GM Chad’s Maple Leafs are head and shoulders above the rest of the field in the North Division, a Division that is incredibly tight top to bottom in the standings.  Chad's Leafs are stockpiled with assets from top to bottom.  The team has the perfect mix of East and West players with Monahan and Lindholm leading the West charge while Gourde and Palat, although not top point producers, they are enough distance players to give the Leafs points in the NHLP Semi-finals and Finals with the Bolts the top team in the NHL Eastern Conference.   The Leafs have the most assets, even if not the most scoring in the Division.  Chad can move anything he wants, in any direction, at any time.  That isn't something his competition can do or say.    

Although the Wolverines have the most points to work with, the team’s high points per game is deceptive.  Giroux and Hall have 79 points that can go with Tolvanen making 81 for three to the minors.  The issue is you would need three players with 27 points to balance things out.  It is getting more difficult to make that happen and those players will not be on the top NHL teams, but more so the fringe teams that are likely one and done come playoffs.  With points to work with, looking within the NHLP is a better option for players who could run for New Orleans, but the competition is always fierce and points will have to be given to acquire the big assets.  It is very unlikely the Wolverines can ever be as good as the front running Leafs in Toronto.  Shawn will try, he has it in him.  Right now, although a decent CTR, the team likely doesn’t have one player who is a true threat for two rounds, maybe the Blue Jackets, Sabres or Bruins, but that is debatable. 

GM Jr paid a lot for the rights to Kucherov.  There is likely no NHLP player, NONE, who is more valuable.  If you take him off this team, the Strip are by far and away the worst team in the North Division.  With Tampa Bay so strong, easy able to go to the Stanley Cup Finals, Kucherov is good enough to win it all for Jr.  The team has a nice supporting cast with Couture and if you want to throw in Little and Fiala, of potential distance teams.  The issue for this team is a serious one.  It is a two player show.  Take off Kucherov and Couture and you are left with five players with 80 points.  That is like five 16 point players.  It is hard to stink worse than that.  What does the Minors get you for a 16 point player?  So what does Jr do?  Does he build around Kucherov or move him out and try and build a more solid all-around team.  One thing we do know, is he isn’t doing much.  This team has Lucic, 7 points in 36 games.  Carrying guys like that into the New Year, we might expect if Vinnie still ran the team, but doesn’t seem like a Jr ran team.  Hey, the guy is the reigning Cup winner and always has solid teams at the very end.  We just believe not acting quicker early means handing someone else Kucherov and instead of increasing your Cup odds, you increased theirs.   

GM Marcel has a nice start with Carlson and some assets with Dubois, Drouin, Kase and Karlsson.  A couple of those guys can still go either way.  It isn’t a spectacular team and with the teams in front it might be hard to be better than the fourth best in the Division.  The teams behind aren’t far behind.  The potential isn’t there to get a whole lot stronger.  Likely Kopitar and Galchenyuk go, but two players for 37 points isn’t bringing in a huge asset.  As is the Panthers aren’t likely going to be good enough to win it all, but a rematch of last year’s Cup Finals with Carlson and Karlsson and we might be eating our words.  Marcel likes to get his teams to the playoffs, so with a tight group in the standings and Florida wanting a spot, the other teams won’t be able drop too far here or they will never catch this team, known for playing it safe in the end.  One Cup in 24 seasons might say safe isn’t the way to keep going moving forward. 

What GM Matt did early on was quite impressive.  He took the team at 37 points out and moved them into a playoff spot.  Shockingly he was able to do it and keep a few assets.  We believe Ehlers, Jones and Stastny will be assets and if Stone gets traded, everything could change for Cincy.  Stone moving to a top team would likely mean Matt goes to the second best team in the Division, as he isn’t far off already.  The team is set up ok.  Stastny could be moved for a few points and that number could be dropped with Pettersson and Larkin, about 82 or so for three players.  That would give the team 7 playoff players if Stone gets traded and the others stay in.  If Stone does not move replacing 120 points for four players likely won’t work as 10 other teams want those 30 point players in the Minors as well.  Is there a 30 point playoff player in the Minors now?  Overall a A for effort but we think it all comes down to Stone here to say if the Rage will be second or fifth in strength in the end.

Ovechkin, Oshie and Tuch are a nice mix.  The team has just four from Rattie so will have 7 playoff players at some point during the Winter Meeting if GM Charlie can ever cut the string on O’Reilly and Toews.  Charlie gets very attached to players.  A guy like Ovie, sure, but getting attached to non-playoff players is likely the reason the guy is in season 19 without a Cup win anywhere.  Toews has 32 points and is 0.82 PPG.  The longer you keep him, the less likely you can swap him out for a number anywhere near that in the Minors.  It is a downfall of GM’s all the time.  Yes, holding points to the end will work now and again, but more often than not the GM’s who are winning are the ones making little moves along the way.  The North Division is close enough that with 7 playoff players the Surff might be able to keep both Ovechkin and Oshie.  Charlie won’t be able to do the minimum and grab a playoff team.  Minors, hard work and some trades can do it.  His actions will make the other teams in front of him weaker if they don’t move first. 

The legend grows.  We often look at GM Andrew’s teams and wonder how they were formed.  He is the master at making small Waiver day deals with each one making his team better.  Soon he has no bad players.  Look at this current lineup and the weakest link is Kovalchuk, a second round player with still great second half potential.  With three Bolts, the scoring doesn’t have to be there in the second round if the strength in numbers is.  Tavares and Reinhart compliment Landeskog quite nicely.  The team has enough potential to do absolutely anything, anywhere, anytime.  So the scary thing is, the Blackhawks can decide how they want to build this team out.  That isn’t a luxury say a Dallas (Jr) has where it is more about making the playoffs then keeping assets together and getting stronger with them.  Chicago is one of the very best in the NHLP with potential to get better.  GM’s watch Andrew all the time, but it just seems no one can copy what he does, which makes him the best of the best.  

Interestingly enough the Fury and the Blackhawks both have Landeskog while Cleveland backs that up with Barrie, so the better Avalanche team.  Cleveland is a great team, solid at everything and will easily have 7 playoff players when the time comes.  GM Andrew’s Hawks are just at a different level than other teams, but that doesn’t mean Cleveland won’t battle them in the end if GM Tyson can work some magic and make a stronger second round team.  Cleveland is good enough to do that and good enough to win the Conference, going for a third team Cup.  Tyson does it his own way, with little moves along the way.  We expect he has a few left.   

With a good night separating Cleveland (Tyson) and the Bruins for the second best team in the Division, GM Ryan has his Bruins right there.  It is going to be extremely hard for any team here to beat out Chicago (Andrew), just highly unlikely to happen.  But some team has to play them in the second round, and who knows if you can hit the right players moving on.  Boston has decent potential with MacKinnon, Johansen, Josi, and Oshie, it is a very strong and nice team.  Not the Blackhawks, but clearly better then the bottom three in the Division.  Boston won’t struggle getting a 7 player playoff team. 

The good news for the Titan is with three players with a total of 32 points, the team can trade for a non-playoff high scoring player if they feel the need.  What the GM can get in the Minors for those low totals is likely the bad news, as it won’t be impressive.  The top four appear to be solid with a ton of scoring from Rantanen and Backstrom, but two player teams don’t win Cups too often.  The top three teams here are all good, so it appears likely the Titan will at best battle for the final playoff spot.

GM Joel came from a team that was almost dead, back 34 points and into a playoff spot.  Love to see the effort.  The Sabres are not far from the second best team in the Division as they have assets in Marchand, Compher, Tatar and Connollly.  With Hayes all but traded, this team can easily have 7 playoff players.  Can the team ever be as good as the current top three teams here?  Maybe that is asking too much?  Joel gets an A for effort.  The team has potential to be better still if he can figure out how to improve, which might be asking too much.

The Stars are in a bad place.  The team is a decent chunk out of fourth place and it does not appear any team is coming down.  If someone does come down, Dallas gets stronger by default, as the lack of potential is killing the team right now.  This team has enough assets they can and will be there in the end.  That isn't in doubt.  The real question is who stays and who goes?  Put this team in with Arvidsson, Couture and Forsberg and it has a realistic chance at running.  If no teams in front drop, when the teams gets healthy, they may be able to tighten the gap with some aggressiveness.  In the very end the Stars will likely have to get weaker to make the playoffs.  It appears Jr will have to battle Scott and Joel for the final playoff spot as things sit now.  Jr will likely move the minimum he can to create a race and give him his best shot.  If he gives too much, all hope will be lost anyhow. 

The Destroyers were called the team to beat to start the season.  They are halfway through with Matthews, Crosby and Subban, so although the CTR don’t have them as the best overall, they are damn close.  Halifax has a lot of potential to work with so we know the GM is a long ways from done.  Will Crosby last the season?  Is there a blockbuster coming?  This is a fun team to follow for it can go many different ways.  For sure they are solid and the best in the Atlantic, but can they be the best in the NHLP?

Considering the Divisions best rated team had three Waivers, GM Tyson can state he is every bit as good at the half-way mark.  A solid mix with Marner, Johnson, Turris and Kane.  The team currently has 7 assets and potential points to work with for improvements in strength.  If Hamilton can get out of the early rounds, the team has potential and the right combinations of East and West to make some noise in the NHLP playoffs.  We know Tyson just adds the little pieces and we expect a few more when the GM sees the right fits.  So far there is enough to win it all.  The one fear is the one and done, with maybe a lack of first round scoring as is.

 The CTR rating is high for a team that doesn’t appear to have much after Point.  Now, Point is like having Stamkos or Kucherov.  All GODS.  Point is enough by himself.  The team has potential to work with, but Chad will have to do a lot if he wants to build the Divisions best team.  He isn’t far off, so it is possible.  If Tampa Bay runs, the team likely isn’t far off from a potential good run along with them.  Work needs to be done as Granlund, Boeser, Zucker and Donato all have to move out at some point if the team is truly going to build around Point.

The Hartford Whalers are not your typical GM Andrew team.  Frankly, they aren’t good.  The GM took the chance on Nylander and although he is the asset that guarantees a playoff spot at any time for the Whale, the rest of the team is still needing a lot of work.  We know for a fact GM Andrew turned down 30 points for Nylander a week ago when rumor is Hall for Nylander was offered straight up.  The fact Andrew turned it down shows he is in control and has no fear he has a playoff team in Hartford.  We don’t think, and we hate to challenge a six-time NHLP Champion, but we don’t think Hartford will ever compete with the top three here in the Atlantic Division this season.  We know.  Challenge accepted.

A lot rides on if Stone gets traded.  If so, the Nordiques can move up in power, but it is unlikely they will be as good as the first three here are.  If Stone isn’t traded he will be dumped with slow-beats Schmidt and Bennett to make a more balanced playoff team.  With Edmonton a point up on a playoff spot, Nugent-Hopkins is anything but assured to be a playoff player.  Likely the best Quebec can hope for is improve and get in.  We just don’t see them winning any trophies this season.

 One of the very worst teams in the NHLP and in bad shape.  The team could be helped by a few NHL trades, namely Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk.  The GM held firm with Bergeron throughout his injury and was rewarded with a four point welcome back party.  The Rangers are way back and competing with the top three teams in the Division seems unlikely.  Can GM Charlie keep Bergeron and Getzlaf and get in?  It would be a very stretch to accomplish that feat.  There isn’t much that says even grabbing a playoff spot will mean playoff success, not with a team this poor.  We just don’t see success for the Rangers this season.

Not surprising we see a GM Andrew team the best in their Division.  What might be surprising is this team was once a GM Vinnie team.  The Gamblers are strong.  Led by Pastrnak with Rielly, Burns, Palat and Marleau all offering potential distance and quality.  The team has no potential to work with in this Division where mere points separate first and fifth.  This is the kind of team a great Seagull can pick away at with each Waiver and make it a little more dominate in the end then it appears it might be.  Andrew does it over and over and looks like he will do it again in Atlantic City this season. 

Nothing is separating GM’s Marcel in Montreal and Andrew in Atlantic City for the best of the best in the East Division.  Both teams will find it easy to have 7 playoff players and both have good distance players.  For Marcel in Montreal his hopes could rest on a Bolts run, which is very possible.  Johnson and Gourde are two bolts with potential first round scoring in McDavid.  The Canadiens can be the Divisions best or easily drop to fourth or fifth as the CTR sits.  Marcel has to make the right moves to improve the Habs as there is a chance to win the Division come playoff time.

A beautiful start for GM Joel with Bergeron and Carlson, both high scoring and very much in demand players.  The team has 51 non-playoff points so can easily have a full 7 playoff players.  The East is ultra-tight so there is no luxury of making a huge deal for stars, unless one GM is brave enough to allow everyone the same luxury.  That is unlikely the way things are mixed up.  If Carolina can improve, just maybe Barrie Island remains a dream.   

 There isn’t a better Pittsburgh build team in the NHLP.  GM Ryan has Malkin, Guentzel and Hornqvist, enough power to march with the Pens.  Coming off that is going to be difficult, so it seems like it is the Penguins or nothing for the Islanders.  The team still has Giordano, Pavelski and Smith, a nice Flame, Shark and Pred.  The East is wide open and GM Ryan has as good of opportunity here as any.  If the Islanders can somehow find a way to improve, and that is asking a lot of Ryan, but they could actually be the Divisions best if that happens. 

The second worst team in the Division but not real far off the top in a seemingly wide open East. The team has Rielly, Skinner and Karlsson from San Jose to build around and enough scoring to stay right there.  There isn’t a huge gap between first rated Atlantic City (Andrew) and the Reigning Champions so if Jr can improve a little, Memphis will be set up for a back to back run.  It won’t be easy, but nothing in the NHLP ever is.  

One of the worst teams in the NHLP.  The team is banking on a Duchene trade, something GM Scott says he is convinced is going to happen.  For the Flyer sake he had best be right.  If Duchene gets traded, this team is easily then in the mix for a playoff spot. As there are clearly enough assets here to accomplish that feat.  The Flyer biggest issue will be keeping together a competitive team with the trades that will have to come to get in.  The rest of the East Division is so bunched up, it isn’t likely at all anyone is going to make a huge trade to come down, meaning it will be hard for any team here to improve much leaving hope Philadelphia can at least close the gap on the competition as the season winds down.

Only one other NHLP team has as many points to work with.  GM Jr is going to make a huge splash here at some point and the GM will be trading Huberdeau and Hoffman, 75 points for two non-playoff players when that happens.  What Jr does with those points will determine how far he falls behind Chad and Shawn, if at all?  The team has Wheeler, Tkachuk and Kapanen to build around, so the blocks are there outside of the whopping potential that is improving this high rating.  No NHLP GM has ever won back to back years on different teams.  Jr would love to make that happen in Calgary, a team near and dear to his heart.  He has the start right, let’s see how the Flames finish in the second half.

How good are the Avalanche?  When you have Scheifele, Hertl, Kase, Pavelski, Connor, Kapanen and Thornton, you are VERY, VERY GOOD!  This team has plenty of room to work being up a few points.  GM Chad can go all the way here but is surrounded and will have to play round one against another beast.  Both GM’s Jr and Shawn have more potential, and a lot of it to improve.  What they do will determine if the Avs are the best of the best.  The thing is they must improve for Colorado is already potentially set with 7 playoff players.  The best built Sharks team and a great Jets team makes this team dangerous and difficult to improve.

GM Shawn has a great Jets built team and is really sitting pretty with the points he has to work with.  Surely Huberdeau is going to be the blockbuster deal to use the potential points to improve.  The team isn’t far off the best in the Division if things can be done to make it better.  When Huberdeau does go the Storm will have 7 playoff players.  This is a great opportunity for Shawn but with Chad and Jr so strong, can he compete?

A decent CTR rating but only good enough for fourth in the strong Pacific Division.  A great start with Gaudreau, Hertl, Josi and Ehlers.  That is a great start, but yet isn’t good enough here.  GM Tyson will improve, we fully expect that, but it might take quite a bit with little potential between his spot and fifth. 

When you are only slightly better than Portland (Scott), that isn’t saying much at all.  The Knights don’t have much at all after Tkachuk.  GM Ryan has a ton of work to do and even then, this season, in this Division, with these powerhouse teams, winning doesn’t appear likely.

Things are bleak in Portland.  The team in a huge hole without enough scoring to naturally get out of it.  The Winter Hawk are banking on Duchene and Hayes to be traded, either having zero or hero players.  There are low outs and the team is able to take on high non-playoff numbers because they have two players at 19.  Even if the team battles back, and it is a long uphill climb, what is left?  How can they compete with three of the better teams in the entire NHLP sitting in the Pacific Division along with them?  For Portland, the chances of a winning team this season are incredibly slim and everything going their way at the deadline might not be enough to salvage the season.

 No NHLP team has more potential than Alaska.  Without it this team may be even 5^th best in the West Division.  GM Marcel must take advantage of what he has been given and improve the team.  The Attack have good players so playoff for playoff trades can be made to improve.  It does appear that in the end, Alaska might not be able to trade all their points.  In 2008 GM Marcel had that same issue and turned it into his only NHLP Championship.  This team clearly isn’t that team, but we foresee the same issue with the structure of the team.  Draisaitl should be a huge trade, but with GM Marcel he just might stick with the Oilers.  Here is the team with all the points to give, more than any other.  Let’s see how they play the second half.

GM Andrew scored nicely with Panarin, a solid playoff guy one way or the other, who gets over a point per game.  If Panarin goes, it will likely be heaven sent for Andrew’s Kings who will certainly explode up the CTR.  The team has a ton of potential, but that is always a dangerous thing for other NHLP GM’s when Andrew has points, for they are used better than any other.  With Stamkos and Subban, it is easy to see why this team is near the very best in the entire NHLP and will stay there right to the very end.

With all the points to work with GM Matt will need to improve or the CTR rating will fall when the potential no long means anything.  This GM is always looking.  As good as anyone in the West Division the team has a decent lineup with what appears to be a full 7 playoff players.  Draisaitl could be high on the list of potential trade targets unless Edmonton continues to fly, then his first round scoring might be even more attractive.  With so many points to work with it will be fun to watch Indianapolis play their hand in the second half.

The Oil have a good lineup including three Preds and two Sharks, but the issue is scoring.  A ton of scoring was given to get these players and it will be difficult to keep the team as is.  The teams in front have a lot of points to move, but they aren’t likely to be traded within the West Division as it appears.  If they don’t cash in on those points, the Oil might be a better team within this division then advertised.

A very nice one-two with Kuznetsov and Wilson.  If the bottom three teams here keep their assets, it appears a race all year long.  All three teams have assets to move with the top three teams having more points to work with then normal.  GM Joel has a nice start.  It appears Tolvanen may have been a bust, but it is too early to officially make that call.  At some point he is going to shine and as far as potential, he might just be a great 7^th player on a depth-chart.

 For a last place team GM Charlie has a decent CTR.  The Coyotes are right there, almost in the playoffs so their position doesn’t hurt too much.  The team has Burns and Kadri and there will be opportunities all season long to make a huge trade if the team needs to, but outside of those two there really isn’t much here.  Three players Seguin, Barzal and Spezza, although 9^th place teams, are out of the playoffs today.  This is a very strong Division so it is unlikely no matter what is done here they won’t ever be quite good enough.