Post by Arnold Slick on Sept 9, 2015 16:37:05 GMT -4
For your pleasure and so I can look back and laugh at the end of the season...
Maritime Division
1. Saint John
Young, but loaded with talent and have great depth throughout the line-up. Big question mark is how Turcotte handles the starting role.
2. Charlottetown
Very solid in goal and their depth up front matches SJ, along with having a bit more high end talent. Not completely sold on their defence being contender quality, but they can tweak at mid-season.
3. Cape Breton
Very solid, veteran defence and the Russian duo should really light it up this season. Depth up front is a question mark and so is Belanger to a degree. Huge minus on the intangibles with Dumont running the ship.
4. Acadie-Bathurst
Very young group of forwards, but the skill is definitely there. Brisebois should have a big year and they'll need solid goaltending from Vautour and Pickard. They will surprise people.
5. Halifax
Capable goaltender and a defence crew that performed well in last year's playoffs. Rail thin up front beyond Meier and Danny Moynihan.
6. Moncton
Way too many question marks beyond Garland and if Sweeney goes pro the defence looks badly mediocre. Can Fortin be a #1 in the Q? Summer of failure turns into a winter of discontent.
East Division
1. Shawinigan
Dynamite group of forwards led by Beauvillier and Yan who should really rip it up. Sounds like Dergachev isn't reporting though. Question marks on the back end and in goal, but they should easily win this division by a landslide.
2. Victoriaville
Look for Laberge to at least double his point totals and if Huber pans out this is a good forward group. Underrated defence corps. Is Tremblay ready to take the next step forward in goal?
3. Rimouski
Decent crop of returning players will keep them competitive, particularly in this weak division. Having the veteran Guindon in goal is a huge plus. Look for Bolland and Laberge to step up offensively. If their Euros contribute they could be dangerous.
4. Quebec
Booth will be solid and they bring back a veteran defence corps that will be steady. Timashov and Impose should be fun to watch, but this team is really going to struggle to score goals.
5. Baie-Comeau
Might be even slightly weaker than Quebec up front with Karabacek and not much else. Meloche anchors what will be a respectable blueline, but if Bouchard isn't better in goal than last season this could be a very long and ugly season.
6. Chicoutimi
Bilia is going to have to stand on his head with three 16-year old defencemen on the roster. They have fully committed to the rebuild with a strong youth movement so there will be plenty of growing pains this season.
West Division
1. Val-d'Or
Second in goals scored last year, look for them to lead the way this time around. No rookies on the blueline, but it's a fairly unspectacular group. If Montpetit falters we're going to find out just how good Baribeau is pretty quickly.
2. Sherbrooke
Best defence corps in the league. That fact alone should help Fitzpatrick in goal quite a bit. They look painfully thin up front beyond the first line. If Dufek contributes and Pelletier breaks out then things start to look a lot better.
3. Rouyn-Noranda
Not unlike their Abitibi rivals they have questions in goal and an ordinary crew on the blueline. Up front they don't have quite the high end talent of the Foreurs, but a very good group of forwards nonetheless. This team should peak next season.
4. Blainville-Boisbriand
They are set in goal and on defence so they'll play their usual style of game and keep things close. Scoring could be a big problem with no more Martel and Jevpalovs. A lot will fall on Sanche and the new Euros.
5. Gatineau
Very talented up front with the addition of Abramov and Carrier will be one of the best on defence this season. Huge question marks in goal and it could end up dragging them down.
6. Drummondville
There's not much here. Ratelle should be used as trade bait at mid-season to help the rebuild. One of their 20's, Felix Girard, has played his entire junior career in Switzerland.
This is a complete crapshoot but...
Overall Standings
1. Shawinigan
2. Saint John
3. Val-d'Or
4. Charlottetown
5. Sherbrooke
6. Cape Breton
7. Rouyn-Noranda
8. Victoriaville
9. Rimouski
10. Blainville-Boisbriand
11. Gatineau
12. Bathurst
13. Quebec
14. Halifax
15. Moncton
16. Baie-Comeau
17. Drummondville
18. Chicoutimi
Maritime Division
1. Saint John
Young, but loaded with talent and have great depth throughout the line-up. Big question mark is how Turcotte handles the starting role.
2. Charlottetown
Very solid in goal and their depth up front matches SJ, along with having a bit more high end talent. Not completely sold on their defence being contender quality, but they can tweak at mid-season.
3. Cape Breton
Very solid, veteran defence and the Russian duo should really light it up this season. Depth up front is a question mark and so is Belanger to a degree. Huge minus on the intangibles with Dumont running the ship.
4. Acadie-Bathurst
Very young group of forwards, but the skill is definitely there. Brisebois should have a big year and they'll need solid goaltending from Vautour and Pickard. They will surprise people.
5. Halifax
Capable goaltender and a defence crew that performed well in last year's playoffs. Rail thin up front beyond Meier and Danny Moynihan.
6. Moncton
Way too many question marks beyond Garland and if Sweeney goes pro the defence looks badly mediocre. Can Fortin be a #1 in the Q? Summer of failure turns into a winter of discontent.
East Division
1. Shawinigan
Dynamite group of forwards led by Beauvillier and Yan who should really rip it up. Sounds like Dergachev isn't reporting though. Question marks on the back end and in goal, but they should easily win this division by a landslide.
2. Victoriaville
Look for Laberge to at least double his point totals and if Huber pans out this is a good forward group. Underrated defence corps. Is Tremblay ready to take the next step forward in goal?
3. Rimouski
Decent crop of returning players will keep them competitive, particularly in this weak division. Having the veteran Guindon in goal is a huge plus. Look for Bolland and Laberge to step up offensively. If their Euros contribute they could be dangerous.
4. Quebec
Booth will be solid and they bring back a veteran defence corps that will be steady. Timashov and Impose should be fun to watch, but this team is really going to struggle to score goals.
5. Baie-Comeau
Might be even slightly weaker than Quebec up front with Karabacek and not much else. Meloche anchors what will be a respectable blueline, but if Bouchard isn't better in goal than last season this could be a very long and ugly season.
6. Chicoutimi
Bilia is going to have to stand on his head with three 16-year old defencemen on the roster. They have fully committed to the rebuild with a strong youth movement so there will be plenty of growing pains this season.
West Division
1. Val-d'Or
Second in goals scored last year, look for them to lead the way this time around. No rookies on the blueline, but it's a fairly unspectacular group. If Montpetit falters we're going to find out just how good Baribeau is pretty quickly.
2. Sherbrooke
Best defence corps in the league. That fact alone should help Fitzpatrick in goal quite a bit. They look painfully thin up front beyond the first line. If Dufek contributes and Pelletier breaks out then things start to look a lot better.
3. Rouyn-Noranda
Not unlike their Abitibi rivals they have questions in goal and an ordinary crew on the blueline. Up front they don't have quite the high end talent of the Foreurs, but a very good group of forwards nonetheless. This team should peak next season.
4. Blainville-Boisbriand
They are set in goal and on defence so they'll play their usual style of game and keep things close. Scoring could be a big problem with no more Martel and Jevpalovs. A lot will fall on Sanche and the new Euros.
5. Gatineau
Very talented up front with the addition of Abramov and Carrier will be one of the best on defence this season. Huge question marks in goal and it could end up dragging them down.
6. Drummondville
There's not much here. Ratelle should be used as trade bait at mid-season to help the rebuild. One of their 20's, Felix Girard, has played his entire junior career in Switzerland.
This is a complete crapshoot but...
Overall Standings
1. Shawinigan
2. Saint John
3. Val-d'Or
4. Charlottetown
5. Sherbrooke
6. Cape Breton
7. Rouyn-Noranda
8. Victoriaville
9. Rimouski
10. Blainville-Boisbriand
11. Gatineau
12. Bathurst
13. Quebec
14. Halifax
15. Moncton
16. Baie-Comeau
17. Drummondville
18. Chicoutimi
? 
