I have previewed every team heading into this upcoming season. On October 1, the 2013-2014 NHL season begins with three games, including a contest between the defending champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Washington Capitals. As such, the time has come for me to make some predictions for the upcoming season. Normally, when predicting the standings, I would just rank the teams in each conference from one to 15. However, now that the league has realigned, the playoff format is different. Now, the top three teams in each division make the playoffs, along with two wild card teams. So, I will rank the teams in each division, and then point out which teams I think will be the wild cards. Every postseason is better with wild cards. Anyway, onward and upward with the prognostications.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
1. Boston Bruins
2. Ottawa Senators
3. Detroit Red Wings
4. Montreal Canadiens (wild card)
5. Tampa Bay Lightning
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
7. Florida Panthers
8. Buffalo Sabres
Metropolitan Division
1. New York Rangers
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Washington Capitals
4. Philadelphia Flyers (wild card)
5. Columbus Blue Jackets
6. New York Islanders
7. Carolina Hurricanes
8. New Jersey Devils
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
1. Chicago Blackhawks
2. St. Louis Blues
3. Minnesota Wild
4. Dallas Stars
5. Nashville Predators
6. Colorado Avalanche
7. Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
1. Los Angeles Kings
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Vancouver Canucks
4. Anaheim Ducks (wild card)
5. Edmonton Oilers (wild card)
6. Phoenix Coyotes
7. Calgary Flames
Those are my predictions for position finishes. I'm taking the Kings to win the President's Trophy. I predict the Flames to have the worst record.
In the Stanley Cup Final, I am predicting the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings meet, and the Rangers will win it all as John Tortorella looks on forlornly from Vancouver. Now, for some singular award predictions.
Calder: Valeri Nichushkin (I know he is the popular name floating about now, but I am not here to be an iconoclast)
Art Ross: Sidney Crosby
Maurice Richard: John Tavares
Norris: Ryan Suter
Vezina: Henrik Lundqvist
Hart: Crosby
I believe that is all I have to say. The season begins soon. I am very excited. I presume you are as well. Let us revel in the excitement.
