Predictions for the 2013-14 season

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Still a little early, not totally sure what the rosters will be like on opening day, but based on the information currently available, I think it'll go something like this,


Atlantic Division
1. Boston Bruins - proven to be one of the top teams in the NHL & Eastern Conference in recent seasons.
2. Detroit Red Wings - great team (goes without saying) but sort of going thru transitional period.
3. Ottawa Senators - very deep and talented team, plays good D, has great goaltending.
4. Montreal Canadiens - deep, talented, lots of speed, but somewhat soft.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs - achieved great things last season, sort of my dark horse team in the division.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning - lots of talent, improved goaltending, but questionable defense.
7. Buffalo Sabres - really can't say anything nice about them except for Ryan Miller & Thomas Vanek.
8. Florida Panthers - probably the worst team in the Eastern Conference.

Metropolitan Division
1. Pittsburgh Penguins - ran away with their division last year, expect them to do the same again.
2. Washington Capitals - really turned it on last year, should be the Pens' #1 threat in the division.
3. New York Rangers - Tortorella seemed to be what held them back, new coach, new opportunities.
4. Philadelphia Flyers - got a puck moving dman, got 2 capable goalies, really addressed last years issues well.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets - remind me a lot of the New York Rangers, my dark horse for the division.
6. New York Islanders - achieved great things last season but I have doubts about that defense.
7. New Jersey Devils - good depth & balance, but going thru a transitional phase, could surprise tho.
8. Carolina Hurricanes - need Cam Ward healthy & the D to improve or else they have no hope.

Central Division
1. Chicago Blackhawks - defending Cup champs, maintained their core, team to beat.
2. St. Louis Blues - great young talent, lots of speed, great D, should be the Hawks' greatest threat.
3. Winnipeg Jets - good physicality & speed, very good overall team, could surprise people in the division.
4. Minnesota Wild - lots of young prospects coming up and should help them out.
5. Dallas Stars - ended season strong should pick up where they left off.
6. Nashville Predators - underachieved last season, should be better this year.
7. Colorado Avalanche - lots of young talent but lack depth on the blue line.

Pacific Division
1. Los Angeles Kings - they really seem to be the best team in the division, can't pick against them.
2. Anaheim Ducks - ran away with the division last year, could do the same this year.
3. San Jose Sharks - very talented team, great goalie, I think they'll challenge the Ducks & Kings for top spot.
4. Vancouver Canucks - lost some pieces, sort of have doubts about Tortorella, rebuilding year IMO
5. Phoenix Coyotes - solid defensive team, good dmen, always seem to overachieve.
6. Edmonton Oilers - lots of talent/depth for forwards, not so much when it comes to defensemen
7. Calgary Flames - team in complete disarray right now, in rebuilding process


Overall conference standings,

Eastern Conference
1. Boston Bruins
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Detroit Red Wings
4. Washington Capitals
5. Ottawa Senators
6. Montreal Canadiens
7. New York Rangers
8. Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference
1. Chicago Blackhawks
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. St. Louis Blues
5. San Jose Sharks
6. Winnipeg Jets
7. Vancouver Canucks
8. Minnesota Wild


Draft Lottery
1. Calgary Flames
2. Florida Panthers
3. Carolina Hurricanes
4. Colorado Avalanche
5. Buffalo Sabres
6. Edmonton Oilers
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Phoenix Coyotes
9. Nashville Predators
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
11. Dallas Stars
12. New York Islanders
13. Columbus Blue Jackets
14. Toronto Maple Leafs


BTW if you feel bad that I'm picking your team to not do well, don't be, I have an awful track record to preseason picks, especially if the latest title from the NHL series hasn't come out. I would be more worried if I got your team doing well.

 

[BlueWolfZero]

Gary Bettman will be the most hated man in the league

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Gary Bettman will be the most hated man in the league

Solid prediction but isn't he already the most hated "man" in the league?

 

[forty_three]

Oh man.... I better get cracking on my predictions.

The Dallas one practically writes itself.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Oh man.... I better get cracking on my predictions.

The Dallas one practically writes itself.

Don't worry you got time. I can't even take a prediction remotely seriously until 1 week before the season starts. We don't even know what the rosters will be like for sure. At least I don't. I just went off CapGeek.com.

 

[forty_three]

Don't worry you got time. I can't even take a prediction remotely seriously until 1 week before the season starts. We don't even know what the rosters will be like for sure. At least I don't. I just went off CapGeek.com.

That's good news for my predictions.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

That's good news for my predictions.

Way I see it, I can't make a real prediction until I do all the following,

1st - play all the teams on NHL 14
2nd - hear about all the preseason games on NHL Tonight
3rd - read up on all the rosters out of camp and who got snubbed

My official predictions will come out on September 30th.

 

[forty_three]

Way I see it, I can't make a real prediction until I do all the following,

1st - play all the teams on NHL 14
2nd - hear about all the preseason games on NHL Tonight
3rd - read up on all the rosters out of camp and who got snubbed

My official predictions will come out on September 30th.

Yeah, I'm kind of the same way. I can't make a prediction until I find out:
1) Which (off off off) Broadway musical Malkin is starring in
2) Which goalie's name sounds the most like an Italian Sportscar (It's usually Vesa Toskala)
3) When Jaromir Jagr is getting the lifetime achievement award from an Indian Casino

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Yeah, I'm kind of the same way. I can't make a prediction until I find out:
1) Which (off off off) Broadway musical Malkin is starring in
2) Which goalie's name sounds the most like an Italian Sportscar (It's usually Vesa Toskala)
3) When Jaromir Jagr is getting the lifetime achievement award from an Indian Casino

1) Which team needs to get bailed out by the league
2) Which team has the most players whose last names you can't pronounce
3) Which team has a player who has something to prove from creating controversies the previous season from public drunkeness
e.g. Patrick Kane (Blackhawks), Mike Richards (Kings), both won the Cup the past 2 seasons. Wouldn't be surprised if Tim Thomas was drunk when he won the Cup as well.

 

[elocomotive]

More Eastern Conference teams will miss the playoffs than Western Conference teams.

 

[mattola]

one of the 30 teams will win the cup this year

 

[forty_three]

More Eastern Conference teams will miss the playoffs than Western Conference teams.

If a Western Conference team wins the cup, it will be 14% less impressive.

 

[mattola]

If a Western Conference team wins the cup, it will be 14% less impressive.

how quickly you turn on your old conference

 

[elocomotive]

If a Western Conference team wins the cup, it will be 14% less impressive.

I'll adjust my lack of enthusiasm meter accordingly.

 

[dash]

If a Western Conference team wins the cup, it will be 14% less impressive.

East Coast bias

 

[elocomotive]

how quickly you turn on your old conference

Your confidence is your weakness... your lack of faith in your friends is yours?

 

[elocomotive]

East Coast bias

I almost typed I don't want to hear "East Coast Bias" one damn time all season.

 

[David_son]

My prediction Loungo will enjoy Vancouver again by the end of the year but the Sedin twins will want to be traded.

 

[mattola]

My prediction Loungo will enjoy Vancouver again by the end of the year but the Sedin twins will want to be traded.

 

[mattola]

I predict we will abuse the shit out of puns