Division Previews: The Atlantic

In preparation for the 2011-2012 NHL season, BlueNoteZone will be presenting divisional previews. Covered in this entry is the Atlantic Division.

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While three teams from the Atlantic Division made the playoffs last season, most experts saw it as a down year for the division.  Do not expect the same in 2011-2012.

Of the two teams that did not make the dance, you have one team (the Devils) who had an uncharacteristically drab season that now seems to be reloaded and one (the Islanders) who gets back a shut-down defenseman in Mark Streit and have just signed their underrated young superstar, John Tavares, to a long-term deal.

Of the three teams that did make the postseason, the Rangers still have one of the top goaltenders in the game in Henrik Lundqvist and picked up the top name in the Unrestricted Free Agency market in Brad Richards, the Penguins roster looks similar as they await the return of über-sensation Sidney Crosby and the Flyers seem to have lost the most via a cap-crunch-induced roster purge.

A weak Eastern Conference should lend to another season of three Atlantic teams making the postseason. Look out for the Isles as their rebuild seems close to completion.  That said, expect the Penguins to take top honors.

PREDICTED DIVISION FINISH:

1) Pittsburgh Penguins

2) New Jersey Devils

3) New York Islanders

4) New York Rangers

5) Philadelphia Flyers