So here we are again. One of my favorite blogs of the season. My 56th annual “Whackiest Prediction Blog.” (where, oh where, has the time gone?)
I much prefer writing this than “actual” predictions (which I will of course give over the next two days) because as any national reporter will tell you: “You can’t win in the prediction game. When you cover all the teams you are going to anger people because not every team can make the playoffs.”
So remember… with these predictions I get to go to extremes and fully expect that most, if not all of you, will disagree with almost everything I say…And I know most of these predictions will not come to fruition, yet some will. Every year.
First, a look back at last year’s picks that went right (and horribly, terribly wrong.)
Winners (aka....sort of close...)
#3. Winnipeg will win the Central Division. They didn’t win the division but they damn near did and it may be hard to remember this, but not many people had the Jets even making the playoffs last October 1st..
#4. The Blackhawks will have to fight for their lives to make the playoffs as a wild card team. They didn’t even make the playoffs…most thought they would at least make the playoffs…remember they finished atop the division the previous year…
#7. The LA Kings Jonathan Quick will dominate the first two months of the season but the Kings will still NOT make the playoffs. The Kings barely made the playoffs, but Jonathan Quick did win the Jennings trophy.
#12. The Vegas Golden Knights will finish ahead of two teams in the West. Enough said….on the podcast I doubled down and said they would be in playoff position by US Thanksgiving…
#19. Werenski will be a Norris Finalist. Close…..maybe should have won…
#21. The NY Islanders will finish ahead of the NY Rangers. May not have been pretty for either NY team, but the Isles did indeed finish ahead of the Rangers…
Now that I have wow’d you…here are some of the whacky predictions that were in fact TOO Whacky last year.
#5. Montreal will make the biggest trade of the 2017-18NHL season with: The St Louis Blues. nope….but these teams probably wish they had.
#8. The Flyers will be leading the Metro Division on January 1, 2018 Although they did in fact make the playoffs, the Flyers were DEAD Last in the division on Jan 1
#10. The Maple Leafs will be one game away from the Stanley Cup Final. I meant second round….
#11. Jack Eichel will be one of the top three finalists for the Hart Trophy. I meant Mr. Hall in NJ….
and finally….
#13. The Oilers and Flames will finish #1 and # 2 in the Pacific. Not sure what order yet… I meant…NOT AT ALL SURE
Anyway…let's get on to this years…
Ek's 6th Annual Whackiest Predictions:
#1. Watch out for the teams everyone is thinking are doomed.. NONE of Montreal, the Senators, or the NY Islanders will finish last in their divisions. If we have learned nothing about this sport it is that the more a team is put down the more chemistry is displayed…and just because you lose key players doesn’t mean you lose more games.
#2. The Edmonton Oilers will make the playoffs, but not with their current head coach at the helm.
#3. The Vegas Knights will be the top team in the NHL for the first two months of the year, but will then hit a rocky road and make the playoffs as a Wild card team.
#4. The Sharks will struggle out of the gate despite the big Karlsson pickup…especially on the power play.
#5. The NJ Devils will be this year’s Vegas. They are probably the closest team in style and format to Vegas. If they get Schneider to be in top form they could challenge for the division.
#6. We will have a team threaten in the second half of the season to move to Quebec, They will leave after next season and this may mean Seattle and a relocated Quebec both enter in 2020-21.
#7. Carter Hart will be the Flyers starter by February 1. The official word was “we wanted him to play an entire year in the AHL, but like everything Hart does he was so dominant that he really only need 1/2 of a season.
#8. The Atlantic Division will be led by BOTH Florida teams.
#9. Cam Ward will have the Blackhawks in the playoff hunt into January,
#10. The Kings go from the team giving up the least amount of goals to the team in the bottom third defensively…The two Southern Cal teams will be out of the playoffs.
#11. Colorado will trade a goalie to the NY Islanders…but no guarantee as to which goalie..
#12. Max Domi will have double the points of Alex Galchenyuk
#13. There will be a major re-structuring at the top in leadership at the NHL. No one will leave, but people may swap positions…
#14. The Buffalo Sabres will finish within 3 points of the Boston Bruins.
#15. The Predators will at some point talk trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins…Kessel and a prospect will head to Nashville and a Top 4 (or potentially top 4 D) along with Kyle Turris will go to the Penguins.
#16. The Islanders will again finish ahead of the Rangers…
#17 Artemi Panarin will be a Montreal Canadien or Detroit Red Wing at the deadline.
#18. Bruce Boudreau will be in the running for the Jack Adams.
#19. Elias Pettersson will get at least 75% of the points the combined Sedins got last year…They got a combined 95….so how about 73?
#20 Hockeybuzz will be sold to Yahoo for $93 Million…I will move into a gold house… (told you they were whacky picks right?)
So now…let’s hear some of yours….
Some of yours from last year…
Bo: Kyle Connor will finish with over 50pts and take the Calder
thestarsvolta: NJ Makes the Playoffs
spazzbot: My wack prediction - Karlsson gets traded right before deadline...in reality i doubt it
Rinosaur: Carolina finishes #2 in the Metro followed by Pens and Caps.
Aussiepenguin: Buzztron 9000 will become Buzztron 9002 & take over the world.
gwshark: After stumbling out of the block, the San Jose Sharks will come to their senses and finally terminate Doug Wilson...after he stupidly fires Pete DeBoer trying to save his job.
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