Time for my annual predictions post, because after all, there just ain’t enough of them. :-)
Overall, I believe that the status quo will hold. The Central Division still appears to be the strongest in the league, but the Pacific is coming up rapidly on the inside. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Pacific take one of the wild cards this year and the Central only send four teams to the playoffs. The Western Conference is unquestionable the stronger conference, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good teams in the East with Tampa Bay and Washington leading the pack.
My crazy pick this year? The Rangers miss the playoffs… why? read on...
So, here is my preseason breakdown by division. Bookmark this to make fun of me come April, but remember… I called LA missing the playoffs last season… I have it recorded!
Eastern Conference
The East has been the weaker conference for quite a few years now, the last Cup to be won by the East was Boston a few seasons ago, getting through the regular season seems a bit easier… and I wonder if that doesn’t make for a more difficult time in the playoffs. I use the example of SEC football… there is a reason that the National Championship has resided in the SEC multiple times in the past 15 years… the survivor of the SEC is more battle hardened and ready for the championship game… it’s the same way in the NHL.
That being said, the Eastern Conference should be improved this season. Perennial weak sisters like Buffalo and Toronto made some good moves over the offseason and should be better. The middle teams like Ottawa, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins have improved on paper and will contend. Let’s look at the divisions and my hair-brained picks…
Atlantic Division
My predicted order of finish (playoff teams in
bold)
1.
Tampa Bay – Loaded and hungry… deadly combination for the rest of the conference.
2.
Montreal – Carey Price will continue to carry this team.
3.
Florida – Surprise team in the East after a couple of teases… speedy with some skill.
4.
Detroit – Not as high on this team as a lot of pundits, youth movement will be good long term but will hurt in the short term
5. Buffalo – I like the moves this team made (beyond drafting Eichel) … they will compete.
6. Ottawa – Don’t think they capture the same lightning in a bottle as last season
7. Toronto – Will be better, but who’s going to monitor Mike Babcock’s blood pressure?
8. Boston – Oh how the mighty has fallen… rebuild time in Beantown
Metropolitan Division
My predicted order of finish (playoff teams in
bold)
1.
Washington – They made the right moves in the offseason, the cup window is open
2.
Columbus – This team will compete for the division crown, if they stay healthy… big if.
3.
Pittsburgh – This is a very good team, I still question the defense, but they will fill the net
4.
New York Islanders – Definitely a team on the rise, Brooklyn’s got a winning team...
5. New York Rangers – Due for a fall after two seasons of long playoff runs… they still could contend for a wild card if things break exactly right for them and Lunqvist stands on his head.
6. Carolina – They should climb off the bottom, but just barely.
7. Philadelphia – There’s a long slow rebuild needed in Philly, the fans are ready for one, the question lies with the front office, they do not appear to be.
8. New Jersey – Ray Shero has his work cut out for him.
Western Conference
Seven of the last nine Cups have gone to Western Conference teams, including the last four, I don’t see that trend ending this season. The West just seems to keep on getting tougher and better with each passing year and this season, you could make a case that the Pacific Division is every bit as difficult as the Central.
Honestly, the only team I have completely eliminated from playoff contention is the Arizona Coyotes, I can see any of the other 13 Western Conference teams making the playoffs this season, the line between in and out of the playoffs will be incredibly thin. So… here we go…
Pacific Division
My predicted order of finish (playoff teams in
bold)
1.
Anaheim – Big, tough, gritty, skilled… no reason to think they won’t win this division
2.
San Jose – A new voice in the locker room will help get this team back to relevance… until April.
3.
Los Angeles – The extended offseason (at least for them) will help tremendously, still have nagging questions about their blueline, but they return to the playoffs.
4.
Calgary – The Flames may take a small step back in points, but they get a wild card.
5. Edmonton – Yeah, yeah… the add of McDavid is a good thing… the changeover in the front office was what this team
really needed. May push the Flames for 4th
6. Vancouver – A team in desperate need of a rebuild and last year’s surprise playoff appearance delayed it.
7. Arizona – Year two of the rebuild in the desert, the ‘Yotes will be primary in the race for top pick in the 2016 draft
Central Division
My predicted order of finish (playoff teams in
bold)
1.
Nashville – Call it a homer pick if you want, this team filled their needs in the off-season and should win the division, if their key players stay healthy
2.
St. Louis – I can’t figure out what they did in the offseason… they will be good, just not as good as last season… which may be better for them in the playoffs. Go figure…
3.
Chicago – Not as deep talent wise, consistently deep runs over the past few seasons, cap issues, off ice issues. But they are still Chicago…
4.
Minnesota – The big question… Can Devan Dubnyk do it over a whole season? If so… they make the playoffs, if not… they don’t. It’s as simple as that.
5. Dallas – Offensive talent to win the division, blueline and goaltending questions keep me from picking them higher… this one may bite me in the butt…
6. Colorado – Last place last season… the only last place team to post 90 points (the others had 54, 58 and 71) … another team with blueline questions that need to be addressed
7. Winnipeg – This franchise has yet to win a playoff game and has serious questions in goal. I just don’t see where the Jets have kept up with the rest of the division.
So… there you have it… flame away!
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Random Notes
- A little surprised that the Predators are carrying eight defensemen on the Opening Night roster. Anthony Bitetto made the team after a solid camp.
- Nashville also begins the season with no one on injured reserve.
- Yikes! EA Sports has the Preds winning the Central as well in their season simulation, but they also have the Preds losing in the first round again…
- 41 games for Raffi Torres… sounds about right… and why does he keep getting signed?
- Glad to see the Devils retiring Martin Brodeur’s jersey. Well deserved…
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