10 predictions for what lies ahead
Our writers weigh in on questions ranging from best defenceman to who wins the Cup
1.
What prospect or rookie are you most excited about watching this year?
Jim: Elias Pettersson. The Canucks took some heat when they drafted the skinny centre, but Oilers defenceman Adam Larsson, who played with Pettersson at the worlds this spring, emphatically said he’s the most skilled Swedish player he’s ever seen. That’s good enough for me and I’m a Henrik Sedin/Peter Forsberg fan.
Steve: Rasmus Dahlin. He seemed Erik Karlsson-like in the highlight tapes from last year. Can’t wait to see if he can be that elusive and that exciting at the next level.
Scott: Elias Pettersson, Vancouver. The Swedish teenager who will make Canucks fans forget about the Sedins! Well, no. But he should be a lot of fun to watch. Michael: Elias Pettersson won’t get the Canucks into the playoffs this year, but he, along with Brock Boeser, will make them a must-watch team. The kid, who looks like he was cloned in the same factory that produced the Sedins, is my pick for the Calder.
2.
What off-season addition will have the biggest impact for his new team?
Jim: Everybody’s going to say Erik Karlsson, but I’m not joining the chorus. I’ll say Paul Stastny, the perfect No. 2 centre who will make sure Max Pacioretty gets 40 goals in Vegas. Stastny is the ideal second banana to Wild Bill Karlsson on the first Golden Knights line.
Steve: Erik Karlsson in San Jose. He’s a game changer by himself when healthy. Add him to a team that already has Brent Burns and I think you have a defence impossible to defend.
Scott: Erik Karlsson, San Jose. No, wait, it’s John Tavares in Toronto. Unless it’s Karlsson. OK, fine, it’s Tavares. This is a tough call, is what I’m saying. In the end I’m going with the big Swede because I’m not allowed to pick two people.
Michael: Adding John Tavares instantly made the Maple Leafs a Cup contender. But it’s Mitch Marner who will benefit the most. Now that he has a legit centre to play with, I could see Marner finishing in the top five in scoring.
3.
Who will win the Art Ross trophy as league’s top scorer (how many points)?
Jim: We really have to answer this? Unless Connor McDavid gets run over by the Zamboni between periods, he’ll win his third straight scoring title with 120 points and he’ll get 50 goals. He had 84 even-strength points last season and he’s got Ty Rattie on the wing this year, guaranteed to get even more, eh?
Steve: Connor McDavid. Easy. This is a one-man race. 120 points.
Scott: Connor McDavid, Edmonton. 115 points. It seems weird to say that the guy who won the Art Ross twice already could have a breakout season, but I think he could have a breakout season. Michael: Connor McDavid. And with 124 points, it won’t even be close. In fact, the better question is: who will finish second?
4.
Who will win the James Norris Trophy as top defenceman? Jim: Drew Doughty. It’s a joke, really, that he’s won this thing only once. If the Kings are better this year than last, he’ll get noticed outside the Western Conference. Steve: Seth Jones. I thought he should have been a finalist for the Norris last year. Does a little bit of everything, much like Victor Hedman.
Scott: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay. Karlsson and Burns split the vote in San Jose, P.K. Subban and every other Preds D -man split the vote in Nashville and Hedman roars up the middle for the win.
Michael: We all know Erik Karlsson can put up points. But now that he’s in San Jose, the hockey world will also get to see just how good a defender he is. I foresee a long run of trophies for him.
5.
Which Canadian teams will make the playoffs, and who will go the deepest?
Jim: Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton. Jets will get to the Cup final, but they’ll have to trade for another Stastny-like No. 2 centre to follow Mark Scheifele at deadline. How about Matt Duchene? They’ve got lots of kids to trade and a first-round pick for a rental.
Steve: In playoffs: Toronto in the East. Winnipeg for sure in the West. I think one of Edmonton or Calgary will make the playoffs in the West, but I’m not certain which one. As for the team to go the farthest, I’ll take the Jets. Scott: Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary. I won’t say Toronto will go deepest lest anyone accuse me of making a homer pick. So I will say Winnipeg, which is also a homer pick because I lived there for a while as a kid.
Michael: This could be the year the Cup returns to Canada. While Toronto is the only team making it out of the East, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton should get in on the other side. And if the Leafs can get out of the first round, they’re winning it all.
6.
Who is the most overpaid player and the most underpaid player in the league?
Jim: Jack Eichel at $10 million. Can somebody tell me what he’s really done in the NHL to date? Most underpaid is Eric Staal at $3.5 million after 42 goals last season. Of course that might have been a one-off. He’s not 26 anymore.
Steve: Overpaid: Milan Lucic. Underpaid: Auston Matthews, until the big money kicks in next year.
Scott: Bobby Ryan, Ottawa. The Sens cannot find anyone willing to take Ryan and his $7.5-million salary off their hands, which is a pretty good sign he is overpaid. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner (tie) as most underpaid. The Leafs will pay the two kids, combined, about 35 per cent of what they will pay Nathan Horton this season.
Michael: The Kings gave Ilya Kovalchuk a three-year contract with a $6.25-million cap hit. That’s a lot of money for a 35-year-old who spent the past five years in Russia and looked slow against non-NHLers at the Olympics. As for underpaid, take any of the Leafs’ kids.
7.
Whose good 2017-18 season was an aberration last year?
Jim: Mathew Barzal’s 85 points in Long Island as a rookie. Can’t imagine he’ll get that many now that he’s playing as a No. 1 centre seeing all the other teams’ top defence pairs. He got sheltered by John Tavares having to face that last season.
Steve: New Jersey Devils. I don’t think they’ll surprise teams with their speed the way they did a year ago.
Scott: Colorado and Vegas are strong contenders, but I will take the New Jersey Devils, who scored three more goals than they allowed, but snuck into the playoffs.
Michael: William Karlsson won’t score 40 goals — much less
30 — and Vegas won’t be in the playoffs. After all, the house has to go bust eventually.
8.
Whose bad season was a solid indicator of reality?
Jim: Jason Spezza had 26 points and averaged only 13 minutes a game in Dallas. The game’s awfully fast for Jason now. Time has not treated him well.
Steve: Milan Lucic. The game has changed and he’s too physical and too slow for today’s game. Scott: Ottawa Senators. I mean, they were not good last year and lost two of their top three scorers from last season. So, yeah, the Sens feel like a safe pick here.
Michael: It was a heck of a run while it lasted, but Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and the rest of the Blackhawks’ window has closed for good.
9.
Which coach or GM is most likely to be fired before the season ends?
Jim: Hate answering this question because it looks like you’re hoping you’re right so you can win a prize or something. I’ll say Guy Boucher, although he has little to work with because of his owner’s scorched-earth policy of getting rid of anybody making any money.
Steve: Joel Quenneville. The Blackhawks are in decline. GM Stan Bowman has never been much of a Quenneville fan. Scott: With Garth Snow finally off the board, this becomes a much tougher pick. We’ll go with Claude Julien because Marc Bergevin seems unlikely to fire himself.
Michael: If the Oilers are out of a playoff spot by U.S. Thanksgiving, expect Todd McLellan to be replaced. And GM Peter Chiarelli won’t be far behind.
10.
Who will win the Stanley Cup?
Jim: Tampa. But then I’ve been saying that for years like I did with San Jose. Lightning over the Jets.
Steve: San Jose Sharks over Tampa Bay Lightning.
Scott: Tampa Bay over Winnipeg. It would be a great series and it would also give Gary Bettman fits, so here’s hoping.
Michael: It’s Joe Thornton’s time to raise the Cup. I’m taking the San Jose Sharks over the Toronto Maple Leafs.