Bold NHL Predictions
Division Winners
East
Atlantic – Pittsburgh
Northeast – Boston
Southeast – Washington
Conference finals – Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia in a bitter, thrilling battle for Pennsylvania
Upstart team - Tampa Bay
West
Central - Chicago will finally end the domination of Detroit
Northwest – Vancouver
Pacific – San Jose
Conference finals – San Jose and Chicago
Upstart team – St. Louis
Stanley Cup – Pittsburgh over San Jose. I know it has been a long time since we have seen a team make the finals three years in a row, but it has also been a long time since we have seen a team with front end talent quite like this one.
Individual Awards
MVP – Alexander Ovechkin
Top scorer - Ovechkin
Top defenceman – Zdeno Chara
Top goalie – Roberto Luongo
Top rookie – Nikita Filatov. The talented Russian will either have a big year for Columbus or he will completely melt down. He’s a volatile one.
Top coach – Cory Clouston, Ottawa
Comeback player – Pascal Leclaire, Ottawa
Dubious Distinctions
Worst team – Colorado has the least talent, but I don’t see how Phoenix overcomes all the adversity they face.
First coach fired – John Anderson, Florida
Most disappointing high priced free agent - The fragile Marion Gaborik in New York. Too much money for a guy who can’t stay healthy.
Most disappointing youngster – John Tavares, New York Islanders. The number one pick from last year has all sorts of talent, but he is on a terrible team and faces massive expectations. He’ll have a good career, but it won’t start well.
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Tags: NHL, predictions
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:10 am
Will the Sharks “Go in the Tank again?”
I think I know the answer to that one!!