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New York, NY • United States • 2013 Years Old • Male
I do this every year, just for fun. The so-called hockey experts have their say, and I figure why not have mine? I'm a huge hockey fan, I've been following the league since a youngster - my earliest memories the 93-94 season and the infamous 7-game series between the NY Rangers and Vancouver. So here I go.

Regular Season Predictions

Western Conference
1. Detroit, 50 wins, 108 points
2. San Jose, 48 wins, 104 points
3. Vancouver, 44 wins, 99 points
4. Chicago, 45 wins, 98 points
5. Calgary, 42 wins, 95 points
6. Anaheim, 40 wins, 93 points
7. Phoenix, 41 wins, 92 points
8. Columbus, 40 wins, 90 points
Just missing: Edmonton, Dallas, Nashville

Eastern Conference
1. Montreal, 48 wins, 106 points
2. Washington, 45 wins, 100 points
3. Philadelphia, 46 wins, 99 points
4. Pittsburgh, 45 wins, 97 points
5. Ottawa, 43 wins, 95 points
6. NY Rangers, 42 wins, 94 points
7. Buffalo, 42 wins, 93 points
8. Tampa Bay, 41 wins, 92 points
Just missing: New Jersey, Boston, Carolina

Playoff Predictions

FIRST ROUND:
1. DET vs. 8. CBJ - Detroit in 5
2. SJS vs. 7. PHX - Phoenix in 7 (my dark horse team)
3. VAN vs. 6 ANA - Vancouver in 6
4. CHI vs. 5. CGY - Chicago in 5

1. MON vs. 8. TBL - Montreal in 5
2. WSH vs. 7. BUF - Buffalo in 6
3. PHI vs 6. NYR - Philadelphia in 7
4. PIT vs. 5. OTT - Ottawa in 6

SECOND ROUND:
1. DET vs. 7. PHX - Detroit in 6
3. VAN vs. 4. CHI - Vancouver in 7

1. MON vs. 7. BUF - Montreal in 7
3. PHI vs. 5. OTT - Philadelphia in 6

CONFERENCE FINALS:
1. DET vs. 3. VAN - Detroit in 6

1. MON vs. 3. PHI - Montreal in 6

STANLEY CUP FINALS:
DET vs. MON - Montreal in 6

A Stanley Cup for the Canadiens to celebrate their 100th season with the National Hockey League.

Just having some fun...who knows how it will turn out, but I think the powerhouses are pretty well defined, and Detroit and Montreal will be among the upper echelon all year long.

It should be an exciting season, and I'd love to be wrong on my predictions and see some new teams in the Finals this year...like Buffalo!

NOTE: This is an extension of the Western Conference predictions I did in my Chicago Blackhawks hockey blog, http://hawkeycentral.windycitizen.com.
Filed Under:   2008   2009   playoffs   season   nhl   predictions  
October 1, 2008 10:52 PM ET | Delete
How do you think the canucks are gonna make it to the conference finals let alone win their division????? Unless they give up less than a goal a game cause there is no way they are scoring more than 2 a game. I'd be surprised if they finish higher than 10th
October 1, 2008 11:15 PM ET | Delete
Easy. I think your team is overrated and I don't think your division is as strong as it used to be. Central Division will be the one to beat this year, with Chicago and Columbus both making the playoffs.
October 1, 2008 11:20 PM ET | Delete
Yeah, I'm not seeing what you see in Vancouver. I don't think they even make the playoffs.
October 1, 2008 11:22 PM ET | Delete
hey i don't think the oilers will win the division but i see them making the playoffs and not vancouver
October 1, 2008 11:36 PM ET | Delete
the canucks had an off year last season, but i loved their acquisition of bernier and some of the aggressive moves they made - and their pitch at sundin. new blood in that organization and i think it bodes well for them. and if sundin somehow does join them, which i doubt, but you never know, that puts them over the top.
October 1, 2008 11:38 PM ET | Delete
slimryan, i just think the northwest is weak this year. and usually i find it to be one of the league's strongest divisions. look at the point totals i handed out...yeah, i have vancouver winning the division but not by much and i have edmonton barely missing the playoffs - by a point i'd say. just predictions, just fun.
October 2, 2008 12:08 AM ET | Delete
millertime, i just want to say that's a great user name, however you should give it away to someone who has an ounce of hockey sense.The Canucks are NOT that good.The Red Wings will repeat....and finally picking your ass is a better choice than picking Tampa.
October 2, 2008 12:21 AM ET | Delete
i wouldn't mind another trip to the ECF. keep at it and soon enough you'll break through. go flyers!
October 2, 2008 12:25 AM ET | Delete
boberrey, we're all entitled to our opinion before the puck has even dropped on the new season.chipiii, thnx for the comment. flyers will be good, again.
October 2, 2008 12:33 AM ET | Delete
LETS GO RANGERS!
October 2, 2008 12:58 AM ET | Delete
I know it's just for fun but no way Washington has moer points than Philadelphia. I know you only put them ahead by 1 but I think the Flyers will win the conference and be 3rd in the league. 1st place in the NHL is a toss up between Detroit and Dallas. Which brings me to my next point NO WAY IN H-E-L-L Dallas is out of the Playoffs, they KOed San Jose last year and they only got better.
October 2, 2008 1:13 AM ET | Delete
Yeah, btw, no way the Canucks are going that far.
October 2, 2008 2:10 AM ET | Delete
well filly, i have dallas "just missing" ... i think teams like chicago, phoenix and columbus have improved so much that it's going to throw a whole new mix into the conference. just my opinion.
October 2, 2008 2:11 AM ET | Delete
we'll see rags..i think they're really underestimated. if they make the playoffs, and everything works out the way i have it (which i understand it wont, but hypothetically) - i can easily see them getting by anaheim and chicago in 7-game series.
October 2, 2008 6:35 AM ET | Delete
Toronto has been projected by The Hockey News as a 7 to 10 team. I think thats about right this team isn't bad enough to win the lottery draft and I think they are just as good as Carolina or New Jersey. I think counting the Leafs out will back fire on everyone who doubts them. But on another note it is kind of good that people doubt them kind of relieves the pressure on them.
October 2, 2008 11:23 AM ET | Delete
I have a couple of things to comment on. 1. I like what you have from the Canucks. Last year was a fluke. Obviously, as a Canucks fan I am biased but I really think they are beaing greatly underestimated. Now, I'm not one of those clowns going around talking about the cup because we're 5-0 and just wiped calgary's a** last night, but the truth is that we've beat some decent lineup this pre-season. Last night we beat calgary 6-1 with iginla, phaneuf and kipper all in while non of Bieksa, Mitchell, Ohlund, or Salo (that would be our top for), nor the sedins or bernier were in the lineup. The truth is I see 30 goals, possibly more out of mason raymond this year, the sedins will finally find themselves in the top 15 scorers with around 85 points, and Sami salo will have the most goals among d-man. On top of that, count on a career year from the best goalie in the world and I think grabbing the division is not at all a stretch.2. I strongly disagree that columbus and phoenix will make the playoffs. Columbus because they aren't good enough and phoenix because they will have to go up against Dallas Anaheim and San Jose so many times... these are not only good teams, but physical teams who will be pounding those in their division.3. In their place I have Dallas at 6, calgary bumped down to 7 and Edmonton at 8. However, the truth is that the North west is in every way, up for grabs. One could substitute vancouver calgary and edmonton any way they want to and I would have a hard time arguing. Don't underestimate the canucks though, last year was a fluke... scoring on the canucks is always generated from the back andlast year was a terrible year for injuries, something edmonton knows all about with souray and pitkanen. With difficulties in the pacific division, I could even see one of us making catching second spot. 4. the 9-10-11 spot, i see phoenix, nashville, colorado, columbus in that order.
October 2, 2008 12:26 PM ET | Delete
thanks for the comment talentscout. time will tell for Columbus and Phoenix.. i think young teams like that may surprise people. as for the Canucks - I believe you are RIGHT ON! Last year WAS a fluke for Vancouver and they really should have made the playoffs then... This team is loaded with talent and I think they do have a legit shot at the division as you say - that's why I picked them. You're not biased - Vancouver will be good this year.
October 2, 2008 1:15 PM ET | Delete
Philadelphia > Washington, did we not prove that??
October 2, 2008 1:32 PM ET | Delete
Canucks suck. Washington > Flygirls
October 2, 2008 3:20 PM ET | Delete
Devils out??? Uhh I should be used to it now. The devils will make the playoffs like they do every year. Of course everyone will doeubt that but we devils fans are used to it.http://www.nypost.com/seven/10012008/sports/devils/devs_underachievers_look_to_rebound_131467.htmWell guys this article speaks for itself. Going 32-2-2 when they scored more than 2 goals!!!!!! Its scary to think what will happen if Rolston truly makes an offensive impact.
October 2, 2008 3:21 PM ET | Delete
Devils out??? Uhh I should be used to it now. The devils will make the playoffs like they do every year. Of course everyone will doeubt that but we devils fans are used to it.-----------------------------------------------------------------http://www.nypost.com/seven/10012008/sports/devils/devs_underachievers_look_to_rebound_131467.htm---------------------------------------------Well guys this article speaks for itself. Going 32-2-2 when they scored more than 2 goals!!!!!! Its scary to think what will happen if Rolston truly makes an offensive impact.
October 2, 2008 4:04 PM ET | Delete
Even though its painful to watch the devils their system does get them into the playoffs.....which in the devils case is more of a boreoff
October 2, 2008 5:54 PM ET | Delete
i have NJD just missing. a point here or there..that's hockey. i can see them finishing anywhere from 6th to 10th though to be honest.
October 2, 2008 8:43 PM ET | Delete
Preds will most definatley make the playoffs just like that last four years. Patric hornqvist (the swede who broke Foppa's rookie records in the Swedish league) is going to be a huge impact with Rads gone. we have one of the best PK in the league.
October 2, 2008 9:41 PM ET | Delete
ummmm...yeah i guess everyone gets an opinion......
October 3, 2008 6:19 PM ET | Delete
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmminteresting to say the least (vancouver will end up 15th, just a heads up)
October 4, 2008 2:17 AM ET | Delete
1. Saying the preds will definitely make the playoffs is a stretch to say the least.2. Vancouver 15th, we couldn't finish below LA if we played wellwood in net.3. Who cares about toronto this year.4.Miika and old times, im sure you enjoyed teh game the other night, wait for this week weh we actually dress our top scorers and our top 4 d-men.5. The devils truly are a bubble team, very difficult to say.6. It's hard to say who will be better between the caps and flyers, there is no doubt that the caps have a much easier division. Don't get too defensive about his predictions, he took into account the fact that the Flyers will have a much tougher schedule.7. Columbus isn't young, they're just bad. Phoenix however has some decent young talent and I wouldn't be surprised to see them crack the top 8 in the west. I nabbed Jokinen and Doan in a draft tonight, hopefully that pans out.
October 4, 2008 11:45 AM ET | Delete
talentscout - for the record only a moron would put a ton of stock in ANY pre-season game (and that includes Calgary's slaughter of Edmonton last week) Pre-season is all about working out the kinks. Hell, LA had the best pre-season record in the league last year and we all know how well that translated for them into the regular season. That being said, I think Vancouver is getting shafted by a lot of people. I'd say Vancouver has one of the best defensive cores in the entire league and that's not counting having arguably the best goaltender in the game backstopping them. Their core was decimated last year with injuries and people in Edmonton and Colorado can cry all they want and say they had the exact same problems with injuries but the fact is Col and Edm Lost primarily offensive players while their d stayed pretty well intact. Vancouver's game is based soley on it's defence and defence wins in this division. The proof of this: just look at the last three division champs in the NW and all played a style based soley on defence first. They may win a lot of close games but a 1-0 or 2-1 win still amounts to 2 points on the season.This division shouldn't be as tight as it has been the last couple of seasons but I still think its gonna be a dogfight. saying Vancouver will end up 2nd last or last in the conference is just rediculous. but hey, that's why they play the games right.
October 4, 2008 3:12 PM ET | Delete
thanks talentscout and jimirude for the feedback - u nailed my opinions exactly
April 5, 2012 2:35 PM ET | Delete
Pens out 1st round......okFAIIL
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