So FINALLY the NHL season has arrived. While Ottawa fans will have to wait one more sleep to see their team in action for real, the march toward the 2016 Stanley Cup officially begins tonight with 4 games on tap.
So while a large percentage of pundits, insiders, and writers have made or will make their predictions on what will happen for the season today, nobody really knows for sure. The only thing guaranteed heading into tonight is that there are 30 teams currently tied for 1st place in the NHL with 0 points. After that, there are no guarantees, and that is why we all love the game so much.
So, I might as well toss my predictions out there, because it creates conversation and no matter how many things you get wrong, getting something right feels good and is something you can point at when all is said and done.
I will do a bit of broad NHL predictions and then throw out some predictions for the Senators as well. These predictions are mine and mine alone, not meant to insult you or your team personally if I don't have your team where you think they should be, so don't take it that way. It is just one guy's opinion and you can take it or leave it. Starting out west:
PACIFIC DIVISION STANDINGS
1. Anaheim - Balanced and ready 2. Los Angeles - Back in contention after an unusually long summer 3. San Jose - slight tweaks and re-energized with a new captain 4. Calgary - getting better with experience, a full season of Giordano and Hamilton makes impact 5. Edmonton - still some holes to fill 6. Vancouver - how did they get 100 pts last season? 7. Arizona - still a way to go, good young core but inexperienced
CENTRAL DIVISION STANDINGS
1. St. Louis - Solid lineup but can they get it done in the playoffs? 2. Dallas - Added solid vets, goaltending to already potent offensive lineup 3. Chicago - Still a playoff team despite short summer and off-loading of salary 4. Nashville - the anti-Stars, they will get it done with defense 5. Colorado - will battle for playoffs but fall just short 6. Minnesota - need their kids to step up, can Dubnyk repeat his heroics? 7. Winnipeg - I am just not confident, and can't explain why
METROPOLITAN DIVISION STANDINGS
1. Washington - A very solid club up and down the lineup 2. Pittsburgh - Kessel is new triggerman, they can't keep getting hurt so often, can they? 3. New York Rangers - Not many holes in this lineup 4. Philadelphia - I think they sneak back into the playoffs with top end talent and reclamation projects 5. New York Islanders - Will battle tooth and nail and could very easily move up 6. Columbus - I like them, but can't see them usurping those listed above. 7. New Jersey - Doesn't seem to be much direction here. Patchwork lineup doesn't look like it fits together 8. Carolina - Not too much to be excited about this year, except the possible trades of EStaal and Ward
ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDINGS
1. Tampa Bay - Salary cap problems on the horizon, their time is now 2. Montreal - Price is right and the Habs are getting deeper 3. Ottawa - Need to avoid doldrums so they don't fall 14 points back. Will be more consistent 4. Detroit - Richards finds fountain of youth with Tatar and Nyquist to form good 2nd line 5. Florida - Almost, but not quite there yet 6. Boston - What were they thinking this summer? Definite dip this season 7. Buffalo - Much improved, and could be even higher, but still some holes 8. Toronto - Last year wasn't rock bottom
AWARD WINNERS
Art Ross - Sidney Crosby Rocket Richard - Vladimir Tarasenko Hart - Ryan Getzlaf Calder - Connor McDavid Norris - Drew Doughty Vezina - Carey Price Jack Adams - Peter DeBoer Messier Leadership Award - Getzlaf
Eastern Conference Champion - Tampa Bay Lightning Western Conference Champion - Anaheim Ducks Stanley Cup Champion - Anaheim Ducks
OTTAWA SENATORS
The Senators announced their full opening day roster, and it included both Shane Prince and Matt Puempel. The demotion of Colin Greening opened the window to keeping both kids around, although I wouldn't expect it to last too long because both need to play on at least a semi-regular basis and if healthy they look like they are the 13th and 14th forwards to start the season.
Andrew Hammond starts on the injured list, so Matt O'Connor will be backing up Craig Anderson for the time being. There were no real surprises, as they are carrying 14 forwards (Turris, Stone, MacArthur, Hoffman, Zibanejad, Ryan, Michalek, Pageau, Lazar, Chiasson, Neil, Smith, Prince, Puempel), 7 defenseman (Karlsson, Methot, Ceci, Wiercioch, Borowiecki, Cowen, Wideman) and the 2 goalies. Chris Phillips, Buddy Robinson and Michael Sdao, who all either missed camp or were injured during camp, join Hammond on the disabled list.
I predicted above that the Senators would finish 3rd in the division. They will battle with Detroit for the 3/4 spots, although both should get into the playoffs. The Metro division might have more talent and more upper end teams, but they will also cannibalize each other and it will be tough for two of those teams to get Wild Card spots. That would mean another Montral-Ottawa matchup, and at this point in time I am not going to predict who will win that one.
As for individuals, I am only going to attach my name to 2 predictions. First, I am expecting big things from Mark Stone. I think last year's second half was just an appetizer and he has the potential to be a point per game player or very close to it and will be one of two Senators' representatives in the All-Star game in Nashville. Stone will be the Senators best forward, not only their highest-scoring one. He just has a certain "it" factor that makes me think he will join the conversation as one of the elite forwards in the game. He isn't as flashy as some, but people outside of Ottawa will take not of his all-around game and the way he plays it.
Second, the other Ottawa All-Star will be, naturally, Erik Karlsson. Karlsson should be in the Norris conversation all year and could even win for the third time, but I think Doughty is due. I don't know if he will set a career high in points, but he will be very close to or exceed 20 goals and 70 points.
Enough talk. Let the games begin! This is what we have waited 3 months or more for.