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2013-14 NHL Season Predictions (Conferences, Awards, etc.)

October 1, 2013, 12:58 PM ET [38 Comments]
Jason Lewis
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The season starts tonight so this is the last time I can squeeze this in. Nothing like waiting til the last minute eh? Anyways, It's always fun doing these because it is a nice thing to look back on in June or July and go "HAHA Holy crap what was I thinking?" Let's roll through these shall we? East, then West, then the dreaded awards!

Metropolitan Division

1. Pittsburgh (X)
2. Washington (X)
3. New York Rangers (X)
4. New York Islanders
5. Columbus
6. Philadelphia
7. Carolina
8. New Jersey

There is a clear line in quality that is drawn at about 5. While Columbus had a great run last year that's a hockey team that is still learning how to win, and unfortunately this realignment probably came at the worst time for them. They will give it a go but they won't squeak in. I believe in John Tavares and I believe in the Islanders but there are too many teams in the Atlantic who imrpoved, they will just miss out. Philly has too many questions at the back end, Carolina has too many questions in general, and New Jersey is just plain not young enough and not good enough. Not even Cory Schneider will save that team this year. Pitt has this division locked up. Rangers and Capitals will fight for it but the cream will rise to the top.

Atlantic Division


1. Boston (X)
2. Detroit (X)
3. Montreal (X)
4. Toronto (X)
5. Ottawa (X)
6. Buffalo
7. Florida
8. Tampa Bay

Porbably the strongest new division in hockey. When you hit Buffalo things start to go south but even then...there is some quality among the bottom three. Tampa is young and will always have the threat of Steven Stamkos. Florida was a playoff team the year before last when they got absolutely decimated by injuries, and the Sabres are a young team that could surprise if they can get Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers back to form. Boston is a well oiled machine and the addition of Loui Eriksson is a massive one in my opinion. He will destroy as a Bruin. Detroit will do Detroit things, and it will be an utter slugfest from the Eastern Canadian teams for who gets what spot in the conference. All three teams added key pieces this offseason to improve their respective squads and it will be fun to watch this one play out.


Eastern Conference Champions: Boston Bruins

Without going through the pain of a bracket, the Bruins will make the finals. Even with the departure of Seguin...they got back a tremendous player in Eriksson. You are talking about a guy who put up near 30 goal seasons four years in a row on a team that was stifled on offensive weapons. I'm feeling like his partnership with Bergeron and Marchand may push him towards a 40 goal season. No joke. They didn't lose any key pieces, and Rask proved he was the real deal last year. Bruins are going to be a very tough team to beat.

Western Conference


Central Division

1. Chicago (X)
2. St. Louis (X)
3. Minnesota (X)
4. Dallas
5. Winnipeg
6. Nashville
7. Colorado

The top two are no brainers, the rest....eeeeeh. I think Minnesota grabs it because with Parise, Suter, Backstrom and a crop of young players like Charlie Coyle, Nino, Brodin, Dumba and Granlund...they will make it to the dance. Dallas just doesn't have enough depth to me and I think it will be a tough ask for Seguin to carry the team to the postseason in his first year. Winnipeg, Nashville, and Colorado will all scrounge for lottery picks this year, although note this...Colorado is one of those teams that has so many young players they could be a potential shocker. THis was probably the easiest division to predict since the clear divide in quality was significant.

Pacific Division

1. Los Angeles Kings (X)
2. San Jose Sharks (X)
3. Anaheim Ducks (X)
4. Edmonton Oilers (X)
5. Vancouver Canucks (X)
6. Phoenix Coyotes
7. Calgary Flames

This is not just me being a homer, the Kings have the best team in the Pacific. San Jose is going to give them hell though and it will be a bitter fight for who takes the division. Kings have to stay healthy, that's the key. Anaheim will be in there but they aren't quite as strong as SJ or LA. That being said it's still a California affair when it comes to the top 3. Personally I feel like this is Edmonton's year. They've followed the script of many rebuilding teams like Pittsburgh, LA, and Chicago, and it feels like this year is the year they make the playoffs...and probably get knocked in the first round. Vancouver will slide in due to the Central having nothing past the top 3. Phoenix barely misses out and Calgary rounds out the league and goes for the number one overall most likely.

Western Conference Champions: Los Angeles Kings

Stanley Cup prediction: Los Angeles Kings over Boston in 6. **BECAUSE IT'S A KINGS BLOG**

In reality though, all bias aside, Boston is one scary team and they will probably take the prize it 6 or 7.


Hart Trophy (MVP) - Pavel Datsyuk (DET), Sidney Crosby (PIT), Jonathan Toews (CHI)

That's right, Datsyuk. A new division for Detroit, and they will be in it right to the last and just as tough as they were before thanks to performances from leaders Zetterberg and Datsyuk.

Calder Trophy (Rookie) - Seth Jones (NSH), Tomas Hertl (SJS), Nathan MacKinnon (COL)

Huge mistake for the teams ahead of Nashville to pass on him. He'll prove it.

Selke (Top two-way F) - Anze Kopitar (LAK), Patrice Bergeron (BOS), Jonathan Toews (CHI)

Kopitar has a new attitude to shoot more this offseason. With an increase in goals and the still solid defensive play it's his year. He was fourth in last years voting as well so he has slowly crept into relevance with pundits.

Norris Trophy (Top D) - Oliver Ekman-Larsson (PHX), Drew Doughty (LAK), Erik Karlsson (OTT)

Improves year after year and this season it should be his.

Vezina Trophy (Top G) - Jonathan Quick (LAK), Tuuka Rask (BOS), Henrik Lundqvist (NYR)

Alright, call me a homer on that one, but I'm feeling the bounceback year for Quick. It's just in his nature to want to prove something after his regular season last year. Battler's mentality.


Other predicitions:

- The Flyers will sign Bryzgalov at some point during the year and then buy him out during the offseason
- Don Cherry will get mad at Alex Ovechkin
- Phoenix will relocate to Seattle and then come back to Phoenix and change the name to Arizona
- Tortorella will challenge a reporter in a bare knuckle boxing match.
- Jagr will retire twice during the year
- Darryl Sutter will make at least five references to farming
- Jonathan Bernier will lead the league in fighting majors
- The Penguins will lose 3/4ths of the roster to injury and still manage to finish top-5

Don't agree with some of my predicitions? Where was I wrong? Tell me! Let's hear what you all predict in the comment section. GO!


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