2023-24 NHL Season Thread.

[draynay]

I thought they were playing Heatley with Getzlaf/Perry, get all their assholes in one basket.

[Nazrark]

Today begins Montreals cup year. Optimistic as ever.

[Zeoni]

Kesler is also like the prototypical 2nd line center, great 2 way play

[VanillaO]

Ok, so with some (not a lot) of thought, I have decided that there is really no good way to figure out who the 16 playoff teams will be other than 'my gut tells me'. I really mean it. 2-7 in the Metropolitan could end up being decided by 5 points or 25. Central, does Colorado have what it takes to overcome shitty possession numbers for another full season? Out west, is this the year San Jose finally blows it in the regular season instead of the playoffs? So (keeping in mind, I have been a whopping 1/6 in MLB playoffs so far), I decided to try not to take the safe/obvious choices in every spot, and instead make some pretty crazy calls in some areas (like the Wild Cards).

Pacific
1. Anaheim (President)
2. Los Angeles
3. Vancouver (yup, I said it)
4. San Jose (WC)
5. Calgary (Will miss playoffs by less than 3 points)
6. Arizona
7. Edmonton

Central
1. Chicago
2. St. Louis
3. Dallas
4. Minnesota (WC)
5. Nashville
6. Colorado
7. Winnipeg (this is the first easy choice I've made, 100% because of Pav - sorry Naz or whoever the Jets fan in this thread is... fwiw, I could see them finishing 5th, too)

Atlantic
1. Boston
2. Tampa Bay
3. Toronto
4. Montreal
5. Florida
6. Detroit
7. Ottawa
8. Buffalo

StillCan'tBelieveThisIsTheName
1. Pittsburgh
2. Columbus
3. Washington
4. NY Islanders (WC)
5. New Jersey (WC)
6. NY Rangers
7. Philadelphia
8. Carolina

How insane are these picks?

Playoffs

Anaheim vs Minnesota - Anaheim in 6
Los Angeles vs Vancouver - Los Angeles in 5
Chicago vs San Jose - Chicago in 5
St. Louis vs Dallas - St. Louis in 7

Boston vs New Jersey - Boston in 6
Tampa vs Toronto - Tampa in 6
Pittsburgh vs NY Islanders - Islanders in 6
Columbus vs Washington - Columbus in 6 (Yay, first franchise series win!)

Anaheim vs Los Angeles - Los Angeles in 6
Chicago vs St. Louis - Chicago in 7

Boston vs Tampa - Tampa in 6
Columbus vs Islanders - Columbus in 6

Chicago vs Los Angeles - Chicago in 7
Tampa vs Columbus - Tampa in 6
Chicago vs Tampa - Chicago in 7

I obviously completely made this up as I went, but this was far more fun than I've ever had doing one of these. Obviously, I don't actually expect the ECF to contain either Tampa or Columbus, but shit... I just might be more interested in that than most other matches. The Central is going to be a shit show... honestly, any of those teams outside of Winnipeg (and maybe Nashville) could finish 1-5.

Bold Predictions That Are Possible But Not Likely:

Buffalo actually ends up finishing 27th (ahead of Carolina[30th], Edmonton, Arizona) but still ends up with the #1 pick.
Tavares wins MVP if healthy.
There are 5 40-goal scorers and 2 50-goal scorers.
Stamkos will fail to be one of the aforementioned 50 goal scorers.
Three players will crack 100 points for the first time in like... 3 or 4 full seasons?
The Metropolulztan 2nd place team will have less than 10 points more than the 6th place team.
4 teams in the East will break 100 points, and again, only Pittsburgh will do it from the Stupid Name division.
Rookie of the Year will not be someone picked top-3 this year, and maybe not even Drouin.
The first HC to be fired will once again come from Philly.
I will not get any STIs for the 8th straight year of my life.
Celery will become the next super food.
Hulk Hogan's moustache will be revealed to be the source of his power.

[Rennadrel]

Toronto might be 3rd in the division, but Montreal is going to be second or first I think.

[Zeoni]

5. Calgary (Will miss playoffs by less than 3 points)

hey hey hey hey no no no you keep that evil away from us, not this year with this draft!

[Tradewind]

I kind of wish we didn't start the season against Vancouver. I don't wanna start the season with a loss...though I might be surprised.

Taking bets on McGrattan Bollig Bouma for the opening faceoff

I shoulda worn my jersey today, but it kinda needs a wash.

[sharlez]

My playoff teams, in order:

East

Pittsburgh
Boston
New Jersey
Montreal
Columbus
Tampa
Rangers
Washington

West

Colorado
LA
Chicago
Dallas
St Louis
Anaheim
Vancouver
San Jose

Stanley Cup Final 2014/2015 - Tampa Bay vs Dallas (winner Dallas 4 - 2)

50+ goal scorers - Stamkos

Top 3 points total - Seguin, Crosby, Stamkos


Bold predictions:
Jaromir Jagr will reach 1800 total career points
Seguin will reach 100 points this season but will not score more than 40 goals
The Sedin brothers will bounce back
John Tortorella will remain unemployed when this season has ended
Minnesota will miss playoffs due to goaltending issues
Cory Schneider will be a Vezina candidate
Ryan McDonagh will win Calder trophy
San Jose will win a playoff series (but will fall in the second series)
Detroit will miss playoffs after once again having their key players injured
Brodeur will reach 700 wins before retiring after this season
Buffalo will finish with the least amount of points
New York Islanders will lose out on a playoff spot on the last day of the season
Colorado will win Presidents Trophy
New Jersey will lose to Tampa Bay in the conference finals 3 - 4
Alexander Semin will have a bad season
Eric Staal will have a bad season
Dany Heatley will have a bad season
Eric Gelinas will finish on 1st place in Powerplay Points amongst defensemen
Brad Richards will have a decent season playing on Chicago's 3rd line for most of the season

[VanillaO]

It's not very bold to say a guy who scored 65 or w/e points last year will score 45 this year And I'd be damn impressed if McDonagh wins rookie of the year. And finally... what is a bad season for Heatley after the last couple years? More of the same? Or worse?

[Tradewind]

Didn't Colorado go like 1-2-4 in the preseason?

I mean sure...preseason means nothing, but I wouldn't be banking on a President's Trophy with that debut

[Stommped]

I was going to do my picks the other day, then I realized trying to pick the Eastern Conference is like filling out an NCAA tournament bracket. Who the hell knows. Carolina and Buffalo will be really bad, that's about all I can say for sure with that conference.

[VanillaO]

I was going to do my picks the other day, then I realized trying to pick the Eastern Conference is like filling out an NCAA tournament bracket. Who the hell knows. Carolina and Buffalo will be really bad, that's about all I can say for sure with that conference.

That and the ranking in the Central is pretty much why I decided to just have fun with it /shrug

[Deleted]

Finally! We are so close now.. I am pulling an allnighter watching Toronto - Montreal and then San Jose - Los Angeles. #beatla

[Tradewind]

Finally! We are so close now.. I am pulling an allnighter watching Toronto - Montreal and then San Jose - Los Angeles. #beatla

skip that boring TO/MTL shit, CGY/VAN, home and season opener...that's the shit right there.

[Deleted]

skip that boring TO/MTL shit, CGY/VAN, home and season opener...that's the shit right there.

According to my stream service CGY - VAN is the same time as my beloved San Jose plays so no can do!

[Tradewind]

According to my stream service CGY - VAN is the same time as my beloved San Jose plays so no can do!

Yeah I guess there's that

watch it after on replay!

[Deleted]

Yeah I guess there's that

watch it after on replay!

I might do that! I am pretty sure I will get the highlights during the breaks of the SJ game.

[Tradewind]

I might do that! I am pretty sure I will get the highlights during the breaks of the SJ game.

It might not be a very positive experience though lol. Vancouver has had our number for such a long time now and the two preseason games were not inspiring D: That said, preseason...and playing a whole shit ton of prospects and tryouts.

[Deleted]

It might not be a very positive experience though lol. Vancouver has had our number for such a long time now and the two preseason games were not inspiring D: That said, preseason...and playing a whole shit ton of prospects and tryouts.

I'll cross my fingers for your team! The SJS - LAK series from last year is still sore over here! I demand revenge

[Tradewind]

I'll cross my fingers for your team! The SJS - LAK series from last year is still sore over here! I demand revenge

SJ had only themselves to blame for it though Fuckers had one job! All they needed to do was win one more game!!