Lol predictions are funny cause nothing happens on paper in a vacuum of assumptions. Many teams have improved this year and the scores and play of games throughout NHL so far reflect these outcomes to be far less predictable. As it stands the criteria for finishing last is mostly injuries. The team with the most injuries and to key players with the least depth will likely finish last. Plus no one this year seem to be set for any tank as there is no Mathews or Mcdavid up for grabs.
- Nuck4U

Making predictions based on teams that have played 3 games is way worse than pre-season predictions, because then you don't have the fact that anything can happen in 3 games to really skew the numbers. I doubt ROR is going to end up with 137 points, I doubt Moulson is going to end up with 55 goals. But hey, those are the stats so they must be right!

For all the harping about stats from these guys, it's absurd that they'd use a 3 game sample size to justify anything.

canes, cbj, leafs easily the worst.. the amount of youth in important positions can't hold up over the whole season..

I just want to make sure I have this right, when the Sabres win it's because the other team didn't show up? Right... The Sabres outclassed the Oilers in game 2 of their new barn(should be really pumped up to play in it still) Lehner stood on his head and frustrated them all night, so they tried running him and that didn't work. And ROR had 4 points, but no, you're right, the Oilers just didn't show up.
- Wetbandit1

No no. Sabres had a good game. It's not like they are up against world aBeaters in the Oilers. We're talking basement dwellers here. I was at the game... the Oilers were awfulllllll. Sabres were the better team that night. Wouldn't take it too far past that.

canes, cbj, leafs easily the worst.. the amount of youth in important positions can't hold up over the whole season..
- gopherwildfan

Do not underestimate NJ and Vancouvers abilities to be terrible this year.

Canucks will surprise people if they don't have major injuries like last season:

#1 and #3 defencemen (Edler/Hamhuis) out for 1/4th of the season each.
#2 centre (Sutter) only played 20 games, Canucks had to rely on sophomore Horvat for tough defensive match-ups.

Reasons to be hopeful:
- Leading the NHL in CF%
- This three game stretch matches their BEST 3 game stretch all of last season in terms of shots against.
- They only came back 3 times all of last season from behind 3-30-1. (This season: 3-30-0).
- They were horrid in overtime last season. This season they have been able to win in overtime.

They dominated St. Louis in possession for the entire game:
http://hockeystats.ca/game/2016020048

That said, I expect a 16-24th finish unless any top players get injuried and the Canucks have to rely on the questionable 4th line and 3rd defence pairing.

Canucks will surprise people if they don't have major injuries like last season:

#1 and #3 defencemen (Edler/Hamhuis) out for 1/4th of the season each.
#2 centre (Sutter) only played 20 games, Canucks had to rely on sophomore Horvat for tough defensive match-ups.

Reasons to be hopeful:
- Leading the NHL in CF%
- This three game stretch matches their BEST 3 game stretch all of last season in terms of shots against.
- They only came back 3 times all of last season from behind 3-30-1. (This season: 3-30-0).
- They were horrid in overtime last season. This season they have been able to win in overtime.

They dominated St. Louis in possession for the entire game:
http://hockeystats.ca/game/2016020048

That said, I expect a 16-24th finish unless any top players get injuried and the Canucks have to rely on the questionable 4th line and 3rd defence pairing.
- EastVan

dont bust a nut yet, its 3 games, its too small of a sample size to say a team is good or bad.

Also you never use all situations when discussing possession numbers, 5v5 only

dont bust a nut yet, its 3 games, its too small of a sample size to say a team is good or bad.

Also you never use all situations when discussing possession numbers, 5v5 only
- DDM-Coga

The most telling stat about this sample size is we have never led for any amount of time.

Thats not a good sign.

The most telling stat about this sample size is we have never led for any amount of time.

Thats not a good sign.
- classic321

tis true, wait 12 games until we start looking at teams fancy stats and start the we are good or we are bad math wise

dont bust a nut yet, its 3 games, its too small of a sample size to say a team is good or bad.

Also you never use all situations when discussing possession numbers, 5v5 only
- DDM-Coga

The Canucks #1 in the NHL 5v5..... 58.04%

I love this lack of depth for the sabres

On the blue line, love or hate risto, he belong on a top pair, if only as a #2 d man
In Bogosian and Kulikov, you have 2 decent D men in a 20-22 minute role
McCabe is an up and comer, does well in tourneys, and deserves a spot in the top 4.
Franson and Gorges, yeah they are meh, but only going to be playing 17 minutes a night and is an upgrade over a Mike Weber.
Casey Nelson, our 7th d man, had 4 points in 7 games and there is a reason a lot of teams were trying to sign him last spring.

Up front, Kane and Eichel will be back before Christmas
If you assume ror, okposo and reinhart is the top line then you still have....

Gionta, Girgensons, Ennis, Foligno, Larsson, Moulson and blue chip prospects like Bailey, Fasching, Nylander, Carrier and Baptiste to help round out the team during the next 2 months.

I get the sabres won't have a decent #2 line if they put the eggs in one basket for the top line, but they are not as bad as the canes, nucks, blue jackets, jets, and devils (minus hall)


I know you guys love to make the sabres your whipping post, but put a little more focus on a few other teams.

If the sabres were clearly the worst team then why did they take it to the oilers in Edmonton the other night, or did that game not count?
- homiedclown

Hahahahaha.....you throw the word "Blue Chip" around awfully loosely. I get that every fan tends to overvalue his/her own players, but come on. With the exception of Nylander, none of those guys comes even close to Blue Chip status

Worst teams in the NHL are Vancouver, Ottawa, and Columbus

Lehner played for Ottawa. Anderson played for Anaheim.
- Pairo11

So what?
A goalie can only be proven if they played for your current team?

I pretend to listen to the Smiths so I can be edgy and cool

-Tanner Takes
- DDM-Coga

I love the Tanner hate.

That should be a hotstove theme.

So what?
A goalie can only be proven if they played for your current team?
- ShayneCorsi

Well usually the players in front of the goalie do have some sort of impact on that goalie.. So to answer your question, I think it will take games/ seasons to see who is the better goalie between those two, as the Tor and Buf currently constructed rosters can be argued are fairly close.

I guess my point is if a goalie plays on a better (significantly) defensive team (Ana) then another goalie (Ott) then one would assume the goalie on the better defensive team will perform better. Doesn't always happen, but most times will.

If you need a visual look up: Bernier, Jonathan LAK stats vs TOR stats

The Canucks #1 in the NHL 5v5..... 58.04%
- EastVan

the chart link that was sent was all situations,

I love the Tanner hate.

That should be a hotstove theme.
- bloatedmosquito

I'm convinced that he does it all purposefully to generate hits. Responses start to die down and he'll float out a comment like, "Edmonton would have won the cup last year if Klefbom didn't get injured!"....or he'll bait the NYR and Hawks fans. Those guys are so easily sucked in....

Dude has the grammatical / writing skills of a seven-year old, but he knows how to get hits

I love the Tanner hate.

That should be a hotstove theme.
- bloatedmosquito

we are best friends, just busting balls with my BFF

Do not underestimate NJ and Vancouvers abilities to be terrible this year.
- Mr.Bobby

with key injuries yes, otherwise no.. based on rosters as is canes,cbj and leafs are the worst

the chart link that was sent was all situations,
- DDM-Coga

Check out this one... of course it is only a three game stretch.. but their shot suppression matches their best three game stretch in all 82 games last season:

http://www.corsica.hockey/teams/

Check out this one... of course it is only a three game stretch.. but their shot suppression matches their best three game stretch in all 82 games last season:

http://www.corsica.hockey/teams/
- EastVan

And they have not yet had a lead this season.

we are best friends, just busting balls with my BFF
- DDM-Coga

Why? He seems like a hateful little troll... with a fetish for stats.

And they have not yet had a lead this season.
- PepinoPamplemousse

But... 3 games!!

Why? He seems like a hateful little troll... with a fetish for stats.
- bloatedmosquito

I asked him if Im his best friend sinec he loves my posts, he didnt say No, so I assumed that was a yes

Check out this one... of course it is only a three game stretch.. but their shot suppression matches their best three game stretch in all 82 games last season:

http://www.corsica.hockey/teams/
- EastVan

not saying it wasnt true, but its a small sample size. No team is going to jump from 48% to 58% in cf% 5v5 in one offseason.

Its a nice little feather in your cap at the moment, but that sort of numbers wont last. Its still going to be an improvement from last years numbers, but wait 15 games or so to see how exactly the team is preforming with a proper sample size .

I asked him if Im his best friend sinec he loves my posts, he didnt say No, so I assumed that was a yes
- DDM-Coga

What college do you go to?

What college do you go to?
- bloatedmosquito

bovine university