The Hockey News season prediction..

[ranold26]

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articl...ws-201213-NHL-regular-season-predictions.html

Click to read more...

 

[robert terwilliger]

that's really, really, really ambitious putting the blues at 1 in the west. i don't agree with that at all. they had a lot of guys buy into hitchcock's system which is all well and fine. they couldn't score a goal if their lives depended on it. eventually, smothering defense tires and gives one up. you can't rely on two journeymen goaltenders to continue to sparkle as your last line of defense.

 

[DOGSTARMAN]

Eh, the Blues are a good team that can grind you down. But they lack that primo all-star forward who can really spark the offense. If they had Seguin or Eberle or Tavares, some kind of big time offensive talent, they'd be a real threat. As is, they seem like a top 12 team that cannot get it done in the playoffs.

 

[robert terwilliger]

i don't doubt that they'll make the playoffs but i don't think they'll have home ice.

 

[Dellstrom]

I disagree with a few.

I don't think the Jets fall nearly that low. I think Bogossian and Pavelec will have career seasons, and their forward group is already good. Playoffs, maybe not. No way at 14th if you ask me.

The Caps will probably end up winning their division because every other team seems hillaribad besides the Hurricanes which are a question mark, but Backstrom is injured and apparently out for a long time. Forget a good Ovechkin, I think Backstrom is what drives that team.

I think the Canadiens are a lot higher, maybe in the playoffs. Not sure if Galchenyuk is playing or not, but if he is that's a huge step. If Markov is healthy, Subban has good 3rd year, and Price plays the best he can, I think they can make it.

I agree with most of the West, maybe move the Avs up a bit.

 

[Kelly23]

Will be interesting to see if soome of the teams like the Hurricanes have some chemistry issues, huge strenght this year for the Bruins, NO WAY the Pens are one they gave away Staal, and lost a couple defenders, when they were already shakey back there to begin with.

Bruins should finish at the top, we have Chemistry, most players getting ready overseas, Great depth.

 

[Montecristo]

Eh, the Blues are a good team that can grind you down. But they lack that primo all-star forward who can really spark the offense. If they had Seguin or Eberle or Tavares, some kind of big time offensive talent, they'd be a real threat. As is, they seem like a top 12 team that cannot get it done in the playoffs.

I like the blues a lot. Great defense, great goaltending and a deep roster. I think the addition of tarasenko will put them over the top on offense. Oshie, perron, tarasenko, backes, McDonald. That's 5 guys who can score right there. Schwartz is another potential player for the top 6

 

[Dellstrom]

Will be interesting to see if soome of the teams like the Hurricanes have some chemistry issues, huge strenght this year for the Bruins, NO WAY the Pens are one they gave away Staal, and lost a couple defenders, when they were already shakey back there to begin with.

Bruins should finish at the top, we have Chemistry, most players getting ready overseas, Great depth.

Unless anything goes terribly wrong it'll be either us, the Rangers, or the Penguins. Thank God the Flyers didn't get Weber.

 

[DOGSTARMAN]

I like the blues a lot. Great defense, great goaltending and a deep roster. I think the addition of tarasenko will put them over the top on offense. Oshie, perron, tarasenko, backes, McDonald. That's 5 guys who can score right there. Schwartz is another potential player for the top 6

I agree with all that - except I don't see a single guy who is a big time scorer and that is there weakness. They are not unlike the Bruins, with some pros and cons, but lack anybody like a Seguin.

 

[member 96824]

Eh, the Blues are a good team that can grind you down. But they lack that primo all-star forward who can really spark the offense. If they had Seguin or Eberle or Tavares, some kind of big time offensive talent, they'd be a real threat. As is, they seem like a top 12 team that cannot get it done in the playoffs.

So...they are just like the 2011 bruins.

The blues are the real deal.

 

[member 96824]

i don't doubt that they'll make the playoffs but i don't think they'll have home ice.

They had home ice last year and the central really hasnt changed much...plus theyre young and only should get better...especially if Stewart gets his head out of his ass

 

[robert terwilliger]

i think chicago overtakes them with a healthy toews and the 4 is from the pacific division.

*shrug*

 

[unifiedtheory]

I don't see the Blues being the best team in the West. They had a lot of stuff go there way last year and Hitchcock has had a short shelf life lately. They are a playoff team of course but I don't like their goaltending.

Look for Vancouver to get off to a slow start. They have had almost no one playing, Kesler is a questionmark and they are aging. They are lucky their division is terrible.

 

[Greyhounds]

A 48 game season may not give the Leafs enough time to start folding. So they may actually make the playoffs this year.

 

[LouJersey]

There will be one major surprise each conference that does not make the play-offs...Montreal didn't make it in '95 after being good in '93-94. Rangers were terrible after their Cup win... Vancouver medicore... They will be some shockers.

 

[bruins04]

that's really, really, really ambitious putting the blues at 1 in the west. i don't agree with that at all. they had a lot of guys buy into hitchcock's system which is all well and fine. they couldn't score a goal if their lives depended on it. eventually, smothering defense tires and gives one up. you can't rely on two journeymen goaltenders to continue to sparkle as your last line of defense.

from 2nd to 1st... the kings scored less goals than the blues last year. blues gave up less goals too... not like it's ridiculous to predict them to finish 1st.

 

[neelynugs]

Eh, the Blues are a good team that can grind you down. But they lack that primo all-star forward who can really spark the offense. If they had Seguin or Eberle or Tavares, some kind of big time offensive talent, they'd be a real threat. As is, they seem like a top 12 team that cannot get it done in the playoffs.

it may be a little early yet in his hockey career, but tarasenko is gonna be a stud. maybe overstating a bit, but i see him bagging 30 goals this season and eventually being their best offensive player.

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

There will be one major surprise each conference that does not make the play-offs...Montreal didn't make it in '95 after being good in '93-94. Rangers were terrible after their Cup win... Vancouver medicore... They will be some shockers.

Exactly. There will be surprises in a 48 games season. The worst teams in the conference certainly have a better chance to sneak in.

As for the Bruins, the surprise would be if they do not win the division.

 

[DOGSTARMAN]

it may be a little early yet in his hockey career, but tarasenko is gonna be a stud. maybe overstating a bit, but i see him bagging 30 goals this season and eventually being their best offensive player.

I agree with everybody that they are a very solid team and one with a bright future. I just don't know if * this year * is the year they make the jump. Love their defense. But without JD, will their upward climb continue?

LA will be interesting. Same cast of characters, with much more confidence than before and presumably without the Cup hangover.

Dare I saw a LA vs Boston Cup final sounds possible??

 

[LouJersey]

Boston should really sail through the regular season returning with 17 guys who closed out the year....Plus Julien has been here 5 years.... Most teams will need to get used to new players and new systems... The Rangers could be in for some growing pains... decent turnover up front there.

 

[RustyBruins72]

There will be one major surprise each conference that does not make the play-offs...Montreal didn't make it in '95 after being good in '93-94. Rangers were terrible after their Cup win... Vancouver medicore... They will be some shockers.

Totally agree Lou. Just hope it's not the bruins.

 

[Number8]

There will be one major surprise each conference that does not make the play-offs...Montreal didn't make it in '95 after being good in '93-94. Rangers were terrible after their Cup win... Vancouver medicore... They will be some shockers.

I agree completely. A good team that gets off to a terrible start might have a hard time recovering in a condensed schedule and visa versa.

Have to believe some key injuries won't crop up as well adding more uncertainty to the mix -- particularly among players who didn't play competitively during lockout.

 

[PB37]

There will be one major surprise each conference that does not make the play-offs...Montreal didn't make it in '95 after being good in '93-94. Rangers were terrible after their Cup win... Vancouver medicore... They will be some shockers.

I went to hit " like " but I realized I wasn't on facebook. Great post.

 

[bp13]

So...they are just like the 2011 bruins.

The blues are the real deal.

I see a lot of similarities between Boston and the Blues, minus one key piece - goaltending. If you believe those two guys can repeat last season, then yeah they're probably at or near the top of that conference. But with average goaltending they're in a dogfight with the Hawks for that Division.

 

[member 96824]

I see a lot of similarities between Boston and the Blues, minus one key piece - goaltending. If you believe those two guys can repeat last season, then yeah they're probably at or near the top of that conference. But with average goaltending they're in a dogfight with the Hawks for that Division.

FWIW I like their goaltending better than ours today.

I think they can repeat. Halak has shown hes the real deal...and their defensive system covers any lapses much like ours.