2011-12 NHL regular season predictions

What are your predictions for the upcoming NHL season?

Here are mine.

Eastern Conference
1. Washington Capitals
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Boston Bruins
4. Tampa Bay Lightning
5. Buffalo Sabres
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. New York Rangers
8. Montréal Canadiens
9. Carolina Hurricanes
10. New York Islanders
11. Florida Panthers
12. Winnipeg Jets
13. New Jersey Devils
14. Ottawa Senators
15. Toronto Maple Leafs

Western Conference
1. Vancouver Canucks
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Los Angeles Kings
5. Anaheim Ducks
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Nashville Predators
8. St. Louis Blues
9. Colorado Avalanche
10. Columbus Blue Jackets
11. Phoenix Coyotes
12. Minnesota Wild
13. Dallas Stars
14. Calgary Flames
15. Edmonton Oilers

I predict the Flyers to have an up & down season, fall apart after the All-Star break, scrape their way into the playoffs, then get knocked out in the 1st round. Or maybe 2nd. And Philly hockey fans will be disappointed once again as Lord Stanley flips us the bird.



Go Phillies!

C..A..P..S.. CAPS CAPS CAPS!!!!!

Well, maybe this year finally

Haven't even given the upcoming season a second thought yet. But as always,



GO PENGUINS !

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I predict the Flyers to have an up & down season, fall apart after the All-Star break, scrape their way into the playoffs, then get knocked out in the 1st round. Or maybe 2nd. And Philly hockey fans will be disappointed once again as Lord Stanley flips us the bird.



Go Phillies!

i am not sure what to think. Replacing the offense of Richards and Carter is going to be interesting to see. I dont see Jagr doing anything..

Quote :

I dont see Jagr doing anything..

When I saw the headline that the Flyers signed Jagr, I seriously thought either there is another guy named Jagr or perhaps it was Jagr's son, not THE Jaromir Jagr. I thought he retired years ago.



Way to go dumpster diving for another player past his prime!! Woo-hoo. That'll buy us a cup for sure. I'm sure for the right price, Gretzky will strap on the skates for 1 more season.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Quote :

I dont see Jagr doing anything..

When I saw the headline that the Flyers signed Jagr, I seriously thought either there is another guy named Jagr or perhaps it was Jagr's son, not THE Jaromir Jagr. I thought he retired years ago.



Way to go dumpster diving for another player past his prime!! Woo-hoo. That'll buy us a cup for sure. I'm sure for the right price, Gretzky will strap on the skates for 1 more season.

yeah. i think Hextall is still available..

Wow MN Wild 12 I'd say last place since they revamped their whole roster!

Wargod

GO FLYERS!

GO KINGS!

I'll try this:

Western Conference:

1. VANCOUVER - Best regular season record last year, and they haven't lost a beat
2. LOS ANGELES - I really like the character they have (and have added)
3. CHICAGO - the best team in the central division and it's about time to forget the Cup hangover
4. SAN JOSE - it's them or the Kings for Pacific title
5. DETROIT - will still challenge the Blachawks for Central crown
6. ANAHEIM - best first line in the league (= world)
7. ST. LOUIS - up and coming
8. NASHVILLE - can't have playoffs without the (sexual) Predators
-----------------------------------------
9. COLORADO - talented, fast team just misses the playoffs
10. COLUMBUS - one line isn't enough
11. CALGARY - rebuild time
12. DALLAS - no
13. EDMONTON - absolutely phenomenal young core, but it's not enough this year, not yet
14. MINNESOTA - Heatley for Havlat? Really?
15. PHOENIX - unless they overachieve again...

I'll sort out the East later

Lari wrote:

I'll try this:

Western Conference:

1. VANCOUVER - Best regular season record last year, and they haven't lost a beat
2. LOS ANGELES - I really like the character they have (and have added)
3. CHICAGO - the best team in the central division and it's about time to forget the Cup hangover
4. SAN JOSE - it's them or the Kings for Pacific title
5. DETROIT - will still challenge the Blachawks for Central crown
6. ANAHEIM - best first line in the league (= world)
7. ST. LOUIS - up and coming
8. NASHVILLE - can't have playoffs without the (sexual) Predators
-----------------------------------------
9. COLORADO - talented, fast team just misses the playoffs
10. COLUMBUS - one line isn't enough
11. CALGARY - rebuild time
12. DALLAS - no
13. EDMONTON - absolutely phenomenal young core, but it's not enough this year, not yet
14. MINNESOTA - Heatley for Havlat? Really?
15. PHOENIX - unless they overachieve again...

I'll sort out the East later

I like this list BUT, let me make one small correction...

Western Conference:

1. LOS ANGELES - I really like the character they have (and have added)
2. VANCOUVER - Best regular season record last year, and they haven't lost a beat
3. CHICAGO - the best team in the central division and it's about time to forget the Cup hangover
4. SAN JOSE - it's them or the Kings for Pacific title
5. DETROIT - will still challenge the Blachawks for Central crown
6. ANAHEIM - best first line in the league (= world)
7. ST. LOUIS - up and coming
8. NASHVILLE - can't have playoffs without the (sexual) Predators
-----------------------------------------
9. COLORADO - talented, fast team just misses the playoffs
10. COLUMBUS - one line isn't enough
11. CALGARY - rebuild time
12. DALLAS - no
13. EDMONTON - absolutely phenomenal young core, but it's not enough this year, not yet
14. MINNESOTA - Heatley for Havlat? Really?
15. PHOENIX - unless they overachieve again...

As a Caps fan the only prediction I can make is disappointment come playoff time..... again.

Hard to tell anything from pre-season. So many new faces and guys you know won't make the cut. I watched 3 Flyers games so far and the vets barely played.

ultmetal wrote:

Hard to tell anything from pre-season. So many new faces and guys you know won't make the cut. I watched 3 Flyers games so far and the vets barely played.

yep. Bryz looked a little shaky but it was his first game. The Flyers should do pretty well. They are stacked on defense. Offense is really the biggest question.

exact33 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Hard to tell anything from pre-season. So many new faces and guys you know won't make the cut. I watched 3 Flyers games so far and the vets barely played.

yep. Bryz looked a little shaky but it was his first game. The Flyers should do pretty well. They are stacked on defense. Offense is really the biggest question.

When they're not getting bananas chucked at them.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

exact33 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Hard to tell anything from pre-season. So many new faces and guys you know won't make the cut. I watched 3 Flyers games so far and the vets barely played.

yep. Bryz looked a little shaky but it was his first game. The Flyers should do pretty well. They are stacked on defense. Offense is really the biggest question.

When they're not getting bananas chucked at them.

people portray Philly fans as being ignorant but throwing banana was really really ignorant. Yet little is said about the fans.

exact33 wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

exact33 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Hard to tell anything from pre-season. So many new faces and guys you know won't make the cut. I watched 3 Flyers games so far and the vets barely played.

yep. Bryz looked a little shaky but it was his first game. The Flyers should do pretty well. They are stacked on defense. Offense is really the biggest question.

When they're not getting bananas chucked at them.

people portray Philly fans as being ignorant but throwing banana was really really ignorant. Yet little is said about the fans.

Well, we've certainly had our share of ignorant moments. I'm not gonna deny that, but the banana throwing thing was in London, Ontario. I'm blaming the Canadians and their free health care system for that one. We may throw batteries and snowballs, but our hatred isn't racially motivated. We're just dicks.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

exact33 wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

exact33 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Hard to tell anything from pre-season. So many new faces and guys you know won't make the cut. I watched 3 Flyers games so far and the vets barely played.

yep. Bryz looked a little shaky but it was his first game. The Flyers should do pretty well. They are stacked on defense. Offense is really the biggest question.

When they're not getting bananas chucked at them.

people portray Philly fans as being ignorant but throwing banana was really really ignorant. Yet little is said about the fans.

Well, we've certainly had our share of ignorant moments. I'm not gonna deny that, but the banana throwing thing was in London, Ontario. I'm blaming the Canadians and their free health care system for that one. We may throw batteries and snowballs, but our hatred isn't racially motivated. We're just dicks.

I do take exception to the way philly fans are portrayed. A man gets the living daylights beat out of him in LA and all the national reporters can think of is Philly booing a drunk santa claus who was terrible or throwing batteries at JD Drew - who was also being a jerk. Sure we threw snowballs at Jimmy Johnson with that hair he deserved it.

Philly fans are some of the most passionate and in tune fans around. We will cheer good plays and boo those who dont hustle.

Opening night tonight, so time to get the predictions out.

Eastern Conference:

1. WASHINGTON - enough top-end skill to still be ahead of everyone in their division
2. BOSTON - still deeper than any other team
3. NY RANGERS - someone has to win the Atlantic, and both the Flyers and the Penguins look worse than a year ago...
4. TAMPA BAY - has the league's best offensive duo in Stamkos and St.Louis
5. MONTREAL - ...if Markov actually stays healthy
6. PITTSBURGH - once #87 returns, they can beat anybody
7. BUFFALO - good team keeps on getting better, interesting to see what Leino and Ehrhoff bring
8. PHILADELPHIA - lost a lot, but they'll still at least make it to the playoffs
------------------------------------------------
9. NEW JERSEY - a couple of defensemen short of being a top team
10. NY ISLANDERS - the most exciting team to watch in the East!
11. FLORIDA - they got Soupy!
12. WINNIPEG - with two Florida teams in their division, they'll be travelling a lot
13. CAROLINA - not a playoff team, with or without Eric Cole
14. TORONTO - nothing for the Leaf fans to get excited about... yet, they will
15. OTTAWA - see 1993-94

The Minnesota Wild are starting fresh, new coach and basically a new team so I don't expect much from them this year maybe in 2 years but this will be a long year for them but the fans still come no matter what not sure what the sellout streak is at.

Wargod

Go Flyers!!!

It is weird to see Jagr in a Flyers sweater though.

Wow, Canadiens and their injuries... if Cammalleri misses significant time, they are toast. That might be enough to change my prediction. Hopefully the Isles will make it in the playoffs. I think they really have a good team this season.

Jets playing their first game right now. This is a big deal. Can't wait for the Hawks - Jets game this Thursday.

Blackhawks started with a win and a loss against the Stars. Bolland with a pair. Let's see where they go from here.

Lari wrote:

Wow, Canadiens and their injuries... if Cammalleri misses significant time, they are toast. That might be enough to change my prediction. Hopefully the Isles will make it in the playoffs. I think they really have a good team this season.

Jets playing their first game right now. This is a big deal. Can't wait for the Hawks - Jets game this Thursday.

Blackhawks started with a win and a loss against the Stars. Bolland with a pair. Let's see where they go from here.

The Islanders are still a year or two away from the playoffs, but should finish closer to a playoff spot than they have the last few years.

The Flyers have gotten off to a good start. I think they will surprise some folks.

Sharks will start slow. Then kick ass. Then finish strong. Probably 1 or 2 in the West. They will barely win round 1 against the 7th or 8th seed (siting an anemic powerplay that was tops during the regular season). They may make it to the Conference final where they will clam up and go into shell-mode and lose the series.

2012-2013 Prediction:
Sharks will start slow. Then kick ass. Then finish strong. Probably 1 or 2 in the West. They will barely win round 1 against the 7th or 8th seed (siting an anemic powerplay that was tops during the regular season). They may make it to the Conference final where they will clam up and go into shell-mode and lose the series.

2013-2014 Prediction:
Sharks will start slow. Then kick ass. Then finish strong. Probably 1 or 2 in the West. They will barely win round 1 against the 7th or 8th seed (siting an anemic powerplay that was tops during the regular season). They may make it to the Conference final where they will clam up and go into shell-mode and lose the series.


2014-2015 Prediction:
Thornton is long gone, Marlaue lingers and has had his "C" stripped and replaced now 17 times but is now too old and slow and unproductive to trade, which we should have done when he was 20 something...like we did with Pat Faloon. Doug Wilson is fired, Berry Melrose is hired to be the Sharks new coach and "rebuild" the team....mullet and pinstriped suits come back in style. Putin becomes President of the United States and Arnold Schwarzenegger is now married to Kim Kardashian.....love child on the way.