Time for fearless predictions! I’m not going to rank teams 1-8 in each division, since I haven’t seen them play. But I’ll make a few predictions:
1) Lincoln will be much better, starting with an impressive defense and goaltending. How much better? I say division title contenders.
2) Sioux City has size and isn’t afraid to use it. That’s a good thing. A sure playoff team and will be a tough out in the playoffs.
3) Omaha also has size going for them. I like the bit I’ve seen.
4) Dubuque looks vastly improved offensively, the goals against will determine how high they finish.
5) For a team that didn’t play last year, Cedar Rapids impressed me last weekend.
6) Sioux Falls and Fargo might take a step back this year - for Sioux Falls, that just means another rebuilding year like last year. Fargo has lost some key talent, but how far they drop remains to be seen.
7) Tri-City and Des Moines are a total unknown to me so far. Waterloo and Madison fit in that bill too. I haven’t seen them play, unfortunately, the preseason games from DSM were the only ones not on HockeyTV.
8 ) Chicago doesn’t rebuild, they reload. Based on what I’ve seen, you know what to expect. Speed and skill, but the lack of toughness would hurt them in the West. In the East, not as much.
9) Muskegon lost Danill Guschin, perhaps the most unheralded future pro superstar the USHL has had. Because attendance restrictions kept seats in Muskegon - and most of the East Division - empty for most of the season, people didn’t get to see how good he is. And that’s a shame, he’s going to be a NHL or KHL superstar.
10) Green Bay was a mystery all last season. They seemed somewhere between contender and not quite there. I’m expecting the same from them this year - if all goes well, they could compete with Chicago in a weakened East Division.
I haven’t seen them play, unfortunately, the preseason games from DSM were the only ones not on HockeyTV.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't want you to know how good/bad we are LOL