Author: Buffalo Winter

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.

Arizona Coyotes {27^th overall} Western Conference, Central Division

University of Minnesota standout and Arizona’s third pick in the NHL’s 2022 Entry Draft Logan Cooley could be a positive offensive addition this season on a Coyotes team that had Mr. Keller scoring 37 goals and two others collecting over 20 goals last season.

Arizona finished the 2022-2023 NHL Season with an impressive home 21-15-5 record playing at the Arizona State University’s multipurpose Mullet Arena which seats 5,000 and the Coyotes had signed on to play there at least three seasons.

GM Armstrong brought in some defensive help with Sean Durzi and Troy Stecher which will be a strong addition for a competitive and hard-to-play-against Arizona team, goaltending is where the biggest improvements are required.

The Coyotes’ 6’ 5” Russian goaltender Ivan Prosvetov last season in seven games won four but his GAA is too high, 6’ 4” Czech goaltender Karel Vejmelka played most of Arizona’s games and is improving and his GAA is well above three goals as well.

It is exciting for fans to watch their Coyotes win most of the time at Mullet Arena and if Arizona can get their GAA lowered they will become an exciting team for everyone to watch.

Montreal Canadiens {28^th overall} Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division

Mesdames et Messieurs, Ladies and Gentlemen Accueillons nos Canadiens, Welcome our Canadiens.

Three seasons ago they were in the Cup Finals the next season they were out of the playoffs, last year has seen an improvement but not quite enough to threaten for a wild card and so it goes for the most storied team in Hockey.

The Canadiens had three 20-goal scorers and two on the cusp and goaltending was not up to par which I believe prompted GM Hughes to select a defenseman, David Reinbacher with Montreal’s  5^th selection overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Montreal will benefit with a healthy Mr. Caufield meanwhile veteran goaltender Mr. Allen will have to lower his GAA to his usual, under three goals per game with backup Mr. Montembeault consistently keeping his save percentage in the .900 range in order for Montreal to reach a wild card.

HC St. Louis became head coach of the Canadiens for 37 games during the 2021-22 NHL season and nearly made it to a .500% Win-Loss record, last season he more than doubled the team’s victories, and this season holds the promise of even more wins and possible wild card.

San Jose Sharks {29^th overall} Western Conference, Pacific Division

The Sharks have a longer timeline for getting back to the playoffs than most but their future looks bright as they had seven players participating at the 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase, so there is talent in the cupboard.

A couple of key acquisitions are forward Mr. Duclair and goaltender Mr. Blackwood these two players are going to impact immediately on a team that had three 20-goal scorers and one 30-goal scorer last season but required a better presence in net.

William Smith the 2023 NHL Entry Draft selected No.4 has speed, and skill, and is entering Boston College this season with his ability to create plays once his six-foot frame gets some weight and muscle added he should not be at school for more than two seasons tops.

The next few seasons will see improvement and a better Sharks team that will make the playoffs, just not yet.