2015-2016 NHL Season Predictions

[WildCard]

Found this article with a prediction on the upcoming season's final standings, I thought this would be a good time to start the annual NHL season predictions. Same as Hoss had last year, here are the categories with some new ones I added. (My predictions are in parentheses) 

 

Where do the Sabres finish: (8th)

Eastern Conference Finals: (Washington vs. Tampa Bay)
Western Conference Finals: (Anaheim vs. LA)
Stanley Cup Finals: (LA vs. Washington)

Stanley Cup Winners: (Washington Capitals)

 

Rocket Richard Trophy: (Ovie)
Hart Trophy: (Crosby)
Vezina Trophy: (Quick)
Norris (defenseman): (Hamilton)
Jack Adams (coach): (Suter)

Calder Trophy: (Eichel)


Bonus: Who will be the biggest name moved during the season? Eric Staal

Bonus: How many Buffalo Sabres participate in the All Star Game? (3: Eichel, Kane, O'Reilly)

Bonus: Biggest bounce back season by any player? (Valerie  Nichushkin)

 

Below is the article from thehockeywriters.com, for the lazy crowd I'll post a quick list of their standings; the link has the article with the author's logic behind each team's spot.

 

Western Conference:

 

1) Anaheim Ducks

2) Chicago Blackhawks

3) LA Kings

4) St.Louis Blues

5) Minnesota Wild

6) Calgary Flames

7) Dallas Stars

8) Nashville Predators

9) Winnipeg Jets

10) Edmonton Oilers

11) SJ Sharks

12) Colorado Avalanche

13) Vancouver Canucks

14) Arizona Coyotes

 

Eastern Conference:

 

1) TB Lightening 

2) Washington Capitals

3) NYI

4) NYR

5) Pittsburgh Penguins

6) CBJ

7) Montreal Canadiens

8) Florida Panthers

9) Philadelphia Flyers

10) Detroit Red Wings

11) Ottawa Senators

12) Buffalo Sabres

13) Boston Bruins

14) Carolina Hurricanes

15) Toronto Maple Leafs

16) NJ Devils

http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-standings-predictions-off-season-edition/

Edited July 20, 2015 by WildCard

[inkman]

I am philosophically opposed to this thread

[thewookie1]

Where do the Sabres finish: (8th)

Eastern Conference Finals: (TBL v.s. PIT) (Game 6)
Western Conference Finals: (Calgary vs ANA) (Game 7)
Stanley Cup Finals: (Calgary vs TBL)

Stanley Cup Winners: (TBL)

 

Rocket Richard Trophy: (Ovechkin)
Hart Trophy: (Crosby)
Vezina Trophy: (Price)
Norris (defenseman): (Hedman)
Jack Adams (coach): (Bylsma) (Sabres go from 30th to 15th, and go 7 games with Montreal who is then swept by TBL)

Calder Trophy: (Eichel)


Bonus: Who will be the biggest name moved during the season? Eric Staal

Bonus: How many Buffalo Sabres participate in the All Star Game? (4: Eichel, Kane, O'Reilly, Girgensons) Girgensons gets the Latvian backing 2 years running thus forcing the NHL to change the fan vote system. 

Bonus: Biggest bounce back season by any player? (Brian Gionta, puts 25g,40a, 65pts in 75 games) (Caused by injuries to Ennis and Moulson thus he ends up on the 2nd line) 

[Huckleberry]

With everything happening lately and the players we acquired im having a hard time to not get overly excited about next year.

 

Setting myself up for a huge dissapointment but I don't care, I can see us making the playoffs :D

[Crusader1969]

Where do the Sabres finish: (12th)

Eastern Conference Finals: (NYI v TB)
Western Conference Finals: (CHI v ANA)
Stanley Cup Finals: (ANA V NYI)

Stanley Cup Winners: (Anaheim)

 

Rocket Richard Trophy: (Kessel)
Hart Trophy: (Crosby)
Vezina Trophy: (Price)
Norris (defenseman): (Doughty)
Jack Adams (coach): (Mclellan)

Calder Trophy: (McDavid) 


Bonus: Who will be the biggest name moved during the season? RNH

Bonus: How many Buffalo Sabres participate in the All Star Game? 1 (Girgesnsons)

Bonus: Biggest bounce back season by any player? (Phil Kessel)

[3putt]

I am philosophically opposed to this thread

:thumbsup:

[Mustache of God]

My completely unbiased opinion:

 

Where do the Sabres finish: (3rd)

Eastern Conference Finals: (Washington vs. Sabres)
Western Conference Finals: (Anaheim vs. Calgary)
Stanley Cup Finals: (Anaheim vs. Sabres)

Stanley Cup Winners: (Sabres)

 

Rocket Richard Trophy: (Eichel)
Hart Trophy: (Eichel)
Vezina Trophy: (Lehner)
Norris (defenseman): (Risto)
Jack Adams (coach): (Blysma)

Calder Trophy: (Eichel)


Bonus: Who will be the biggest name moved during the season? Eric Staal

Bonus: How many Buffalo Sabres participate in the All Star Game? (4: Eichel, Kane, O'Reilly, Girgensons)

Bonus: Biggest bounce back season by any player? (Cody Hogdson)

[NHLBUFF]

My completely unbiased opinion:

 

Where do the Sabres finish: (3rd)

 

Eastern Conference Finals: (Washington vs. Sabres)

Western Conference Finals: (Anaheim vs. Calgary)

Stanley Cup Finals: (Anaheim vs. Sabres)

Stanley Cup Winners: (Sabres)

Rocket Richard Trophy: (Eichel)

Hart Trophy: (Eichel)

Vezina Trophy: (Lehner)

Norris (defenseman): (Risto)

Jack Adams (coach): (Blysma)

Calder Trophy: (Eichel)

 

 

Bonus: Who will be the biggest name moved during the season? Eric Staal

Bonus: How many Buffalo Sabres participate in the All Star Game? (4: Eichel, Kane, O'Reilly, Girgensons)

Bonus: Biggest bounce back season by any player? (Cody Hogdson)

I am appalled you don't have Risto in the all star game. Edited July 20, 2015 by NHLBUFF

[shrader]

Why do they list out the conference from 1-8 when that isn't how the playoffs are determined?

[Mustache of God]

I am appalled you don't have Risto in the all star game.

 

He really doesn't turn it on until after the break.

[Fidelio]

Oreilly is suspended 20 games, made an example of for blasphemy, sanctity of Canadian church (tim hortons) is cited as cardinal reason.  Evander Kane tears his pec muscle doing push ups with 1000000 in half dollar bills on his back, out first 6 months of the season #ripped.  Matt Moulson remembers his horrible play in the playoffs with Minnesota and repeats it, until the all star break.  Robin Lehner plays just as good as his NHL stats dictate:  horribly, shows us just how much Timmy wanted to gift his poor uncy Bri Bri that 1st round pick.  With 3 of their top 6 out, Sabres start 2-19-4, succeeded only by Toronto who fired Mike Babcock and instated Louie as HC, putting together a record of 0-26-0.  At all star break, Sabres get back healthy Trio, all remorseful about their misdeeds, and begin to light up the league.  Eichel finishes with 70 points, Kane with 30 goals despite missing half the season, and O'reilly gets his 90 day token, staying sober. The Sabres late season dash reignites embattled fan base but leaves them with a 29th place finish overall.  Eichel wins the Calder, Mcdavid is treated for severe depression, the Sabres win the lottery drawing for the second overall pick, draft JP, and trade their 3rd round in 2016 and 1st in 2017 for young top 4 d on waning team.

[Fidelio]

Eastern Conference         

 

Penguins                        

Capitals

Lightning

Islanders

Rangers

Blue Jackets

Red Wings

Panthers

 

Senators

Hurricanes

Canadiens 

Flyers

Bruins

Devils

Sabres

Maple Leafs

 

 

Capitals over Penguins in epic ECF rematch.

 

Hart Trophy goes to Ovechkin 

Holtby wins Vezina

Mcdavid wins calder (really)

Crosby wins Art Ross

Orpik Wins Norris

[Fidelio]

Western Conference

 

Wild 

Ducks

Predators

Kings

Stars 

Blackhawks

Oilers

Jets

 

Blues

Sharks

Avalanche

Flames

Canucks

Coyotes

 

Ducks Over Kinds In WCF

 

Capitals over Ducks in 6 

[Hoss]

Let's revive this while we still have time!!!

 

East:

 

1. Tampa Bay Lightning

2. Pittsburgh Penguins

3. Washington Capitals

4. New York Rangers

5. Montreal Canadiens

6. New York Islanders (WC)

7. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC)

8. Buffalo Sabres

 

West:

1. Anaheim Ducks

2. Chicago Blackhawks

3. Nashville Predators

4. Calgary Flames

5. St. Louis Blues

6. Los Angeles

7. Minnesota Wild (WC)

8. Dallas Stars (WC)

 

East playoffs:

Round one - Lightning over Blue Jackets, Penguins over Islanders, Capitals over Rangers, Canadiens over Sabres

Round two - Canadiens over Lightning, Capitals over Penguins

Conference finals - Capitals over Canadiens

 

West playoffs:

Round one - Ducks over Stars, Wild over Blackhawks, Predators over Blues, Flames over Kings

Round two - Ducks over Flames, Predators over Wild

Conference finals - Ducks over Predators

 

Cup Finals:

Ducks over Capitals

 

Hart: Sidney Crosby

Vezina: Pekka Rinne

Norris: PK Subban

Jack Adams: Dan Bylsma

Calder: Connor McDavid

 

 

Big names dealt in-season: Eric Staal, Dustin Byfuglien, Jaromir Jagr

[WildCard]

Interesting that you have Buf dealt and the Jets not making the playoffs. Are you predicting they fall off this year?

 

I still won't discount the Blackhawks, especially vs the Wild.

[Hoss]

Interesting that you have Buf dealt and the Jets not making the playoffs. Are you predicting they fall off this year?

 

I still won't discount the Blackhawks, especially vs the Wild.

I wasn't going to discount them but needed a juicy upset. I expect the Blackhawks to make a run but screw it.

 

I think the Jets will be decent this year but know that Big Buff will be too expensive for them. Maybe they can pull off something crazy and land a scoring forward from Edmonton for him and a prospect or whatever.

[Randall Flagg]

I'm sad I made a prediction already so I'm deleting mine and making a new one.

[WildCard]

I wasn't going to discount them but needed a juicy upset. I expect the Blackhawks to make a run but screw it.

 

I think the Jets will be decent this year but know that Big Buff will be too expensive for them. Maybe they can pull off something crazy and land a scoring forward from Edmonton for him and a prospect or whatever.

Thy trade would be so fun. I was convinced one of Yak or friends would be traded at this point, but I guess not. I'm still holding on to that belief though Edited October 7, 2015 by WildCard

[Randall Flagg]

Where do the Sabres finish: 11th in East.

Eastern Conference Finals: Pittsburgh vs Detroit
Western Conference Finals: Anaheim vs Minnesota
Stanley Cup Finals: Anaheim vs Pittsburgh

Stanley Cup Winners: Anaheim Ducks

 

Rocket Richard Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin
Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Vezina Trophy: Carey Price
Norris (defenseman): Drew Doughty
Jack Adams (coach): Todd McLellan

Calder Trophy: Connor McDavid


Bonus: Who will be the biggest name moved during the season? Dion Phaneuf

Bonus: How many Buffalo Sabres participate in the All Star Game? 2: Girgensons, Ennis

Bonus: Biggest bounce back season by any player? Nate MacK

 

Standings:
Atlantic

1.) Detroit Red Wings

2.)Tampa Bay Lightning

3.)Montreal Canadiens

Metropolitan

1.) Pittsburgh Penguins

2.)Washington Capitals

3.) Columbus Blue Jackets

East WC

1.) New York Rangers

2.) New York Islanders

The rest

9.) Ottawa Senators

10.) Florida Panthers

11.) Buffalo Sabres

12.) Boston Bruins

13.) Carolina Hurricanes

14.) Philadelphia Flyers

15.) New Jersey Devils

16.) Toronto Maple Leaves

 

Central

1.) Chicago Blackhawks

2.) Minnesota Wild

3.) Dallas Stars

Pacific

1.) Anaheim Ducks

2.) Los Angeles Kings

3.) Calgary Flames

West WC

1.) Winnipeg Jets

2.) St. Louis Blues

The rest

9.) Colorado Avalanche

10.) Nashville Predators

11.) San Jose Sharks

12.) Edmonton Oilers

13.) Vancouver Canucks

14.) Arizona Coyotes

Edited October 7, 2015 by Randall Flagg

[WildCard]

Bold move having Pitt win two divisions Flagg :D

[Randall Flagg]

Bold move having Pitt win two divisions Flagg :D

You're goddam right

[Norcal]

Where do the Sabres finish: (8th)

 

Eastern Conference Finals: (Capitals vs. Lightning)

Western Conference Finals: (Ducks vs. Kings)

Stanley Cup Finals: (Kings vs. Lightning)

Stanley Cup Winners: (Lightning)

 

Rocket Richard Trophy: (TyJohnson)

Hart Trophy: (Ovechkin)

Vezina Trophy: (Holtby)

Norris (defenseman): (Yosi)

Jack Adams (coach): (Bylsma)

Calder Trophy: (Jack Eichel)

 

 

Bonus: Who will be the biggest name moved during the season? Okposo, Big Buf

Bonus: How many Buffalo Sabres participate in the All Star Game? (3: Eichel, Kane, O'Reilly)

Bonus: Biggest bounce back season by any player? Kessel

[Norcal]

Comeback Sabre:

Moulson 25+ goals

Eastern Conference Playoffs:
Capitals ( Presidents Trophy)
Lightning(Division Winner)
Penguins
Canadiens
Rangers
Islanders
Senators
Sabres

Round One:
Capitals over Sabres 5g
Lightning over Senators 7g
Penguins over Islanders 7g
Canadiens over Rangers 6g

Round Two:
Capitals over Canadiens 4g
Lightning over Penguins 6g

Eastern Conference Finals:
Lightning over Capitals 7g

Western Conference Playoffs:
Ducks(Division Winner)
Blues(Division Winner)
Predators
Kings
Flames
Stars
Wild
Blackhawks

Round One:
Ducks over Hawks 6g
Blues over Wild 4g
Stars over Preds 6g
Kings over Flames 7g

Round Two:
Ducks over Stars 7g
Kings over Blues 5g

Western Conference Finals:
Kings over Ducks 7g

Stanley Cup:
Lightning over Kings 6g

 

Conn Smythe (TYJohnson)

[Claude_Verret]

Sabres 10th in conference.

 

Cup: Lightning

 

Shart: Coyotes

[Weave]

 

Shart:

 

Never again shall you utter that word

 

*twinkles nose*