Tomorrow, all will be right in the world once more as we kick off the 2023–2024 NHL season. It has felt like the longest off-season waiting to see Connor Bedard in the Indian head sweater. However, today I wanted to take a step back from writing as the Hawks blogger to writing as the hockey fan I am and give my predictions for the up-and-coming season. There is a lot to be excited about, with the game being truly the best it has ever been in terms of talent. You can make a case for almost every team (we all know the ones who have zero chance) in the league to have a shot at playoff hockey. Not only do I think playoff races are going to be tight and exciting to watch, but one of the individual awards races I am really looking forward to is the battle for the Calder Trophy. Bedard, Fantilli, Hughes, Cooley, Levi, Wright, and even Knies—this might be the best rookie battle we have seen in a long time.
Playoff Predictions: Western Conference Central Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche Minnesota Wild Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Edmonton Oilers Vegas Golden Knights LA Kings Seattle Kraken
Conference Winner: Edmonton Oilers
Eastern Conference Metro New Jersey Devils Carolina Hurricanes New York Rangers Pittsburgh Penguins
Atlantic Toronto Maple Leads Tampa Bay Lightning Florida Panthers Buffalo Sabres
Conference Winner: New Jersey Devils
Presidents Trophy: Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Winner: Edmonton Oilers Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid
Individual Awards Winner (runner ups) Hart: Connor McDavid (Jack Hughes Leon Draisaitl) Vezina: IIya Sorokin (Devon Levi, Jack Oettinger) Norris: Rasmus Dahlin (Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar) Calder: Connor Bedard (Adam Fantilli, Devon Levi) Selke: Nico Hischier (Mitch Marner, Anze Kopitar) Jack Adams: Don Granato (Jay Woodcroft, Peter DeBoer) Rocket Richard: Connor McDavid Art Ross: Connor McDavid
I will be back tomorrow with the first game preview of the season. We did, guys. We made it through another summer, and now a new era of Chicago Blackhawks hockey begins!
Check out the interview over at WCBPodcast!