The NHL begins its 100th season this evening and hockey fans could not be more excited. We have seen some last minute signings in Calgary and Tampa Bay, we’ve seen a number of waiver pickups and we are seeing a lot of young rookies crack opening night lineups (see Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton). We’ve also seen a few PTO players crack opening lineups in Calgary (Kris Versteeg), Vancouver (Jack Skille) and in Los Angeles (Devin Setoguchi). Which by the way the Hockey News has a great story on Setoguchi in their most recent issue.
Every year at the hockey fanatic we like to make some predictions for the upcoming season. Here’s a look at a few of our last year’s NHL predictions:
2015-2016 Wacky NHL Predictions
2015-2016 Western Conference Predictions
2015-2016 Eastern Conference Predictions
This year we are going to roll all of our predictions into one.
2016-2017 NHL Predictions
Well let’s get started with our division predictions. Who will make the playoffs from each conference?
2016-2017 NHL Eastern Conference Predictions
Predicted Finish by Atlantic Division Teams
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Montreal Canadiens
- Florida Panthers
- Ottawa Senators
- Boston Bruins
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Detroit Red Wings
- Buffalo Sabres
Predicted Finish by Metropolitan Division Teams
- Washington Capitals
- New York Islanders
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- New York Rangers
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- New Jersey Devils
- Carolina Hurricanes
The eight teams making the playoffs from the Eastern conference this season:
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Washington Capitals
- Montreal Canadiens
- Florida Panthers
- New York Islanders
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- New York Rangers
- Ottawa Senators
2016-2017 NHL Western Conference Predictions
Predicted Finish by Pacific Division Teams
- San Jose Sharks
- Los Angeles Kings
- Anaheim Ducks
- Calgary Flames
- Edmonton Oilers
- Arizona Coyotes
- Vancouver Canucks
Predicted Finish by Central Division Teams
- Dallas Stars
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Nashville Predators
- St. Louis Blues
- Winnipeg Jets
- Minnesota Wild
- Colorado Avalanche
The eight teams making the playoffs from the Western conference this season:
- Dallas Stars
- San Jose Sharks
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Los Angeles Kings
- Nashville Predators
- St. Louis Blues
- Anaheim Ducks
- Calgary Flames or Winnipeg Jets
Our predictions see as many as four Canadian teams making the playoffs this season. Of course a bad couple of weeks and perhaps no Canadian teams make the playoffs.
Individual Player Predictions
Now lets take a look at some of the individual player predictions again separated by Conference. Let’s begin with the Western Conference.
Western Conference Predictions
Most Exciting Player: Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers
Top Point Producer: Jamie Benn – Dallas Stars (if he’s not healthy than Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks)
Top Goal Scorer: Tyler Seguin – Dallas Stars
Top Defender: Brent Burns – San Jose Sharks
Top Goaltender: Corey Crawford – Chicago Blackhawks
Top Rookie: Dylan Strome – Arizona Coyotes
Player to Watch: PK Subban – Nashville Predators
Breakout Player: Mark Scheiffle – Winnipeg Jets
Darkhorse Player: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Edmonton Oilers
Most Improved Team: Winnipeg Jets
Most Overrated Team: Los Angeles Kings
First Team to Fire Their Coach: Vancouver Canucks
Darkhorse Team: Nashville Predators
Team that Will Win the West (Regular Season): Dallas Stars
Eastern Conference Predictions
Most Exciting Player: John Tavares – New York Islanders
Top Point Producer: Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins (unless concussion keeps him out) then John Tavares – New York Islanders
Top Goal Scorer: Steven Stankos – Tampa Bay Lightning
Top Defender: Shea Weber – Montreal Canadiens
Top Goaltender: Carey Price – Montreal Canadiens
Top Rookie: Auston Matthews – Toronto Maple Leafs
Player to Watch: Taylor Hall – New Jersey Devils
Breakout Player: Aleksander Barkov – Florida Panthers (NHL.com has a nice list of breakout players for the upcoming season.)
Darkhorse Player: TJ Oshie – Washington Capitals
Most Improved Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Most Overrated Team: Washington Capitals
First Team to Fire Their Coach: Carolina Hurricanes
Darkhorse Team: Florida Panthers
Team that Will Win the East: Tampa Bay Lightning
