NHL 2020 2021 Standings Pacific Division BOLD Predictions
#1 (COL) --WOW, they were stacked last year and they've gotten even better adding a top-6 winger and potential top-4 D (Saad and Toews). That Kadri trade keeps looking better for them and MacKinnon/Rantanen/Makar is as feared a young trio as any in the league. They have more than enough scoring and now defense, but I wonder about the goaltending still. I think Francouz/Grubauer are both nice #1B options, but I am not sure either can take the reins and win a playoff series or two.
#2 (VGK) --Can we call them the Cup Favorites out of the west already? a top-5 G tandem in Fleury/Lehner, depth up front, and adding Pietrangelo for no good reason. If Seattle does half as well, they'll be happy. This is a pretty weak division on paper, so COL/VGK will probably slug it out for 1st for alot of the year.
#3 (MIN) -- Gasp?!? Why Minnesota? as I said, it's a weak division. and no, I haven't forgotten about the WC Champs the Dallas Stars. but at least one team always surprises me, so this time I'm picking MIN. Bill Guerin has done a pretty good job so far overall. The D is solid even if they trade Dumba for help up front. MIN has strength on the wings and on D but are weaker down the middle and in goal. It remains to be seen if Stalock can step up but Talbot is a fine #1B. If it's a short season and they get an ALL STAR season from Fiala, maybe they can make a run. just typing this I want to reconsider but I gotta stick with it.
#4 (DAL) --I loved watching this team, but sadly they are getting older and Seguin/bishop are injured probably for the beginning of the season. This playoff run was a totally different team from the last few seasons of this team's play. they have a solid and mobile D-core, Khudobin hopefully can pick up his game again, but the offense looks questionable. Hintz and Gurianov may or may not take a step forward, Benn/Seguin/Radulov/Pavelski/etc... are getting older, and I think they will sadly take the path of SJS/NSH before them and begin falling back.
#5 (SJS) --simply because they can't be THAT bad again right? the team has some pretty good players still, although the goaltending right now is horrible unless one of Jones/Dubnyk rebounds. who knew the EK contract would be THIS BAD THIS FAST??? Not I.
#6 (LAK) --They won't be contenders (knock on wood) but they have a young team on the rise and a ton of prospects in the cupboard. at the NHL level they don't have a ton except a declining Anze Kopitar and a constantly-NHL21-overrated Drew Doughty.
#7 (ARI) --They are the new Minnesota Wild or the Buffalo Sabres of the west or whatever you want to call them. (super mismanaged franchise) they should have unloaded OEL even at a discount just to clear that overpaid contract off the cap. they have alot of big contracts coupled to "ok to above-average" players. just a total gong show. not good enough to compete, but not yet bad enough (and with a ton of long deals) to rebuild.
#8 (ANA) --Not quite as bad as Arizona, but either get really good or get really bad. I have no idea what to think of teams that always think they're in WC contention when they are totally not. they should be selling off the few assets they have and just wiping the slate clean but IDK if they will.
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