HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Pacific Division Bold Predictions

Where's Hendo?

Where's Hendo?
- smellmyfinger

Didn't send anything in

Thanks Tanner. You probably just cursed the season.

I expect the Oilers to be a bubble team, and if the stars align correctly and the moon is in the seventh house, squeak into the playoffs. If they are still competing for a playoff spot into February, it's a successful season.

Get your head out of the clouds.

Please find us a full time blogger.

"I think this upcoming season is going to be filled with articles about how the Oilers finally turned it around."


I've heard this before. Can't seem to recall when?

"I think this upcoming season is going to be filled with articles about how the Oilers finally turned it around."


I've heard this before. Can't seem to recall when?
- Cptmjl

Every goddamn year. We stopped believing it years ago.

"I think this upcoming season is going to be filled with articles about how the Oilers finally turned it around."


I've heard this before. Can't seem to recall when?
- Cptmjl

They're going to be much improved this year. Tanner put too much faith in Ms Cleo. With her out of the picture he may make more rational picks.

" The Oilers will win the division."


.... uhm, what are you smoking today (and lemme get some)

Thanks Tanner. You probably just cursed the season.

I expect the Oilers to be a bubble team, and if the stars align correctly and the moon is in the seventh house, squeak into the playoffs. If they are still competing for a playoff spot into February, it's a successful season.

Get your head out of the clouds.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

I think it would be a surprise if they did not at least contend for a playoff spot. It is not inconceivable that they win that division.

The Hall trade is going to turn out to be a significant positive turning point for you guys.

I'm of the opinion Anaheim will struggle this season as well.

SJ has enough talent and youth to remain competitive.

LA is trending down but still lethal if they get in & Quick gets hot.

Calgary will be a playoff bubble team if they can re-sign little Johnny.

Oilers make strides this year but they're still a lottery team (btm 14)

Canucks suffer a few legitimate injuries & management sits out guys with supposed injuries for the stealth tank again.

Phoenix finishes at the very bottom of the league. (Next to Toronto)

I think it would be a surprise if they did not at least contend for a playoff spot. It is not inconceivable that they win that division.

The Hall trade is going to turn out to be a significant positive turning point for you guys.
- Aetherial

I agree on the Hall trade. It has been ripped by a lot of people, but I think it needed to happen from both a culture change perspective and from needing a real shutdown defender.

From the perspective of a bitter Oilers fan, I'll believe the improvement when I see it. I've lost all my optimism in the last 10 years. The pieces look good on paper. We shall see how the on ice product is. (and our never ending injury carousel.)

I'm of the opinion Anaheim will struggle this season as well.

SJ has enough talent and youth to remain competitive.

LA is trending down but still lethal if they get in & Quick gets hot.

Calgary will be a playoff bubble team if they can re-sign little Johnny.

Oilers make strides this year but they're still a lottery team (btm 14)

Canucks suffer a few legitimate injuries & management sits out guys with supposed injuries for the stealth tank again.

Phoenix finished at the very bottom of the league.
- LeftCoaster

Not terrible, but how do you figure Calgary has improved enough to be a bubble team while Edmonton still sits in the lottery?

Not terrible, but how do you figure Calgary has improved enough to be a bubble team while Edmonton still sits in the lottery?
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Coaching will be better and their goaltending should be much better. Their defense is really really good, they scored a ton of goals last year, they just need to cut down on the goals against (coaching) and IMO you'll see a vast improvement.

Just because you have heard something before doesn't mean its not going to happen.

Connor McDavid with a supporting cast that includes Lucic, Klefbom, Puljarvi, Eberle, Yakupov, RNH and Draisaitl.

I think someone said last night that Connor skates 5 K/h faster than anyone on the ice when he's gliding around and 15 when he hits top speed. Did you see how he handled the puck last night? Selanne was speechless. Selanne. If you want to bet against this kid, be my guest.

Only injuries kept the Oilers down last year and that's the only possible thing standing in their way now.

I'm of the opinion Anaheim will struggle this season as well.

SJ has enough talent and youth to remain competitive.

LA is trending down but still lethal if they get in & Quick gets hot.

Calgary will be a playoff bubble team if they can re-sign little Johnny.

Oilers make strides this year but they're still a lottery team (btm 14)

Canucks suffer a few legitimate injuries & management sits out guys with supposed injuries for the stealth tank again.

Phoenix finishes at the very bottom of the league. (Next to Toronto)
- LeftCoaster

I will make a friendly wager with you my friend, PHX and TOR are not finishing bottom of the league.

Tanner you've written that prediction for the last couple years if we miss the playoffs again I'm going to have to start blaming you .

Coaching will be better and their goaltending should be much better. Their defense is really really good, they scored a ton of goals last year, they just need to cut down on the goals against (coaching) and IMO you'll see a vast improvement.
- LeftCoaster

I've never been a fan of Elliot. Always been overrated behind good Ds imo. With Gio Dougie and Brodie, Calgary D should be killers, but Gio is the only one interested in actually defending. Coaching can help but a players proclivities are hard to change. You may be right. I'm not convinced.

While I seriously doubt Tanner is right in that the Oil win the division, I don't see them in the lottery again either.

I predict Tanner goes over the top as usual and as usual has pie in face by the end of the year.

I will make a friendly wager with you my friend, PHX and TOR are not finishing bottom of the league.
- JTanner

My guess is they both finish bottom three, so to me, that's bottom of the league. And, if I make a wager on this site, I bet a five or ten dollar donation to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program to help kids get equipment for sports.

I've never been a fan of Elliot. Always been overrated behind good Ds imo. With Gio Dougie and Brodie, Calgary D should be killers, but Gio is the only one interested in actually defending. Coaching can help but a players proclivities are hard to change. You may be right. I'm not convinced.

While I seriously doubt Tanner is right in that the Oil win the division, I don't see them in the lottery again either.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Elliot sucked in Ottawa and looked good in St Louis - he's meh IMO

I've never been a fan of Elliot. Always been overrated behind good Ds imo. With Gio Dougie and Brodie, Calgary D should be killers, but Gio is the only one interested in actually defending. Coaching can help but a players proclivities are hard to change. You may be right. I'm not convinced.

While I seriously doubt Tanner is right in that the Oil win the division, I don't see them in the lottery again either.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

If they don't finish in a playoff position then they're a lottery team because every team can now win the first overall pick, however slight the odds.

Personally I love the Hall for Larsson trade and think the Oilers will be much improved this year, just not quite in a playoff position yet. Let's be honest here, five of the central teams will probably get in again from the west.

The bottom Pacific teams are all trending in the right direction with the exception maybe being the Canucks, who are behind the Coyotes, Oilers & Flames in acquiring highend young talent.

James Tanner is so franking annoying. And yeah the Oilers are going to be the number one team in the league just like last year, right?

lol, the Leafs are not finishing in the basement. They improved last year from the season before and they had no goaltending and left out a lot of our skilled youngsters until the end of the season when Sparks was in net sucking all the balls.

Pacific will be a very competitive division. Oilers and Flames are on the rise. California teams are still very strong. Arizona is getting better but should finish last in that division.

edit: I forgot about Vancouver because they are irrelevant this season. Watching the ageless Sedins continue to rock is the only reason to watch the Canucks in 2016-2017.

This is definitely the toughest division to predict. I think SJ, CGY and LA lead the pack with EDM and ANA on the bubble.