The NHL season is officially underway today! Being the start of the NHL season, I decided to do something unique and different that no one has ever done before... a Bold Predictions blog. As the name suggests, the goal is to come up with a list of predictions that sit somewhere between a bit unlikely to absolute nuts.
Let's begin.
1) Matthew Beniers wins the Calder Easiest prediction I can make on this list. Beniers could be centering what will be considered the Kraken's top line and after a 32-38-70 point season, Beniers will establish himself as a dominant force in the league.
2) Morgan Geekie scores 15 goals Geekie has been a difficult player to watch. At times he looks like a dominant force on the ice who can skate circles around guys while other times he looks completely lost. Things will click for Geekie this year though as he establishes himself as a solid bottom six forward and finds a scoring touch.
3) Shane Wright gets sent down I think Wright is going to be an excellent player for Seattle moving forward but I also think he is going to struggle to produce much in this lineup in a bottom six role (where I think he will start). Eventually the team will realize it is in his best interest to be sent down and play top minutes in the OHL.
4) Dave Hakstol is first coach fired This year there are real expectations on the Kraken, not necessarily to make the playoffs but to take a meaningful step forward. After a rough October and start of November, Hakstol will be removed from the team and a new coach will be hired. Let's say Andrew Brunette gets another shot.
5) Kraken make the Playoffs Under Brunette, the Kraken's offense finally kicks into place and they end up having one of the better records in the NHL over the remainder of the season, squeaking into the playoffs in their last regular season game.
6) Alexander Wennberg earns a Selke vote I don't think Wennberg is going to win the Selke, or even finish in the top 10 of voting. But one writer is going to end up giving Wennberg a third place vote after a very respectful defensive season for Seattle.
7) Jared McCann scores fewer than 20 goals After being the highest scoring player for Seattle last season, McCann will end up having a reduced role this season, eventually working his way out of the top six and into a third line support role. McCann is still a great player and an asset to this team but other more potent offensive players will take his spot.
8) Grubauer reestablishes himself as a top 10 starter in the NHL After a brutal first season with Seattle, Grubs is going to put in all the extra effort to show that he is still one of the better netminders in the NHL. Grubauer will play the bulk of Seattle's games, playing in 55 games and will finish the season with a 0.919 SV%.
9) Seattle has the third best home record in the NHL... struggle on the road Climate Pledge Arena is going to be bumping this season and it will be a tough building to play in for other teams. Seattle will play brilliant hockey in front of their home crowd, making it all the more frustrating when wins are harder to find on the road.
10) Gritty and Buoy fight Give the people what they want you cowards.