One phrase in my opinion describes the Western Conference. “No prediction is safe!” For the most part it’s anyone’s game except for a few teams. Enough talk, let’s meet the teams for the final time as a 15 team conference before next year’s Expansion Draft in Seattle.
Anaheim Ducks: Let’s be real. The only reason this team could go anywhere this year is on the back of John Gibson. Even he deserves a much better team than what is put out there. As for their forwards and defense it is a mystery. All their front office talks about is how they will flash their potential and return to the playoffs when in reality they will come up just short even if Troy Terry, Sonny Milano, Derek Grant, as well as the starting defense have career years.
Arizona Coyotes: This team is the NHLs Tampa Bay Rays. A team that is full of young talented players who are fun to watch on the ice. But off of it the organization is a mess. They lost their first 2 picks last year for hosting illegal combine workouts before the draft. Plus their trade deadline acquisition in Taylor Hall left for SabresMafia. Clayton Keller looks like a stud entering his prime not to mention the depth on defense and Darcy Kuemper. If he keeps up his strong play then they could make it back to the playoffs. That is if.
Calgary Flames: I don’t know how they will do it but the Flames will always underachieve and bring out the infamous “Family Circus.” Yes I get they have Johnny Hockey, Tkachuk, Lindholm, Mikael Backlund, and Mark Giorando as their front line but any hope they have is in the hands of their major free agent signing in Jacob Markstrom. If he plays up to his contract the Flames could exceed expectations, if they fail EVERYONE IS FIRED RIGHT OUT OF THE SADDLEDOME!
Chicago Blackhawks: I don’t know what to think of the Blackhawks. They made the playoffs last year but what will they do to make sure their window is still open. I know, just add more depth to the old guard of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. (Scratch that Toews is out indefinitely.) At least Alex DeBrincat looks like a potential face of the future as well as Dominik Kubalik. The main concern is that at the moment they have no GM since Stan Bowman is gone plus they have no true option in net besides Malcolm Subban. I don’t know how you guys can compete if you don’t have goaltending.
Colorado Avalanche: The odds on favorites to win the Stanley Cup in the West this year by a majority of the Hockey Nerds. The likely Art Ross award winner in Nathan MacKinnon leads a core that is desperate to make the Cup finals after last year’s defeat in Game 7 to the Stars. Well their other studs of Mikko Rantanen, Gabe Landeskog, Brandon Saad, and Andre Burakovsky are just as deadly thanks to their near unstoppable power play. I have a feeling that only a few teams will be able to keep up with them.
Dallas Stars: The one thing that the Stars have going for them after last year’s Cup run is that they could have a 2 headed monster in net despite both of them being 34. Ben Bishop, and Anton Khudobin could be just that. Then there is the front line, if Tyler Seguin, Joe Pavelski, Jamie Benn, and Alex Radulov produce in bunches this could be getting very ugly for their foes in their division. They will probably still be around.
Edmonton Oilers: Ok guys, this is the year you guys have to do something besides underachieve in the regular season and playoffs. Any team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should be in the conversation for the playoffs. Like most years the main problem for these guys is depth and goaltending. It killed them against the Blackhawks last year but hopefully Mikko Koskinen is healthy this time. Good luck dealing with the stacked Canadian Division boys!
Los Angeles Kings: Well at least there is promise for the future I guess. It’s a tank year so I don’t know what to think. The one thing the Kings could have going for them is for their farm system to break out and give them stars. It’s the only thing they can do considering all of the bad contracts they have. At least they weren’t in Cap Hell like with Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar.
Minnesota Wild: This could be the last chance they have at a playoff push with this core. I know guys like Ryan Suter and Zach Parise are at the end of their primes plus they have a new GM in Phil Guerin who is discussing thoughts on not being in Cap Hell like in 2016 and 2017 during the Boudreaux era. If there is one thing this team has going for them it’s Mats Zuccarello, and Marcus Johansson are still assets of the power play. As long as they avoid injuries they should have at minimum a 60 point season. That is IF!
Nashville Predators: The Preds slowly and surely are on a freight train that is headed straight for Cap Hell next summer. They know that anything less than a deep playoff run is unacceptable and there could be rumors of blowing it up. I will say as long as Matt Duchane and Fillip Forsburg are still in their primes and Pekka Rinne avoids a rapid decline they should be a lock for the playoffs. The only problem for these guys on the ice is the power play and coaching, it cost them the Cup in 2017 and all in run as the Presidents Trophy winner in 2018. Now they need results, big time!
San Jose Sharks: Listen to me carefully, last year’s meltdown cannot happen again! The good news is that they brought in an innovative coach in Bob Boughner (NERD!), Erik Karlsson and Logan Couture should be 100% this year, and not to mention Evander Kane has lost weight and looks to regain his 2018 form. Despite being in a loaded division for this year only I think they could get the train back on track. That is until you brought back Patrick Marleau for his 5th retirement tour. As long as Martin Jones is healthy and productive they have a chance!
St Louis Blues: Once again the Blues have expectations for going back to the Cup Finals. Even if Alex Pietrangelo left for Vegas they replaced him with a younger and more talented defensemen in Torey Krug who should provide a spark for their power play. What they truly need is for Jordan Binnington to overcome the playoff struggles of last year. I think that if Jaden Schwartz has a career year he could be due for a nice payday in July or August. Lets just hope you survive the Pacific Division for one year.
Vancouver Canucks: Last year’s Cinderella run in the playoffs has these guys thinking big. When they lost Game 7 to Vegas and Robin Lehner last year they said “You know what, let’s copy these guys by getting Braden Holtby.” With him and Thatcher Demko they could have a 2 headed monster in net throughout the season. The one thing that they are very optimistic about is that most of the current core like Brock Boeser and JT Miller haven’t even entered their primes yet. And that’s the thing that could establish them as a Cup Contender. As long as Travis Green doesn’t shoot his team’s ambitions in the knee you should be good.
Vegas Golden Knights: We saw all of the chirping you guys did in the Edmonton bubble and now it appears that they got the message. The big prize for them is the aforementioned Alex Pietrangelo not to mention resigning Robin Lehner. Both should be huge assets of what I consider an all in year. As long as Mark Stone, William Karlsson, Shea Theodore, and the rest of the first 2 lines excel they could overcome the rough endings of the last 3 years. Even DeBoer doesn’t deserve this. He had to deal with this in San Jose and New Jersey, let him get his long awaited Cup Hockey Gods.
Winnipeg Jets: The True North is in an interesting process that is still trying to work its way back to what made them a team of destiny in 2018. As long as Connor Hellebuyck is still his Vezina Caliber self they have a solid chance at a Wild Card spot despite being in the Canadian Division. For them let’s just hope that Patrik Laine and the rest of their power play avoids injuries that they had in the series against the Flames last year. If this team is healthy I think that they could challenge Toronto in their division.
You wanted predictions now well here it is. Anything I say or think about this upcoming season is either going to jinx teams or give them new life.
East
- Bruins
- Flyers
- Capitals
- Penguins
- Rangers
- Islanders
- Sabres
- Devils
Central
- Lightning
- Stars
- Predators
- Hurricanes
- Blue Jackets
- Blackhawks
- Panthers
- Red Wings
North (Canada)
- Maple Leafs
- Canucks
- Oilers
- Jets
- Flames
- Canadiens
- Senators
West
- Avalanche
- Golden Knights
- Blues
- Sharks
- Coyotes
- Wild
- Ducks
- Kings
Playoffs
Round 1
Bruins #1 over Penguins #7 4-1
Flyers #3 over Capitals #4 4-3
Lightning #2 over Hurricanes #8 4-0
Predators #6 over Stars #5 4-2
Avalanche #1 over Sharks #8 4-3
Maple Leafs #3 over Jets #7 4-0
Oilers #6 over Canucks #4 4-3
Golden Knights #2 over Blues #5 4-1
Round 2
Flyers #3 over Bruins #1 4-2
Lightning #2 over Predators #6 4-0
Avalanche #1 over Golden Knights #2 4-3
Maple Leafs #3 over Oilers #6 4-1
Round 3
Lightning #2 over Flyers #3 4-1
Avalanche #1 over Maple Leafs #3 4-2
Stanley Cup Finals
Lightning #2 over Avalanche #1 4-2
Presidents Trophy: Colorado Avalanche
Ross Trophy: Nathan MacKinnon Avalanche
Hart Trophy: Connor McDavid Oilers
Vezina Trophy: Carter Hart Flyers
Norris Trophy: Alex Pietrangelo Golden Knights
Jack Adams Award: Sheldon Keefe Maple Leafs
Bragging Rights Sports 