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Todd Cordell
The Carolina Hurricanes will make the playoffs.
They don't have many marquee names -- and play in an extremely tough division -- but I think this is the year they break out and take the next step.
Their 5v5 play was very strong last season and that should be the case once again with the addition of Justin Williams, one of the league's best two-way wingers, and the continued development of many of their best players.
Goaltending has been the big question mark for years and I think Scott Darling will be the answer. He doesn't have a huge body of work to his name, but he's been one of the most efficient puck stoppers in the league over the last few seasons so he seems like a good bet to provide *at least* average goaltending, especially playing behind such a strong defense.
If that's the case, and the Hurricanes don't run into a ton of injury problems, I think they'll be a playoff team.
Jared Crozier
The Metropolitan division had an influx of tremendous rookie talent, with the top 2 picks in the 2017 draft - Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick - both being added to arguably already the most talent-rich division in the NHL.
But, for the first time since 2010-11, one of the top 3 picks in the preceding draft will not be one of the three finalists for the Calder Trophy. And also for just the second time in 5 years the number one pick won't walk away with the Calder. (And that one other time has a bit of an asterisk as Connor McDavid would have run away with Artemi Panarin's Calder if he had played more than 45 games but it is what it is.)
None of the Calder finalists will be from the Metropolitan, and none will be teenagers, another first since 2008-09. The finalists for rookie of the year will be Brock Boeser (VAN), Dylan Strome (ARI) and Thomas Chabot (OTT), all first rounders from the 2015 draft and 20 years old now turning 21 during the season.
Peter Tessier
Laugh all you want but my Metro prediction is that the Hurricanes and Flyers are going to battle it out for playoff spots. That means a couple of teams have to slide and sorry for that happening Rangers and Jackets but it’s good to happen. In fact, I could see the Metro being the most competitive division in the league- let’s call it the new Central!
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