2015-2016 Early Playoff Predictions & Cup Champ
Posted 12:17 AM ET | Comments 0
For the fun as the season has had several changes here are my early predictions.
NHL Atlantic Division:
rn1: Tampa Bayrn
2: Montrealrn
3: Detroitrn
4: Floridarn
5: Bostonrn
6: Ottawarn
7: Buffalorn
8: Torontorn
I predict a dog fight between Montreal and Tampa, Tampa will emergeduring the season, with Detroit not far behind as the quality is still there despite new coach. Florida edges in 4th thanks to one last great season from Luongo. Last year's cinderella run is run down by a Boston team looking to attempt to crawl back in but the defense cant hold it. Buffalo improves but Lehner needs another year and OReilly is a second line center not first, Eichel firmly plants as that next year. Toronto is easy to predict.rnrn
Metropolitanrn
1: Pittsburghrn
2: Washingtonrn
3: NY Islandersrn
4: NY Rangersrn
5: Columbusrn
6: Carolinarn
7: Philadelphiarn
8 New Jerseyrnrn
Pittsburgh has offense and their defense surprises. Ovi goes for it again, with the Islanders slowly improving. The Rangers drop but the playoffs still in reach. Columbus has a better season, Carolina improves but not nearly enough with the Flyers lagging. New Jersey dog fights with Toronto for Matthews.rnrn
Wild Cards: NY Rangers & Columbus by a point.rnrn
Western:rn
Central:rn
1: St Louisrn
2: Nashvillern
3: Chicagorn
4: Winnipegrn
5: Minnesotarn
6: Dallasrn
7:Coloradornrn
All teams improves but unfortunately only three can make it. The top three are set, Winnipeg takes a leap from early Dubnyk struggles who rebounds.rnrn
Pacificrn
1: Anaheimrn
2: Los Angelesrn
3: Vancouverrn
4: Edmontonrn
5: Calgaryrn
6: San Josern
7: Arizonarnrn
New year and Edmonton barely misses out but the improvemtn makes them the team to watch. Los Angeles has a good year but one of the last. Same goes for Vancouver. Calgary regresses as expected but the team shows that they are a force to reckon with for years to come. San Jose drops further of no fault to Deboer the team needs to be revamped. Arizona fights for Matthews and challenges both NJ and T.O.rnrn
Wild Cards: Winnipeg & Minnesotarnrn
East Playoffs:rn
Tampa VS Columbus - Tampa in 5rn
Montreal Vs Detroit - Montreal in 6rn
Pittsburgh Vs NY Rangers - Pittsburgh in 7rn
Washington VS NY Islander - Islanders in 7rn
Tampa beats Montreal in 7rn
Islanders beats Penguins in 6rn
Tampa takes down Isles in 6rnrn
West Playoffs:rn rn
St Louis VS Winnipeg: St Louis in 7rn
Nashville VS Chicago- Nashville in 5rn
Anaheim VS Minnesota - Minnesota in 6rn
Los Angeles VS Vancouver - Vancouver in 7rn
St Louis eliminates Nashville in 6rn
Wild over Canucks in 5rn
St Louis end curse in 6 gamesrnrn
Stanley Cup has St Louis victorious in 7.rnrn
Draft:rnNew Jersey wins on Austin Matthews, Toronto picks 2nd, Arizona 3rd, San Jose 4th, and Buffalo 5th. Leafs get 4 first rounders this year. Yes Stamkos..........rnrnStays in Tampa Bay.
NHL Atlantic Division:
rn1: Tampa Bayrn
2: Montrealrn
3: Detroitrn
4: Floridarn
5: Bostonrn
6: Ottawarn
7: Buffalorn
8: Torontorn
I predict a dog fight between Montreal and Tampa, Tampa will emergeduring the season, with Detroit not far behind as the quality is still there despite new coach. Florida edges in 4th thanks to one last great season from Luongo. Last year's cinderella run is run down by a Boston team looking to attempt to crawl back in but the defense cant hold it. Buffalo improves but Lehner needs another year and OReilly is a second line center not first, Eichel firmly plants as that next year. Toronto is easy to predict.rnrn
Metropolitanrn
1: Pittsburghrn
2: Washingtonrn
3: NY Islandersrn
4: NY Rangersrn
5: Columbusrn
6: Carolinarn
7: Philadelphiarn
8 New Jerseyrnrn
Pittsburgh has offense and their defense surprises. Ovi goes for it again, with the Islanders slowly improving. The Rangers drop but the playoffs still in reach. Columbus has a better season, Carolina improves but not nearly enough with the Flyers lagging. New Jersey dog fights with Toronto for Matthews.rnrn
Wild Cards: NY Rangers & Columbus by a point.rnrn
Western:rn
Central:rn
1: St Louisrn
2: Nashvillern
3: Chicagorn
4: Winnipegrn
5: Minnesotarn
6: Dallasrn
7:Coloradornrn
All teams improves but unfortunately only three can make it. The top three are set, Winnipeg takes a leap from early Dubnyk struggles who rebounds.rnrn
Pacificrn
1: Anaheimrn
2: Los Angelesrn
3: Vancouverrn
4: Edmontonrn
5: Calgaryrn
6: San Josern
7: Arizonarnrn
New year and Edmonton barely misses out but the improvemtn makes them the team to watch. Los Angeles has a good year but one of the last. Same goes for Vancouver. Calgary regresses as expected but the team shows that they are a force to reckon with for years to come. San Jose drops further of no fault to Deboer the team needs to be revamped. Arizona fights for Matthews and challenges both NJ and T.O.rnrn
Wild Cards: Winnipeg & Minnesotarnrn
East Playoffs:rn
Tampa VS Columbus - Tampa in 5rn
Montreal Vs Detroit - Montreal in 6rn
Pittsburgh Vs NY Rangers - Pittsburgh in 7rn
Washington VS NY Islander - Islanders in 7rn
Tampa beats Montreal in 7rn
Islanders beats Penguins in 6rn
Tampa takes down Isles in 6rnrn
West Playoffs:rn rn
St Louis VS Winnipeg: St Louis in 7rn
Nashville VS Chicago- Nashville in 5rn
Anaheim VS Minnesota - Minnesota in 6rn
Los Angeles VS Vancouver - Vancouver in 7rn
St Louis eliminates Nashville in 6rn
Wild over Canucks in 5rn
St Louis end curse in 6 gamesrnrn
Stanley Cup has St Louis victorious in 7.rnrn
Draft:rnNew Jersey wins on Austin Matthews, Toronto picks 2nd, Arizona 3rd, San Jose 4th, and Buffalo 5th. Leafs get 4 first rounders this year. Yes Stamkos..........rnrnStays in Tampa Bay.