I can see the Oilers having the Ross and Richard trophies like the author predicts, but still missing the playoffs.

Yakupov goes for 50? 40? No way dude. I think Edmonton should be thrilled if he hits 20. I'm not saying that the guy is a bust, far from it. But in that rookie season, his shooting percentage was 21%! Dropped to 9% this past year! He's not going to be either of those for his career. Let's be optimistic and assume he falls in around 13% or so. He averages about 2 shots per game. Give him 150 shots over a full season. 13% shooting with that many shots is 19.5 goals.

For reference, Alexander Ovechkin has a career shooting percentage of 12.3% Crosby is 14.8%. Pavel Bure was 14.0%. Brett Hull was 15.2%.

So in order for Yakupov to score at the kind of rate you're talking about here, he'd have to get his shooting percentage at least as high as Alex Ovechkin's, and then DOUBLE the number of shots he's taking per game.

No dis, but it sounds like a mega stretch to me to assume that he'll get 30 even.

As for Boedker, I think he looks like a 50-60 point guy, and there's no shame in that. I think he probably just had his breakout season, rather than it coming this year. All Boedker did this year to double his goal total was to double the number of shots he was taking on net. It suggests that the quality of his shots wasn't improving, just the quantity of them. So the only way this guy is scoring 40 this year, as you're suggesting, is if he either takes 300+ shots on net this season, or if his shooting % comes in around 20 or so. Can't see either happening. But he definitely seems like he should be good to fall between 50pts and 60pts.
- the_terror

Shooting % is important., but there are so many factors. Both playes will get ice time increases, PP increases, plus, not so much for Boedker, but Yakupov will have a ton of second class defenders to exploit.

Overall, what I like about predictions in the summer is you can't be wrong until long after it's forgotten what you said! Still, it's a jumping off point.

I think this holds true for most predictions, however yours are usually so outlandish that they can be debunked immediately.

Oilers making the playoffs(no offense Oil fans) I think they will be better and take a big step in the right direction but the other teams in the West are just too stacked. And Yak going from 11 to 40-50 goals, you need to at least tone it down to something realistic, that's exactly why you take so much heat for your blogs.

Overall, what I like about predictions in the summer is you can't be wrong until long after it's forgotten what you said! Still, it's a jumping off point.

I think this holds true for most predictions, however yours are usually so outlandish that they can be debunked immediately.

Oilers making the playoffs(no offense Oil fans) I think they will be better and take a big step in the right direction but the other teams in the West are just too stacked. And Yak going from 11 to 40-50 goals, you need to at least tone it down to something realistic, that's exactly why you take so much heat for your blogs.
- nikel

You call it heat, I call it interesting discussions. I think calling the West "stacked" is preposterous. There are exactly 3 teams you can say for sure will make the playoffs (Chicago, LA, St.Louis) after that, it's pretty wide open, in my opinion.

You call it heat, I call it interesting discussions. I think calling the West "stacked" is preposterous. There are exactly 3 teams you can say for sure will make the playoffs (Chicago, LA, St.Louis) after that, it's pretty wide open, in my opinion.
- James_Tanner

On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if the playoffs teams this season were exactly the same as last season (albeit in a different order)

So, to recap:
-the Oilers have the best 1st line in hockey
-Yakupov will easily score 30-50 goals
-Oilers will make the playoffs
I love the summer.

So, to recap:
-the Oilers have the best 1st line in hockey
-Yakupov will easily score 30-50 goals
-Oilers will make the playoffs
I love the summer.
- BestRapperAlive

Shut up and go back to rapping, Andrew Lincoln.

You call it heat, I call it interesting discussions. I think calling the West "stacked" is preposterous. There are exactly 3 teams you can say for sure will make the playoffs (Chicago, LA, St.Louis) after that, it's pretty wide open, in my opinion.
- James_Tanner

The Ducks, maybe*?






*Definitely

So, to recap:
-the Oilers have the best 1st line in hockey
-Yakupov will easily score 30-50 goals
-Oilers will make the playoffs
I love the summer.
- BestRapperAlive

this coming from a yotes fan. Don't wanna hear "EDM fans thought this was the year!!" when EDM is 25 points out in february again

On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if the playoffs teams this season were exactly the same as last season (albeit in a different order)
- Morris

Hasn't happened during the salary cap era in either conference. I think there is too much parity to see that this year. A couple key injuries can tank a lot of teams playoff hopes.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if the playoffs teams this season were exactly the same as last season (albeit in a different order)
- Morris

I think the odds of that are astronomical. Someone always surprisingly sucks and someone is always surprisingly great.

Yakupov scores 50, RNH wins Art Ross, the Blues win the cup, and Don Cherry is abducted by aliens
- Yeah Boyes

do you really think the Blues can win the cup? Be realistic geez

So, to recap:
-the Oilers have the best 1st line in hockey
-Yakupov will easily score 30-50 goals
-Oilers will make the playoffs
I love the summer.
- BestRapperAlive

I do think the Oilers have the best first line in hockey. Other teams, either break up their best players (Crosby and Malkin) or only have a duo (Kessel, JVR) I think Eberle, RNH and Hall are going to tear it up.

Yakupov will score 30. I don't know about easily.

I do think the Oilers will make the Playoffs.

I hate the summer. Too hot.

You call it heat, I call it interesting discussions. I think calling the West "stacked" is preposterous. There are exactly 3 teams you can say for sure will make the playoffs (Chicago, LA, St.Louis) after that, it's pretty wide open, in my opinion.
- James_Tanner

I would also say ANA and SJ. I used to be a Ducks doubter, but not anymore, and especially after the addition of Kesler, even if he's out of his prime. And the Sharks always do well in the regular season, and didn't lose any important pieces from their core

Then there's Minnesota, who also got better I believe

And Colorado, though I don't think they will have the same success this season, still has an incredible group of young players. If you're saying the Coyotes will be better cuz of their young players improving, then you could say the same of the Avs, and they were already good

While I appreciate the support in the defense against Yakupov-homerism I think 30 goals is a stretch this year. I think most Oiler fans are hoping for 20-25 and 45-50 points. He has the talent to hit 30 but linemates and PP time will matter. Once he rounds out his overall game and Leon becomes more experienced, I see future chemistry and maybe then 30 goals will be had (we hope).
- ystoil

He was on pace for 29 the shortened season until that idiot Eakins came in and ruined him. i think with Ramsay running the PP he could easily get 30

I do think the Oilers have the best first line in hockey. Other teams, either break up their best players (Crosby and Malkin) or only have a duo (Kessel, JVR) I think Eberle, RNH and Hall are going to tear it up.

Yakupov will score 30. I don't know about easily.

I do think the Oilers will make the Playoffs.

I hate the summer. Too hot.
- James_Tanner

Maybe when they enter their primes they'll be a top 7-10 line but definitely not the best in hockey. Getzlaf-Perry, O'Reilly-Duchene/Landeskog-Mackinnon, Benn-Seguin-Hemsky, Saad-Toews-Kane, Gaborik-Kopitar-Brown, Parise-Koivu-Pominville, Nelson-Tavares-Okposo, Giroux-Voracek, Crosby-Kunitz, Thornton-Pavelski, Drouin-Stamkos, JVR-Kessel, Ovey-Backstrom could be argued to be better lines.

I think EDM'll be a lot better, but a lot better than sh*t isn't all that good. I see CHI, LA, STL, SJ, ANA, DAL as playoff locks n I think COL, VAN, WPG, PHX have better playoff odds than EDM.

I would also say ANA and SJ. I used to be a Ducks doubter, but not anymore, and especially after the addition of Kesler, even if he's out of his prime. And the Sharks always do well in the regular season, and didn't lose any important pieces from their core

Then there's Minnesota, who also got better I believe

And Colorado, though I don't think they will have the same success this season, still has an incredible group of young players. If you're saying the Coyotes will be better cuz of their young players improving, then you could say the same of the Avs, and they were already good
- Nick_Dangles

Anaheim doesn't really have the defence or proven goaltending to go deep in the playoffs, but they'll definitely make it

I don't know. I get your reasoning, but I think Detroit would make that trade. Yakupov isn't really a question mark, unless the question "How long until he is an elite player?"

Nyquist is a nice player, but I would think Yakupov is going to be way better. The Oilers won't trade him at the nadir of his value anyways.
- James_Tanner

100% correct. Nyquist is much closer to his ceiling than Yakupov.

I think the odds of that are astronomical. Someone always surprisingly sucks and someone is always surprisingly great.
- James_Tanner

sure, it's a low probability but there's no argument concerning holes to the teams' rosters or statistical analysis that suggests any of those playoff teams will fall out.

It's safe to make the argument that all of those playoff teams won't repeat but it's hard to make the argument that any of the non-playoff teams from last year will oust any one of those teams without it relying heavily on luck/injuries.

Maybe when they enter their primes they'll be a top 7-10 line but definitely not the best in hockey. Getzlaf-Perry, O'Reilly-Duchene/Landeskog-Mackinnon, Benn-Seguin-Hemsky, Saad-Toews-Kane, Gaborik-Kopitar-Brown, Parise-Koivu-Pominville, Nelson-Tavares-Okposo, Giroux-Voracek, Crosby-Kunitz, Thornton-Pavelski, Drouin-Stamkos, JVR-Kessel, Ovey-Backstrom could be argued to be better lines.

I think EDM'll be a lot better, but a lot better than sh*t isn't all that good. I see CHI, LA, STL, SJ, ANA, DAL as playoff locks n I think COL, VAN, WPG, PHX have better playoff odds than EDM.
- TheNugeIsHuge

Datsyuk-Zetterberg

1) Oilers will not make the playoffs
2) Tarasenko will outscore Yakupov this year (neither will touch 40, possibly 30 for Frank)
3) The Oiler's top line is not even top 5 in the league (yet)
4) Pronger for Brewer, Lynch, and Woywitka (E5)

Datsyuk-Zetterberg
- Feds91Stammer

Bailey, Matt Martin, and the rights to the final year of paying Yashin for those two

Datsyuk-Zetterberg
- Feds91Stammer

if they stay healthy

I would also say ANA and SJ. I used to be a Ducks doubter, but not anymore, and especially after the addition of Kesler, even if he's out of his prime. And the Sharks always do well in the regular season, and didn't lose any important pieces from their core

Then there's Minnesota, who also got better I believe

And Colorado, though I don't think they will have the same success this season, still has an incredible group of young players. If you're saying the Coyotes will be better cuz of their young players improving, then you could say the same of the Avs, and they were already good
- Nick_Dangles

of course they will take a step back, only winning the Central again or winning the western conference is matching/building on last year. Team isnt built for that(yet)

But they have solid goaltending, a respectable defence now (better but not great) and a nice collection of young talented forwards and some vet leadership.

Avs are 3rd/wild card at the very least. They are not a push over team even though people write them off as a fluke last season. MacKinnon, Duchene, ROR, Landeskog, Johnson, Barrie, and Varly is a very good young core to keep the team competive for years to come. Playoffs should be there unless there are major injuries to those players

sure, it's a low probability but there's no argument concerning holes to the teams' rosters or statistical analysis that suggests any of those playoff teams will fall out.

It's safe to make the argument that all of those playoff teams won't repeat but it's hard to make the argument that any of the non-playoff teams from last year will oust any one of those teams without it relying heavily on luck/injuries.
- Morris

I don't think it's luck. I see Stl, Chi and LA having enough depth on their rosters to withstand a couple key injuries. That's good management to me, not luck.

The difference between the rest of the teams isn't that much in my opinion; they all have a few good players and some holes. Pretty much every other team could be in trouble with the extended loss of a couple key players. Again, not luck, just not enough depth on those teams.