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A division expected to be characterized by disparity could be the most competitive for playoff positioning in Season 1. Potential powerhouses like the Flyers, Islanders and Capitals are heavily weighted down with bottom tier roster players opening up a window of opportunity for the Penguins and Devils to compete for one of the four playoff spots. Difficult to know what to expect from the Rangers as well, as their potential for a bruising defence is not fully realized with their back-end trio this season. A division that should one day be full of stars can only boast the Isles' Bryan Trottier among the league's elite skaters allowing the likes of Mel Bridgman, Joe Cirella, Rick Kehoe and Doug Shedden an unexpected opportunity to make some noise for their respective clubs in the Lester Patrick circuit. The division is not short on top netminders (Chico Resch, Billy Smith, Pelle Lindbergh and Al Jensen) - but it remains to be seen how much of an impact they can have when suiting up on the road for their respective clubs.
Favourites here are the Boston Bruins who will be icing all three of their offensive super stars in Barry Pederson, Rick Middleton and Ray Bourque. Rounding out the defence will be big-time body checkers Gord Kluzak and Mike Milbury - making the B's a formidable group at both ends of the rink. If there is one-team in the NHL without a weak link out of their 8 skaters it's Boston.
The Bruins will not be without their challengers, and first and foremost is the one they should get used to - Montreal. Though their top offensive guns are all absent in Season 1, the Habs roster employs their top 3 defensive options in Larry Robinson, Rick Green and the young Chris Chelios. This could be the top defensive trio in the NHL this year. Elsewhere in the Adams, the Sabres look like a steady group with an outside shot of contending, while the Barons - much like the Pens & Devils in the Patrick - have as good a look at a playoff spot as they could expect - icing their top 3 d'men and superstar Dennis Maruk. The Nordiques and Whalers look like the weak links in the division; though the Nords will be tough to beat on nights both Stastny's are in the lineup.
The Bruins will not be without their challengers, and first and foremost is the one they should get used to - Montreal. Though their top offensive guns are all absent in Season 1, the Habs roster employs their top 3 defensive options in Larry Robinson, Rick Green and the young Chris Chelios. This could be the top defensive trio in the NHL this year. Elsewhere in the Adams, the Sabres look like a steady group with an outside shot of contending, while the Barons - much like the Pens & Devils in the Patrick - have as good a look at a playoff spot as they could expect - icing their top 3 d'men and superstar Dennis Maruk. The Nordiques and Whalers look like the weak links in the division; though the Nords will be tough to beat on nights both Stastny's are in the lineup.
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