I’ll go bold and say that the western playoff teams will be Nashville, Dallas, Chicago, Colorado, Calgary, Vegas, Arizona, Vancouver

Preds fix their PP with Duchene and have a solid 1-2 punch with good D

Dallas regresses a bit defensively but moves up with added offense.

Chicago gets solid goaltending, better defense, and runs a top 10 PP

Colorado runs hot and cold but wins the big games over the other western teams

Talbot takes the starting job in CGY but the offense takes a step back

Vegas drives play at a high rate but below average goaltending and defensive turnovers sees them limp into the playoffs

AZ stays healthy and finally makes the jump. Phil opposite of Schmaltz ignites the PP, the goaltending tandem is top 10, the P.K. is top 5, their depth and defensive systems wins them enough 1-goal games to get them into the postseason

Markstrom hits 35 wins, the defense is improved even if you don’t like Myers - Hughes is a big add, Miller-Petts-Boeser becomes a dominant offensive line fueled by an 80 point season by Elias, 60 points for Miller, and 65 points by Boeser. Horvat has another 60 point season

Tanns, i want what you're smoking if u think you'll get chucky 😂

I likes the yotes chances, they're definitely a wc chance team but if you look at our div, sans natural progression, no one really made big moves unlike other divs. Van could be a surprise team, Pettey, Horvat and Boeser as a progressing core plus the additions of Miller and Ferland could make them dangerous albeit its all goaltender dependant. Yotes are in a similar boat, they're progression dependant, but I like a lot of what I see there. If just one or 2 young guys explode on the scene next year, and they get a better streak of health they could make some noise, perhaps enough so to displace the sharks from the top 3. Love the sharks make up, but losing Pavs, Nyquist and Doonski is gonna sting, perhaps enough to knock them outta the top 3. Maybe I have rose colored glasses on but I see the Pacific title as a battle between Vegas and Calgary, with any of Arizona, Edmonton, San Jose and Van duking it out for that 3rd spot. I think the centrals gonna be a lot more wide open then you elluded to, too the point that Nash, col, dal and st lou are battling for the top 3 and win takes a step back (sorry jets fans, just calling em as I see em, ya lost two top 6 rh dman for a fringe top 6 dman).

If the yotes stay healthy and either Schmaltz or Keller find chemistry with Kessell they could be dangerous! Heres hoping, love the yotes make up and resilience
- Rioghan

Lots of good points here. Kessel has shown that he doesn’t need an elite center to produce. I (and others) think Stepan will be his Bozak, Dvorak also has chemistry with Keller so it’s possible he takes that role. Stepan has chemistry with Keller. Schmaltz has chemistry with Hinostroza. I think we’ll see

Soderberg-Schmaltz-Hinostroza
Keller-Dvorak-Kessel
Garland-Stepan-Grabner
Crouse-Richardson-Fischer

Tanner. I’ve read your graphic novel. Humorous... but very worrying.

Tanner. I’ve read your graphic novel. Humorous... but very worrying.
- RafiDRW

I wouldn't call this blog a graphic novel.

I’ll go bold and say that the western playoff teams will be Nashville, Dallas, Chicago, Colorado, Calgary, Vegas, Arizona, Vancouver

Preds fix their PP with Duchene and have a solid 1-2 punch with good D

Dallas regresses a bit defensively but moves up with added offense.

Chicago gets solid goaltending, better defense, and runs a top 10 PP

Colorado runs hot and cold but wins the big games over the other western teams

Talbot takes the starting job in CGY but the offense takes a step back

Vegas drives play at a high rate but below average goaltending and defensive turnovers sees them limp into the playoffs

AZ stays healthy and finally makes the jump. Phil opposite of Schmaltz ignites the PP, the goaltending tandem is top 10, the P.K. is top 5, their depth and defensive systems wins them enough 1-goal games to get them into the postseason

Markstrom hits 35 wins, the defense is improved even if you don’t like Myers - Hughes is a big add, Miller-Petts-Boeser becomes a dominant offensive line fueled by an 80 point season by Elias, 60 points for Miller, and 65 points by Boeser. Horvat has another 60 point season
- WSCTeton17

So St Louis isn't going to repeat?

Aside from Ottawa and Detroit, every team has a shot in August. So yes, they do.

I wouldn't call this blog a graphic novel.
- gramps

He actually wrote something that he labeled a graphic novel available on Amazon.

Tanner. I’ve read your graphic novel. Humorous... but very worrying.
- RafiDRW

You did? Awesome. Tell your friends. Thanks

You did? Awesome. Tell your friends. Thanks
- James_Tanner

I will, no doubt. I do worry about your obvious payments from Kleenex.

I tend to agree with all of this (although you might be giving the Oilers a little too much credit...a bit uncharacteristically I might add...thanks!).

If everything you say is plausible, which it is, I worry for the Oilers as I think the Stars have a much better chance this year, and yes, the Avalanche will likely improve.

It's also very possible that Phil Kessel reminds a few of these young guns how FUN this game can be, in which case they can really fly.

This all spells doom for the Oilers I think...maybe I'll just go out and buy one of those new ugly 3rd jerseys as an ugly hairshirt this year to top it all off!

"Hawks or Ducks pull a surprise out of their nests". is good writing...thanks James. Good write up.

I’ll go bold and say that the western playoff teams will be Nashville, Dallas, Chicago, Colorado, Calgary, Vegas, Arizona, Vancouver

Preds fix their PP with Duchene and have a solid 1-2 punch with good D

Dallas regresses a bit defensively but moves up with added offense.

Chicago gets solid goaltending, better defense, and runs a top 10 PP

Colorado runs hot and cold but wins the big games over the other western teams

Talbot takes the starting job in CGY but the offense takes a step back

Vegas drives play at a high rate but below average goaltending and defensive turnovers sees them limp into the playoffs

AZ stays healthy and finally makes the jump. Phil opposite of Schmaltz ignites the PP, the goaltending tandem is top 10, the P.K. is top 5, their depth and defensive systems wins them enough 1-goal games to get them into the postseason

Markstrom hits 35 wins, the defense is improved even if you don’t like Myers - Hughes is a big add, Miller-Petts-Boeser becomes a dominant offensive line fueled by an 80 point season by Elias, 60 points for Miller, and 65 points by Boeser. Horvat has another 60 point season
- WSCTeton17

This isn't bold, this is obvious Vancouver Canucks fan garbage.

He actually wrote something that he labeled a graphic novel available on Amazon.
- RafiDRW

It was sarcasm.

James self promotes his Amazon book quite a bit.

I will, no doubt. I do worry about your obvious payments from Kleenex.
- RafiDRW

Oh man laugh my ass off!!!!!!!!! I'm a schill for the Kleenex company, who knew!!! Thanks again

It was sarcasm.

James self promotes his Amazon book quite a bit.
- gramps

You get a copy?

Here's a true story y'all might find hilarious.

My father in law is a huge reader - fantasy novels etc. - and somehow he heard that I wrote a book. So he ordered it (which is more than anyone in my family did other one brother and an aunt)........expecting that it was the novel I've been bragging about writing for years.....anyways, neither of them ever mentioned it at all, which I found hilarious. The only comment was Crystal's mom said "Well it wasn't what he was expecting"

I tend to agree with all of this (although you might be giving the Oilers a little too much credit...a bit uncharacteristically I might add...thanks!).

If everything you say is plausible, which it is, I worry for the Oilers as I think the Stars have a much better chance this year, and yes, the Avalanche will likely improve.

It's also very possible that Phil Kessel reminds a few of these young guns how FUN this game can be, in which case they can really fly.

This all spells doom for the Oilers I think...maybe I'll just go out and buy one of those new ugly 3rd jerseys as an ugly hairshirt this year to top it all off!

"Hawks or Ducks pull a surprise out of their nests". is good writing...thanks James. Good write up.
- JLO961

Thanks; I feel like the Oilers could maybe take a step forward this year if any of their younger guys can take a step. They've got two of the best players in the world, so that alone means they just need a bit of luck.

Thanks; I feel like the Oilers could maybe take a step forward this year if any of their younger guys can take a step. They've got two of the best players in the world, so that alone means they just need a bit of luck.
- James_Tanner

All of that luck was spent in the 80s...there is none left!

Oh man laugh my ass off!!!!!!!!! I'm a schill for the Kleenex company, who knew!!! Thanks again
- James_Tanner

Yep. Easy enough since I have Kindle Unlimited. Well worth a 15 minute read.

Remember the time James got owned by Bill Meltzer in his own blog?

Tanner Past years: Coyotes are awesome and will make the playoffs

Result: Miss playoffs

Tanner 2019: Coyotes wont make playoffs

Future Results: Coyotes make playoffs

Remember the time James got owned by Bill Meltzer in his own blog?
- Gertner

- gergeswillems

You get a copy?

Here's a true story y'all might find hilarious.

My father in law is a huge reader - fantasy novels etc. - and somehow he heard that I wrote a book. So he ordered it (which is more than anyone in my family did other one brother and an aunt)........expecting that it was the novel I've been bragging about writing for years.....anyways, neither of them ever mentioned it at all, which I found hilarious. The only comment was Crystal's mom said "Well it wasn't what he was expecting"
- James_Tanner

Haven't had a chance. I started a new job in a different field that I previous worked and I have been getting caught up on environmental terminology and equipment so unfortunately I don't feel like doing much reading in my spare time.

You get a copy?

Here's a true story y'all might find hilarious.

My father in law is a huge reader - fantasy novels etc. - and somehow he heard that I wrote a book. So he ordered it (which is more than anyone in my family did other one brother and an aunt)........expecting that it was the novel I've been bragging about writing for years.....anyways, neither of them ever mentioned it at all, which I found hilarious. The only comment was Crystal's mom said "Well it wasn't what he was expecting"
- James_Tanner

My girl got a girlfriend?

Yes they have a shot. There are not a lot of locks in the Western conference. I expect the Coyotes to be within the 85 to 95 point range which is battling for wild card or a weak division 3rd place spot.

Yes they have a shot. There are not a lot of locks in the Western conference. I expect the Coyotes to be within the 85 to 95 point range which is battling for wild card or a weak division 3rd place spot.
- Njuice

Their division features three of the NHL's best teams. Overall I suppose it's pretty week, but another of the team has 2 of the NHL's best players. I think their division is sneaky good.