New York Islanders

 

Division Projected Order of Finish - 1st

 

Current Lineup Score... 78.4

Division Rank 1st

 

Financial Power Flexibility Score... N/A ***

Division Rank 8th ***

 

Quality Draft Capital... 9.0

Division Rank 2nd (tied)

 

*** If Joe keeps ALL of his RFAs, he will be icing one of the best lineups in the BRHL this season.  He is stacked top to bottom.  He has elite forwards, great defensive depth, and an absolute stud in goal in Vasilevskiy.  He has close to 40 million in cap space currently, but has to resign, Connor, Tkachuk, Konecny, Vlasic, Carlo, and McAvoy...amongst others.  He should have the room to do that, but it won't allow him much flexibility, or a great seat for free agency.  Either way, the more things change, the more they stay the same in Long Island.  Joe will have a dominant roster yet again.  This division is looking fairly deep this season, but look for Joe to edge out Larry and the others in the end.  Not many top teams are able to keep a lot of their draft picks, and that's one tidbit I wanted to include regarding Joe's management.

 

Biggest Strength: Current roster.  Just has to keep it together

 

 

Washington Capitals

 

Division Projected Order of Finish - 2nd

 

Current Lineup Score... 76.1

Division Rank 2nd

 

Financial Power Flexibility Score... 6.3

Division Rank 6th

 

Quality Draft Capital... 7.0

Division Rank 8th

 

Larry has one of the most well-balanced teams in all the league.  He has a great top 9 up front... that is also fairly young.. He has lots of solid, physical, and defensive D-men too.   The question lies in his adequate, but not spectacular, goaltending, and his lack of puck-moving D-men.  I believe Larry has the assets to tinker with this roster and compete for the division, but he for sure has to shore up one of those two needs I just mentioned.  He has tons of cash, so if he can weaponize that, he is in a good position.  His team, especially up front, is so deep that I don't think he needs both puck-moving D-man and a stronger goalie to compete for the division and conference, but if he could do both, he's an immediate cup contender.  There are also a few teams in this division breathing down his neck.  So, he can't rest on his laurels.

 

Biggest Strength:  Cash money and forward depth