We Hit Dingers: NHL Preview - Pacific Division

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

I like the Kings' veteran presence and how much playoff experience they bring to the table. Center Anze Kopitar is a real difference maker and I think that he is the game's best two-way forward. They have Drew Doughty, who is one of the best defensemen in the league and received the accolade for it last season. My question for this team will be whether they can bounce back, or even good seasons, from veterans like Marian Gaborik, Dustin Brown, and Jonathan Quick, who was bad at the World Cup of Hockey. Head coach Darryl Sutter is their most important piece, and their strong puck possession is the Kings' best weapon.

They are talented and I think this will be the last year with their current core. They have a solid defensive unit, but will they score enough goals? Also, how does goaltender Martin Jones do in his second year as a starting netminder and can head coach Pete DeBoer defeat the curse he has experienced following his first year with a team?

I really wanted to drop the Ducks out of the top three in the division but I don't know if any of the remaining teams can jump over them. I think Anaheim has just enough talent still to hold onto that playoff spot. I really don't like the Ducks' coaching situation since they brought back Randy Carlyle as their head coach. My question for them will be how does goalie John Gibson handle being the true number one for the first time in his NHL career?

They will be better than last year with Brian Elliot and Chad Johnson as their netminders, and I think Glen Gulutzan will bring enough change to make the Flames better too. Calgary could easily jump over Anaheim if their young players develop properly, and if Matthew Tkachuk plays a full season at the NHL level. I don't think that he should stay in Calgary, and but the Flames should still be extremely competitive this season, while Tkachuk will develop efficiently.

The Oilers are a really young, skilled, and deeply talented at forward team. In my opinion though, they still have questions that need to be addressed on defense and in net. I think they are at least another year away from being truly competitive, but that they, along with the Coyotes and Flames, mark the next chapter of success for the Pacific Division.

I think the Coyotes are building in the right direction. They have a lot of the future pieces in place and once their expiring contracts are off the books in the next few years, they will have a lot of money available to sign free agents. Their biggest problem is that they have to address their weak goaltending, which is a problem with Mike Smith and Louis Domingue.

I think that Vancouver is the worst team in the league and are just plain bad outside of the top line. They need to seriously consider a rebuild instead of signing free agents like they did with Loui Eriksson. They don't have a lot of talent on defense and their goaltending is a problem.

We Hit Dingers