BSP and Max Brown's Power Rankings (and rumors)
Dec 16, 2023 1:25:42 GMT -8
Slovan Stags GM, Yasogami Bruins GM, and 6 more like this
Post by Iceland Crazy Vikings GM on Dec 16, 2023 1:25:42 GMT -8
Welcome everyone to a new era of PS5HL, where anyone could get lucky and win the first season like Joubran; where anyone could trade all of their picks away but still pull off a rebuild like TJG; where anyone could barely check the site but still never miss the playoffs like Cranker; where anyone could sign terrible contracts but still win cups like Luongod; where anyone could sign Parayko to 8Mx8 like Miiko...
Or best of all, where anyone could have completely misplaced confidence but never make a finals appearance like Max Brown.
And that's exactly why he is helping me with these power rankings.
The first section will try to predict the top 10 teams based on numerous factors like top lines, depth, chemistry, elite talent, and coaching. The second section will reveal the top 3 worst teams, according to Max Brown. The next section will mention dark horse teams that could overperform. The final section will cover rumors relating to the start of this upcoming season.
Top 10 Power Rankings
Number 1:
This team could be an absolute powerhouse season one, with Ovechkin and Mackinnon first line and Crosby second line; or, Crosby could be moved up first line to have Ovechkin - Crosby - Mackinnon. The team is solid all around, with Huberdeau, Kaliyev, and Patrick Kane as depth, and Orlov and Pietrangelo first pair. This team is really old, though, so their window is probably very short, perhaps just one season. This is the definition of a do-or-die team, but it could definitely work out.
Number 2:
This team has a solid depth, a great defense, and a first line that could easily surprise everyone. Kempe, Eichel, and Meier supply a hard-hitting, goal-scoring threat, while Hedman, Werenski, Zadorov, and Jones provide one of the better defenses in the league. The goalie tandem is solid too, with Georgiyev and Subban. This team also has more room to grow than most of the better teams, so it could certainly be a strong contender for a while.
Number 3:
This team has top-tier talent everywhere. On offense they have Barkov, Forsberg, and Horvat; on defense they have Josi and Provorov; and in goal they have Saros. They are basically an actually good version of Nashville. Like Nashville, their defense is really old, so despite being good on paper, their window probably is not for more than a couple seasons.
Number 4:
Theodore, Pesce, Pelech, and Andersson form one of the best all-around defenses in the league, but it remains to be seen how well this defense does in front of Vejmelka and Patera. Despite having an AHL level fourth line, their other lines look very solid, especially their first line. Guenztel - Pettersson - Connor could last the whole era as a top line that keeps getting better.
Number 5:
Sokalina has an extremely offensive roster that is sure to be one of the top scoring teams in the league, especially with Byram, Hamilton, and Carlson on defense, with McDavid leading the offense. Unfortunately, they are unlikely to be double shifting McDavid as they had originally planned; the team was found by the league's financial officials to be over the cap once a 20th player is properly included on the roster. This means that, most likely, a different player will be playing third line instead of McDavid, and perhaps a trade must be made to allow for this to happen. Furthermore, this team has what is likely to be the worst fourth line in the league, while also playing a very inexperienced backup goaltender. Despite this, the combination of Panarin with McDavid should light the lamp enough to keep this team in the top 5.
Number 6:
This team seems like the perfect dark horse: they have a first line that enables Scheifele and Rantanen, a solid second line that can score a lot of goals, an elite first pair in Morrissey and McAvoy, and one of the better goalie tandems in the league. While on paper they might not seem like the sixth best team in the league, this is the kind of team that destroys the competition in the playoffs--it's just a matter of getting there.
Number 7:
IAS has one of the most balanced forward groups in the league, with a first line that could easily be top 3 in the league. Stutzle and Kadri are perfect to turn Kucherov into the monster that he can be, while also being capable of carrying games on their own. Their goalie tandem should be great with Bobrovsky and Vanacek, but their defense is not stellar on paper. The kind of defense they have, though, often takes teams by surprise, and could have the right chemistry and function to do their jobs while Kucherov carries the team. Luckily for them, they have one of the better third and fourth lines, meaning that their quality depth could provide the winning edge over teams like Sokolina.
Number 8:
Iceland has what seems to be a talented roster on paper, but they only have one talented sniper--Zibanejad. If Zibanejad is shut down, then this team could easily fall apart; however, with Teravainen and Stone next to him, Zibanejad has the tools he needs to be one of the best goalscorers in the leaue. This team has great two-way depth among the likes of Hayes, Hartman, Bertuzzi, and Jenner, but this team runs the risk of lacking quality depth scoring with its emphasis on more defensive forwards. Perhaps Mikhailis and Soshnikov can do enough to contribute, but if they can't, then this team will have to hope that its first line scores a lot, or the defense can shut the door on better forward groups. Heiskanen and Dobson provide an incredibly speedy first pair, while Ekholm and Cernak are an elite second pair. The third pair could potentially be a major point of weakness, though, and this team will likely be relying on Sorokin to actually be good.
Number 9:
Marchand, Bedard, and Pastrnak could form the best first line in the league. It is obvious that Bedard will quickly develop into one of the top players when playing between Marchand and Pastrnak, so it will not at all be surprising if all three of these players are well over point-per-game. Unfortunately, this team seems to have one of the worst bottom 9s in the league, which could diminish the offensive prowess of the aforementioned first line. Luckily, Slavin and Doughty should be a very reliable and strong first pair, with the other two pairs being better than average as well. Ultimately, this team's success will be determined by the performance of its goalie tandem, but Blackwood and Hofer leave a lot to be desired.
Number 10
This team does not take the approach of having a stand-out, elite forward to carry it to glory, but instead takes the approach of having great depth and a second line equally as good as its first line. Landeskog and Hischier could lock down opposing first lines, while Miller and Malkin could dominate other second lines. It will be interesting to see how this team manages its line matchups, as it does not have any glaring weaknesses in its forward core, but it also does not have any crazy goal-scoring talent. Chemistry will matter a lot for this team to be successful. Also, while their defense is not bad, they do not have any standout player aside from Karlsson, who will likely be doing all the heavy lifting for the defense--but that's exactly when he excels. Where there lacks defense, though, there is Hellebuyck, who should be a top five goalie.
Max Brown's Bottom 3 Teams:
Number 1:
There is one player on this team who could reliably carry games: Shestyerkin. Unfortunately for him, this is obviously a rebuilding team, with elite prospects like Leo Carlsson and Owen Power taking the reigns with top minutes. Schenn, Eberle, and Nelson are the best forwards they have, though, and this team has what is likely to be the worst-performing defense in the league. Thus, this team is what Max Brown deems "less entertaining than my least favorite anime." In a few seasons, though, this team could be very entertaining--so don't count them out.
Number 2:
Mighty Drunks... Drunk, yes! Mighty...maybe? This team has what will likely be the worst performing forward groups in the league, with Zegras being the only player who seems plausible to put up more than 65 points. While the team has a great defense with Hughes, Hronek, Lindell, and Tanev, the complete lack of goalscoring ability will likely shut off any chance this team could have of winning many games. This team is obviously rebuilding, because they have Markstrom in goal and Skinner as backup. They are definitely hoping for Skinner to develop well enough to take over the starting position once the rebuild nears completion.
Number 3:
The Bison are a strange team. Perhaps they end up actually doing quite well. The problem for this team is despite having Oettinger, every other position they have is outclassed by everyone team except maybe Macon and the Drunks. Chemistry will be of utmost importance in order to properly utilize and develop the players on this team, but veterans like Pavelski, Couture, and Burns could maybe make this team like a better San Jose--one with actual goaltending. Boeser should not be ignored, and Sanderson is certain to develop into one of the best left defensemen in the league...but between a couple promising young players and a bunch of corpses, it's questionable what this team's approach will be. If the veterans can't develop the younger players, then this team will be in trouble in a few seasons.
Dark Horses
There are three teams that come to mind for being dark horses. The first is the Rouen Dragons, with a solid first line of Evander Kane, Hintz, and Bratt; but most importantly, a great defense made excellent by Makar. Makar, Parayko, and Hintz could definitely carry this team, but Vladar and Jones combine to make what is probably the worst goalie tandem in the league. The second is the Burnaby Billionaires, which is a team that will definitely top the leaderboards for goals scored. With Ehlers and Barzal on the wings feeding pucks to Matthews, how could they not be scoring tons of goals? However, their depth is questionable, and their defense is inexperienced overall and needs time to develop. Plus, Gustavsson will have to play out of his mind considering how many shots he will have against him, and Merilainen might end up with one of the worst save percentages for a backup, ever. The third dark horse, the Brampton Thunder, has a much more balanced roster. Robertson and Thompson should be scoring tons of goals, while O'Reilly is one of the undisputed best two-way players in the game. They have a strong second line with Mangiapane and Dubois, and their third and fourth lines are above average. Despite having a meh defense, Rielly could contribute heavily enough on offense to compensate for an otherwise lack of standout defensive talent. Hart and Woll are a better tandem than what some teams have, but still will have to prove themselves. If all goes well, though, this team should make the playoffs.
Rumors
Rumor has it that Traktor Chelyabinsk is predicted to miss the playoffs despite having an incredible defense with Gavrikov, Fox, Dunn, and Weegar, due to their forward core being unreliable; however, given a couple years to develop, this could very well be a top team with McTavish and Michkov leading the charge. Apparently, though, there is some locker-room turmoil regarding captaincy.
One GM believes that the Charleston Chiefs and the Kansas City Scouts are actually very good teams and will quickly prove doubters wrong. Despite the Chiefs having a woeful defense, they have Brady Tkachuk, Larkin, Toffoli, and Gaudreau on offense, with Vasilevskiy as their star goaltender. If these players can perform up to their potential, then the Chiefs are thought by some to be a good playoff contender; however, others doubt Vasilevskiy's ability to perform consistently behind such a bad defense. The Scouts have a better defense, with Lindholm and Drysdale reunited first pair for what could develop into a fantastic pairing after a couple seasons, but their goalie tandem is on paper much worse, with Husso as their starter. Regardless, Kaprizov, Point, and Verhaeghe should make for a killer first line, while the rest of the forward group is very well balanced, particularly with Giroux second line to develop Boldy. Even if this team does not do well this season, which one GM fervently argues that it will do well, it should have a hopeful future.
Lastly, rumor has it that there is major contention over whether Yasogami will actually be a respectable team this era. One GM argues that this team will be the BEST team of the era, while others point out the team's meh defense, potentially scary goaltending (in a bad way), and a lack of an elite sniper will doom this team to mediocrity.
This concludes the power rankings and rumors to begin this new era of PS5HL. Post your own predictions in reply, especially if they involve making fun of Max Brown's team. Good luck in the first season!
Or best of all, where anyone could have completely misplaced confidence but never make a finals appearance like Max Brown.
And that's exactly why he is helping me with these power rankings.
The first section will try to predict the top 10 teams based on numerous factors like top lines, depth, chemistry, elite talent, and coaching. The second section will reveal the top 3 worst teams, according to Max Brown. The next section will mention dark horse teams that could overperform. The final section will cover rumors relating to the start of this upcoming season.
Top 10 Power Rankings
Number 1:
This team could be an absolute powerhouse season one, with Ovechkin and Mackinnon first line and Crosby second line; or, Crosby could be moved up first line to have Ovechkin - Crosby - Mackinnon. The team is solid all around, with Huberdeau, Kaliyev, and Patrick Kane as depth, and Orlov and Pietrangelo first pair. This team is really old, though, so their window is probably very short, perhaps just one season. This is the definition of a do-or-die team, but it could definitely work out.
Number 2:
This team has a solid depth, a great defense, and a first line that could easily surprise everyone. Kempe, Eichel, and Meier supply a hard-hitting, goal-scoring threat, while Hedman, Werenski, Zadorov, and Jones provide one of the better defenses in the league. The goalie tandem is solid too, with Georgiyev and Subban. This team also has more room to grow than most of the better teams, so it could certainly be a strong contender for a while.
Number 3:
This team has top-tier talent everywhere. On offense they have Barkov, Forsberg, and Horvat; on defense they have Josi and Provorov; and in goal they have Saros. They are basically an actually good version of Nashville. Like Nashville, their defense is really old, so despite being good on paper, their window probably is not for more than a couple seasons.
Number 4:
Theodore, Pesce, Pelech, and Andersson form one of the best all-around defenses in the league, but it remains to be seen how well this defense does in front of Vejmelka and Patera. Despite having an AHL level fourth line, their other lines look very solid, especially their first line. Guenztel - Pettersson - Connor could last the whole era as a top line that keeps getting better.
Number 5:
Sokalina has an extremely offensive roster that is sure to be one of the top scoring teams in the league, especially with Byram, Hamilton, and Carlson on defense, with McDavid leading the offense. Unfortunately, they are unlikely to be double shifting McDavid as they had originally planned; the team was found by the league's financial officials to be over the cap once a 20th player is properly included on the roster. This means that, most likely, a different player will be playing third line instead of McDavid, and perhaps a trade must be made to allow for this to happen. Furthermore, this team has what is likely to be the worst fourth line in the league, while also playing a very inexperienced backup goaltender. Despite this, the combination of Panarin with McDavid should light the lamp enough to keep this team in the top 5.
Number 6:
This team seems like the perfect dark horse: they have a first line that enables Scheifele and Rantanen, a solid second line that can score a lot of goals, an elite first pair in Morrissey and McAvoy, and one of the better goalie tandems in the league. While on paper they might not seem like the sixth best team in the league, this is the kind of team that destroys the competition in the playoffs--it's just a matter of getting there.
Number 7:
IAS has one of the most balanced forward groups in the league, with a first line that could easily be top 3 in the league. Stutzle and Kadri are perfect to turn Kucherov into the monster that he can be, while also being capable of carrying games on their own. Their goalie tandem should be great with Bobrovsky and Vanacek, but their defense is not stellar on paper. The kind of defense they have, though, often takes teams by surprise, and could have the right chemistry and function to do their jobs while Kucherov carries the team. Luckily for them, they have one of the better third and fourth lines, meaning that their quality depth could provide the winning edge over teams like Sokolina.
Number 8:
Iceland has what seems to be a talented roster on paper, but they only have one talented sniper--Zibanejad. If Zibanejad is shut down, then this team could easily fall apart; however, with Teravainen and Stone next to him, Zibanejad has the tools he needs to be one of the best goalscorers in the leaue. This team has great two-way depth among the likes of Hayes, Hartman, Bertuzzi, and Jenner, but this team runs the risk of lacking quality depth scoring with its emphasis on more defensive forwards. Perhaps Mikhailis and Soshnikov can do enough to contribute, but if they can't, then this team will have to hope that its first line scores a lot, or the defense can shut the door on better forward groups. Heiskanen and Dobson provide an incredibly speedy first pair, while Ekholm and Cernak are an elite second pair. The third pair could potentially be a major point of weakness, though, and this team will likely be relying on Sorokin to actually be good.
Number 9:
Marchand, Bedard, and Pastrnak could form the best first line in the league. It is obvious that Bedard will quickly develop into one of the top players when playing between Marchand and Pastrnak, so it will not at all be surprising if all three of these players are well over point-per-game. Unfortunately, this team seems to have one of the worst bottom 9s in the league, which could diminish the offensive prowess of the aforementioned first line. Luckily, Slavin and Doughty should be a very reliable and strong first pair, with the other two pairs being better than average as well. Ultimately, this team's success will be determined by the performance of its goalie tandem, but Blackwood and Hofer leave a lot to be desired.
Number 10
This team does not take the approach of having a stand-out, elite forward to carry it to glory, but instead takes the approach of having great depth and a second line equally as good as its first line. Landeskog and Hischier could lock down opposing first lines, while Miller and Malkin could dominate other second lines. It will be interesting to see how this team manages its line matchups, as it does not have any glaring weaknesses in its forward core, but it also does not have any crazy goal-scoring talent. Chemistry will matter a lot for this team to be successful. Also, while their defense is not bad, they do not have any standout player aside from Karlsson, who will likely be doing all the heavy lifting for the defense--but that's exactly when he excels. Where there lacks defense, though, there is Hellebuyck, who should be a top five goalie.
Max Brown's Bottom 3 Teams:
Number 1:
There is one player on this team who could reliably carry games: Shestyerkin. Unfortunately for him, this is obviously a rebuilding team, with elite prospects like Leo Carlsson and Owen Power taking the reigns with top minutes. Schenn, Eberle, and Nelson are the best forwards they have, though, and this team has what is likely to be the worst-performing defense in the league. Thus, this team is what Max Brown deems "less entertaining than my least favorite anime." In a few seasons, though, this team could be very entertaining--so don't count them out.
Number 2:
Mighty Drunks... Drunk, yes! Mighty...maybe? This team has what will likely be the worst performing forward groups in the league, with Zegras being the only player who seems plausible to put up more than 65 points. While the team has a great defense with Hughes, Hronek, Lindell, and Tanev, the complete lack of goalscoring ability will likely shut off any chance this team could have of winning many games. This team is obviously rebuilding, because they have Markstrom in goal and Skinner as backup. They are definitely hoping for Skinner to develop well enough to take over the starting position once the rebuild nears completion.
Number 3:
The Bison are a strange team. Perhaps they end up actually doing quite well. The problem for this team is despite having Oettinger, every other position they have is outclassed by everyone team except maybe Macon and the Drunks. Chemistry will be of utmost importance in order to properly utilize and develop the players on this team, but veterans like Pavelski, Couture, and Burns could maybe make this team like a better San Jose--one with actual goaltending. Boeser should not be ignored, and Sanderson is certain to develop into one of the best left defensemen in the league...but between a couple promising young players and a bunch of corpses, it's questionable what this team's approach will be. If the veterans can't develop the younger players, then this team will be in trouble in a few seasons.
Dark Horses
There are three teams that come to mind for being dark horses. The first is the Rouen Dragons, with a solid first line of Evander Kane, Hintz, and Bratt; but most importantly, a great defense made excellent by Makar. Makar, Parayko, and Hintz could definitely carry this team, but Vladar and Jones combine to make what is probably the worst goalie tandem in the league. The second is the Burnaby Billionaires, which is a team that will definitely top the leaderboards for goals scored. With Ehlers and Barzal on the wings feeding pucks to Matthews, how could they not be scoring tons of goals? However, their depth is questionable, and their defense is inexperienced overall and needs time to develop. Plus, Gustavsson will have to play out of his mind considering how many shots he will have against him, and Merilainen might end up with one of the worst save percentages for a backup, ever. The third dark horse, the Brampton Thunder, has a much more balanced roster. Robertson and Thompson should be scoring tons of goals, while O'Reilly is one of the undisputed best two-way players in the game. They have a strong second line with Mangiapane and Dubois, and their third and fourth lines are above average. Despite having a meh defense, Rielly could contribute heavily enough on offense to compensate for an otherwise lack of standout defensive talent. Hart and Woll are a better tandem than what some teams have, but still will have to prove themselves. If all goes well, though, this team should make the playoffs.
Rumors
Rumor has it that Traktor Chelyabinsk is predicted to miss the playoffs despite having an incredible defense with Gavrikov, Fox, Dunn, and Weegar, due to their forward core being unreliable; however, given a couple years to develop, this could very well be a top team with McTavish and Michkov leading the charge. Apparently, though, there is some locker-room turmoil regarding captaincy.
One GM believes that the Charleston Chiefs and the Kansas City Scouts are actually very good teams and will quickly prove doubters wrong. Despite the Chiefs having a woeful defense, they have Brady Tkachuk, Larkin, Toffoli, and Gaudreau on offense, with Vasilevskiy as their star goaltender. If these players can perform up to their potential, then the Chiefs are thought by some to be a good playoff contender; however, others doubt Vasilevskiy's ability to perform consistently behind such a bad defense. The Scouts have a better defense, with Lindholm and Drysdale reunited first pair for what could develop into a fantastic pairing after a couple seasons, but their goalie tandem is on paper much worse, with Husso as their starter. Regardless, Kaprizov, Point, and Verhaeghe should make for a killer first line, while the rest of the forward group is very well balanced, particularly with Giroux second line to develop Boldy. Even if this team does not do well this season, which one GM fervently argues that it will do well, it should have a hopeful future.
Lastly, rumor has it that there is major contention over whether Yasogami will actually be a respectable team this era. One GM argues that this team will be the BEST team of the era, while others point out the team's meh defense, potentially scary goaltending (in a bad way), and a lack of an elite sniper will doom this team to mediocrity.
This concludes the power rankings and rumors to begin this new era of PS5HL. Post your own predictions in reply, especially if they involve making fun of Max Brown's team. Good luck in the first season!
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