Author: Buffalo Winter

Vancouver Canucks {22^nd overall} Western Conference, Pacific Division

HC Tocchet took the reins from HC Boudreau who had taken over from HC Green the season before, HC Boudreau had a sterling 32-15-10 record to help Vancouver finish the season with 40 wins but began last season 18-25-3 and was replaced by HC Tocchet who finished the season 20-12-4.

Vancouver has serious offensive threats with Elias Pettersson, JT Miller, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Bo Horvat all 30 goal scorers and their defenseman Quinn Hughes racked up 69 assists indicating scoring is not the issue.

Defensively Vancouver is an older corps with Luke Schenn the only one in his 30s, not a negative in the plus/minus category while leading the team in PIMs, Quinn Hughes the only defenseman on the team not at least six feet tall is the team’s third highest point producer.

GM Allvin has brought in Ian Cole and Carson Soucy to help on defense which should assist in turning around their goal differential which is vital to making the playoffs.

The city of Vancouver has its name carved on the Stanley Cup when in 1915 two seasons before the NHL began the Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA) beat the Ottawa Senators (NHA) for Lord Stanley’s silver chalice.

St Louis Blues {23^rd overall} Western Conference, Central Division

PHO/GM Doug Armstrong has signed the Blues 2023 NHL Entry Draft first-round 10^th overall selection Dalibor Dvorsky to a two-way entry-level three-year deal, the Slovakian 18-year-old has impressed at U18, U20 World Juniors, and is a Silver medalist from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The St Louis Blues played .500% Hockey last season, their number one goaltender earned 27 wins and 27 losses, and their backup kept his GAA under four, now the backup has retired and the Blues have 23-year-old, 6’ 5” Joel Hoefer (.905 save percentage) as heir apparent.

The Blues Director of Player Personnel after witnessing the last 12 prospect camps is impressed with this class, the future is bright but patience is required, with the possibility of 2021 NHL Draft first-rounder Zachary Bolduc and Zach Dean (acquired for Mr. Barbashev) entering the Blues lineup.

Detroit Red Wings {tied for 25^th} Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division

Farmington Hills, Michigan native Alex DeBrincat the former 2-times 40 goal scorer for Chicago has been traded to Detroit from Ottawa as this sniper is only 25 years old the Red Wings have acquired a solid 30-40 goal scorer for the next four seasons.

EVP/GM Steve Yzerman has said that he is “pleased” as to how their team is shaping up for the 2023-24 NHL Season as Detroit signed 10 new players with notables Justin Holl, JT Compher, Daniel Sprong, Shayne Gostisbehere, along with goaltenders Alex Lyon, and James Reimer.

The first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft had Detroit picking 9^th Center Nate Danielson and 17^th overall defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka.

Last season Detroit missed a wild card by 12 points, now with new goalies Detroit’s goal differential should improve dramatically bolstered by new defensemen and an influx of fresh goal scorers, and a stronger finish to the season should propel the Red Wings to a playoff seeding.

Washington Capitals {tied for 25^th) Eastern Conference, Metropolitan Division

The Capitals open their season at home with a new head coach Spencer Carbery and his revitalized/new nine-assistant coaching staff with Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, and the addition of Max Pacioretty leading the way offensively.

In the top 10 of the NHL Entry Draft for the first time in over a decade and a half, Washington selects in the first round eighth overall six foot right winger, Ryan Leonard who is playing for Boston College this upcoming NCAA season.

Defensively Washington picked up big defenseman Joel Edmundson whose 6’5” 220 pounds and Cup-winning experience is going to go a long way in reducing the Capitals’ negative goal differential.

Goaltenders Darcy Kuemper (5 shutouts) and Charlie Lindgren are keeping the Capitals near or at .500% and opportunities to win every game, so as Mr. Ovechkin goes so do the Capitals and Ovi does not like missing the playoffs.

Philadelphia Flyers {26^th overall} Eastern Conference, Metropolitan Division

Philadelphia acquires a new President of Hockey Operations and an Alternate Governor in Keith Jones the Western Michigan University standout right winger and one time 20 goal scorer for the Avalanche before playing for nearly three seasons worth of games for the Flyers.

GM Briere selected Matvei Michkov seventh overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft an offensive star quality type player and then after that Philadelphia went for depth and their future with their other nine selections in the draft.

HC Tortorella for the Flyers in his first season as Philadelphia’s head coach last season with 30 goal scorer Mr. Konecny with Mr. Tippett notching 27, two outstanding defensemen in Mr. DeAngelo and Mr. Ristolainen with Mr. Hart in net gave the Flyers an opportunity to win each game.

Philadelphia will play to win and be competitive and with the amount of prospects and talent in their system, the Flyers will become a contender sooner than later.