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September Predictions — Pacific Division |
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Here we are, the last part of the division previews and predictions. If you read yesterday’s blog, which can also be found at the bottom of this page, we have previewed that 5 teams will be coming out of the Central Division, leaving only 3 spots in this one. Why is not 4 and 4? The balance. Soon, it will switch. Very soon. The Pacific isn’t ready yet. With that said, here are the final rankings, starting with last:
8. San Jose Sharks
Will they realize they need to rebuild, the overpayment and pushing of veterans and glory of 2016 has passed. They are nowhere near close to a playoff spot and are the weakest team in the weakest division, but won’t be last in the west.
Alex Barbanov—Tomas Hertl—Timo Meier
Kevin LeBanc—Logan Couture—Luke Kunin
Oskar Lindbom—Nick Bonino—Matt Nieto
Noah Gregor—Nico Sturm—Steve Lorentz
Mario Ferraro—Erik Karlsson
Marc-Edouard Vlasic—Markus Nutivarra
Radim Smiek—Matt Benning
Kappo Kahkonen
James Reimer
Injured — Nikolai Knyzhov
7. Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken got a lot better, between adding a whole unit of Shane Wright, Andre Burkavosky, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Michael Kempny, Justin Schultz, and Martin Jones. However, they’re building an identity and a young roster where they’re years away still from competing let alone contending. If they can get Bedard, maybe that changes.
Jaden Schwartz—Alex Wennberg—Jordan Eberle
Andre Burkavosky—Matthew Beniers—Oliver Bjorkstrand
Jared McCann—Shane Wright—Yanni Gourde
Brandon Tanev—Morgan Geekie—Joonas Donskoi
Vince Dunn—Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleskiak—Justin Schultz
Carson Soucy—Michael Kempny
Phillip Grubauer
Martin Jones
Injured — Chris Dreidger
6. Anaheim Ducks
Dumbfounded about their summer is an understatement. Klingberg and Kulikov on one year deals make sense. Strome and Vatrano? Still don’t get. They’re nowhere near anything. Let the kids play, but they’re not winning.
Mason McTavish—Trevor Zegras—Troy Terry
Max Jones—Issac Lundstrom—Maxime Comtois
Adam Henrique—Ryan Strome—Frank Vatrano
Sam Carrick—Derek Grant—Jakob Slifverberg
Cam Fowler—Jamie Drysdale
Dmitry Kulikov—John Klingberg
Urho Vaakainen—Kevin Shattenkirk
John Gibson
Anthony Stolarz
PTO - Nathan Beaulieu
5. Vancouver Canucks
This team of the 32 is the most confusing position. They have too much talent to miss the playoffs. They have no depth to win. Their defense is extremely weak aside Quinn Hughes. Their offense is upper echelon, they need cheap talent to complete this roster.
Nils Hoglander—Elias Petterson—Brock Boeser
JT Miller—Bo Horvat—Connor Garland
Vasily Podkolzin—Jason Dickinson—Ilya Milheyev
Tanner Pearson—Curtis Lazar—Andrei Kuzmenko
Quinn Hughes—Tyler Myers
Oliver Ekman-Larsson—Luke Schenn
Travis Dermott—Tucker Poolman
Thatcher Demko
Spencer Martin
PTO — Danny DeKeyser
Injured — Michael Ferland
4. Los Angeles Kings
One new guy does not make a roster. Sure, Kevin Fiala is a star. He’s a top liner. The kids are still developing in Los Angeles, and now is now their time. Not with the team a bit further east of them existing.
Adrian Kempe—Anze Kopitar—Kevin Fiala
Trevor Moore—Phillip Danault—Viktor Arvidsson
Alex Iafallo—Quinton Byfield—Gabriel Valardi
Rasmus Kapuri—Blake Lizotte—Arthur Kayliev
Mikey Anderson—Drew Doughty
Alex Edler—Sean Durzi
Tobias Bjornfort—Matt Roy
Cal Petersen
Jonathan Quick
Injured — Sean Walker
And making the playoffs:
3. Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights have Phill Kessel. The Vegas Golden Knights have a full season of Jack Eichel. The Vegas Golden Knights stole Bruce Cassidy. They have the worst goaltending in hockey with Robin Lehner out, but they have the best top two defensive pair in Shes Theodore and Alex Piterangelo; and captain Mark Stone.
Chandler Stephenson—Jack Eichel—Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith
Nicolas Roy—Brett Howden—Phil Kessel
William Carrier—Michael Amadio—Keegan Kolesar
Shea Theodore—Alex Piterangelo
Alec Martinez—Brayden McNabb
Ben Hutton—Zac Whitecloud
Adin Hill
Logan Thompson
Injured— Shea Weber, Robin Lehner, Nolan Patrick, Laurent Brossoit
2. Edmonton Oilers
Will the Oilers get the right players for the best Center trio in hockey? The jamming of them together is easy for teams to shut down, and the undisciplined Evander Kane situation still looms over hockey. They will be a contender, but what will it take for them to get there?
Zach Hyman—Connor McDavid—Evander Kane
Mattais Janmark—Leon Drasatil—Jesse Puljujarvi
Ryan McLeod—Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—Kailer Yamamoto
Warren Foegele—Derek Grant—Devin Shore
Darnell Nurse—Tyson Barrie
Brett Kulak—Evan Bouchard
Ryan Murray—Cody Ceci
Jack Campbell
Stuart Skinner
Injured — Mike Smith, Oscar Klefbom
1. Calgary Flames
Brad Treliving is the most patient man in hockey. He managed to turn Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, and Sean Monahan into Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Hubderdeau, and Mackenzie Weegar. They have the best defense in hockey; the most physical team in hockey; and one of the best goalie tandems in hockey. The regular season is theirs. The playoffs, on the other end, is where the questions are with Calgary.
Jonathan Hubderdeau—Nazem Kadri—Elias Lindholm
Andrew Mangiapne—Mikael Backlund—Tyler Toffoli
Jakob Pelletier—Blake Coleman—Dillon Dube
Milan Lucic—Kevin Rooney—Trevor Lewis
Noah Hanifin—MacKenzie Weegar
Oliver Kylington—Rasmus Andersson
Nikita Zadarov—Chris Tanev
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
PTO— Cody Eakin, Michael Stone
To wrap up the final preview:
1. Calgary Flames
2. Edmonton Oilers
3. Vegas Golden Knights
4. Los Angeles Kings
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. Seattle Kraken
8. San Jose Sharks
What are your thoughts? More to come…
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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