from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

An anonymous poll of 33 NHL players taken at the Player Media Tour this month in Chicago revealed that players believe the Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes will duplicate last season’s incredible turnarounds of the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche.

Like the Devils and Avs, the Sabres and Coyotes each finished dead last in their respective conferences last season. Last season was the first time in NHL history the last-place team in both conferences rebounded to make the playoffs the following year.

Players were granted anonymity, and asked not to select their own team, in order to generate an honest answer.

There were a few surprise answers, such as the New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks.

Some chose the Florida Panthers as a surprise team, just as Aleksander Barkov was a popular pick for most underrated player. It’s hard to call a 96-point team – and their newly minted captain, one of the best all-around players for a while now – a surprise, though. The Cats won’t be sneaking up on anyone.

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