Orr Division Preview

Orr Division

I'll also be returning to bring you the well anticipated and highly regarded Games of the Week once the regular season starts. With that said, let's have a look at the tough Orr Division.

Ottawa Senators
GM: Rob Cadez
Head Coach: Wayne Gretzky
S17 Record: 24 - 41 - 4 - 14 65 points

Overview: Well the Sens are coming off another sub .500 season and I'm not sure if there will be any chance of that changing this year. In goal they have no problems as Jacob Markstrom will be handling the bulk of the duties. Capable and athletic, he'll be counted on to hold the fort and keep the Senators in the game. Backing him up is young up and coming Thatcher Demko. It would appear that at least in goal Ottawa will be hard to break down. The defense is anchored by Tyler Myers, Brian Dumoulin, Marc Staal, and Michal Kempny. Stout but how long will they hold up? Fortunately Markstrom will keep most of their mistakes out of their net. The forwards look like they'll be hard pressed to produce goals which must be frustrating for head coach Wayne Gretzky. Tyler Toffoli is the trigger man and Eric Staal the setup wizard. Keep an eye on Roope Hintz. This kid looks to be a bright star for the future.

Buffalo Sabres
GM: Ryan Letasy
Head Coach: Claude Julien
S17 Record: 51 - 14 - 2 - 15 119 points

Overview: The juggernaut of the East looked primed and ready to roll through the Eastern Conference which they did in the regular season and the first round of the playoffs. Things abruptly came to a halt as the Sabres would be swept in the second round by the Montreal Canadiens. Not the result GM Letasy was expecting so what does he do from here? I'd imagine not too much judging from his off season activity or lack thereof. Not that his lineup needs reworking but I'm guessing he may do some tweaking before all is said and done. There isn't much to really say as Buffalo boasts a very strong lineup and should take the division title again this season.

Montreal Canadiens
GM: Nevin Paxton
Head Coach: Larry Robinson
S17 Record: 40 - 33 - 3 - 6 89 points

Overview: After a slow start to last season, the Habs made a late season push to get into the playoffs and came within a win of becoming back to back RSHL Champions. The team is basically the same as last year's squad and with the addition of David Savard to a veteran blueline I expect Montreal to be contenders yet again. I'm thinking to myself that the playoff experience Martin Jones got last year will pay big dividends this time around. He has improved and I believe this makes the Canadiens very formidable and a Cup contender yet again.

Boston Bruins
GM: Andrew Stoll
Head Coach: Don Cherry
S17 Record: 38 - 28 - 5 - 11 92 points

Overview: The Bruins surprised a few people including myself by slipping into the playoffs and upsetting the New York Islanders in the first round. I doubt they'll take anyone by surprise this year and from the looks of things, GM Stoll seems to want to rebuild his team. Again I don't expect much from Boston this season even though the goaltending tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Pavel Francouz and their defensive play will keep them in some games. The lack of scoring will be the Bruins undoing this year but it seems they've added some nice young pieces for the future.

Toronto Mapleleafs
GM: Derek Hird
Head Coach: Dave Lewis
S17 Record: 35 - 36 - 2 - 9 81 points

Overview: Mapleleaf GM Derek Hird was a busy bee in the off season moving a pile of picks and some futures in assembling a team to make a run at the playoffs. They've added some scoring and bolstered their defense and look ready to make some noise in the East. Is Sergei Bobrovsky the answer in goal or will the Leafs be looking to upgrade? Can Dave Lewis get them over the hump? Should be interesting times in the Big Smoke this year.

Predictions:

1. Buffalo
2. Montreal
3. Toronto
4. Boston
5. Ottawa