So here we are again. One of my favorite blogs of the season. My 5th annual “Whackiest Prediction Blog.” (where, oh where, has the time gone?)
I much prefer writing this than “actual” predictions (which I will of course give) because as any reporter will tell you: You can’t win in the prediction game. When you cover all the teams you are going to anger people because not every team can make the playoffs.
But with these predictions I get to go to extremes and fully expect that most, if not all of you, will disagree with almost everything I say…And I know most of these predictions will not come to fruition, yet some will. Every year.
Let’s look back at last season. Actually, in my actual “predictions” I had a few whacky picks which came to be..I picked the Senators to make the playoffs, which many did not, and I said the “Predators could make the playoffs barely but be the a team that could go all the way to the Cup Final.”
As for last year’s whacky predictions…I got off to a fantastic start.
Prediction #1: After NO Canadian teams made the playoffs in '15-16, I predict 5 teams will be in the playoffs in ’16-17.
Result: Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa made the playoffs.
Then it went south real fast….
Prediction #2: Anthony Duclair will be in the top ten in NHL scoring.
Result: Nope.
but then...
Prediction #3:
We will see three coaches fired by Christmas.
Result: 2 by Christmas, Gallant and Capuano…Hitchcock would happen late January…followed by Julien and then Therrien.
Others that I got right.…
#6 Ben Bishop will be moved at or before the Trade Deadline.
#7. The Vegas team will be named the “Knights” after all.
#8. The Winnipeg Jets will finish ahead of the LA Kings in the standings.
And finally pretty close….
#13 Werenski will win the Calder over Matthews and Laine
Of course he didn’t, but he couldn’t have done anything else to try and make it happen…
So now…it’s time for this season’s attempt:
Ek's 5th Annual Whackiest Predictions:
#1. The Predators are the new “LA Kings.” They will find a way into the playoffs after an OK regular season, but they will be the team that no one wants to play and they will again make it to the Stanley Cup Final.
#2. The Leafs will add Andrei Markov after the Olympics, prior to the trade deadline.
#3. Winnipeg will win the Central Division.
#4. The Blackhawks will have to fight for their lives to make the playoffs as a wild card team.
#5. Montreal will make the biggest trade of the 2017-18 NHL season with: The St Louis Blues.
#6. Despite saying they will retire as Canucks at some point this season a major Canadian media outlet will report they are considering being rentals.
#7. The LA Kings Jonathan Quick will dominate the first two months of the season but the Kings will still NOT make the playoffs.
#8. The Flyers will be leading the Metro Division on January 1, 2018
#9. The Lightning will win the the Atlantic Division by more than 15 points.
#10. The Maple Leafs will be one game away from the Stanley Cup Final.
#11. Jack Eichel will be one of the top three finalists for the Hart Trophy.
#12. The Vegas Golden Knights will finish ahead of two teams in the West.
#13. The Oilers and Flames will finish #1 and # 2 in the Pacific. Not sure what order yet…
#14. The NY Islanders will extend John Tavares by Christmas after trading for Matt Duchene in November.
#15. Matt Murray will win the Vezina. (made this same prediction last season)
#16. Scottie Upshall will be the hero of the 2018 Olympics for team Canada and Casey Mittelstadt will dominate for Team USA.
#17. Team USA will Face Team Canada in the Gold Medal games in both Womens and Mens Hockey.
#18. We will see a surprising uptick in fighting in the NHL, especially early on….We will see 500 fights this season for the first time since 2011-12. (Last season we had 372 fights) The most fights per team? The Vegas Knights.
#19. Werenski will be a Norris Finalist.
#20. Nolan Patrick will be dominant and find great chemistry with Wayne Simmonds and Travis Konecny on a line that will be called: “Legion of Doom 2.”
#21. The NY Islanders will finish ahead of the NY Rangers.
#22. The NHL will announce the return of the Quebec Nordiques at the 2018 NHL Awards.
That’s all for now…Give me your whackiest predictions….
We will discuss these and more on today’s show AND We will preview the Montreal Canadiens…
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