The Atlantic couldn't get any tougher. or did it?

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Beerad
August 15, 2021 (12:31)

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Continuously year after year, the Atlantic has made a strong case for being the toughest division in hockey. From the big bad Bruins on the backs of Marchand, Bergeron and now with Pastrnak in the mix. It hard to see a day where you can count them out.

Stamkos and Kucherov posing one of the most formidable 1 2 punches up front in Tampa. With arguably the best overall defensemen in the NHL and the best goalie.

To the recent surge of the Panthers and reigning selky winner in Barkov who also hit a 96 point season just three seasons ago. Seems like after Barkov's insurgence to one of the top two way centermen in the league, the Panthers are another team you have to mention and not forget about it.

The Senators also seem like a team that are poised to have an insurgence similar to what the Panthers have had recently. With Tkachuk, Stutzle, Norris, Batherson and Chabot at the helm right now, continuously growing and getting better, in addition to the fully stock prospect pool with the likes of Jake Sandersson, Filip Gustavsson, Shane Pinto and Alex Formenton. It would be a complete catastrophe and hard to see the Sens somehow mess this up but then again, they have Eugene Melnyk as their owner.

I guess the biggest point here would be the fact the two teams in the Stanley Cup Final this past season were both from the Atlantic. Thanks to the special circumstances this year with the pandemic. On the back of Carey Price and the great moves of Bergervin, I feel like they'll have a few more runs for the next seasons to come.

In addition I couldn't talk about the Atlantic and forget about the Maple Leafs as well, even though we forget about them anyways after the first round each season regardless. That offence will win games, but will it win championships. I think we are all pretty sure it won't. Dubas is on probably the hottest seat of any GM right now in the league. So we'll see what happens there. But in the end, Mathews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares will always have this team in the hunt. With some steady defence and goaltending, we'll for sure see more out of the Leafs.