Amended Predictions
Posted 12:09 AM ET | Comments 19
I made some NHL predictions awhile back; however, I made some small changes. I think that Carolina is more likely to make the playoffs than Philadelphia, and that I underestimated Washington and Dallas slightly; thus, I've made some changes to my tentative predictions. These are my FINAL predictions for the year. Book them.
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1) New York Rangers (51-22-9; 111)
2) Ottawa Senators (49-26-7; 105)
3) Atlanta Thrashers (46-29-7; 99)
4) Pittsburgh Penguins (50-24-8; 108)
5) Buffalo Sabres (48-26-8; 104)
6) New Jersey Devils (44-28-10; 98)
7) Toronto Maple Leafs (43-31-8; 94)
8) Carolina Hurricanes (42-32-8; 92)
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9) Philadelphia Flyers (41-34-7; 89)
10) Montreal Canadiens (40-34-8; 88)
11) Florida Panthers (38-35-9; 85)
12) Tampa Bay Lightning (36-39-7; 79)
13) Washington Capitals (34-40-8; 76)
14) New York Islanders (33-39-10; 76)
15) Boston Bruins (30-43-9; 69)
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1) Detroit Red Wings (53-22-7; 113)
2) Anaheim Ducks (51-23-8; 109)
3) Colorado Avalanche (48-24-10; 106)
4) San Jose Sharks (50-25-7; 107)
5) Vancouver Canucks (48-25-9; 105)
6) Calgary Flames (47-25-10; 104)
7) Minnesota Wild (45-26-11; 101)
8) St. Louis Blues (43-30-9; 95)
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9) Dallas Stars (42-33-7; 91)
10) Nashville Predators (40-34-8; 88)
11) Los Angeles Kings (39-36-7; 85)
12) Chicago Blackhawks (37-39-6; 80)
13) Edmonton Oilers (34-40-8; 76)
14) Columbus Blue Jackets (31-44-7; 69)
15) Phoenix Coyotes (27-46-9; 63)
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1) New York Rangers (51-22-9; 111)
2) Ottawa Senators (49-26-7; 105)
3) Atlanta Thrashers (46-29-7; 99)
4) Pittsburgh Penguins (50-24-8; 108)
5) Buffalo Sabres (48-26-8; 104)
6) New Jersey Devils (44-28-10; 98)
7) Toronto Maple Leafs (43-31-8; 94)
8) Carolina Hurricanes (42-32-8; 92)
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9) Philadelphia Flyers (41-34-7; 89)
10) Montreal Canadiens (40-34-8; 88)
11) Florida Panthers (38-35-9; 85)
12) Tampa Bay Lightning (36-39-7; 79)
13) Washington Capitals (34-40-8; 76)
14) New York Islanders (33-39-10; 76)
15) Boston Bruins (30-43-9; 69)
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1) Detroit Red Wings (53-22-7; 113)
2) Anaheim Ducks (51-23-8; 109)
3) Colorado Avalanche (48-24-10; 106)
4) San Jose Sharks (50-25-7; 107)
5) Vancouver Canucks (48-25-9; 105)
6) Calgary Flames (47-25-10; 104)
7) Minnesota Wild (45-26-11; 101)
8) St. Louis Blues (43-30-9; 95)
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9) Dallas Stars (42-33-7; 91)
10) Nashville Predators (40-34-8; 88)
11) Los Angeles Kings (39-36-7; 85)
12) Chicago Blackhawks (37-39-6; 80)
13) Edmonton Oilers (34-40-8; 76)
14) Columbus Blue Jackets (31-44-7; 69)
15) Phoenix Coyotes (27-46-9; 63)
Look pretty good to me...I think both the Kings in the West and the Caps in the East would be my sleeper picks to make the playoffs...but other than that I like your picks.
i think toronto and buffalo will struggle this year
I Predict that the Leafs will win 26 games this year.....
Yeah, Buffalo will not be that good. They lost Briere and Drury, are you serious!!
The top 4 in the east are pretty cut and dry other than possibly Ottowa and NYR switching spots. Some say NYR could crash and burn but I would doubt it. Below the 4 spot is a total crap shoot at this point. Vanek
(got cut off somehow) cont'd.... Vanek
The top 4 in the east are pretty cut and dry other than possibly Ottowa and NYR switching spots. That being said NYR could crash and burn but I would doubt it. Below the 4 spot is a total crap shoot at this point. Vanek and Co (Buffalo) may not be ready stand up to other teams best checking lines. Lou's Devils will probably be solid as always but if anything got a little weaker. Toronto should have improved slightly over last year. Carolina hasn't changed much and after last years nose dive I don't think they've got what it takes. Philly could go either way but should be strong enough to beat out Car and Tor. And I wouldn't write off the Habs either.
Sorry, apparently the symbol for "and" really messes up the system. Either way thanks for the update on your perspective.
I really don't understand the logic that Detroit is the best team in the NHL. Besides Datysuk and Zetterberg, there isn't much at all up front. Defense is decent with Lidstrom and Rafalski, but not much else after that. Add to that Hasek is now another year older and I think the Red Wings are nowhere near the best in the league. Other than that, the predictions are ok, but I imagine there will be a few surprises which are too hard to predict!
The West doesn't look quite right. I don't think teams from the NW division end up 3,5,6 and 7 in the conference. The NW is just too tough for 4 teams to each make the playoffs, let alone all of them getting over 100 points. Just my opinion though.
I'll give Detroit 1st seed because they are clearly the best team in their division, and have the benefit of playing 32 games against teams that are either average or abyssmal.
The NW is always tough, and the teams will be close, but I think the Oilers may be a little more of a divisional punching bag for the other four teams, which will help them benefit a lot more.
Another Leafs/Sens playoff series would be fun.
If you haven't noticed, sloisz, Drury and Briere weren't the whole team.
Message Posted
Leave it to a leaf fan to put themselves into a playoff spot. But really they might make 8th spot. So you got me there. I think you are a little off base on the Oilers being a punching bag. They have removed a Pilon, a cry baby and a quitter and picked up some decent players though Souray could possibly be a defensive liability. I think the oilers will be 8th or 9th this upcoming season. I almost forgot there is a possibility that Keenan brings the Flames franchise down in the most tasteless fashion and the Flames don't make the playoffs. Likewise if Vancouver loses Luongo or Calgary loses Kipper to injury they are both done.
I like your prediction on the Avs part! I don't thinki they'll be that good, but you never know!
In the east I would switch NJ (lost their number 1 center and number 1 D- their powerplay is in trouble) and Philly and Tampa and Carolina...and drop BUF a spot of two,..yes drury and briere were not your whole team but your two captains and number 1 and number 2 centers just left town, don't expect to be as competitive. In the west I think your right on except Nashville will be on the bottom if not just right above Pheonix. Of course injuries and chemistry...blah blah blah...its a crap shot but just MHO with the rosters and last years turn out.
t