1. The Dawn of a New Era
My first bold prediction is one that covers all worst case scenarios. Injury bug. More career lows. Rock bottom hits. We get a new regime. No President. General manger is an internal promotion. And another new coaching switch.
2. Adam Fantilli Steals the Calder
He has wingers that will get him the puck and vice versa. Johnny Gaudreau. Patrik Laine. Kent Johnson. Kirill Marchenko. Yegor Chinakov. Alexandre Texier. Emil Bemstrom. Just a few
3. Zach Werenski Norris Run
With playing less than a quarter of the games in 22-23, Werenski tears the league apart and becomes one of the best defenseman in the league it healthy. Adding Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson deepens the defensive group around Z to become even better.
4. Boone Jenner - Captain Winger
Jenner returns to the wing where becomes the most effective player he can be. His crash and bang style while grinding in front of the crease is best executed with him as a winger, and this will improve his statistics and the team he leads
5. Patrik Laine plays 25-33% Center
I don’t like this idea, but he has been vocal about it and Larsen tried him there at the end of last season. As Fantilli develops into the top center, I see Jenner, Laine, Roslovic, and Sillinger are getting cracks at the top C before Fantilli holds the ball. In the stretch , I see Laine getting overused and exposed.
6. A Trio Will Appear
And no, not with the current PTO Aaron Dell. I think Columbus will go full time with three goalies on the main roster with Tarasov nearing closer and closer to taking the number one spot by motivating his competiton with Merzlikins and a new trade or free agent acquisition.
7. A Right Handed Defender Gets Traded
Columbus has five serviceable six handed defensemen between Severson, Boqvist, Peeke, Gubdranson, Jiricek, and Blankenburg. I think one easily gets moved, but unsure for what aside a pick or goalie help.
8. The Kids Get Buried or Burned
It’s Babcock. We saw how he treats the kids in the past.
9. The Vets Get Buried or Burned
It’s Babcock. We saw how he treats the vets in the past.
10. Playoffs
If anything it’s the second wild card against the best team in the east just like 2019. Time to birth a new monster and get to the second or third round for once?
11. Merzlikins Buyout Candidate
If another bad season continues for Merzlikins, new pastures await.
12. Gaudreau Point Per Game
After losing his Ironman streak, and being in a down year. He had a summer that some in the public eye know, given his move the previous summer, including the Kevin Hayes wedding and Vegas hockey media tour. He is ready for the season.
13. 40 Goal Scorer Patrik Laine
The rub of the power forward Patrik Laine disappears.
14. Jack Roslovic Departs
By trade or free agency, he was available this past deadline with no takers.
15. Eric Robinson Returns On Paycut
He has become a staple on the fourth line, and some believe he was a factor to Gaudreau’s signing. With a career year, expect him to stay.
16. No Long Term Deals for the Kids
With the team so close to the cap, I fully expect all the kids to be getting short 2-3 year bridge deals on friendly hits. It is Kek’s M-O and will be the way to manage his cap structure.
17. Monsters Finish Better
The prospect pool and depth in training camp together will give Trent Vogelhuber much more success this season, and can finish higher in the standings than Columbus in their standings, both Division and Conference.
18. MultiMillion Dollar RHD Benched
I see one of Boqvist, Peeke, or Gudbranson splitting time in the press box for Jiricek to get regular minutes this season. This could spark trade, frustration, or a demotion. They’re all waiver eligible aside the rookie Czechia defenseman.
19. New Starting Goaltender
Tarasov assumes the role by season’s end or a goalie is acquired via trade at the deadline (Hellybuck? Thompson? Ullmark?)
20. One All Star Representative
And only one - and no not Babcock.
21. Babcock Gets More of His Players
I have some feeling a couple of his guys will come around into the system with some power and based on his contract. Provorov was one that was public in the past, though Hanifin is more known from his time in Toronto.
22. 4 Defenders Score at Least 20 Points
Columbus has too many two-way defenders to not have this be possible.
23. Fourth Line Sink
After a productive 2022-2023 for Eric Robinson and Sean Kuraly, expect less from this season as the kids are healthy and ready to produce. There’s too many that want it, and will blossom despite last year’s results.
24. 35 Skaters Take the Ice This Season
Too many injuries last season has sparked me to do an over/under of how many skaters will take the ice, and this is where I’m landing. After 42 last season, I’m praying for a healthier season ahead.