September 26, 2007

NHL 07-08 Prediction Thread: Have it at. What say you? Who'll make it that didn't last year. Who falls out of the 'real' season. Who makes it to the SCF? Whatever else you want to Nostradamusize about, this is the place to do it.

read story | posted by garfield to Navel Gazing at 10:04 AM CDT (31 comments total)

My Eastern Conference predictions:

Atlantic Division
1. New Jersey
2. Pittsburgh
3. NY Rangers
4. Philadelphia
5. NY Islanders

Northeast Division
1. Ottawa
2. Toronto
3. Buffalo
4. Montreal
5. Boston

Southeast Division
1. Tampa Bay
2. Washington
3. Atlanta
4. Carolina
5. Florida

Playoffs:
1. Ottawa
2. Tampa Bay
3. New Jersey
4. Pittsburgh
5. Toronto
6. Buffalo
7. NY Rangers
8. Washington, that's right folks, the Caps are my dark horse team this year.

posted by MrFrisby at 10:57 AM CDT on September 26

I predict Steve Downie will get a long suspension.

And I predict we'll all laugh at Fris for picking the Caps.

posted by SummersEve at 5:22 PM CDT on September 26

Eastern Conf. Divison Leaders
New York Rangers
Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning

The Other 5 teams
Pittsburg Penguins
Buffalo Sabres
New Jersey Devils
Philadelphia Flyers
Atlanta ~~Flames~~Thrashers

Wester Conf. Division Leaders
Detroit Redwings
Vancouver Canucks
Anaheim Ducks

The Other 5 Teams
Colorado Avalanche
San Jose Sharks
Calgary Flames
Nashville Predators
Dallas Stars

The Duck Most Likely to Return
Scott Neidermayer

posted by HATER 187 at 5:50 PM CDT on September 26

Okay. I'll bite.

Eastern Conf. Divison Leaders
Pittsburgh Penguins
Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning

The Other 5 teams
New York Rangers
Buffalo Sabres
Atlanta Thrashers
Philadelphia Flyers
Toronto Maple Leafs

Wester Conf. Division Leaders
Detroit Redwings
Vancouver Canucks
Anaheim Ducks

The Other 5 Teams
Colorado Avalanche
San Jose Sharks
Calgary Flames
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:41 PM CDT on September 26

My Western Conference predictions:

Division Leaders
San Jose
Detroit
Minnesota

The other 5
Anaheim
Dallas
Nashville
Vancouver
Colorado

posted by MrFrisby at 8:25 AM CDT on September 27

Wow, Weedy predicts the Devils will miss the playoffs. Interesting. I predict the Flyers will rebound in a big way now that Mr. I-realized-at-the-draft-I-didn't-want-to-be-here-but-didn't-resign-until- October-and-ficked-the-team-in-the-process is gone. I suppose that's my dark horse. But it isn't really dark. Maybe kind of gray.

East:
Divisions:
Ottawa
Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay

Other teams:
Buffalo
Philadelphia
New Jersey
Toronto
Atlanta

West:
Detroit
Calgary
Anaheim

The Others:
San Jose
Vancouver
Colorado
Minnesota
Dallas

posted by SummersEve at 9:59 AM CDT on September 27

Wow, Weedy predicts the Devils will miss the playoffs. Interesting.

Only because I HAVE to put the Leafs somewhere. What kind of a fan would I be otherwise? And I don't like the Devils. At some point they're going to crap out because they don't hang on to their skill players. I think Gomez is a huge loss to that team.

I also put in the Lightning which I'm not so sure is anything remotely smart. They may not make the playoffs. In fact - I'm changing that:

Remove Lightning - insert Thrashers and put Florida in where Atlanta currently is.

Lightning have no fucking goaltending worth talking about.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:53 PM CDT on September 27

I'm with you on the Devils missing. Landgenbrunner is out for 6 to 8 weeks. Starting the season with 800 roads games can't help. And Rafalski Paul Martin is not. The Atlantic might give three teams, but Pitts and the Rangers are way ahead of the Devils right now. Its between Philly and the Devils, and I'd pick the team that has a PP quarterback.

posted by garfield at 1:27 PM CDT on September 27

East
Divisions:
Senators
Rangers
Lighting

The Others
Sabres
Penguins
Devils
Canes
Leafs

Western
Division:
Wings
Ducks
Wild

The Other
Sharks
Flames
Canucks
Aves
Blackhawks

Finals Wings vs Sens
Stanley Cup Champs= Senators

I'm not joining the Panther Band Wagon as of yet neither am I ready to write off a squad with Broduer in the Pipes........

In all likely hood the Stars take the 8th slot in the West but I need to put the Blackhawks somewhere

Does anybody know how we finished with these last season? I couldn't find it with a site search........

posted by skydivedad at 3:29 PM CDT on September 27

I remember calling the Islanders a darkhorse and being laughed at.

posted by MrFrisby at 3:32 PM CDT on September 27

Indeed you did MrFrisby and I see I was doing some of the laughing. Well Done Sir!

I love weedy's comment from last year concerning all the "Panther Love"........ Good Stuff and Thanks for the link Frisby Guy........

posted by skydivedad at 3:51 PM CDT on September 27

No problem, sdd, just don't pay any attention to the fact that I correctly picked only one division winner (Buffalo).

posted by MrFrisby at 4:05 PM CDT on September 27

I would add my picks but since we stopped getting the weekday paper I've lost touch with most of the offseason action. Sharks did get Roenecke and kept everybody reasonably important except maybe Toskala as #2 keeper so I don't see how so many of you picked the Ducks to win our division.

posted by billsaysthis at 10:16 PM CDT on September 27

so many of you picked the Ducks to win our division.

I can't speak for everyone but adding Brad Norton and Alexei Semenov to add some "veteran" presence and depth on the Blueline along with Rivet just doesn't get it done. Roenik has been a none factor for a few years now. So I can't see them winning the Division. Especially if Nabokov falters with the increased work load there's nothing behind him. Hey, nobody said they wouldn't be in the playoffs. That's a given and should please you. As a fan the question you should be asking is can they crank it up a couple levels in the playoffs because they certainly didn't against the Wings last season. I watched every game in that round and if thats what they got they can't win the Pacific Division. The toughest in the league.

posted by skydivedad at 11:40 PM CDT on September 27

In all likely hood the Stars take the 8th slot in the West but I need to put the Blackhawks somewhere

Yeah, well, I don't follow the NHL well enough to say anything about it, but I'm super-happy-fun-excited to see that my boys in the green and black are expected to, yet again, fail in the first round of the playoffs. At least it wasn't Turco's fault this past season.

Lord, I hate Tom Hicks.

posted by Ufez Jones at 12:34 AM CDT on September 28

I want to swap out Nashville for Minnie. I also think Atlanta or Toronto could squeak in as the 8 seed.

posted by HATER 187 at 1:08 AM CDT on September 28

I'm really tempted to switch my darkhorse pick now that I just read Peirre F'n McGuire also said that the Caps will make the playoffs.

Ah, screw it, I meant it when I said it so I'm not changing now.

posted by MrFrisby at 11:20 AM CDT on September 28

My only prediction is this: The Ottawa Senators win the Stanley Cup in 6 games. Of course, given how great I've been doing in the CFL pick'em contest lately, take that prediction with a salt shaker or two.

posted by apoch at 11:50 AM CDT on September 28

Atlantic -
NYR
Pitt
PHI
NJD
NYI

Northeast -
OTT
BUF
TOR
MON
BOS

Southeast -
CAR
FLA
ATL
WAS
TMP

Central -
DET
NAS
CHI
STL
COL

Northwest -
VAN
COL
MIN
CAL
EDM

Pacific -
SJ
ANA
LA
DAL
PHX

Eastern Qualifiers
OTT
NYR
CAR
PITT
BUF
TOR
PHI
FLA

Western Qualifiers
DET
SJ
VAN
ANA
COL
MIN
NAS
LA

FINALS - NYR vs ANA (Ducks in 5)

posted by garfield at 11:56 AM CDT on September 28

Dammit garfield! The last time that everybody here picked the Canes to be one of the worst in the league, they won the Cup. Now you went and fucked this all up by picking them first in the SE. This all but ensures that Wesley and Hedican will finally, and literally, break in two sometime in November, rendering the Canes' defense to nothing but (literally) swiss cheese. *sigh*

posted by NoMich at 1:09 PM CDT on September 28

Sorry NoMich. Though I just saw that Karmanos has resigned for personal reasons. That may indicate something unhealthy within the team, or something negative we don't know about yet. Do you have any insight on this?

My opinion is largely based on Ward coming to camp in top shape. He won his Cup and his Conn Smythe. Then got whipped for a season. He's back to prove something. Having Kaberle back should do wonders for the PP. And Cole healthy for a full season. And Justin Williams is solidifying his status as a force. I'd say Staal is going to have a bounce back year, but he may not if Marc starts to make noise. I have a theory he took step back to let Jordan have some ink last year, and he might do the same for Marc. But that is completely stupid.

posted by garfield at 1:19 PM CDT on September 28

Dang garfield..........you and your conspiracy theories.........next I suppose Bonds took steriods and Ref's in the NBA are bribibal....

posted by skydivedad at 3:14 PM CDT on September 28

Okay - next prediction - Scoring Race:

1. Sidney
2. Jagr
3. Thorton
4. Heatley
5. Ovechkin

Biggest turnaround Season/Breakout Season?

I got a feeling big, bad Bertuzzi has some life left in 'em on a line with Getzlaf. He's looked really good from what I've seen in the Pre-Season.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 3:26 PM CDT on September 28

Conspiracy theories are what make the world go round. I suspect.

Bert for sure. Bobby Ryan might break out on the same line.

Adrain Aucoin should bounce back nicely if he can stay healthy. He hasn't done squat since leaving Long Island. Same goes for Frankie Kaberle.

Todd White is a favorite of some to have a huge year. He definitely has a chance to top his career high 60 points.

posted by garfield at 4:04 PM CDT on September 28

Biggest Turnaround=Tim Connolly Sabres
He finally puts all the injuries behind him (including his current little nick) with his new responsibilities and line mates he should be good for a point a game.........

Calder Trophy is wearing a Blackhawks Jersey this season. (Toews or Kane) .....

Adrian Aucoin was the worst Team Captain in the History of the NHL...... Savard was so pissed he actually benched him. I hate that guy!

Scoring
Heatley
Crosby
Jagr
Thorton
Spezza

posted by skydivedad at 4:18 PM CDT on September 28

Though I just saw that Karmanos has resigned for personal reasons. That may indicate something unhealthy within the team, or something negative we don't know about yet. Do you have any insight on this?

It was Jason Karmanos that retired this week. He was the assistant GM and I'm sure he wasn't looking forward to having that title for the next umpteen years 'cause Jimmy Rutherford ain't going anywhere anytime soon. The front office is doing a very good job of keeping mum on this topic, but I'm pretty sure that it's the lack of upward mobility that made Jason's decision.
According to the local media, Ron Francis is one of the names on the short list of replacements. So is 66 year old Marshall Johnston (head of scouting). Peter Karmanos and Jim Rutherford pretty much worship the ground that Francis walks on, so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets the job.

posted by NoMich at 7:46 PM CDT on September 28

Atlantic -
Penguins
Rangers
Devils
Islanders
Flyers

Northeast -
Losers...er...Senators
Sabres
[deity]'s Team...er...Leafs
Canadiens
Bruins

Southeast -
Thrashers
Capitals
Lightning
Hurricanes
Panthers

Central -
Predators
Red Wings
Blackhawks
Blue Jackets
Blues

Northwest -
Canucks
Avalanche
Wild
Flames
Oilers

Pacific -
Sharks
Ducks
Kings
Stars
Coyotes

Eastern Qualifiers
Senators
Penguins
Thrashers
Sabres
Rangers
Devils
Leafs
Canadiens

Western Qualifiers
Sharks
Canucks
Predators
Ducks
Red Wings
Avalanche
Wild
Flames

Finals:
Penguins vs Sharks

Scoring Leader:
S. Crosby

Richard Trophy:
J. Spezza (ptui!)

Calder Trophy:
N. Backstrom (Capitals)

Vezina Trophy:
R. Luongo

Hart Trophy:
S. Crosby

Norris Trophy:
D. Phaneuf

Adams Trophy:
Ron Wilson

posted by grum@work at 11:02 PM CDT on September 28

Patrick Kane is just sick in the shoot-out .........Wow...........
P.S. Puck dropped in London....yippee

posted by skydivedad at 11:42 AM CDT on September 29

grum, had did you know to draft Bernier? I don't remember seeing anything about him last season.

and 4 from the northwest? ballsy.

posted by garfield at 12:13 PM CDT on September 29

grum, [how] did you know to draft Bernier?

I've heard that the other L.A. goalies were stinking up the joint. As well, he was fantastic in the Summit Series Redux. As a long-shot-last-pick, he seemed like a good choice.

However, I wasn't smart enough to realize that he might actually start the game today, so he's not in my starting lineup.

posted by grum@work at 12:32 PM CDT on September 29

Well, so much for my Stastny analyst. Hat Trick to start the season. Wow

posted by skydivedad at 8:36 AM CDT on October 4

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