Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Playoffs In Doubt?

07/29/2015 at 10:33am EDT

from Luke Fox of Sportsnet,

While a seven-team switcheroo is a stretch for 2016, we'll bet about four playoff teams from this past-season don't qualify next spring. Here are the eight 2015 playoff clubs most in danger of losing their status...

The Penguins? Are you crazy, Fox? Pittsburgh now has Phil the Thrill. The Pens are going to score six goals a game and make you look ridiculous. No doubt, GM Jim Rutherford has had himself a nice little summer. Kessel is money from the red line north, and we like the Eric Fehr and Nick Bonino moves, too.

But consider how close Pittsburgh was to missing out entirely last season. Of all the playoff teams, Pittsburgh was tied with a league-low 43 wins, and no Eastern playoff club had a worse goal differential than Pittsburgh's +11. Can Marc-Andre Fleury deliver an NHL-best 10 shutouts again? Well, that'll be extra tough since veterans Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff walked and Simon Despres has been enjoying deeper playoff runs in Anaheim. Kris Letang points out that the move to three-on-three overtime should help a talent-rich club grab a few more points, but they may need each one they get.

The window is now, and second-year coach Mike Johnston must deliver.

continue for seven more teams...

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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