NHL 2018-2019 Playoff outlook
Posted 5:11 PM ET | Comments 2
The NHL season starts in 23 days and it's a long way until April so here is my Playoff Prediction for the 2018-2019 Season.
Metropolitan: 1. Capitals 2. Penguins 3. Devils
Atlantic: 1. P-Lightning 2. Maple Leafs 3. Bruins
Wild card 1: Panthers Wild Card 2: Flyers
p* Presidents Trophy Winner
No playoffs for the Blue Jackets? Well, the distraction of Artemi Panarin's contract situation does not look good. They have not come close to an extension which looks like a trade is certainly looming. The Blue Jackets also lost Jack Johnson to free agency in July. Besides Seth Jones and Zach Werenski the defensive depth does not look to good.
Pacific: 1. Golden Knights 2. Kings 3. Ducks
Central: 1. Predators 2. Jets 3. Blues
Wild Card 1: Chicago Wild Card 2: Avalanche
No Oilers? No Wild? No Stars? No Sharks? The Central division is one of the hardest in Hockey, All teams in this division can compete. It's gonna be close but I think Chicago steps back into the playoffs after a disaster 2018 season. The Sharks is probably a head scratcher but this team is getting older and I don't see Evander Kane, as one of the younger guys, making a big impact like he did last year. This might be the end of an era for the Sharks and they will fall out of the playoff race, barely losing in the wild card race.
Metropolitan: 1. Capitals 2. Penguins 3. Devils
Atlantic: 1. P-Lightning 2. Maple Leafs 3. Bruins
Wild card 1: Panthers Wild Card 2: Flyers
p* Presidents Trophy Winner
No playoffs for the Blue Jackets? Well, the distraction of Artemi Panarin's contract situation does not look good. They have not come close to an extension which looks like a trade is certainly looming. The Blue Jackets also lost Jack Johnson to free agency in July. Besides Seth Jones and Zach Werenski the defensive depth does not look to good.
Pacific: 1. Golden Knights 2. Kings 3. Ducks
Central: 1. Predators 2. Jets 3. Blues
Wild Card 1: Chicago Wild Card 2: Avalanche
No Oilers? No Wild? No Stars? No Sharks? The Central division is one of the hardest in Hockey, All teams in this division can compete. It's gonna be close but I think Chicago steps back into the playoffs after a disaster 2018 season. The Sharks is probably a head scratcher but this team is getting older and I don't see Evander Kane, as one of the younger guys, making a big impact like he did last year. This might be the end of an era for the Sharks and they will fall out of the playoff race, barely losing in the wild card race.
Devils third in division? No.
If the Flyers were only 7 points out of the top spot in the Metro, and significantly upgraded both the wing and defense, what makes them drop from a top-3 team to a wild card? I don't think any other teams in the Metro have improved at all.