Running 2017-18 NHL thread

Capitals open for realsies two weeks from tonight in Ottawa, so let's get this started.

Some early thoughts:
* I agree with Ovechkin. The Capitals will "not be the suck" this year. But they won't challenge for the President's Trophy and will have to navigate that 2-3 series in the Metro to advance to their annual beatdown from the Penguins. Jakub Vrana will have a breakout year.

* Vegas ... I'm interested to see how that roster comes together. I thought they might be OK, but I don't know who other than James Neal scores on the wing for them. They won't finish DFL in the West though. Vancouver looks like a total mess.

* Edmonton takes a leap, reaches the West final and loses. Oilers not quite there yet, but they'll be a blast to watch.

* We'll spend half the season trying to find homes in Seattle for Coyotes' players, but as always, they'll end up staying in Glendale.

* Sneaky team to watch in the East: Carolina. Hurricanes have been plucky in recent years. Could see them reaching the playoffs as a wild card.

 

Thoughts on Toronto? Do they make a leap in the East (i.e., top four team) or are they two years away from serious contention?

 

I don't watch or put a lot of stock in preseason in any sport. Hockey may be the least useful, since coaches try a million line combos and the team looks different from night to night with people sitting and what not. And yes, still pissed about the Johansson thing. Just awful cap management on GMBM's part. Re: Vrana ... he can't be on a grinder line because he's not a fit there. Maybe he fits in on that third line with Connolly and Eller.

 

They'll be fun. I think they're a year away at least from SC contention. Need to get better in net and on the blue line.

 

Wings will be terrible and have no cap space. It's going to be a long winter.

 

The faceoff rule is absurd. Rescind it now.

 

Why? Players will adjust and the preseason is the perfect time for them to be calling it this way.

 

Two Vegas games I watched, the men with orange stripes were really following through on the league's emphasis to cut down slashes.

 

They should do it with the hooking and holding through the neutral zone as well.

 

Fine with this. But not the face off rule.

 

It's not a new rule it's just enforcing what's on the books.