The Arizona Coyotes have traded Jamie McGinn to the Panthers for Jason Demers. I believe I have written several times that the Coyotes should pursue him, he's a good player.
A right handed shot, signed for four more years, Demers was a player the Panthers got when they were into analytics for like five minutes. Since they've gone back to just guessing randomly in the dark like most GMs, their loss is apparently the Coyotes gain.
McGinn is a Maloney/Tippett kind of guy who is a third/fourth liner signed for two more years. His cap hit is only a little bit lower than Demers $4 million one.
This trade is a complete and utter heisting. John Chayka does it again!!
You can now move the Coyotes from "might make the Playoffs" to "GUARANTEED" because come one, just take one look at their defense and tell me it's not in the top five in the NHL:
OEL, Hjallmarsson, Goligoski, Demers and Chychrun. Demers is the only righty in the group, so this is an even better pick up because it fills a huge need.
OH the fun times we are about to have, both in Phoenix and at the expense of Dale Tallon.
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Predictions tend to be nothing more than guesses, and unless you've found someone who is delving into statistical probabilities, they are most likely a waste of your time.
That said, I was unable to contact Miss Cleo from beyond the grave this year, so I don't know if these will be as accurate at usual. Try not to bet too much money on them, but if you do, give me a cut.
1. Carolina Hurricanes win the East.
The line of Staal, Aho and Terravainen is the NHL's most dominant puck possession line. Two elite defensive players and a potentially elite sniper. It's maybe my favorite line in the NHL.
Add in Scott Darling, the best young defense in the league and a whole bunch of underrated forwards (Rask, Lindholm, Stepniak,) and the NHL's most criminally ignored super star, Jeff 'the Skin Man' Skinner, and you have a team primed to take over.
The Hurricanes should be in a group of about five legit Cup Contenders.
2. The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Atlantic Division and Stanley Cup
The Leafs and 'Canes are the new Penguins and Capitals. The Leafs will only narrowly avoid winning the East, but they will destroy the easiest division in hockey.
Led by the most insane group of young player ever assembled, the Leafs will be a dominant force in the NHL and win their first Stanley Cup in 50 years.
3. Oscar Klefbom wins Norris
Karlsson will be saddled with one of the worst teams in the NHL, and Brett Burns will start to show his age on a declining Sharks team.
This will leave the door wide open for Oscar Klefbom and his 60 points to win the Norris.
4. Calgary Flames win the West
When Travis Hamonic is your 4th best defenseman, and Michael Stone your 5th, you're probably doing alright.
The Flames are insanely stacked and will win the West and lose to the Leafs in the Cup Final.
But guess what? Mike Smith will be injured by November and they'll have to bring in a new goalie to take them to the promise land.
5. Rinne Replaced by Christmas
Rinne is in decline and Jusse Saros is probably already better. Look for Saros to be a full time starter by Christmas.
6. Blackhawks Missing Playoffs
The Blackhawks are a team that had to get really lucky results last year just to make it. This year, that's unlikely to continue and they're going to be terrible.
Also, the Blues, Sharks, Ducks and Capitals will all miss the Playoffs.
7. The Kings and Coyotes are Back
The Coyotes will make the playoffs for the first time in years, and the Kings will prove that they're an elite team that just had insanely bad luck.
Here is your full list of playoff teams:
East:
Atlantic: 1. Toronto 2. Buffalo 3. Lightning
Metro: 1. Hurricanes 2. Blue Jackest 3. Penguins
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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