"surprise" predictions this year

[allan5oh]

I can see Jim Slater being tried on the third line or even moving up there for a while.

What are some surprises you guys think could happen this year? Not just "so and so will have a good year".

Click to read more...

 

[Samcanadian]

I know we all expect Scheifele to crack the lineup eventually, but I'm pretty confident that not only will he start the season with the team, he'll be a permanent fixture on the second line as well as scoring at least 50 points this season

 

[meedle]

Noel gets fired by the all star game

Guess i shoulda said olympics since no all star game this coming year.

 

[koth]

Peluso will have a poor season. He will have a hard time staying on the 4th line and will be a healthy scratch for quite a few games.

This may not be a surprise to some people.

 

[YWGinYYZ]

Scheifele sticks on a line between Kane and Gooch, pots 15+40, and takes the Calder.

Optimism and surprise all wrapped into one. #efficiencybaby

 

[drumzan]

Jokinen will play for the Ice Caps

 

[truck]

I can see Jim Slater being tried on the third line or even moving up there for a while.

This should be expected.

If any of Olli, Scheif or Little get dinged, Slated goes to line three... Well him or Wright.

Scary!!

 

[ajmidd12]

Here's a "surprise" prediction, the Jets win the Stanley Cup....

But seriously I want us to make the playoffs.

 

[allan5oh]

This should be expected.

If any of Olli, Scheif or Little get dinged, Slated goes to line three... Well him or Wright.

Scary!!

I don't think it's scary putting Slater on the 3rd line, in fact I think it would be surprising how good he could be with decent wingers.

 

[Samcanadian]

Slater's always been the best hockey player of the bottom 6 guys we've rolled out over the last two years. Easily better than Thorburn or Glass in Year 1 and clearly better than any of the guys they had there with him last year.

I say this year there needs to be a CLEAR definition of what to expect from him, but if we're still relying on Slater to produce third line results we're in the same place as we were last year.

 

[allan5oh]

Here's a few more:

- Bogosian has a monster year, and is in discussion for the Norris, 40+ pts and +25
- Evander Kane becomes a PPG player, gels immediately with Scheifele on the 2nd line
- Montoya gets 20+ starts and we're left wondering if he should be the starter

 

[Samcanadian]

Here's a few more:

- Bogosian has a monster year, and is in discussion for the Norris, 40+ pts and +25
- Evander Kane becomes a PPG player, gels immediately with Scheifele on the 2nd line
- Montoya gets 20+ starts and we're left wondering if he should be the starter

I agree with all of those minus the third point.

Montoya will never be a starter in the NHL, imo. I think Pavelec has a lot more to give than what he's shown and I think this year is his turning point.

 

[truck]

I don't think it's scary putting Slater on the 3rd line, in fact I think it would be surprising how good he could be with decent wingers.

Yes. Slater being good really would surprise me.

 

[TrentSteele]

Trouba impresses at camp prompt trade of Postma early in season. Chevy steals 2nd rounder for him.

Enstrom and Bogosian become top D pair. Buff plays with Clitsome at more reasonable minutes.

Scheifele starts season on 2nd line and sticks there.

Ladd, Wheeler, Kane, Setoguchi, Frolik all score 20.

Scheifele Calder Finalist

Pavelec plays less than 65 games.

Lowry gets call up due to injury, scores first career NHL goal.

 

[Bob E]

Mid-season trade: Jets trade a top 3 dman for proven starting goaltender.

 

[buggs]

Mid-season trade: Jets trade a top 3 dman for proven starting goaltender.

Resurrection, is that you? Which one is the sock puppet?

 

[DarthMonty]

Trouba and Scheifele battle right to the end of the season for the Calder trophy.

 

[Gil Fisher]

Wheeler will get off to a slow start to the season, then dominate for about 35 games, before looking increasingly tired over the last third.

Wait...I am doing this right?

 

[broinwhyteridge]

Pavalec excells and delivers league average results.

 

[meedle]

Pavalec excells and delivers league average results.

For 1 month. Fixed it for ya.

 

[Gil Fisher]

Pavalec excells and delivers league average results.

More like, "average fan thinks pavs lets in weak goals and has down year, but posts .915 save percentage".

 

[Howard Chuck]

Add me to the Kane-Sheifele-Setofgoochies synergy camp. I predict this lineup makes them all better than the sum of the parts and they become line 1a.

Peluso gets to play regularly and is surprisingly NHL worthy.

Buff is in the same shape that he's always in the past few years (is this surprising or not?).

There is still a blockbuster trade to come.

 

[CDDF]

Ron Hainsey, wherever he lands, actually scores a goal.

 

[garret9]

Jokinen starts of on the 2nd line. Gets either relegated to third or experiences a short injury, taking him out of the 2nd line and putting Scheifele or O`Dell in place. Second line excels like we haven't seen since Kane-Burmi-Welly/Antro but then Jokinen gets placed back in and the line goes back to being stuck in their own zone unless the puck lands on Kane's stick.

 

[broinwhyteridge]

More like, "average fan thinks pavs lets in weak goals and has down year, but posts .915 save percentage".

It would be a nice problem to have, wouldn't it?