BRHL’s Most Overrated/Underrated Teams: Eastern Conference

As we’ve gone through the season, we’ve seen a good amount of change in the “middle of the pack” of the league, pretty much from the 2^nd best team in the league to the 2^nd worst team in the league.  Outside of the Sharks and Red Wings, respectively the worst and best teams in the league by a good margin, change in the standings has been rampant in the league. 

From Jesse’s Jackets taking a run before calling it quits 15 games in, to my Bruins being a playoff contender in the East, to a non-factor, and of course, what would a season be without Devon’s, rebuilding to going for it, and back to rebuilding stance again in a matter of weeks, there has been a significant amount of change early in the season. This prompted some discussion in last week’s podcast, yet it was limited, so I thought I’d expand on this, with the top 5 Overrated and Underrated in each conference, starting with the East:

 

Top 5 Overrated in the East:

1.       Rangers

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, “if the Rangers don’t get some passing soon, they will come crashing back down to Earth.”  Yes. Humble brag.  Larry’s Rangers since the podcast are a brutal 4-7, including 2-6 in their last 8, and the answer is clear.  The Rangers are good.  They have a good goalie duo, a good amount of scoring, and a strong top 4 defensive pairing, but they continue to lack in passing.  Compared to the other top teams in the league, the Rangers have the least amount of passing by a large margin, and without moves that’s not going to change. With losses to the Wings, twice, the lowly Canes, the Blackhawks, and the Panthers, it’s clear the Rangers are not a top tier team.  In fact Larry’s last two wins vs the Jackets and Canucks have been by a combined two goals, showing where his Rags team is headed without some changes soon.  Passing must be added if Larry wants to truly make a run.  Maybe he’ll finally move some D before he loses them for free in expansion.

Suggested Adds: Get Passing, Duh

 

2.       Penguins

This should not be a surprise to anyone.  The Pens currently find themselves outside of a playoff spot, leaving Billy dumbfounded again as to why this is.  The real answer, Budaj isn’t that good.  Just based of what I can tell about goalies, I don’t have Budaj as a top 10 goalie and that will be downfall for Billy.  Here’s another major issue, Jonathan Quick has an almost $4 mil salary, meaning the Pens are committing more money to the goalie spot than ANY OTHER TEAM IN THE LEAGUE except the Isles who have a top 5 goalie in all likelihood.  This is not a sustainable model to win in this league.  If Billy wants to win, he should cut bait with one of Budaj or Quick and grab Kinkaid from Anthony or Rantaa from Rumpy and move his other goalie to Rex for whatever he can get.

Suggested Adds: Get Kinkaid/Rantaa, move Budaj/Quick

 

3.       Senators

To be fair to Kirk, there’s slim pickings because everyone is pretty locked in place, so why Kirk’s Senator here?  Well, my main issue is that Kirk once again faces an uphill battle in regards to his roster.  The Sens have to pay Ovechkin $13 mil next year assuming he’s not dealt, while giving pay raises (some large and some small) to: Matt Duchene, Alex Wennberg, Derek Stepan, Jake McCabe, Mathias Ekholm, OEL, and Braden Holtby.  Why does this matter?  Well Kirk’s ability to move players for value has never been questioned, but we will once again ask the question of, can he do it again?  It took some savvy adds by Kirk to win last year, and right now with just under $5 mil of cap, some named players on the roster who are not rated quite well this season (see Duchene, Matt), but should rebound for much better ratings next year, I truly wonder if Kirk will take the time to once again build his roster this season to be a legit competitor.  My money says yes he will, but for right now, his Senators roster isn’t remotely what it was last year, and Kirky has some big moves to make to become a legit contender.

Suggested Adds: Move Duchene, add a top 6 forward, get some defensive forwards

 

4.       Panthers

Rex’s Panthers are in limbo.  Truly.  He has no goalie, and hasn’t ponied up to get one.  He’s made various attempts for new Avs acquisition Cam Talbot, the Caps’ Pekka Rinne, the Coyotes’ Martin Jones, and the Jets’ Carey Price.  Unfortunately, none of those have manifested into acquisitions, all though with the Avs collapsing as only a Bryce Shuck run team can, I have a feeling we’ll see a Shuck on Shuck fleecing for Cam Talbot soon enough.  At some point, if the Panthers want to be legit contenders, they’ll make a move.  They’ll overpay for a goalie using Taylor Hall, Anze Kopitar, or Justin Faulk as an asset to get said goalie, but that move needs to come within the next 2 weeks, or it will likely be too late.  I would tell Rex, if he would listen for once, to go get the Bolts Mike Smith, the Caps Pekka Rinne, or the Blue Jackets Thomas Greiss.  The price will be high, but despite Rex’s love for the Oilers, Cam Talbot has now shown you with two teams this year, he’s wildly overrated in the sim.  However, whatever Rex can do to get a goalie, I suggest he does ASAP because otherwise it will be a lost season for and a ridiculous waste of an offseason after he went out to get Brent Burns.  After he finally gets one, he should pony up and trade for Kinkaid as his backup.  He’ll need him.

Suggested Adds: Get a fucking goalie

 

5.       Bruins

I’m going to put myself on this list.  Not because my team is currently overrated, but because it was.  I’ll be glad to fall on the sword/take the L here.  While my team was better than Bryce’s (sorry Bryce), I pumped and over hyped my team.  I am also putting my team here because who else is truly overrated in the East who is any good?  In my opinion not many.  I think I overrated what my team could do at the beginning of the season, hence blowing it up in a sense.  GM error.  It happens

Suggested Adds: No More Stupid Moves

 

Top 5 Underrated in the East:

1.       Red Wings

Their current run right now is unreal and precedent setting, at least in the past few years I’ve been in the league.  The reality?  There will be a drop off eventually.  Injuries or something will plague that team and they will lose some points.  However this team is a wagon, and with a small tweak or two, they will be the heaviest favorite entering the playoffs we’ve seen in a long while, maybe ever.  Nolan’s goal should be to manage his team’s minutes and not to change too much. Maybe 1 D upgrade. Maybe a 3^rd liner, but nothing to that core.  The saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it applies fully.

Suggested Adds: Small adds, nothing big, keep it together

 

2.       Capitals

Joe constantly is making upgrades to his roster.  I will say this, I don’t agree with all his moves, but his latest was prudent and likely vaulted him into the upper echelon of the East, moving Patrick Eaves and Luke Schenn essentially for Michael Stone and Marian Hossa.  Some may like Stone, some may not, but he’s a clear upgrade on Schenn and Hossa is a much more two/three-dimensional player than Eaves is.  With a legit top 5 goalie in Rinne, the Caps have a real chance at a cup this year if Nolan’s Wings fall apart, which could happen, maybe.  Good luck there Joe.

Suggested Adds: Better Backup Goalie (Get Kinkaid)

 

3.       Devils

Tim’s Devils have been in the mix the past few years, and even led the East last year.  Now his roster isn’t as good as last years, but with a few adds, the Devils have a real chance to challenge the Wings for the East.  New Jersey needs to add some more scoring and likely needs to upgrade their defense, but Tim has built a very strong, very underrated roster in the East that continues to collect W’s.

Suggested Adds: Scoring and upgraded defense, especially Top 4

 

4.       Canadiens

Let me see this first.  I think the Canadiens will have some regression in the regular season.  Steve has a great roster with few holes but the same applies to the Canadiens as applies to the Wings, some regression is due, and all it takes is 1 injury.  Here is the caveat.  This team should be a wagon in the playoffs.  I think this team is likely the BEST roster in the East (yes better than Detroit), and should absolutely make the ECF.  Steve needs to make 1-2 adds here or there but with Bobrovsky leading the charge, I would make Steve close second to the Wings in the East.  However they get 4^th here because they’re going to lose some regular season games they shouldn’t.

Suggested Adds: Bottom 6 D Upgrade, RW Upgrade

 

5.       Senators

What? The Senators being overrated and underrated at the same time?  Shocker I know (not).  The real story here is that Kirk’s Senators have a chance to jump into being a serious contender with a slew of moves.  For most teams/GM’s that’s not plausible or likely, but for Kirky it absolutely is.  He did it last year, and can do it again this year.  I think he will too, but whether or not he can have repeat success like last year is yet to be seen.  If anyone can challenge the Wings, it’s a revamped Sens team.  Kirk has time and the assets to do it, he just has to get away from his wife and kid though.

 

Suggested Adds: Defensive forwards, Move Duchene for someone to help THIS year