Obviously a lot can change with trades, FA, etc. But now that this season is done, why not make my early 2019-20 predictions?
Atlantic Division:
1 - Tampa Bay Lightning (107 points)
2 - Boston Bruins (105 points)
3 - Toronto Maple Leafs (102 points)
4 - Florida Panthers (99 points)*
5 - Montreal Canadiens (85 points)
6 - Buffalo Sabres (84 points)
7 - Detroit Red Wings (83 points)
8 - Ottawa Senators (70 points)
Metropolitan Division:
1 - Washington Capitals (103 points)
2 - Pittsburgh Penguins (95 points)
3 - New York Islanders (93 points)
4 - Carolina Hurricanes (93 points)**
5 - Philadelphia Flyers (84 points)
6 - Columbus Blue Jackets (82 points)
7 - New York Rangers (81 points)
8 - New Jersey Devils (81 points)
Central Division:
1 - St. Louis Blues (102 points)
2 - Winnipeg Jets (101 points)
3 - Nashville Predators (100 points)
4 - Colorado Avalanche (100 points)*
5 - Dallas Stars (86 points)
6 - Chicago Blackhawks (80 points)
7 - Minnesota Wild (78 points)
Pacific Division:
1 - Calgary Flames (111 points)
2 - Arizona Coyotes (106 points)
3 - San Jose Sharks (103 points)
4 - Vegas Golden Knights (94 points)**
5 - Vancouver Canucks (86 points)
6 - Edmonton Oilers (80 points)
7 - Anaheim Ducks (74 points)
8 - Los Angeles Kings (61 points)
I have Arizona as a bit of a surprise team. Idk what others are expecting but my GUESS is that most people don't have them finishing with as many points as i do. I just feel like they will surprise. Going bold with this one (I think). My other picks probably aren't very surprising and are mostly the teams other people will be picking, but i'm not trying to make bold predictions just to make bold predictions. Arizona is the one I think i'm going a little bold with, but they came close this year and I think they will take the next step. Florida with coach Q behind the bench, in my opinion, are a playoff team. I think Carolina makes it back. This was such a special season for them and i don't see them missing the playoffs next year. I expect the Islanders to make the playoffs again, and no, that isn't because i'm an Isles fan. If Lehner and Lee re-sign that would be huge. I feel confident in the Isles making it back. LAK seems to be going into a rebuild, and while they have a history of bouncing back after bad years, I don't see it this time.
Playoff Predictions
Round 1:
vs.
Tampa Bay in 5
vs.
Boston in 6
vs.
Washington in 6
vs.
Pittsburgh in 7
vs.
Colorado in 7
vs.
Nashville in 7
vs.
Calgary in 6
vs.
San Jose in 6
I see Tampa Bay bouncing back in the playoffs. Obviously, this past playoff didn't go as they wanted, but I think they bounce back and make it to round 2. Carolina had a great year this past year, and I think they make it back next year but lose in round 1 to the Bolts. I feel like Boston beats Toronto again. Washington finally beat Pittsburgh, Vancouver finally beat Chicago (only the third time, not the fourth), but I feel like Boston will beat Toronto again, and i think they get it done in 6, not 7. Washington bounces back IMO, and while i hope i'm wrong, I think Pittsburgh gets the Islanders back after this year. Colorado looks like they can go to the 2nd round again, beating the 2019 Stanley Cup champions. Winnipeg and Nashville should go 7 but I think Nashville wins this time. Calgary bounces back after losing in a big upset this past year, and San Jose's experience will be the difference against Arizona.
Round 2:
vs.
Boston in 4
vs.
Washington in 7
vs.
Colorado in 7
vs.
Calgary in 5
Don't ask me why I have Boston sweeping Tampa Bay. I have no clue. I just feel like it'll happen. Washington takes out Pittsburgh again, Colorado beats Nashville, taking the next step and going to round 3. This was a learning year for Calgary before they go further next year IMO. San Jose and Tampa Bay once again aren't able to win the cup.
Round 3:
vs.
Boston in 6
vs.
Colorado in 6
Boston ends in in Washington in game 6 and goes back to the final. Chara re-signed so he'll be back. They still have Bergeron, Marchand, Rask, etc. And some of the young guys got experience. I feel like they're going back to the final. Calgary vs. Colorado again, and Calgary will REALLY want to take out the Avalanche after what happened this past year, but MacKinnon and his line will be too much. Calgary was no match for Colorado this year, and I think Colorado beats them again.
Stanley Cup Final:
vs.
Two fast teams. One more experienced than the other. Interesting series.
Prediction:
Boston in 6
I think Boston comes back next year and wins the cup. They came so close this year and as long as they keep the team together I think they will bounce back from the game 7 loss and win their 7th Stanley Cup in their history.
And once again, I think the Stanley Cup will be won on the road. Why is nobody taking about the fact that the cup hasn't been won at home since 2015?
Anyway, those are my predictions. If you want you can give me your predictions, too.
I will make an updated version after free agency. By then we will have also seen some trades. I will also make an updated version in October right before the season starts.
2020 Stanley Cup Prediction: Boston Bruins