Toronto goes into Edmonton tonight with their new lineup. TV ratings in Canada tonight will be sky-high.
Leafs got much better for the playoffs, IF, all those new guys can jell together. The lineup clearly better for the playoffs, but it's risky with that much turnover sometimes.
I have 2 futures on the Rangers (+1000) and Edmonton (+950) at very good odds. They pick up Ekholm, but goaltending has not been addressed as of yet and Holland has little money or draft picks to spare. But their time is now and need to go for it. He owes it to the fans as well as his 2 mega stars.
Little better for hockey fans than trade deadline day. Or week this year.
TB-NYR-Tor-Bos-NJ are all loading up in the East. Yet the West has the scariest teams for playoff opponents in Colorado and Edm once the season ends. McDavid could be unstoppable this year. It reminds me a little of the disappointment and interview McKinnon did after they were knocked out the year before they won it all last year. Unless injured, imo he can win any game singlehandedly no matter who the opponent is. The most dangerous player to lace them up in years. Like McKinnon, he understands what another loss will do to his legacy. And not someone I want to bet against. I would just feel a little better if they can improve their goaltending.
When making my Rangers futures play, I felt it was an excellent bet and that was before they added Kane and Taresenko. It's crazy but, in my gut, I don't feel as good since TB and the Leafs just retooled. Would feel a lot better had they not dealt Reeves earlier this season. They have the talent, not as comfortable with their team toughness. As well as individually. They are going to get pushed around. Those arenas get smaller once the playoffs start.
Vasilevskiy seems more beatable than in the past even though his numbers don't show it. Toronto's goalie tandem not scaring any playoff-tested team. NJ is not playoff-tested tough. I think they exit early meeting any of these teams. The Bruins will be the favorite, but I predict they run out of gas before the others noted. They needed a better tweak than they currently made. Chychrun is still on the market though.
If you're a hockey fan and not excited for the stretch run and playoffs now, check your pulse. It's on now!