Glad the NHL is back?  So are we.  We thought we would start with our yearly predictions and things that we are most likely to see in this upcoming season:

Most overrated teams: Bruins, Blue Jackets, Vegas

Teams most likely to surprise: Sabres, Habs, Islanders

Best Offseason Acquisition: J Tavares – Leafs, M Pacioretty – Vegas, J Skinner – Sabres, E. Karlsson – Sharks (if he can hack the Western Conference), M. Hoffman – Panthers

Worst Offseason Overpay: Paul Stastny – Vegas

A Star is Born: M. Rantanen – Avs

Young players not being talked about enough: T. Chabot – Sens, R Donato – Bruins, I Provorov – Flyers, T Jost – Avs

Breakthrough years: B. Horvat – Canucks, J Eichel – Sabres, A. Mantha – Wings, C. White – Sens, N Patrick – Flyers, PL Dubois – Blue Jackets

Most unlikely team goaltending to surprise: Wings – J Howard & J Bernier, Islanders – T Greiss & R Lehner

Stanley Cup Champion: Winnipeg defeats Toronto

Conference Semi Finalists: Winnipeg vs Los Angeles, Toronto vs Pittsburgh

 

NHL AWARD WINNERS:

Calder Trophy: E. Petterson – Canucks

Vezina Trophy:  F Andersen – Leafs, A. Vasilevskiy – TB, J Quick – Kings

Rocket Richard: Tie 48 Goals: A. Matthews – Leafs, P Laine – Jets

Art Ross: C McDavid – Oilers

Norris: J Carlson – Capitals

Hart: N McKinnon – Avs

Jack Adams: John Hynes – Devils, Honourable Mention: Travis Green – Canucks

Lady Byng: V Tarasenko – Blues

Frank J Selke: A. Barkov – Panthers

 

My 2018-19 NHL Standings Predictions:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Metropolitan Division

@frankzappia1:  New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, WC-Washington, Out: NYI Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Carolina

@Mass_Insight:  Washington, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, WC-Philadelphia, Out: Columbus, NY Rangers, Carolina, NY Islanders

Atlantic Division

@frankzappia1:  Toronto, Tampa Bay, Boston WC-Florida Out: Montreal, Buffalo, Detroit, Ottawa

@Mass_Insight:  Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay, WC-Florida Out: Buffalo, Montreal, Detroit, Ottawa

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division

@frankzappia1:  Nashville, Colorado, Winnipeg, WC-St Louis Out: Dallas, Minnesota, Chicago

@Mass_Insight:  Winnipeg, Nashville, Colorado, WC-Dallas,  Out: Minnesota, St Louis, Chicago

Pacific Division

@frank@zappia1: LA, San Jose, Edmonton, WC- Calgary:  Out: Vegas, Vancouver, Anaheim, Arizona

@Mass_Insight:  San Jose, Vegas, Calgary, WC-LA, Out: Edmonton, Anaheim, Vancouver, Arizona