Red Wings Atlantic Division Preview Part 1: Toronto, Florida & Tampa Bay

1 of 3

The Detroit Red Wings find themselves back in familiar territory this season–returning to the Atlantic Division after a brief return to the Central last year. While fans will be watching for Detroit to take another step forward this season, it’s going to certainly have its challenges in a loaded division that features Cup contenders and the current back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion.

We split the Atlantic into two previews with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Florida Panthers starting us out.

We’ll start with the defending champions–back to back– whose architect we all know well.

The Tampa Bay Lightning

Record Last Season: 36-17-3
Playoff Result: Won Stanley Cup
Expectations this season: Win a third straight Stanley Cup

What to expect heading into the season:

Every Red Wings fan looks at Tampa and wonders if Steve Yzerman can replicate his feat in Detroit. Of course, there are many differences which have been chronicled here previously, but what’s been built is damn impressive. All that remains is whether or not Tampa can become the first team in nearly 40 years to win a third consecutive title.

I don’t think it’s a long shot at all–though Tampa did lose a couple pieces in Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde.

We talked to Danny Bennett of Bolts by the Bay who answered a few questions we had about the Lightning and whether that third consecutive Cup could happen.

OT: There’s a lot of fans watching to see what Tampa will do this season. Let’s face it, you’re all thinking about it (who wouldn’t be) and there’s a good chance for it, right?

Danny: Of course, we’re thinking about it. But you have to be realistic at the same time- the circumstances are different than the previous two seasons. It’s a long, grueling season and anything can happen. Who knows, maybe [Nikita] Kucherov gets surgery on his other hip and we can sign another superstar and make a another deep playoff run? All kidding aside, losing Yanni [Gourde] and even [Tyler] Johnson hurt but keeping the nucleus of the team together was vital. We still have the best goalie in the world as well.

OT: The team is still pretty deep though. Who do you think carries the team again this season?

Danny: It will be interesting to see if Andrei Vasilevskiy can continue his momentum into this season. He’s quietly, or not quietly depending who you talk to, put together a heck of a career resume accumulating stats that are on pace- or even ahead of some of the all-time greats. Brayden Point got his big payday, so we expect big things from him down here in Tampa. I would really love to see the playoff version of Point that we’ve grown accustomed to in the regular season.

OT: Fans in Detroit absolutely believe Steve Yzerman will deliver a championship caliber team like he did in Tampa (though he left a season before they finally won it all). How do you think Yzerman has done so far in Detroit? (And admit it, you miss him just a little bit).

Danny: Yzerman set this franchise on the path for success, and we have, of course, witnessed it. It is a shame that he wasn’t part of the organization for at least the first one, but he laid the groundwork.

I genuinely believe that he built the team for long-term success, and Julien BriseBois has, so far, shown that he is more than capable of taking the reins and continuing the winning culture that has become a part of the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise. There’s no doubt in my mind that Stevie Y will be able to get the storied Detroit Red Wings back on the right path, and as a hockey fan- I welcome it.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Record Last Season: 35-14-7
Playoff Results Last Season: Lost in seven games to Montreal in round one
Expectations this season: Winning the Stanley Cup

The schadenfreude that fanbases around hockey enjoyed when Toronto was stunningly bounced from the first round of the playoffs last season was something to behold.

Though some have argued a breakup of the core should be considered, history shows that some of the more recent champions–as well as those in the distant past–have hit the wall several times before finding success or winning it all. The pressure to succeed in Toronto is enormous, and there will be a lot of fans on either rooting side of the Leafs watching to see how they respond.

Editor in Leaf’s James Tanner was nice enough to offer up his thoughts as the Red Wings historic rival looks to win more than just the division. Here’s a look at what the Leafs could be–and for the record, I feel like this is the year Toronto breaks through the first round and beyond.

OT: The noise surrounding the team in regards to Toronto not advancing beyond the first round: It’s just noise, right? Or is there legitimate concern that this is it before Dubas pays for it and players are moved?

James: This is a complicated question because yes, it’s likely that the President and GM will be fired if the Leafs don’t have success this year. But given the context of the Leafs losing five straight first round series (The first three of them against legacy teams where they were a young team and extreme underdogs, then two series across nine months where they were demonstrably unlucky) they deserve more time to get it right.

Firing Dubas would be extremely stupid and shortsighted, but there’s only so much tolerance for a “good process, bad results” situation in pro sports.

OT: Who do you expect a lot from this season? Conversely, who might take a step back?

James: Matthews, Marner and Nylander are all in their peak-performance years and they should drive the Leafs towards being something close to the best team in hockey. Campbell isn’t going to play in a way that gets the Leafs 80% of possible points again, so he’ll definitely regress, but hopefully he’s still a decent starter.

OT: Wings fans know Petr Mrazek well and it seems like you’re just never sure which Mrazek will be in the crease. What’s the general consensus from Leafs fans?

James: I don’t really know what the perception of Mrazek is, but I do know that I feel it was a smart pick up. You can’t really predict how any goalie will ever perform, so if you have a guy whose cheap, in his prime years and has a history of success, you can’t really go too wrong.

OT: From a rebuild standpoint, where do you see Detroit in the process? From the outside, do the prospects seem as legit as they do within the Wings fanbase?

James: Detroit is likely in for a rough season, but that’s a good thing. They’ve got a nice prospect base, but barring another seventh round pick turning into a franchise player, Detroit needs to pick first or second overall to really get that jewel that you can centre a rebuild around. Right now their future looks good, but in my opinion, they should be getting picks for Larkin and tanking the season in order to find that franchise player.

Florida Panthers

Record Last Season: 37-14-5
Playoff Results Last Season: Lost in six games to Tampa Bay in the first round
Expectations this season: A deep run in the playoffs

The Panthers saw a successful regular season that ended with a thud in the first round of the playoffs where the eventual champion Lightning bounced their rival in six games. The Panthers got better in the offseason, adding Sam Reihart via trade from Buffalo and though it’s not a game changer, added veteran Joe Thornton who’s chasing down his first Stanley Cup. Head coach Joel Quenneville has a more veteran laden lineup that will not only compete in the Atlantic for the top spot, but also push for a deep run in the playoffs.

Here are three things to watch for from the Panthers this season:

It’s going to be crowded at the top. Does Florida stand a chance of winning the division?

It shouldn’t be doubted in the slightest. Toronto is going to have a lot of pressure this season as their first round exit last year will put a spotlight on them to see how they respond. It’s not to say they’ll wilt–but Florida is a much different team than the last time the two met. They’ll match up better down the middle, and if goaltender Spencer Knight emerges as many expect he will, that’s a huge reason to think Florida could be the king of the division.

That leaves the only other team that should win the division in Tampa Bay. The defending back to back champs lost some punch but are still a formidable opponent. In Florida’s favor? A 5-2-1 head-to-head record in last year’s playoffs–albeit it one with Nikita Kucherov in the lineup.

Once the playoffs started, Tampa went into beast mode and the rest is history. The Panthers will feast on the likes of the Sabres while the Red Wings and Senators will be tough outs. Montreal is a wild card, as their Cinderella run that ended with a loss to Tampa in the Stanley Cup Final leaves them as probably middle of the pack.

The Atlantic comes down to the Panthers, Bolts, and Leafs and Florida certainly has a good shot at taking the division.

Speaking of Spencer Knight, does he take over the starting gig in Florida?

Complimentary of teammate and projected starter Sergei Bobrovsky, Knight will be competing for the top job openly. He sparkled in his first playoff start, helping the Panthers fend off elimination in game five, though they would fall in the next contest. The issue of course is a financial one with Bobrovsky still on the hook for five seasons at a $10M AAV.

Would Quenneville really sit his goalie at that price? According to NHL.com’s Michael Morreale, general manager Bill Zito said the best man will get the job–regardless of their financial numbers.

“[Coach Joel Quenneville] has set the tone for every player and every position … best guys play,” Zito said. “Whoever the coaching staff feels is going to give us the best chance to win is going to play and that’s what he said from the moment I got here. We’ve embraced it and I think it’s been healthy, fair and good for the team.”

The window is wide open for Florida. Regardless of who they start, if Knight builds on his brief performance from last season and Bobrovsky shows the form that helped him win the Vezina in Columbus, they could boast one of the best tandems in the league, making the who starts argument moot.

How will the Red Wings stack up against Florida?

The Red Wings beefed up their lineup a bit too, but are still obviously a few steps behind the Panthers. Detroit swiped a couple from Florida but dropped six of the eight. It won’t be any easier this season, either. Florida will certainly give Detroit fits with the likes of Aleksander Barkov, Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Jonathan Huberdeau, Patric Hornqvist, and Anthony Duclair.

Never mind Owen Tippett, who is due to take the next step as a goalscorer, and Thornton, who can center the fourth line. Heck, Frank Vatrano had 18 goals in 56 games so he’ll be a threat, too. The Panthers won’t be short on goal scoring, and while Detroit will be better defensively, it doesn’t seem likely they’ll have to win with the stifling defensive style they did last season instead of matching them in scoring.

Outside of Buffalo and Ottawa (and of course Montreal, who Detroit beat handily in 2019-20) it’s going to be a tough draw for Detroit in the Atlantic. The Panthers will be no different.

Must Read. Previewing the Red Wings Prospect Tournament Roster and Schedule. light

Home / Red Wings News