Atlantic Division Sets the Pace Again as Preseason Forecasts Split on Toronto and Tampa
Florida begins a three-peat bid missing Aleksander Barkov with Matthew Tkachuk sidelined until December.
Overview
- Associated Press projections pick the Atlantic order as Toronto, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Florida, Ottawa, Buffalo, Detroit, Boston.
- PensBurgh’s model favors Tampa Bay first at 108 points with Toronto second, Florida third, and Boston last, using a 740-point division baseline and forecasting 95 points for Ottawa.
- The two-time defending champion Panthers enter after three straight Stanley Cup Final trips but will play without captain Aleksander Barkov for the season and await Matthew Tkachuk’s return in December.
- Montreal is tagged as ahead of schedule with a young core and blue-line help, while Ottawa returns after ending an eight-year playoff absence with Linus Ullmark stabilizing in net.
- Buffalo carries an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought with GM Kevyn Adams in a contract year, and Boston turns to first-time head coach Marco Sturm following a last-place finish.