2012-13 NHL Predictions- Post Free Agency- Atlantic Division

     Yes, free agency isn't quite over. Shea Weber is the most intriguing player left in free agency that could be moved. I personally think the Predators should match the Flyers offer because they have already lost Ryan Suter and if they want to have a chance in the West, keeping Weber on the team will give them that chance. So my prediction is that the Predators will match the Flyers offer. Assuming what I just said happens, here are my early predictions for the upcoming season.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1  113 Points

     Think about how good they were last year without Sidney Crosby being much of a factor for a large portion of the season. The Penguins are too talented not to be a factor in the Eastern Conference. As for winning the division title, Marc Andre-Fleury will need to get back to his usual self. I am going to give Fleury the benefit of the doubt and say that he was simply off his game in last years quarterfinals against the Flyers and he will return to something closer to his top form, allowing the Penguins to hang on in a tight division race. 

2  111 Points

     The Rangers ended on a low note on what was a very good season. That being said, they have plenty of questions they need answered if they want to take that next step. I think they might have just answered those questions by acquiring Rick Nash to give the Rangers offense a boost. They were respectable offensively, but they were reliant on their goaltending and defense, which happened to let them down against the Devils last year. Expect the Rangers to make another Stanley Cup Finals push. 

3  106 Points

     I'm assuming the Flyers will not acquire Shea Weber, but if they do, I would have them atop these standings. That being said, the Flyers have all the offensive fire power you need. The defense and goaltending were obviously the areas of play that held back the Flyers. The good news is that with the roster they had last year, it was enough to easily dispose the Pittsburgh Penguins. Against the Devils, a superior defensive club, the Flyers had trouble. With the return of Chris Pronger, I expect the defense to be much better. The return of Pronger should catapult the Flyers as one of the clear favorites to come out of the East, but if they truly want to make that leap and win a Stanley Cup, Ilya Bryzgalov needs to become the star goalie he was expected to be. 

4  90 Points

     The Devils are the defending Eastern Conference champs, but their offseason hasn't been good because they lost Zach Parise, the team's catalyst. But even though they lost Parise, I don't expect a huge drop off. Ilya Kovalchuk is a super star, he will certainly step his game up. Though Parise may be gone, Adam Henrique is a star in the making, and he will make that next leap this season. The defense is still unheralded, yet an effective unit that gets the job done. The only thing that holds the Devils back this year will be Martin Brodeur, who will finally see his time come. Sure, there will be times when he is on his game and his one of the games best, but the lack of consistent play from Brodeur will be a reason for the Devils "letdown."(I call it a "letdown" because the Devils weren't even supposed to advance past the quarterfinals last year, let alone the Cup Finals, so it really isn't that much of a letdown)

5  83 Points

     The poor Islanders. They play in what is probably the worst arena in professional sports and they really don't have much hope. Except for John Tavares. Tavares is already a star, but I think he might be a super star. Tavares will be the only exciting Islander and he will make them somewhat competitive, at least compared to what they have been recently. The Islanders unfortunately play in the most competitive decision in hockey, so they will continue to be the odd one out.