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My 30 Crazy Predictions for 2010-11 ...What are yours? Best per team posted |
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I love this time of year, and now that we are a week into the season let's talk wild predictions and look at how I did last year...also let's hear yours... The concept is simple...1 per team and nothing too obvious. I will give points for originality, but don't be outrageous...so no "Hall will be a rookie of the year candidate," etc.
Anaheim: The Ducks will finish in the bottom 5 of the league and make a MAJOR deadline deal moving Jonas Hillier.
Atlanta: Chris Mason will have a season that mirrors Craig Anderson from last season and keep the Thrashers in games...and win at least a player of the week at some point this season.
Boston: Tim Thomas will take back the #1 spot, and rumors will swirl at the deadline that Rask is available, but the Bruins won't move either goalie this year, however will move one in the off-season to a contender who fell short due to goaltending.
Buffalo: The Sabres will put together the longest winning streak of the season and it will happen in March following a trade deadline pickup of Kevin Bieksa.
Carolina: Patrick O'Sullivan's rebirth will be enormous, but the Canes will ship him out at the deadline for far more than anyone would have expected for a player who took so long to find a home.
Calgary: Jarome Iginla will have the strongest season of his career, leading many to vote for him for the Hart.
Chicago: Crawford will be the #1 goalie by Thanksgiving, and it will come out that this was really the plan all along.
Colorado: The Avalanche will make a play for Sheldon Souray, but Souray will try and force a trade to Washington before the Avs can pick him up on re-entry.
Columbus: The Blue Jackets will surprise everyone early and finally get a definitive personality as Nik Filatov will become the face of the Jackets. This kid is great with the media and has a big "it" factor to him. Filatov will get the Jackets more national games in years to come.
Dallas: The Stars will struggle but at some point this season Robidas will play a major role in a game that will put the Stars into the spotlight
Detroit: The Red Wings will not end the season with either Jimmy Howard or Chris Osgood in goal. They will make a move at the deadline, that will give them what they need to make their typical late season run.
Edmonton: The Oilers will finish second in the division and Khabibulin will make another all-star appearance in Carolina.
Florida: Stephen Weiss will step into the spotlight this year and become the face of the Panthers for years to come. He is their Shane Doan.
LA Kings: Bernier will become a star in this league, while the Kings struggle to score goals. However, at the deadline the Kings will acquire Brad Richards for their playoff run.
Minnesota: Todd Richards will shake off the haters calling for his head when the team goes on a run around Christmas. The Wild will lead the league in penalty killing.
Montreal: Price will rebound, but the Habs scoring will let them down for stretches until PK Subban calls the team out. Somehow, I just feel Louis Leblanc will have an impact late in the year when he gets the call up after his year in the Q.
Nashville: The Predators will lead the division as of Thanksgiving. Many young players will have a huge impact, but Joel Ward will have the most surprising impact on the team.
New Jersey: The Devils will make a trade VERY soon which will again look to be "not a Lamoriello type move." Despite the Devils success this season, Lou will leave the team and take the GM job with the NY Rangers next season as Sather moves up.
NY Islanders: The Isles will be in the playoff hunt still at Christmas, overcoming several injuries. Josh Bailey will be a legit All-Star.
NY Rangers: Chris Drury will emerge finally in NY as the player they expected out of Buffalo. Drury will be a major factor and make a solid case for the Selke.
Ottawa: The Sens will get the real Pascal LeClaire back, but not until January when he will compete for player of the month.
Philadelphia: The Flyers will have a different goalie at the deadline as well, despite the great start from Bobrovsky. Claude Giroux will lead the team in scoring and be an All-Star.
Phoenix: The Coyotes will find out they are moving to Winnipeg mid season, but the NHL will announce they are putting an expansion team into Phoenix.
Pittsburgh: Paul Martin will make a strong case for the Norris Trophy.
San Jose: The Sharks Niemi will be an All-Star and finalist for the Vezina. He will help the Sharks knock the Hawks out of the playoffs. Joe Thornton, known as a playmaker, will notch 40 goals.
St. Louis: The Blues sneak into the playoffs in the 8 positiion and Halak will help them knock off the #1 seed in a repeat of what we saw from him in Montreal.
Tampa: The Lightning will come very close to knocking off the Capitals for the division lead and win a round in the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs will not only make the playoffs, but pick up a major player at the deadline to help them in the scoring department come playoff time.
Vancouver: There will be a goalie controversy come the playoffs. Luongo will start the playoffs for Vancouver, but not finish them.
Washington: The Capitals will mirror the Penguins Cup season where they will undergo a coaching change mid-season...will the same result occur?
Let's hear your best...you don't have to give 30, but let's hear the surprise predictions for your team....I will post my personal favorites tomorrow...
more to come today...
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