Eklund: How Far Do Teams “NEED” To Go to Avoid Failure?

So now NJ is going to fall to a wildcard spot? Good blog.

Anaheim Win 1 Round? Of what Beer Pong?

It's funny, for the longest time Chicago didn't exist. Now it's Edmonton's turn.

San Jose battle for playoffs.............

So the Senators have to battle for the playoffs but Ottawa has to make the playoffs? Did the 67's get promoted and Montreal get relegated?

Just to dig deeper here...

NJ is about to fall into a 4-8-3 slump, while Pittsburgh finishes 14-1-1.

Like why? What is this possibly based on? Because its obviously not from watching the sport.

The West is just as bizarre. The Oilers and Kings have just 14 games left. Oilers trail them by 5 points. Not only will the Oilers make up this gap, but somehow finish 10 points AHEAD of LA. What are the Vegas odds on that? Although, at least both teams play 82 games, unlike the poor Coyotes who only play 81.

Boston: Stanley Cup Win
Toronto: Stanley Cup Final
Tampa: Stanley Cup Final
Carolina: Stanley Cup Win
NJ: ECF
NY Rangers: Stanley Cup Final
Pittsburgh: Go 7 games in the first round
NY Islanders: Make Playoffs and hurt their opponent
Florida: Stew on it
Capitals: Draft well
Sabres: Patience
Senators: Hope for new owners
Detroit: Two more years
Ottawa: Hey, this is the same team!
Flyers: Hope Briere isn't a puppet
Blue Jackets: Get Bedard

Dallas : Win the Cup
Minnesota: Win 2 Rounds
Colorado: Stanley Cup
Vegas: Stanley Cup Final
LA Kings: Go further than Quick
Seattle: Win a round
Winnipeg: Not embarrass themselves
Nashville: Enjoy a "new" direction
Calgary: Fire their team because the owner loves the coach
Vancouver: The Aquilini's fall into a volcano
St Louis: "Fredo" Jordan Binnington
AZ: Get Bedard and ruin his career
Anaheim: Put Dallas Eakins out of his and the NHL's misery
Chicago: Draft Bedard
San Jose: Convince someone to take Karlsson

Just to dig deeper here...

NJ is about to fall into a 4-8-3 slump, while Pittsburgh finishes 14-1-1.

Like why? What is this possibly based on? Because its obviously not from watching the sport.

The West is just as bizarre. The Oilers and Kings have just 14 games left. Oilers trail them by 5 points. Not only will the Oilers make up this gap, but somehow finish 10 points AHEAD of LA. What are the Vegas odds on that? Although, at least both teams play 82 games, unlike the poor Coyotes who only play 81.
- Cooleus

Makes a lot more sense if you do a lot of drugs. Even then, it still doesnt make much sense.

Boston: Stanley Cup Win
Toronto: Stanley Cup Final
Tampa: Stanley Cup Final
Carolina: Stanley Cup Win
NJ: ECF
NY Rangers: Stanley Cup Final
Pittsburgh: Go 7 games in the first round
NY Islanders: Make Playoffs and hurt their opponent
Florida: Stew on it
Capitals: Draft well
Sabres: Patience
Senators: Hope for new owners
Detroit: Two more years
Ottawa: Hey, this is the same team!
Flyers: Hope Briere isn't a puppet
Blue Jackets: Get Bedard

Dallas : Win the Cup
Minnesota: Win 2 Rounds
Colorado: Stanley Cup
Vegas: Stanley Cup Final
LA Kings: Go further than Quick
Seattle: Win a round
Winnipeg: Not embarrass themselves
Nashville: Enjoy a "new" direction
Calgary: Fire their team because the owner loves the coach
Vancouver: The Aquilini's fall into a volcano
St Louis: "Fredo" Jordan Binnington
AZ: Get Bedard and ruin his career
Anaheim: Put Dallas Eakins out of his and the NHL's misery
Chicago: Draft Bedard
San Jose: Convince someone to take Karlsson
- AdamFrench

Arizona:

Montreal: Do your best to help people remember you have a team.

Skipped the Oilers. I think anything less than a good showing in the Conference Finals will be seen as a disappointment and really even losing in 7 may not be good enough for this town. Many are openly saying "It is time for McDavid to take his first Cup" and it's catching on. This is the best team he's been surrounded by at the NHL level, but the goaltending is what it is and may not be enough.

Skipped the Oilers. I think anything less than a good showing in the Conference Finals will be seen as a disappointment and really even losing in 7 may not be good enough for this town. Many are openly saying "It is time for McDavid to take his first Cup" and it's catching on. This is the best team he's been surrounded by at the NHL level, but the goaltending is what it is and may not be enough.
- OilyJay

Ek didn't include WHA teams on this list

So the computer thinks......

The Rags will go 11-1-3 (25 pts) in their next 15 games
The Devils will go 4-8-3 (11 points) in their next 15 games

AND NJ will give up an 8 point lead and finish 6 points behind the Rags?

REALLY? You're expecting a 14 point swing in 15 games? Sorry EK, but I think your computer if off it's nut

Hire Chuck Fletcher as GM! That will insure success. Look at his track record.

With no relegation its very easy to survive in the NHL! 😁

So now NJ is going to fall to a wildcard spot? Good blog.
- Cooleus

according to math, because the penguins will go 14-1-0 or 13-0-2 and pass them.
Stay tuned

Who says there are no dumb questions?
This one is absolutely one of the dumber ones.
The answer is winning the cup is the only answer always. Everything else is a failure.

If OTT loses tonite do you still count that game as a win for you even though you have Tor playing them when actually it is COLORADO

I think you are going to have to rewrite/rewire the Buzztron. I asked it to add 1 and 1 and it came up with 5. I then gave it the logical statements A -> B and B -> C and I asked it if I know that C is true, does it mean A and it came back saying that G is true. Lastly, I asked it for the predictions for tonight's games and it gave me the scores for last Thursday's games (but it got one wrong).

Does that mean Toronto gets to play 83 games now?

And somehow the Oilers will finish with 7 overtime losses, even though they already have 8. Hmm how's that going to work. 🤔

Just to dig deeper here...

NJ is about to fall into a 4-8-3 slump, while Pittsburgh finishes 14-1-1.

Like why? What is this possibly based on? Because its obviously not from watching the sport.

The West is just as bizarre. The Oilers and Kings have just 14 games left. Oilers trail them by 5 points. Not only will the Oilers make up this gap, but somehow finish 10 points AHEAD of LA. What are the Vegas odds on that? Although, at least both teams play 82 games, unlike the poor Coyotes who only play 81.
- Cooleus

How can San Jose “Battle for Playoffs” if they’re already eliminated

San Jose battle for playoffs.............


- HolyDiver83

Expecting BOTH the Rangers and Penguins to pass the Devils seems kinda of crazy; but I don't see how this season get put down as a success if they collapse in brutal fashion down the stretch.

That said, I think the other projection is spot on. New Jersey need to win one playoff round to call this season a success. If they knock the Blueskirts out while doing that, even better.