Here are my predictions for the 2019-20 NHL season.

Atlantic

1. Tampa Bay Lightning - Jon Cooper's Bolts were a victim of being too good last year. Advanced video scouting helped the Blue Jackets find a hole in Tampa Bay's seemingly foolproof roster, and the Lightning had no idea what to do when they punched in the mouth for the first time all season. But that's the playoffs, and this is the regular season. This is still the most talented roster in all of hockey. They'll win the Presidents' Trophy yet again.

2. Boston Bruins - Everybody's quick to point out that the B's window is closed and that they're not going to get back to the Stanley Cup Final. They might be right. But the Bruins still have perhaps the best one-two punch in net in the entire league with Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak, and they're insanely deep down the middle, with a one-two-three of Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Charlie Coyle.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs - I was honestly so close to bumping the Leafs ahead of the Bruins this year. But there's a few things I don't love about this team: I'm not crazy about the loss of Nazem Kadri. Yes, the Leafs have Auston Matthews and John Tavares down the middle at the top of their roster, but I think you'll notice the loss of Kadri over an 82-game season, and I'm not sure Jason Spezza is a great replacement when it comes to the little things that made Kadri such a weapon. I'm also not crazy about this defense once you get beyond Morgan Rielly. It could very well be another year of a downright bombed Frederik Andersen.

4. Florida Panthers (Wild Card No. 1) - I think this is the year we all give Aleksander Barkov the respect he deserves. Also love replacing Roberto Luongo with Sergei Bobrovsky. Oh, and I almost forgot: Coach Q is running the show in Sunrise now. Things are looking good.

5. Buffalo Sabres - Every single year I'm ready to buy in on the Sabres, they disappoint. I think this team will be fun to watch -- adding Jimmy Vesey, Marcus Johansson, and Colin Miller are all moves I can get behind -- but I don't see it elevating them to the postseason.

6. Montreal Canadiens - Canadiens bench boss Claude Julien will coach a team that battles hard, competes, and does all the little things. But in a division with as much high-end scoring talent as the Atlantic, it really won't matter at the end of the day.

7. Ottawa Senators - At least Thomas Chabot was signed.

8. Detroit Red Wings - The slow build continues in Detroit.

Metropolitan

1. Washington Capitals - The Caps swapped Matt Niskanen for Radko Gudas, replaced Brett Connolly with Richard Panik, and still have cap space to add if they want. That last note is a potentially devastating development to the rest of the NHL.

2. Carolina Hurricanes - I was happily on board that "The Hurricanes Were A Fluke" train entering the summer. But then the team added Ryan Dzingel, Erik Haula, Jake Gardiner, and backup goaltender James Reimer. Factor that in with what was already a loaded defense corps (even with the loss of Justin Faulk), as well as the continued development of Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov and this team looks poised to compete yet again.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins - Phil Kessel's gone, but the one-two punch with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remain in the fold. Kris Letang is still in the picture, and Matt Murray remains in net. Until those players take noticeable steps backwards, it's impossible for me to count the Penguins out of the equation. And you know Jim Rutherford won't be afraid to take another high-risk gamble if he believes it will bring another Cup to the Steel City.

4. New York Rangers (Wild Card No. 2) - Kaapo Kakko, Artemi Panarin, and Jacob Trouba? Screw it, I'm in on the Rangers, even if I should know better than to throw roses at the shiny new toys before they prove anything (especially with the Rangers).

5. New Jersey Devils - This team is going to be so much fun to watch. But is Cory Schneider going to be healthy enough to propel them into the postseason? It's too much of an unknown for me to comfortably put them in the playoff picture, as much as I want to.

6. Philadelphia Flyers - I probably shouldn't be as down on the Flyers as I am, but where is this team dramatically better? Kevin Hayes is a nice piece. But another high-end defenseman (not Justin Braun or Matt Niskanen) would have been better when it comes to me throwing my faith in this year being Philly's year to return to the postseason, especially with Carter Hart looking to be The Guy in Philly.

7. New York Islanders - I wish this team kept Robin Lehner.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets - The Blue Jackets lost Panarin, Bobrovsky, and Matt Duchene. They replaced them with Gustav Nyquist. Oof.

Central

1. Colorado Avalanche - These guys are going to be the most electrifying team in hockey this season. That superhuman first line, Kadri, and Cale Makar? I'm in. Must-watch stuff.

2. Nashville Predators - This might be the best center depth in Preds history. Factor that in with a versatile and capable defense, and a goaltender who had a resurgence in 2018-19 and I'm in on the Preds re-opening their championship window.

3. Dallas Stars - I'm not overly in love with all of the Stars' moves -- they got older by signing Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry -- but the young defensemen are intriguing, and Ben Bishop is always good for a stat line that pushes a team into the postseason.

4. St. Louis Blues (Wild Card No. 1) - Fine. Whatever.

5. Chicago Blackhawks (Wild Card No. 2) - While I don't understand the organization's obsession with getting the band back together (the Hawks brought Andrew Shaw back into the mix), I really like the addition of Robin Lehner to go with Corey Crawford in the Chicago crease. That will pay off in a major way as Chicago pushes themselves back into the postseason picture.

6. Winnipeg Jets - That defense is going to look a whole lot different in 2019-20. And I'm afraid it's not for the better.

7. Minnesota Wild - Putting this team in last feels extreme to some, I'm sure, but there's comfort (I guess) in knowing that last place in this division is probably fifth or so in most other divisions in the NHL.

Pacific Division

1. Vegas Golden Knights - I admit, I'm a Golden Knights honk. I just love what this team looks like, especially up front. Having Mark Stone for a full season is going to make a major difference for this team, and Marc-Andre Fleury is one of the most consistent goaltenders in the league when upright and managed properly. This team will challenge for the Presidents' Trophy.

2. San Jose Sharks - It's going to be a lot of fun when this team adds Patrick Marleau as a free agent in the middle of the season. One final run with the band, baby.

3. Calgary Flames - I'm a habitual Flames Doubter every April. But I can't deny the promise of this offense, as well as the way their defense corps supports that.

4. Arizona Coyotes - They almost pulled it off last year, and they added Phil Kessel in the offseason. And I'd love to pencil them in for one of the wild card spots out West, but goaltender Antti Raanta is already dealing with some injury woes.

5. Anaheim Ducks - John Gibson is too good of a goaltender for this team to truly tank.

6. Vancouver Canucks - J.T. Miller, Micheal Ferland, and Tyler Myers? Not an awful start. Now comes the harder part in Vancouver: Making it blend together for some wins.

7. Edmonton Oilers - Is the year that finally forces Connor McDavid into a mental breakdown and makes him develop an actual disdain for the Oilers as an organization? One look at this wingers and I'm inclined to believe so.

8. Los Angeles Kings - They're a year older and are bringing almost the exact same roster back to Hollywood. I don't believe that's a good thing.

Awards predictions

Hart: Nathan MacKinnon.

Rocket: Alex Ovechkin.

Norris: Victor Hedman.

Vezina: Ben Bishop.

Selke: Aleksander Barkov.

Adams: Rod Brind'Amour.

Stanley Cup Playoffs predictions

In the East, I think this one will come down to the Lightning (they gotta get over this hump eventually, right?) and the Penguins. I'll take the Bolts in that series.

Out West, I'm going with Vegas taking the Stars down in the third round.

And give me the Golden Knights over the Lightning seven games.

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