Adam Proteau: Proteau's 2016-17 NHL previews: Pacific Division Rather than cramping everything into one mega-column, Adam Proteau will examine every NHL team's off-season and expectations for the coming year by breaking down one division each week. This week, we kick things off by looking at the league's weakest division last year: The Pacific.

Firest to say King will be great again and Doughty wins another Norms.

You seem to have Zatkoff and Latta going to two teams...

You lost me at "less-grittier"

I think San Jose's got first in the Division pretty much on lock. 2 down to 7 is gonna be a lot less clear. I think LA, Calgary, and Anaheim can all be 2 or 3, with whichever team that isn't 2 or 3 possibly making it in the Wild Card. Arizona could potentially fight for Wild Card but I doubt it. I think Edmonton improves but not enough to be in contention for playoffs, and Vancouver... I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Vancouver was the worst team in the League this year. I have no idea what Jim Benning is doing with that team, and they refuse to accept a rebuild.

As much as the Ducks took a step backward with RC coming back and the loss of scoring on the wings - the statement that got me was he could see Van. winning a round or two .... if the Canucks even get to 80 points it will surprise me -

As much as the Ducks took a step backward with RC coming back and the loss of scoring on the wings - the statement that got me was he could see Van. winning a round or two .... if the Canucks even get to 80 points it will surprise me -
- dozerD10

Yeah, I honestly think that Vancouver could well finish at the bottom of the Pacific, if not the West.

The Flames have $8.5 million in cap space because they haven't signed Gaudreau, who could be asking for more than $8.5 million.

I think San Jose's got first in the Division pretty much on lock. 2 down to 7 is gonna be a lot less clear. I think LA, Calgary, and Anaheim can all be 2 or 3, with whichever team that isn't 2 or 3 possibly making it in the Wild Card. Arizona could potentially fight for Wild Card but I doubt it. I think Edmonton improves but not enough to be in contention for playoffs, and Vancouver... I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Vancouver was the worst team in the League this year. I have no idea what Jim Benning is doing with that team, and they refuse to accept a rebuild.
- Helios

This.

I think anaheim took a step back, but still has a solid core of players.

The only way i see Vancouver competing is if markstrom stands on his head. Miller is junk. But i still expect them to be last.

I still can't believe the Oilers still don't get any respect. They have a defense that features Klefbom, Sekera, Davidson, Nurse, Larsson - that is a way above average unit if Nurse is even slightly better.

Then they have arguably among the best forwards groups in the league - three legit #1 centres and a situation where Maroon and Yakupov are your 8th and 9th best forwards.

It will be Sharks and Oilers and then everyone else.


I put the probability of the Oilers finishing ahead of the Ducks this year at 99%.

I still can't believe the Oilers still don't get any respect. They have a defense that features Klefbom, Sekera, Davidson, Nurse, Larsson - that is a way above average unit if Nurse is even slightly better.

Then they have arguably among the best forwards groups in the league - three legit #1 centres and a situation where Maroon and Yakupov are your 8th and 9th best forwards.

It will be Sharks and Oilers and then everyone else.


I put the probability of the Oilers finishing ahead of the Ducks this year at 99%.
- James_Tanner

Time will tell, as they say.

If not, you will look the fool. Big time for even making such a prediction.

Time will tell, as they say.

If not, you will look the fool. Big time for even making such a prediction.
- quackup

This is honestly what I hate about hockey predictions and why blogs making predictions are always somewhat tongue in cheek - if you just say the exact same standings as last year, people go "oh probably' and if you "predict" any kind of movement at all, the best you can hope is someone will say "maybe, but you'll look like an idiot if you 're wrong."

Personally, I think the 95% of pre-season blogs that predict another non-playoff season for the Oilers are all going to look ridiculous.

There aren't too many things you can 'guarantee' in the NHL since parity is so high. (For example, the Kings missed the Playoffs the year before last, somehow having one of the unluckiest seasons in NHL history).

But I would be willing to apply the G-word to the Oilers and their playoff chances.

This is honestly what I hate about hockey predictions and why blogs making predictions are always somewhat tongue in cheek - if you just say the exact same standings as last year, people go "oh probably' and if you "predict" any kind of movement at all, the best you can hope is someone will say "maybe, but you'll look like an idiot if you 're wrong."

Personally, I think the 95% of pre-season blogs that predict another non-playoff season for the Oilers are all going to look ridiculous.

There aren't too many things you can 'guarantee' in the NHL since parity is so high. (For example, the Kings missed the Playoffs the year before last, somehow having one of the unluckiest seasons in NHL history).

But I would be willing to apply the G-word to the Oilers and their playoff chances.

I mean no one thought the 05-06 Sabres would be that good, and no one thought the Bruins would miss the playoffs two years ago. Predictions are a crap shoot. Tanner could be right with his post. It wouldn't shock me, although, I would be a little surprised.

This is honestly what I hate about hockey predictions and why blogs making predictions are always somewhat tongue in cheek - if you just say the exact same standings as last year, people go "oh probably' and if you "predict" any kind of movement at all, the best you can hope is someone will say "maybe, but you'll look like an idiot if you 're wrong."

Personally, I think the 95% of pre-season blogs that predict another non-playoff season for the Oilers are all going to look ridiculous.

There aren't too many things you can 'guarantee' in the NHL since parity is so high. (For example, the Kings missed the Playoffs the year before last, somehow having one of the unluckiest seasons in NHL history).

But I would be willing to apply the G-word to the Oilers and their playoff chances.
- James_Tanner

There's a huge difference between predicting the Oilers will finish ahead of the Ducks, or saying there's a 99% chance they will. Get real. The issue isn't saying the Oilers will be better, it's the % you attached to it. You don't get that?

Now, if Lindholm and Rakell don't sign. Getzlaf, Gibson, and others playing in the World Cup are injured, then I might agree with you. But until then, I think making such a prediction looks foolish. You don't. That's fine. We'll see.

this Tanner guy is the biggest troll I've seen on this website. Arizona writer making Oilers predictions..wow

Putting the Oilers at 2nd in the Division is pretty bold, and I don't think that defense corps is as good as you think it is. Still, no one pegged Calgary to make the playoffs in 14-15 and they won a round, but they still did. Nothing wrong with making a bold prediction, but I just can't see the Oilere making it. Not this year. Next year, maybe.

I still can't believe the Oilers still don't get any respect. They have a defense that features Klefbom, Sekera, Davidson, Nurse, Larsson - that is a way above average unit if Nurse is even slightly better.

Then they have arguably among the best forwards groups in the league - three legit #1 centres and a situation where Maroon and Yakupov are your 8th and 9th best forwards.

It will be Sharks and Oilers and then everyone else.


I put the probability of the Oilers finishing ahead of the Ducks this year at 99%.
- James_Tanner

if you're comparing it to an ahl defense then yes, that's probably a defense that's above average.

in the nhl? that's a solid pairing and 4 guys who should all be playing spot duty or in the ahl. Stop trolling.