Every year for the past several I have written a wacky prediction blog to start the season just to see if any of the craziest thoughts I have could possibly actually happen. Of course most don’t, because these are after all “wacky predictions… which I define by saying, “predictions which by their nature most people would not agree with.…
Last year I missed badly on a few:
2. The Detroit Red Wings will win the Atlantic Division. 9. The Toronto Maple Leafs will NOT finish in the bottom ten of the NHL. 15. Sergei Plotnikov will have a bigger impact on the Penguins than Phil Kessel.
While I got close or exactly right on a few others:
13. One of Stamkos, Kopitar or Eric Staal will become UFA’s on July 1. YES 11. The Edmonton Oilers will move a major forward out for a major Dman during the season..one of RNH, Eberle, Yakupov, or Draisaitl will be the cost. Possibly even Taylor Hall. ( ok didn’t happen during the season…) 14. Kreider will score more goals than Rick Nash for the NY Ranger. YES
And one from our fans in the comment thread:
xShoot4WarAmpsx wrote: “Flyers make the Playoffs in final wild card. Ottawa misses. Ottawa needed a miracle to get in last season, they wont do it again. Hammond will come back to earth.…
But Glak18 was a little off here…(except for the Vinny part and Raffl was re-signed..) “Flyers find a way to rid themselves of Vinny Lecavalier and Andrew MacDonald then immediately resign Yevgeni Medvedev to a 7 year/36.5M Michael Raffl 5 year/27M contract extension. Flyer fans give up and watch the Sixers.*…
*for those of you NOT from, Philadelphia, predicting that Flyers fans would give up and watch the Sixers IS the MOST Wacky pick one can make.
And Streit2ThePoint went way out on a limb saying… “Eklund will predict one rumor that is true.…
So…..honestly rumors are “reported on… and not “predicted," but I was fortunate to break one of the bigger trades last year…(Johansen for Jones)
So here are a few of mine for 2016-17
#1. After NO Canadian teams made the playoffs in '15-16, I predict 5 teams will be in the playoffs in '16-17.
#2. Anthony Duclair will be in the top ten in NHL scoring.
#3. We will see three coaches fired by Christmas. (Last year I predicted none the entire season)
#4. Matt Murray will win the Vezina trophy.
#5. The Ottawa Senators will be in the top 5 in scoring.
#6. Ben Bishop will be moved at or before the Trade Deadline.
#7. The Vegas team will be named the “Knights… after all.
#8. The Winnipeg Jets will finish ahead of the LA Kings in the standings.
#9. The NHL will announce next year’s Winter Classic won’t be played in a stadium, but rather Central Park in NY City.
#10 The Flyers starting goalie in the opening game of the playoffs will NOT be either Mason or Neuvirth.
#11. The NHL Center Ice Package will be legally forced to change it’s blackout policies regarding in-market games.
#12. The Stanley Cup Final will be an All Canadian Final within the next 3 years.
#13 Werenski will win the Calder over Matthews and laine
So let’s hear your wackiest predictions....
We will discuss all these and more on today's HockeyBuzzCast Live at 1pm ET
Listen to the HockeyBuzzCast on #iTunes w/ @eklund @mikeinbuffalo @sportsology @DanDanNoodles78 @fisherjillian https://t.co/4Vc8NnpljX #NHL
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) April 26, 2016