I think the Toronto North Stars are primed to be a top contender in 5-6 season's time, and their core is set to that window with many of the S53 to S55 guys at the top of their respective classes, and the phasing out of the team friendly contracts for the Great Lakes teams as well as pre-update cap shenanigans for teams like Hamilton will mean that a shake up will happen in that division for sure. With guys like Adam Barron, Ryosuke Sato, Scoochie Stratton Ryu Jones and Liam Slate ready to peak in that window, along a still strong Harry Carpet, I think that they will be a force to be reckoned with. Chicago is aging, and so is Hamilton. The Buffalo Stampede will still be a tough opponent as they have a very good drafting pipeline and a ton of prospects, but that means that Toronto will just have to fight one team for the top spot, not 3 others in that same division. After a few tough seasons they can see a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is a bright one.

(189 words)