinner and many, many more. Those discussions won’t stop anytime soon, as there are sure to be at least a few names that aren’t re-signed early.

Still, after some of the initial dreaming dies down teams have to start realistically figuring out if they can afford a superstar at the UFA premium. Not every team can pay Connor McDavid $12.5MM per season, even if he’s worth every penny. That question has been asked recently about Ottawa in particular, as the team has historically needed to keep player salaries relatively low. If Karlsson pushes the very limit of his value, Ottawa might not be able to afford him.

So, let’s try a hypothetical. If the trio of Tavares, Doughty and Karlsson all hit the market at the same time and were commanding around the same money/term, which one would you go after? Where would you want your money tied up? Vote for the player you’d most want to sign, but then also explain in the comments below the answer to another question. Would you rather spend big (big) money on forwards or defense in free agency?

Who would you want to sign in free agency?
John Tavares 40.68% (369 votes)
Erik Karlsson 36.38% (330 votes)
Drew Doughty 18.08% (164 votes)
None of them 4.85% (44 votes)
Total Votes: 907

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Poll: Who Won The Henrique-Vatanen Trade?

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Yesterday brought a blockbuster trade to the NHL, when Anaheim sent Sami Vatanen to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Adam Henrique, Joseph Blandisi and a third-round pick. Should the Ducks re-sign Henrique, they’ll send a third-round pick back to the Devils down the road.

Opinions are varied on the outcome of the deal, with some believing that Henrique is an underrated piece up front, while others think Vatanen’s addition will make a much bigger impact. The Ducks and Devils are certainly happy at the moment, adding a player (or players) they can immediately insert into their lineup.

What do you think? Who won the trade? Was it completely even? Make sure to leave your comments below.

Who won the Henrique-Vatanen trade?
New Jersey Devils 55.81% (596 votes)
Anaheim Ducks 44.19% (472 votes)
Total Votes: 1,068

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Poll: Who Is The (Second) Best Team In The East?

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The 2017-18 NHL season has not gone to plan. Ask any prognosticator from the preseason where their projected standings compare to those today and you’ll get grim looks and uninterested shrugs. The Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens are all far underachieving, while Vegas, Detroit, Winnipeg, Los Angeles and New Jersey are all showing that they shouldn’t be counted out so soon.

Tampa Bay of course, leads the entire league with 32 points and a whopping +28 goal differential through 20 games. Their dominance this year has led to just three regulation losses, and two early favorites for the Hart Trophy (three, if you think Andrei Vasilevskiy has a shot). Right now most would call them the class of the Eastern Conference, and who would disagree? With the best line in hockey, a stud defenseman entering his prime and an up-and-coming Vezina candidate they’re poised to compete for the Stanley Cup for at least the next few years.

But who does that leave in the second slot? Several teams have claims to stake on the silver podium, but each have their warts. Toronto had a struggling goaltender through the first month of the season, while Columbus can’t get their powerplay working properly. The Penguins have been blown out several times while the Devils have won just three of their last nine games.

Vote below on who you think is the second best team in the east, and make sure to leave a comment if you disagree with the original premise of Tampa Bay as the class of the conference. We’ve included all of the teams within 10 points of the Lightning.

Who is the (second) best team in the East?
Toronto Maple Leafs (14-8-0, 28 pts) 30.33% (353 votes)
Pittsburgh Penguins (11-8-3, 25 pts) 18.21% (212 votes)
Columbus Blue Jackets (13-7-1, 27 pts) 18.04% (210 votes)
New York Islanders (11-7-2, 24 pts) 9.28% (108 votes)
New Jersey Devils (12-5-3, 27 pts) 9.02% (105 votes)
New York Rangers (10-9-2 22 pts) 6.79% (79 votes)
Washinton Capitals (11-10-1, 23 pts) 2.23% (26 votes)
Detroit Red Wings (10-8-3, 23 pts) 2.15% (25 votes)
Carolina Hurricanes (9-6-4, 22 pts) 1.55% (18 votes)
Ottawa Senators (8-5-6, 22 pts) 1.37% (16 votes)
Other (leave in comments) 1.03% (12 votes)
Total Votes: 1,164

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Poll: Which Team Needs Help At Forward The Most?

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In last night’s Insider Trading on TSN, the panel—comprised of Pierre LeBrun, Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger—spoke about the increased demand for top forwards around the league. According to them, the supply isn’t quite there for all these teams to go out and acquire someone impactful, so it’ll have to come down to the highest bidders.

The list of ten teams that McKenzie gave that are in the market for a forward include some surprises like Tampa Bay—who LeBrun clarified are currently looking for a winger to play with Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn—and obvious choices like Anaheim and Montreal.

Columbus put together a trade offer for Matt Duchene, and as LeBrun stated on TSN radio yesterday they’re still in the hunt for an upgrade down the middle. There’s no clear option at center as impressive as Duchene (or Kyle Turris, who was included in the same trade), but players are sure to shake loose as the season progresses.

So, who on this list needs the forward help the most this year? While deciding your vote, make sure to not just take in the offensive struggles but the proximity to Stanley Cup contention for each club. Which team will be the most willing to spend at the deadline, and go after the big fish to put them over the edge?

We’ve included all the teams on McKenzie’s list, but if you feel strongly that another should join the pursuit of another forward make sure to leave your comments below.

Which team needs forward help the most?
Montreal Canadiens 24.60% (185 votes)
Boston Bruins 19.41% (146 votes)
Anaheim Ducks 16.22% (122 votes)
New York Rangers 11.57% (87 votes)
St. Louis Blues 9.18% (69 votes)
Edmonton Oilers 6.78% (51 votes)
Columbus Blue Jackets 5.59% (42 votes)
Florida Panthers 2.79% (21 votes)
Tampa Bay Lightning 2.79% (21 votes)
Ottawa Senators 1.06% (8 votes)
Total Votes: 752

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