As we near approach the quarter mark of the NHL season, I thought it would be interesting to look back a few weeks and see how some of my pre-season predictions were looking.

In the summer, I consulted with famed fake Psychic Miss Cleo and she helped me go 1 for 10 - which means that I couldn't have done a worse job on my own, sans late-night infomercial savant. Because of her inability to help me predict anything, I abandoned Miss Cleo and tried to use my own critical thinking skills to help me forecast the upcoming NHL season - Let's see how it's going so far.


1. The Coyotes, Oilers, Leafs and Islanders would make the playoffs

Well, call this one a wash. So far, the Leafs and Islanders are doing great - both of those teams are in a tie for 8th in the NHL with 20 points. I like the Leafs bottom sixth depth and their extremely strong personnel on the wing. I like Tavares, the addition of Halak and one of the league's most underrated groups of defensemen.

Regardless of how this looks now, both Toronto and the Islanders are likely to be fighting for a playoff spot right down to the wire because there appear to be a group of teams - Washington, Detroit, Philadelphia, Ottawa, NYR, New Jersey maybe even Florida - who are going to be fighting for the last four Eastern Conference playoff spots, assuming Pittsburgh, Montreal, Boston and Tampa don't drastically disappoint.

That's nine teams to get four spots and not much to choose between any of them.

As for the Oilers and Coyotes, while there is still time to turn this thing around, it looks like my enthusiasm for the Oilers youth and the Coyotes defense may have blinded me to some major problems on those teams.

I didn't foresee the Coyotes abandoning their youth-movement almost completely, which means I didn't believe they would actually dress Moss, Klinkhammer, Chipchura and Crombeen regularly at the same time. Nor did I think they would skate Vermette/Doan as first liners and first unit PP skaters. I didn't think their defensive play over-all would be so terrible.

As for the Oilers, I would have thought they'd make better use of Yakupov's talent. I still don't know why he isn't getting more and better minutes - especially on the powerplay where he is a weapon that Eakins just doesn't seem to want to deploy. Hate to say it, but if either of these teams want to make it this year, they probably need new coaches.

3. Sam Gagner would have a career year.


I called for my boy Gagner to get 70 points. Ouch. Good-bye credibility.

Gagner currently has a hot 4 points in 15 games. Though, I do maintain that he is a talented player (as seen by his sweet shootout goal last week) and should be better used by Tippett, there is just no way this one is coming true. Still think he was a good pick up though.

4. Ovechkin Would score 70 goals.

To be fair, I made this prediction after spending a night hanging out with Rick James and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, but it still isn't happening. I just so badly want Ovechkin to have a crazy good year to show up the people who overrate the importance of his -32, but I guess I should have known better. Still, he's on pace for 40 and will probably lead the NHL in goals once Rick Nash comes back down to earth a bit. 70 ain't happening though.

5. Crosby for Art Ross

Like predicting that 50 armed Russians with semi-automatics will still be unable to hit Bruce Willis when he's ducking behind a garbage can that's only 20 yards away, this one is a pretty easy call. However, with my record, you gotta take em when you can. Crosby leads the NHL 24 points.

6. Max Domi will win the Calder

HEY LOOK THERE'S A BALD EAGLE RIDING A BICYCLE

7. Michael Stone will become a household name

So far, no, but give it time. Stone is averaging 19 solid minutes of hockey per game for the Coyotes. He's 6'3 210 with a cannon for a shot, he's a good skater and he hits, blocks shots and kills penalties. Basically, like me at the beach, he's the total package.

Currently, he still (inexplicably) gets less ice time than the inferior Michalek and his offense is limited by the fact that OEL and Yandle are the first unit PP and play upwards of 30 minutes per night, but Yandle is likely going to be traded and he'll soon be the #2 in AZ.

8. Yandle will be traded for a forward

I don't really want this to happen as I have explained in the past, but I think it will. The Coyotes are just a mess up front and they need an impact forward. Yandle is the best way to make that happen, and their depth on D makes him somewhat expendable.

Hasn't happened yet, but, once again, give it time.

9. Mike Smith returns to form.

Hmmm sort of? While his early season struggles were well documented, he's actually been the Coyotes best player lately. Last week, for instance, the 'Yotes were destroyed in three games by the Leafs, Islanders and Ducks. Yet, because of the Smithster they won 2 of those games and lost to the Islanders 1-0. Should he continue with this level of play, he'll single-handedly cost the Coyotes a chance at one of the prized gems of the upcoming draft, while tantalizing fans by getting the team to within shouting distance of the playoffs, just like last year.

10. Dallas and Anaheim will not be so good

Like a fine cream, this prediction is half and half. The Stars lost 7 in a row before meeting (of course) the Coyotes this past Tuesday. The Ducks on the other hand are the best team in the NHL, getting by with Jason Lebarbera in net after both of their excellent goalies went down.

I would like to say I am a genius for predicting that Hemsky and Spezza were overrated acquisitions, but I think you'd have to say that I'm broken-clocking anything I get right at this point.

Which is why, in the future, I will try to make three times as many predictions so that I can say I got more things right.


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Arizona at Calgary

Tonight the Coyotes - with Mike Smith in net - will take on the Flames in Calgary. Coming off a disastrous loss to the Stars on Tuesday, the Coyotes are out on a Western Canadian adventure where they will hope to climb out of the basement of the Western Conference.

The Flames, who most people assumed would be terrible this year, are OK. They are only 9-8 but I guess expectations were so low that you would think they were tearing up the league. Standings aside, the Flames present a really winnable game for the Coyotes and hopefully they can take advantage of it.

Tippett suggested new power-play personnel and I am curious to see how the team will deploy tonight on the PP.

All for now,

Thanks for reading.

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