NHL 2007-08 Predictions
Ah! It's that time of year already where you can almost put your lawn mower away (up north anyway) and get ready for another NHL season.
The hockey yearbooks are flooding newstands now and giving their bold predictions for the upcoming season. Early, yes. But they don't have a choice now, do they?
So, below are predictions from 2 big time mags and I'll throw in my 2 cents afterwards.
The Hockey News
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Ottawa
2. NY Rangers
3. Pittsburgh
4. Buffalo
5. Carolina
6. Tampa Bay
7. New Jersey
8. Atlanta
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9. Philadelphia
10. Washington
11. Toronto
12. Florida
13. Montreal
14. NY Islanders
15. Boston
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Detroit
2. Anaheim
3. Calgary
4. San Jose
5. Minnesota
6. Vancouver
7. Nashville
8. Colorado
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9. St. Louis
10. Chicago
11. Dallas
12. Los Angeles
13. Edmonton
14. Columbus
15. Phoenix
McKeen's
EASTERN
1. Pittsburgh
2. Ottawa
3. NY Rangers
4. Buffalo
5. New Jersey
6. Toronto
7. Carolina
8. Montreal
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9. Tampa Bay
10. Philadelphia
11. Florida
12. Washington
13. Boston
14. Atlanta
15. NY Islanders
WESTERN
1. Detroit
2. Colorado
3. Dallas
4. Anaheim
5. Vancouver
6. San Jose
7. Calgary
8. Minnesota
__________________________
9. Los Angeles
10. St. Louis
11. Nashville
12. Chicago
13. Edmonton
14. Columbus
15. Phoenix.
Just so you know....and to gloat...I have a few personal stats for you when it comes to predicting accuracy. Prior to last season, I predicted 18 teams (60%) 3 or less positions than where they actually finished in their conference.
The Hockey news had the same accuracy.
The Score predicted 16 teams within 3 correct positions (53%)
McKeen's Hockey predicted 14. (47%)
Face it, we all suck at it. But here goes my predictions for the coming season:
Eastern Conference
1. Rangers (I say their FA spending madness pays off)
2. Pittsburgh (getting better and better every year)
3. Carolina (A return to form for the former champs)
4. Ottawa
5. Tampa Bay
6. Toronto
7. Devils
8. Bruins
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9. Atlanta
10. Buffalo
11. Flyers
12. Montreal
13. Florida (oh no..not picking these guys to make the playoffs again)
14. Islanders (may struggle with identity after so much player movement)
15. Washington (sorry, Ted)
Western Conference
1. Vancouver (not being biased either. Just need one more top 6 forward)
2. Detroit (a weak division)
3. Anaheim (Cup hangover? A returning Niedermayer and Selanne?)
4. San Jose
5. Minnesota
6. Calgary
7. Colorado (late season push in 06-07 plus addidtions of Hannan and Smyth help)
8. St. Louis (I really like the direction John Davidson is taking this team)
_______________________________
9. Dallas (ballsy call, huh?)
10. Los Angeles
11. Nashville (too gutted)
12. Columbus
13. Chicago
14. Edmonton (the decline continues)
15. Phoenix (Gretzky loses his job)
Thoughts? Opinions? Stick throwing?
T Tags: NHL 2007+08 Predictions Madness
Labels: NHL, Predictions
13 Comments:
Boston in the Play-Offs? Holy grass carp...
Eastern:
1. Tampa Bay
2. NY Rangers
3. Pittsburgh
4. Washington
5. Buffalo
6. Ottawa
7. Toronto
8. Carolina
9. Philadelphia
10. Atlanta
11. New Jersey
12. Florida
13. Montreal
14. NY Islanders
15. Boston
Western:
1. San Jose
2. Colorado
3. Calgary
4. Anaheim
5. Detroit
6. Vancouver
7. Chicago
8. St. Louis
9. Minnesota
10. Phoenix
11. Dallas
12. Los Angeles
13. Edmonton
14. Nashville
15. Columbus
Dude...you are so early with the predictions. I need to wait until training camp gets going before I can think about it.
Canucks...they won't win the division...sorry. They have the same offensive team they had last year...boring. Waiting for Forsberg. If that happens...I'm thinking differently.
Chicago will make the playoffs before St Louis.
Edmonton will finish dead last...give the Great One a little credit.
I like the Cane's in the East. I think last year was an aberration which they want to atone for.
I still envision Trevor Linden getting the Cup in Ray Bourque fashion from Naslund...and I will be a blubbering, sobbing mess.
Bruins 1st in the East!!!
Vak- Wow. We differ in a lot of ways. We'll see who's the closest at the end of the year.
Expat- I am doing it early so that I don't have any extra advantage over the magazines (ie: Schneider goes to the Sharks if Niedermayer returns). I love comparing my wits to theirs.
Jimbuff: The Bruins finish higher than the Sens???? I wish that would be true!
I think Detroit will be the one seed based on the fact that they play in the AHL-Central.
Vancouver and Col will fight for the 3/5 seed (Anaheim or SJ will get the 4 because of a weaker division)
St. Louis will sneak in based on the AHL central.
One Quality NW team (Minnesota) will be left behind by playing in the toughest divison.
My rankings will come later
Jibble: look forward to your predictions.
I just can't see Minnesota and their rigid defensive system faltering to a non-playoff spot. They haven't really gotten any worse over the summer, unless you count Todd White as an offensive genius.
It's actually really tough to pick the 6-9th seeds in either conference.
Whatever kind of crack you are smoking that says Toronto finishes sixth, I suggest you put it down for a little while.
You mad, mad fool!
Yeah sure. I predicted them to miss the playoffs last year and I was right. This year, with the addition of Jason Blake and Toskala pushing Raycroft I'd say they have enough to finish 6th. Plus they are going to beat the Habs all 7 times. That's 14 points.
Zan, thanks for bucking the trend and putting the Bruins in the playoffs. Of course, had you not done so, you'd have had to deal with TreeBob, Buffet and I. Sure, it may just be listening to months of incessant whining, but we can whine with the best.
And as for you, Vakfan, despite the respect I have of people wielding obscure liquors in their profile photos, I have to strongly disagree with your slotting off the Bruins in the 15 hole. Of course, if you pass some of that Becherovka, I'm sure we can discuss it in a rational manner.
Doobie, if the Bruins make the play-offs I will send each of you 4 ghosts a bottle of Becherovka.
I actually like your picks beter than the hockey news. Boston is not going to finish in 15th possition.
Woohoo! Free booze!
I don't know how everyone can pick NYR and Pits in the top-three.
They play in the same division.
As for the West, you might as well give Detroit 80 points before the season starts.
Who's gonna challenge them in the central divison?
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