Northeast Division
Toronto Maple Leafs
Y - Division Winner
250+ Wins
If there ever were a personification of Warren Buffet’s Portfolio in BBKL, The Toronto Maple Leafs would be it. Despite an almost year long absence by GM Mike, the Leafs boast the biggest value-pool of assets in all of BBKL. Value, though, is not the only thing the Leafs have accumulated. The team’s unit of skaters hits every statistical category better than almost every team in BBKL. The scariest part about the Maple Leafs, however, is that its collection of 1st Rounders and Top-Tier Prospects give it the ability to make its current team look like a group of chumps by the trade deadline.
Top Forwards
Jonathan Toews, Brendan Morrow, Erik Cole
Top Defencemen
Mike Green, Kris Letang, Christian Ehrhoff
Goaltender
Jonathan QuickBoston Bruins
X - Playoff Team
225+ Wins
Disrespect is all too familiar to the Boston Bruins. Despite repeating as Eastern Conference Finalists, the team is never given the respect of a contender. Yet the team has almost all of its personnel returning. The only major change this off season involved Ryan Kesler exiting in a trade for Logan Couture, Kyle Okposo and a lottery pick in 2012. Back in net is two-time Vezina Winner Tim Thomas after shattering multiple records last season. Back are names like Zetterberg, Iginla, Getzlaf, Krejci, Callahan, Seabrook. The number of teams that think they can measure up are great in number. But only a few can…on a good week.
Top Forwards
Ryan Getzlaf, Jarome Iginla, Henrik Zetterberg
Top Defencemen
Brent Seabrook
Goaltender
Tim ThomasMontreal Canadiens
X - Playoff Team
200+ Wins
Montreal is the third Bronte sister of the Northeast Division. Though constantly overshadowed by Toronto and Boston, this team is in the same company. The Canadiens’ shortcoming is that they have no big names other than homegrown netminder, Carey Price. Few remember that this team was a Sunday away from beating the Bruins in the playoffs last year. And if it were up to GM Chuck, it’d be better if they forget. The Canadiens are happy to fly under the radar.
Top Forwards
Stephen Weiss, Shane Doan, Brian Gionta
Top Defencemen
Jay Bouwmeester
Goaltender
Carey PriceOttawa Senators
X - Playoff Team
175+ Wins
The Senators face the toughest battle for a post-season berth in all of BBKL. 6 weeks of match-ups against the Leafs, Bruins and Canadiens means giving a head start to the rest of the conference, but the 4th best team in the Northeast will be one of the 8 Playoff Seeds in the East. The only downfall of this team can be injuries as it does not hold enough assets to recover if enough bodies go down.
Top Forwards
Patrice Bergeron, Danny Briere, Mike Ribeiro
Top Defencemen
Nicklas, Lidstrom, Mark Giordano, Tyler Myers
Goaltender
Semyon VarlamovBuffalo Sabres
150+ Wins
The Buffalo Sabres are poised to be a casualty in the Northeast. In any other division in BBKL, this team would easily make the playoffs. The odds all 5 teams from a division making the playoffs, though, are unlikely. Still, don’t count this team out. If one of its division rivals stumble, look for the Sabres to jump over them. And even if the rest of the division makes the playoffs, the Sabres have world-class goaltending in net with Tomas Vokoun and a group of forwards that can steal 4-5 categories every week.
Top Forwards
Paul Gaustad, Jarret Stoll
Top Defencemen
Matt Carle, Joe Corvo
Goaltender
Tomas Vokoun, Michal Neuvirth
Atlantic Division
New Jersey Devils
Z - Conference Winner
250+ Wins
The New Jersey Devils are going for the three-peat to keep the most exclusive club in BBKL limited to 1 member. This may not be the Championship team of seasons past, but it is still a top-tier contender. Look for the Devils to dominate their division by winning 12+ categories every single week against rivals on route to the 1st Seed in the East. There will be challengers looking to topple this giant all season long, and some might manage to succeed. But will a team be able to finally beat this team in the post-season?
Top Forwards
Ryan Kesler, Daniel Sedin
Top Defencemen
Lubomir Visnovsky
Goaltender
Marc-Andre FleuryNew York Rangers
X - Playoff Team
125+ Wins
The Rangers are in limbo more than any other team in BBKL. Not good enough to win. Not bad enough to tank. The team’s approach is slow and steady, building with key prospects to add value to its NHL roster. This year it is with rookies David Savard and Mark Scheifele. Still, barring any surprises, this team remains a borderline playoff team that will definitely lose in the first round of the playoffs.
Top Forwards
Ilya Kovalchuk, Thomas Vanek
Top Defencemen
Brad Stuart, Jamie McBain
Goaltender
Miikka KipprusoffPhiladelphia Flyers
125+ Wins
After the New Jersey Devils there is a collection of mediocrity in the Atlantic Division. That in no way means disrespect to the Philadelphia Flyers, considering the Flyers were the worst team in the league last year. GM Lee will receive a nomination for GM of the Year, and Philadelphia may very well sneak into the playoffs. But that will be the most the Flyers squeeze out of the 2011-2012 season.
Top Forwards
Pavel Datsyuk
Top Defencemen
John Carlson
Goaltender
Ondrej PavelecNew York Islanders
125+ Wins
If there is a group of Pretenders in BBKL, it is the New York Islanders. That is not to say that this is a bad team. In fact, this team has the ability to beat almost every team in BBKL in almost any week. But that is the problem; this team’s theme this year will be “Almost”. Almost beating top contenders. Almost making the Playoffs. And the almosts will continue till this team commits to a proper rebuild.
Top Forwards
Mike Fisher
Top Defencemen
Douglas Murray
Goaltender
Cam WardPittsburgh Penguins
100+ Wins
No team in BBKL has been reconstructed as many times as the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was a top-flight contender just weeks ago. The Penguins have been downgrading ever since. Don’t be surprised if this team downgrades to a lottery team very soon. Then again, don’t be surprised if the Penguins are contending by season’s end either.
Top Forwards
Phil Kessel, Gabriel Landeskog
Top Defencemen
James Wisniewski, John-Michael Liles
Goaltender
Martin Brodeur
Southeast Division
Tampa Bay Lightning
Y - Division Winner
225+ Wins
Meet the most patient franchise in BBKL. Invest and hold is the mantra here. Mike Richards also happens to be one of the handful of players never traded (a list that includes Boston’s Tim Thomas). Though they may not boast the peripheries of teams like the Leafs and Devils, the Lightning will be BBKL’s best offensive team by a landslide. 900+ points on the season isn’t out of the question. And considering offense makes up 7 categories, the Lightning could very well represent the East in the BBKL Stanley Cup Finals.
Top Forwards
Alexander Ovechkin, Claude Giroux, Mike Richards
Top Defencemen
Shea Weber, Dion Phaneuf
Goaltender
Jimmy HowardWashington Capitals
X - Playoff Team
200+ Wins
The Capitals are a team trying to capture the glory of last year. The off-season saw a complete tear down and subsequent rebuild with a better team emerging. There is still work to be done here, however. Goaltending is the area of concern. Once that is remedied, look for the Caps to make a run for the Southeast Division title and go deep in the playoffs.
Top Forwards
Dustin Brown, Zach Parise, Dany Heatley, Brad Richards
Top Defencemen
Brent Burns, Tomas Kaberle
Goaltender
Jose Theodore, Jacob MarkstromFlorida Panthers
125+ Wins
The Florida Panthers are an interesting bunch. They, too, fall into the category of not good enough to win yet not bad enough to tank. Unlike previous teams in that category, however, the Panthers have a legitimate shot of making the playoffs. Florida boasts a solid core of Centers along with an underrated group of Wingers. The only question mark is in goal. If Anderson can put up the numbers he did in the second half of last season, look for the Southeast to have 3 representatives in the Playoffs.
Top Forwards
Henrik Sedin, Paul Stastny, James Van Riemsdyk
Top Defencemen
Brian Campbell
Goaltender
Craig AndersonWinnipeg Jets
100+ Wins
Wasted potential is the best way to describe the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets pretend to be a building team when with a few trades this team would be legitimate playoff team.
Top Forwards
Matt Duchene
Top Defencemen
Michael Rozsival
Goaltender
Kari LehtonenCarolina Hurricanes
75+ Wins
GM Paul’s moves this off-season have been questionable at best. The Carolina Hurricanes will be the worst team in the Eastern Conference despite Ryan Miller. This team is too old and needs a major overhaul. Is GM Paul the right man for the job?
Top Forwards
Andrei Kostitsyn
Top Defencemen
Derek Morris
Goaltender
Ryan Miller
Western Conference
Northwest Division
Colorado Avalanche
P - President's Trophy Winner
250+ Wins
The Avalanche are the favourites to win the BBKL Championship. No team is as good from top to bottom as the Avalanche. The opinion that “The Avs have an easier route to the final” is absurd. The Avs would be just as good in the east. And with Henrik Lundqvist in net, the Avs have the best goaltending among all contenders other than Boston.
Top Forwards
Jeff Carter, Mikko Koivu, Joe Pavelski
Top Defencemen
Travis Hamonic, Brooks Orpik
Goaltender
Henrik LundqvistMinnesota Wild
X - Playoff Team
150+ Wins
The Minnesota Wild have seen a transformation in organizational philosophy this off-season, and GM Hong’s efforts will come to fruition this season as the Wild earn their first playoff berth in franchise history. There will likely be a first round exit, but this is a franchise on the up. From here on out, the Wild will be a legitimate threat in the playoffs for a very long time.
Top Forwards
Jason Spezza, Milan Lucic
Top Defencemen
Alexandre Edler, Tobias Enstrom
Goaltender
Roberto LuongoVancouver Canucks
125+ Wins
GM Chris destroyed the Canucks after taking over the team to put his own mark on it. Now he is building it back up, slowly. This team likely will not make the playoffs like it did last year. But there seems to be a bigger plan in motion to move this team into the upper echelon of the Western Conference.
Top Forwards
Brayden Schenn
Top Defencemen
Luke Schenn
Goaltender
Rick Dipietro, Al MontoyaEdmonton Oilers
125+ Wins
The Edmonton Oilers have been a work in progress for almost two years now and the work is finally turning into a legitimate NHL roster. Though the Oilers are still not ready to make the playoffs, there is a core in place that will be ready to compete in the new future.
Top Forwards
Vincent Lecavalier, Brandon Dubinsky, Jakub Voracek
Top Defencemen
Joni Pitkanen, Robyn Regehr
Goaltender
Pekka RinneCalgary Flames
100+ Wins
The Calgary Flames are at the start of their rebuild. GM Frank has his detractors due to his inclination to turn nothing into something and then that something into nothing. But what those detractors can’t say is that this team isn’t at least moving in the right direction. The rebuilding will continue this year, but the Flames are not as bad as everyone thinks.
Top Forwards
Brooks Laich, Kris Versteeg
Top Defencemen
None.
Goaltender
Steve Mason
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks
Y - Division Winner
200+ Wins
The Chicago Blackhawks found a way to break the status quo in the Central Division this off-season. The Blackhawks are a unit of elite H2Hers with elite scoring. The only asterisk on that roster is in goal with Corey Crawford seeing full time duty.
Top Forwards
Eric Staal, David Backes, Patrick Sharp
Top Defencemen
Jack Johnson, Kevin Shattenkirk
Goaltender
Corey CrawfordSt. Louis Blues
X - Playoff Team
200+ Wins
If there is a second-best team in its division capable of easily overtaking the favourite for the division, it is St. Louis. The Blues have been built to contend and have the goaltending Chicago does not. The only shortcoming of this team will be in the scoring department.
Top Forwards
Corey Perry, Alexander Semin, Bobby Ryan
Top Defencemen
Andrei Markov, Dan Girardi
Goaltender
Ilya BryzgalovColumbus Blue Jackets
X - Playoff Team
150+ Wins
The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Even with Sidney Crosby injured, the Blue Jackets will ice a competitive lineup capable of matching up with almost any team in the west. When Crosby returns, look for this team to make a push.
Top Forwards
Sidney Crosby, Patrick Marleau, Martin St. Louis
Top Defencemen
Keith Yandle, Ryan Suter
Goaltender
Dwayne RolosonNashville Predators
125+ Wins
The Nashville Predators quietly made the playoffs last year. That will not be the case this year. With the rise of Chicago and Columbus in its division, the Predators will finish out of the playoffs. Nashville has drafted and traded intelligently for futures, however. The first group of those futures will be NHL ready next year in in Mikael Granlund and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Look for a more impact year in 365 days.
Top Forwards
Evgeni Malkin, Marian Gaborik, Patrik Elias
Top Defencemen
None.
Goaltender
Nicklas BackstromDetroit Red Wings
50+ Wins
This is the Mediterranean Avenue of the BBKL version of Monopoly. This will be a long, long season, after which Detroit can finally start building this franchise back up to glory.
Top Forwards
Nik Antropov
Top Defencemen
Pavel Kubina
Goaltender
Nikolai Khabibulin, Devan Dubnyk
Final StandingsPacific Division
Los Angeles Kings
Y - Division Winner
250+ Wins
The Los Angeles Kings are in a class of their own. The Avalanche may have the inside track for the Best in the West at the moment, but the Kings are not far behind. In fact, when you factor in factors like quality of players in the minors and the ability to upgrade, the Kings could very well be the best team in BBKL. Breakout seasons from Brett Connolly and/or Tyler Seguin wouldn’t hurt either.
Top Forwards
Steven Stamkos, Rich Nash, Tomas Plekanec
Top Defencemen
Dustin Byfuglien, P.K. Subban, Duncan Keith
Goaltender
Jaroslav HalakSan Jose Sharks
X - Playoff Team
175+ Wins
The San Jose Sharks are back. An equally capable GM in Chad has replaced GM Neel. The Sharks may not look like it right now, but this team is a handful of trades away from being a contender for the BBKL Championship. This team also has what most contenders don’t: significant assets to improve. The elite in the west need to be on alert.
Top Forwards
Joe Thornton, Nicklas Backstrom, Loui Eriksson
Top Defencemen
Zdeno Chara, Chris Pronger, Dan Boyle
Goaltender
Antti Niemi, Antero NittymakkiAnaheim Ducks
X - Playoff Team
150+ Wins
The Anaheim Ducks have only committed to the half-rebuild route. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the core of the half-rebuild. But this team can still do some damage. This team is still a playoff team. But look for it to do real damage in the post-season next year.
Top Forwards
Patrick Kane, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Top Defencemen
Drew Doughty, Victor Hedman, Adam Larsson
Goaltender
James ReimerPhoenix Coyotes
125+ Wins
The Phoenix Coyotes have been rebuilding for a long time, and the team is finally starting to shape up. Though many would classify this as a lottery team, there is a group of underrated players here who can actually sneak into the playoffs with Jonas Hiller in net.
Top Forwards
Jussi Jokinen, Matt Cullen
Top Defencemen
Kevin Bieksa
Goaltender
Jonas HillerDallas Stars
75+ Wins
The Dallas Stars are a lottery team this year. Unlike most lottery teams, however, the Stars are poised to improve significantly by seasons end. Nino Niederreiter is a potential Calder winner and the team owns 1st DET 2012, giving it the ability to draft Nail Yakupov or move him for the right package.
Top Forwards
Tomas Fleischmann, Justin Williams, Nino Neiderreiter
Top Defencemen
None.
Goaltender
Mike Smith
Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference1. New Jersey Devils - Z
2. Toronto Maple Leafs - Y
3. Tampa Bay Lightning - Y
4. Boston Bruins - X
5. Washington Capitals - X
6. Montreal Canadians - X
7. Ottawa Senators - X
8. New York Rangers - X1. Colorado Avalanche - P
2. Los Angeles Kings - Y
3. Chicago Blackhawks - Y
4. St. Louis Blues - X
5. San Jose Sharks - X
6. Minnesota Wild - X
7. Columbus Blue Jackets - X
8. Anaheim Ducks - X
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