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Now that rosters have pretty well shaken out and the season is about to begin, what are your bold or un-bold predictions for the teams in your favorite team's division?
State where you think they will finish in the division and why.
Central Division
(1) Chicago Blackhawks - Finish first in the division because they are a much more rounded team this year than the last few years and have a deeper and more experienced defense that should hold up better than last year.
(2) St. Louis Blues - Finish second in the division. They lost some leadership and "leadership" but still have a deep team up front and good structure to ensure a good record. Biggest question mark is in net but I think Allen plays to his potential consistently this year.
(3) Colorado Avalanche - Finish third in the division. The new system that coach Jared Bednar is instilling will give the Avalanche new life and catch some teams by surprise. Players are held much more individually accountable and the new team defensive structure will shore up their biggest weakness in the past. The new energy and steps forward for the core and some younger players will make this is tough team to beat this year.
(4) Dallas Stars - Finish fourth in the division and first wild card. Dallas will have a tougher time this season than last. Some injuries and lingering effect from those injuries will cause them to have a slower start and they will regress a bit in the goal scoring department. I think they are still a playoff caliber team but will have a tougher time finding wins this season.
(5) Nashville Predators - Finish fifth in the division and second wild card. Rinne will be inconsistent and their depth scoring will diminish this year. Their blue line will be better suited to playing the style the Predators have been trending towards but they will also give up more chances the other way. Again, this is still a playoff caliber team but they will be fighting with the Stars and Pacific teams for this spot.
(6) Winnipeg Jets - Finish sixth in the division. The Jets will become a more consistent team and see better goaltending in large parts this season but not frequently enough to make the playoffs. This year is about getting Hellebuyck, Connor and Laine NHL experience and refining their games. Paul Maurice's job could be in question but probably proves that he is pointing the team in the right direction.
(7) Minnesota Wild - Finish seventh and last in the division. The Wild find that they win big and lose big frequently this season. The team will have consistency issues all season and Dubnyk will falter as the team in front of him does. I think they will have a couple good stretches that keeps playoff hopes alive for a while but ultimately fail to make the postseason because of the bad stretches that follow.
State where you think they will finish in the division and why.
Central Division
(1) Chicago Blackhawks - Finish first in the division because they are a much more rounded team this year than the last few years and have a deeper and more experienced defense that should hold up better than last year.
(2) St. Louis Blues - Finish second in the division. They lost some leadership and "leadership" but still have a deep team up front and good structure to ensure a good record. Biggest question mark is in net but I think Allen plays to his potential consistently this year.
(3) Colorado Avalanche - Finish third in the division. The new system that coach Jared Bednar is instilling will give the Avalanche new life and catch some teams by surprise. Players are held much more individually accountable and the new team defensive structure will shore up their biggest weakness in the past. The new energy and steps forward for the core and some younger players will make this is tough team to beat this year.
(4) Dallas Stars - Finish fourth in the division and first wild card. Dallas will have a tougher time this season than last. Some injuries and lingering effect from those injuries will cause them to have a slower start and they will regress a bit in the goal scoring department. I think they are still a playoff caliber team but will have a tougher time finding wins this season.
(5) Nashville Predators - Finish fifth in the division and second wild card. Rinne will be inconsistent and their depth scoring will diminish this year. Their blue line will be better suited to playing the style the Predators have been trending towards but they will also give up more chances the other way. Again, this is still a playoff caliber team but they will be fighting with the Stars and Pacific teams for this spot.
(6) Winnipeg Jets - Finish sixth in the division. The Jets will become a more consistent team and see better goaltending in large parts this season but not frequently enough to make the playoffs. This year is about getting Hellebuyck, Connor and Laine NHL experience and refining their games. Paul Maurice's job could be in question but probably proves that he is pointing the team in the right direction.
(7) Minnesota Wild - Finish seventh and last in the division. The Wild find that they win big and lose big frequently this season. The team will have consistency issues all season and Dubnyk will falter as the team in front of him does. I think they will have a couple good stretches that keeps playoff hopes alive for a while but ultimately fail to make the postseason because of the bad stretches that follow.
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