HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Stanley Cup predictions for the 2019-20 season

James, who are Toronto's top 3 defensemen?

Reilly, Muzzin and Barrie?

Ottawa sweeps Edmonton in the Finals.

Mark my words.

James, who are Toronto's top 3 defensemen?

Reilly, Muzzin and Barrie?

Why bother?

James, who are Toronto's top 3 defensemen?

Reilly, Muzzin and Barrie?
- BINGO!

Yup.

And that's somehow arguably better than let's say..... Jones-Werenski-Murray or Burns-Karlsson-Vlasic.

Somehow.

Yup.

And that's somehow arguably better than let's say..... Jones-Werenski-Murray or Burns-Karlsson-Vlasic.

Somehow.
- Scabeh

Or it's an opinion thrown out there in order to generate more traffic in the comments section

Yup.

And that's somehow arguably better than let's say..... Jones-Werenski-Murray or Burns-Karlsson-Vlasic.

Somehow.
- Scabeh

Savard >>> Murray

Philly V Nashville

Hart continues his ascent into star status, Niskanen and Braun (despite their flaws) help stabilize the D corps and their deep forward group is spearheaded by one of the best lines in the league. Konecny breaks out and Frost joins the team in March (after Patrick is traded or injured) and makes a tertiary scoring threat with Lindblom and someone acquired at the deadline. Oh, and Pitlick at some point scores a series winning goal.

Rinne struggles early but Saros takes over backstopping the team as Granlund and Turris bounceback to add the expected secondary punch to their scoring while Forsberg reaches new heights as the league's premier, new age powerforward. Oh and Fabbro fills the hole left by Subban because Nashville.



BOOOOOLD!!!

Philly V Nashville

Hart continues his ascent into star status, Niskanen and Braun (despite their flaws) help stabilize the D corps and their deep forward group is spearheaded by one of the best lines in the league. Konecny breaks out and Frost joins the team in March and makes a tertiary scoring threat with Lindblom and someone acquired at the deadline. Oh, and Pitlick at some point scores a series winning goal.

Rinne struggles early but Saros takes over backstopping the team as Granlund and Turris bounceback to add the expected secondary punch to their scoring while Forsberg reaches new heights as the league's premier, new age powerforward. Oh and Fabbro fills the hole left by Subban because Nashville.



BOOOOOLD!!!
- MaximumBone

Phillie's D is immensely overrated.

As is their Captain.

Phillie's D is immensely overrated.

As is their Captain.
- BINGO!

Suck it! I'm making bold and wide-sweeping predictions, whore

Besides, I never said their D was good; the best D corps usually doesn't win.

My heart says Bolts...

My head says Caps...

Suck it! I'm making bold and wide-sweeping predictions, whore

Besides, I never said their D was good; the best D corps usually doesn't win.

Oh, it’s uhhhh, bold alright. Quite bold.

I mean I like it, but...

Phillie's D is immensely overrated.

As is their Captain.
- BINGO!

Philly, my man. We’re not talking about this loon




I’m not sure they’re overrated, underrated, or just rated. When Myers comes up, it’s just a bunch of kids with boom or bust potential.

Philly is rated exactly as it should be: average

Giroux is certainly not overrated however

Bruins over Calgary in 5

Bruins have the formula down pat.

Philly is rated exactly as it should be: average

Giroux is certainly not overrated however
- bulet13

Fraud giroux sucks and so do you now

As is their Captain.
- BINGO!

After mulling it over, I'm actually curious as to the reasoning behind why you think this?

Both mcdavid and Draisaitl put up 100 points last year and were 11 points out of a playoff spot. You would have to bank on Kassian solidifying his spit on the top line, James Neal returning to form and Draisaitl not regressing for the oilers to really be in any considering. Realistically if the oilers could get depth scoring from there other three lines there’s a chance they make it in. But even if all that works out their goalie is more than likely not going to be good which may put that all to waste

After mulling it over, I'm actually curious as to the reasoning behind why you think this?
- MaximumBone

I don't, really, I'm mostly just irrationally going after the Flyers here.

I will say that in 12 years he's only hit the 30 goal mark once, and given his age there's a decent chance he finishes his career with less than 300 goals scored.

That said, he's still a more than fine player.

Both mcdavid and Draisaitl put up 100 points last year and were 11 points out of a playoff spot. You would have to bank on Kassian solidifying his spit on the top line, James Neal returning to form and Draisaitl not regressing for the oilers to really be in any considering. Realistically if the oilers could get depth scoring from there other three lines there’s a chance they make it in. But even if all that works out their goalie is more than likely not going to be good which may put that all to waste
- RedC21

Or you could count on their bottom-6 not being the lowest scoring in pretty much history again. Even the next worst in league (Buffalo iirc) had like 17 more goals than theirs did which probably covers for Draisaitl's regression. Also, Neal scoring more than Lucic did might cover for Chiasson's likely regression. You could also factor the possibility for the PK to improve as even a league average PK would make the difference of 12 goals. And that's assuming a similarly poor level of play from their goalies as they had last year.

Still very unlikely, but not the abject impossibility you make it out to be.

Yup.

And that's somehow arguably better than let's say..... Jones-Werenski-Murray or Burns-Karlsson-Vlasic.

Somehow.
- Scabeh

Muzzin is really underrated, he's incredible. 40 points, 13th in 5v5 scoring, elite defense and the best possession driver in the league. When not with Zaitsev he was 57%.

Anyways, while Jones may one day be better at this point, Rielly for sure, and probably Muzzin are superior to him. Leafs better top three than Columbus for sure.

Probably not better than San Jose though because the top two is insane, but Vlassic is way, way worse than Barrie. A very big drop off there.

I don't, really, I'm mostly just irrationally going after the Flyers here.

I will say that in 12 years he's only hit the 30 goal mark once, and given his age there's a decent chance he finishes his career with less than 300 goals scored.

That said, he's still a more than fine player.
- BINGO!

Well, I won't blame you for trolling your division rivals

Hmm, the leafs suck because they haven't won a round.

Lightning are a breeze to the Cup though, even though they haven't won a game

Muzzin is really underrated, he's incredible. 40 points, 13th in 5v5 scoring, elite defense and the best possession driver in the league. When not with Zaitsev he was 57%.

Anyways, while Jones may one day be better at this point, Rielly for sure, and probably Muzzin are superior to him. Leafs better top three than Columbus for sure.

Probably not better than San Jose though because the top two is insane, but Vlassic is way, way worse than Barrie. A very big drop off there.
- James_Tanner

You should really watch him play hockey James, he's pretty average

Just going to throw this out there. One of these bloggers picked the St. Louis Blues to win the Cup last year as his preseason pick. Guess which one.