always love hockey season even though the Canadiens will be brutal.
Habs @ Leafs, B's @ Caps, Flames @ Canucks, and Ducks @ Sharks
Some interesting games to start.
My predictions on standings (just by conference) * = playoffs
East:
*Tampa
*Toronto
*Washington
*Boston
*Pittsburgh
*CBJ
*Buffalo
*NJ
Philly
Florida
Carolina
Detroit
Islanders
Rangers
Habs
Ottawa
West:
*SJS
*Nashville
*Winnipeg
*Kings
*Calgary
*Chicago
*Canucks
*Dallas
Minnesota
Colorado
St Louis
Vegas (FU Vegas)
Anaheim
Edmonton
Arizona
Conference Finals:
East: Tampa vs Toronto
West: SJS vs Winnipeg
Finals: Tampa vs Win, Tampa wins
Awards:
Hart: McDavid
Lindsay: Crosby
Ross: Laine
Selke: Kopitar
Vezina: Martin Jones
Norris: Subban
Calder: Kotkaniemi
Adams: Maurice
Byng: who cares
That's it.
that's about all I have to hope for this season. I'm not overly confident about that prediction, but the Habs do have a shit roster. Especially up front. But they are considerably better on the blueline and in net compared to Ottawa.
I think the Rangers will deal Vesey, Spooner, and possibly even Namestnikov in addition to others.
just joking. I have no hate for LVG, great story last year, and a lesson to a lot of "experts" - not me, I'm not an expert, but i couldn't have been more wrong about them.
Plus, they got Pacioretty and I thought they would be really bad last year, but they were awesome and made me look bad.
that's about all I have to hope for this season. I'm not overly confident about that prediction, but the Habs do have a shit roster. Especially up front. But they are considerably better on the blueline and in net compared to Ottawa.
LOL, it's last or second to last. You are probably right though.
MTL is very young, and not good, so they can't even rely on their veterans. Though they do have Plekanec back to center the 4th line.
And maybe the Canes fan?
Still a pretty cool story.
I think you might be a bit surprised
By the end of the season, that's about the number of fans that will be at the Garden, if not sooner with that rebuilding roster.
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On hockey threads this year? Isles, rangers, habs, sens will all suck. I guess the 3 devils fans and the caps fan can enjoy the season.
And maybe the Canes fan?
I actually like the Canes off-season, they could be a sleeper team, but more likely a couple years away, some high upside youth in that system.
That's how I see it too. Maybe I'm just overrating the impact of the coaching change but Quinn has been such a breath of fresh air with his approach. The forward group is pretty deep with a few guys with the potential for a breakout. Defense could be a bit of an adventure. But Hank is still there and I think at the very least they'll be entertaining and on the fringes of the playoff race for a while
Metro: Pittsburgh, Columbus, Carolina, Washington
Central: Winnipeg, Nashville, St. Louis, Dallas
Pacific: San Jose, Vegas, Calgary, Edmonton
Hart: McDavid
Vezina: Hellebuyck
Norris: Karlsson
Laine leading goal scorer
San Jose over Toronto in the Cup Final
Last year, I went to the Winter Classic, froze my ass off, but it was probably the highlight (or peak) of their year.
After that they went from being in a great position to being out of the playoff hunt in about a 15 game span.
Hart: Chytil
Lindsay: Chytil
Ross: Chytil
Selke: Andersson
Vezina: Lundqvist
Norris: Skjei
Calder: Chytil
Adams: Quinn
Stanley Cup: Rangers
President's Trophy: Rangers
Last year, I went to the Winter Classic, froze my ass off, but it was probably the highlight (or peak) of their year.
After that they went from being in a great position to being out of the playoff hunt in about a 15 game span.
That game was miserably cold.
He looked great in pre-season, I don't even know if he'll stick beyond 9 games. he should, it's a rebuilding team, but that's not how coaches coach.
but that was 100% a homer pick. It could be any of:
Petterson, VAN** (if not being a homer, I'd have picked Petterson)
Donato, BOS
Chytil, NYR
Dahlin, BUF
Mittlestadt, BUF
Svechnikov, CAR
Necas, CAR
Zykov, CAR (not sure if he's still a rookie)
Heiskanen, DAL
Tolvanen, NAS
Kyrou, STL
Thomas, STL
Cirelli, TB
Borgstrom, FL
White, OTT
even guys like Zadina, Tkachuk or Lias Andersson who are starting in the minors/AHL/Juniors
so much good, young, talent in the NHL right now.
People in the FanZone had beers that were frozen! My buddy got a hot chocolate that was still undissolved powder in a cup of cold water.
It took me the train ride back to the parking garage in Long Island City before I felt my toes.
And as a fan, IMO, the fan experience is too unpredictable because of the weather and the site lines usually suck because hockey has boards and the football or baseball stadiums aren't built for viewing hockey. I went to Frozen Fenway - which was terrible, and was offered free tickets to the Habs vs Bruins winter classic a few years ago at Gillette and passed.
That said, I like watching them on TV.
This year Bruins Blackhawks at Notre Dame
and Flyers Penguins at the Linc
I skated on a legit outdoor rink in an International tournament in Sweden, people sitting on snow banks watching us (on a team representing the US) play a Swedish team in a light snow in an exhibition game, and it was amazing. it took a period and a half of being awe struck before any of my teammates could focus on the game, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Kind of had a Mystery Alaska feel to it (from my memory - I was 14 years old).
Skating on a rink on baseball or football field? not a fan and I also hate watching those games in person.
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On hockey threads this year? Isles, rangers, habs, sens will all suck. I guess the 3 devils fans and the caps fan can enjoy the season.
And maybe the Canes fan?
And maybe even some of us Bruins fans? I know there are a few here. Yeah I know bleep Boston.
PJ - we were all made to look bad about Vegas - I think everyone got that one wrong.
Doubt it, unless multiple players take huge steps forward in their development in one year and multiple vets have career years.
Agree on Nico, kind of on Schneider too but I have to say Kinkaid seems to have taken that next step. He carried the team the 2nd half to get to the playoffs and was great in the Worlds. I think the big key for the Devils is their young guys on the tam like Nico, Zacha, Bratt etc... taking that next step and young guy like Quenneville stepping up as they really added nothing this off season in FA/trades. Carolina could step up, but their goaltending still sucks. The team I see that missed last year with the best chance of grabbing a playoff spot is Florida. They are loaded with offensive talent.
write-ups from the relevant team fans on here:
Svechnikov, 18, isn’t going anywhere. Hurricanes GM Don Waddell said Svechnikov will remain in Carolina all season because there isn’t much to benefit him in junior with the OHL’s Barrie Colts. The No. 2 overall pick collected five points (two goals) in five preseason games after netting 72 points in 44 games last year in Barrie.
The second son of Keith to make it to the NHL, Brady Tkachuk announced his decision this summer to leave Boston University after one year. The No. 4 overall pick racked up 31 points in 40 games last season as a freshman. Tkachuk, 19, could open the season on a line with and for the Sens.
There is no question Kotkaniemi, 18, earned his opening night lineup spot with the Habs by virtue of a crisp preseason. He was arguably Montréal’s best player for a significant chunk of the time, clearly not overwhelmed by the stage. The question is whether the No. 3 overall pick sticks into late October or whether it makes more sense for his (and the Habs’) development to continue to grow in the AHL or back in Finland with Assat.
8. LW/C Ryan Donato, Boston Bruins
Donato, 22, stepped right into the B’s lineup after leaving Harvard last March with nine points (five goals) in his first 12 NHL games. There is still clearly room to grow as he appeared in just three of Boston’s 12 playoff games. He could start the season on the third line alongside and
.
9. C Martin Necas, Carolina Hurricanes
Necas, 19, is a dark horse candidate for the Calder. He will be the Hurricanes’ second line centre behind . The Czech Republic native with high-end skill was drafted 12th overall in 2017 and had four points in four preseason contests.
Zykov, 23, was acquired from Los Angeles for on deadline day in 2016 in one of Ron Francis’ best moves as GM. Zykov appears ready to burst on to the NHL scene. He had seven points in 10 games with the Canes last year and is expected to open the season on the top line with Aho and Teuravanian.
It was a busy season for Chytil, who got a nine-game NHL taste last season in New York. He played 46 games for AHL Hartford and also represented the Czechs in both the World Junior and World Championships.
Giddy up. Coach Guy Boucher has raved about Formenton’s speed, which should give the Sens a much-needed kick in the pants. Formenton, 19, was a second-round pick in 2017.
Howden, 20, was acquired from Tampa Bay in the trade last February. The 2017 first-rounder collected 75 points in 49 games with WHL Moose Jaw and seven in seven games when he helped Team Canada to World Junior gold.
Georgiev, 22, is one of two rookie netminders on season-opening rosters. ’s latest backup appeared in 10 games for the Blueshirts last year with the Bulgarian posting a .918 save percentage.
White, 21, will likely open the season in a fourth-line role alongside and . The 2015 first-rounder has 23 career games under his belt already.
Rookie head coach Rod Brind’Amour raved about Foegele, a 22-year-old third-round pick who had seven points in five preseason games: “He’s what we want in a Hurricane.”
There will be no rookie dinner for vets from seven teams who are expected to open the season without any first-year players: Colorado, Nashville, New Jersey, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh and Vegas.
Link - ( New Window )
In all seriousness - I think the Rangers will be better than what the pre-season predictions state. They may hover around a playoff spot but it can go either way. Both NY teams with new coaches with entirely different resumes. Barry Runner's Trotz is obviously a great coach and Quinn hopefully brings a culture change to the Rangers as we rebuild this thing.
a lot of youth with some veterans, Staal, Williams, Ferland to name a few vets.
Will be down in Carolina for the Isles' opener on Thursday.
LGI!
Will be down in Carolina for the Isles' opener on Thursday.
LGI!
Hey Mike, I thought PGA told me you were off BBI for a bit. Good to "see" you on here. Still rocking the DiPietro look?
Good seeing you, too!
I think the Rangers will deal Vesey, Spooner, and possibly even Namestnikov in addition to others.
Resigning Namestnikov was imo a face-saving gesture. He did nothing with the Rangers.
But I think you are in thinking that these guys were not resigned with the future in mind.
Will be down in Carolina for the Isles' opener on Thursday.
LGI!
Mike,
I'm heading to the opener in Carolina too. Are you sitting with the Isles' fan group?
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I'm not going to make predictions, haha.
Will be down in Carolina for the Isles' opener on Thursday.
LGI!
Mike,
I'm heading to the opener in Carolina too. Are you sitting with the Isles' fan group?
GO CANES!
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optimistic but I don't think the Rangers are going to be that bad. I think they'll be in the wildcard mix but will smartly sell pieces that they don't view as part of the future.
That's how I see it too. Maybe I'm just overrating the impact of the coaching change but Quinn has been such a breath of fresh air with his approach. The forward group is pretty deep with a few guys with the potential for a breakout. Defense could be a bit of an adventure. But Hank is still there and I think at the very least they'll be entertaining and on the fringes of the playoff race for a while
I'm going in with similar expectations.
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This season and him taking another step. The Devils season will hinge on Cory Schneider’s play. If he struggles they will miss the playoffs. They need him to return to form.
Agree on Nico, kind of on Schneider too but I have to say Kinkaid seems to have taken that next step. He carried the team the 2nd half to get to the playoffs and was great in the Worlds. I think the big key for the Devils is their young guys on the tam like Nico, Zacha, Bratt etc... taking that next step and young guy like Quenneville stepping up as they really added nothing this off season in FA/trades. Carolina could step up, but their goaltending still sucks. The team I see that missed last year with the best chance of grabbing a playoff spot is Florida. They are loaded with offensive talent.
I'm not a believer in Kinkaid. I doubt he repeats the level he was playing at last season. He played well above his head. I hope I am wrong but I am expecting him to return to his career norms.
Quenneville has finally won a roster spot and hopefully he will stick. He should be a 35+ point producer for the Devils. The Devils need one of Zacha, Quenneville, or McLeod to break out this season. Hopefully Zacha will because he will be given every opportunity as the 2nd line center. These are the projected lines as of now
Hall Hischier Palmieri
Johansson Zacha Bratt
Wood Zajac Quenneville
Coleman Boyle Noesen
Dea
Butcher Vatanen
Greene Severson
Mueller Santini
Lovejoy
Gryba
Hopefully Brind'Amour is the hard ass this team needs. Hold everyone accountable.
Agree, I have them missing the playoffs this year too. But not a bad sleeper pick. I think the Canes or Sabres are everyone's sleeper pick.
Aho, Svechnikov, Necas, Foegele, Zykov - that's a great young core to build on, not to mention the D they have.
Not sure who was calling the shots there, Francis or someone else, but the past couple years they've nailed almost every move.
Need to see it translate to on ice success now.
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I'm not going to make predictions, haha.
Will be down in Carolina for the Isles' opener on Thursday.
LGI!
Mike,
I'm heading to the opener in Carolina too. Are you sitting with the Isles' fan group?
Hey Metnut.. yup! Are you?