Due to the continued MSG remodel first 9 games on the road again..... Season starts 10/3 @ Phoenix Home opener is 10/28.....That sucks. 11 of 12 at home from Nov 30-Dec 26 though
First 9 road games: PHO LA SJ ANA STL WSH NJ PHI DET Tough start as most of those teams are going to be pretty good next year. Would sign up for 4-5 right now then take off during the long home stretch.
I like the idea that the team starts with a long road trip. A team often gels when on the road. Besides, I am hoping to see how the players support each other.
Wow, our division looks strong. Only weak team is Carolina (and hopefully the Devils) But after poking around a bit today, I got the feeling I may be in the minority. I was just figuring that Pitt and Caps would have a shot at the division title, and Isles and Jackets are much improved. That combined with probability that NJ and Philly wont both be at the bottom again, makes this division look tough to me.
Pittsburgh'll be good, but I have huge reservations about any team coming out of the former Southeast Division. While I'm sure they have their talented players, etc, I kind of see it as the Bizzaro Central Division. All of those teams benefited from pounding on Columbus 6 times a year, where as one team beat the crap out of every other crappy team from that absolute joke of a division. I'm actually curios as to how many times 2 teams made it to the playoffs from there. On the other hand, I totally agree about the Isles and the Jackets. Both of them had great years for their respective clubs, and have a lot to prove this year. As long as no one gets hurt, I see both of them making the playoffs, or real damn close. And while I see them as much improved compared to years past, a lot of teams in the ugh...Metropolitan Division made some strong moves this off season. For some reason, every time I read Metropolitan I want ice cream.
