10/08/2023. NHL preseason is almost over. Regular season starts soon. It is time to make some predictions. Fearless predictions. Who will win the Presidents` Trophy? Who are the favorites? Who will win the Stanley Cup? It is all here. Will fist-fight anyone who disagrees.
NHL Season starts!
The NHL regular season begins on Tuesday. Three games, with Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Nashville Predators in the first game of the season. Chicago Blackhawks will play in Pittsburgh. Connor Bedard will face Sidney Crosby on his very first NHL game.
And the festivities will wrap up in the Nevada desert, as the Vegas Golden Knights raise their Stanley Cup banner to the rafters before hosting the Seattle Kraken.
It will be a long road before the NHL regular season ends after 82 games on April 18th, 2024.
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Fearless Predictions
Here are my predictions for the 2023-24 NHL regular season. These teams will make the playoffs. Only sixteen teams, eight from each conference. Only one parade.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. Boston Bruins
3. Buffalo Sabres
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes
2. New Jersey Devils
3. New York Rangers
Eastern Conference Wild Cards
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
Western Conference
Central Division
1. Dallas Stars
2. Colorado Avalanche
3. Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Vegas Golden Knights
3. Los Angeles Kings
Western Conference Wild Cards
1. Calgary Flames
2. Nashville Predators
Conference Champions
East: New Jersey Devils
West: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Champion
Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe Trophy Winner
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Devils to win the Stanley Cup?
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NHL Regular Season Awards
Here are my fearless Predictions for winners of NHL regular season awards. These players, coaches and hockey executives will carry home the hardware.
Hart Memorial Trophy
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
McDavid is the most advanced hockey player in the history of the sport. If there is a better league on some other planet, Connor should go play there. At 26 years of age, he will hit 1,000 points for his NHL career before this season is over. Wayne, Mario, and yes, Connor.
Watching McDavid skate at Oilers` practices is another level. A regular stops and stars skate; blue line, red line, blue line – he is three steps ahead of anybody else. Not right.
Art Ross Trophy
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Vezina Trophy
Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
There may be some more “by-the-book”-type elite goaltenders in the East, but in the West, and in the heart of Texas, there is Jake Oettinger. A little unpredictable, perhaps, but creative and fun to watch. Oettinger makes routine saves look easy. The dramatic ones are where he shines. Only 24 years old, ready to make the next step.
James Norris Memorial Trophy
Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
Miro Heiskanen can do it all. He can play total hockey as the fourth forward, carry the puck, and set up plays. He can match up against anyone in the NHL, defend and become a one-man breakout in seconds. Smooth, effortless skater, who may not need big offensive numbers to get noticed. It is about time to take notice of Miro Heiskanen.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes is of a slight build in today’s NHL. If he can stay healthy through the entire 82-game schedule, Jack has the upside to be a 110-120-point player. Playmaking center, who sees the ice well, and can make plays out of nothing with great confidence.
All the tools, skating, puck skills, and most importantly, a hockey brain.
Calder Memorial Trophy
Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
The first-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Connor Bedard is the greatest Connor hockey has seen since 2015. There are no guarantees, though, the last Connor did not win the Calder, either. Watch for the Columbus Blue Jackets` Adam Fantilli, the Devils` Luke Hughes, and the Arizona Coyotes` Logan Cooley who are out to prove that this is not a one horse race.
Connor Bedard is the real deal. His shot is something never seen before—all styles, timing, disguising the time of release, all incredible. The kid is some kind of perfectionist, very methodical in everything.
Ted Lindsay Award
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Frank J. Selke Trophy
Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
Patrice Bergeron has finally retired. Now there is an opening for someone else to take home the Selke as the best defensive forward in the National Hockey League. That someone is New Jersey Devils 24-year old captain Niko Hischier.
Very strong two-way player who can take on the toughest assignments and match-ups. All kinds of offensive skills as well, but the defensive conscience will earn him the Selke.
Jack Adams Award
Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators
This is not your father`s Nashville Predators anymore. They are building a fast, entertaining and exciting team in Tennessee, and Andrew Brunette is the perfect man to coach it.
Brunette is known as a coach who emphasizes and focuses on offense. Creative players have a chance to shine under “Bruno”. “I want them to enjoy the game – to be a style of hockey that`s enthusiastic, it`s entertaining, and it`s fun to play”, said Brunette in his introductory press conference in June.
This will bring results and the Jack Adams.
Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award
Tom Fitzgerald, New Jersey Devils
Fitzgerald has built a team in Jersey that will take the next step this season. For more, check out: “Something Special in New Jersey”
Jouni Nieminen, Edmonton
X: OnsideWithJouni
Facebook: Jouni Niemisen NHL
[email protected]
Devils to win the Stanley Cup?
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