NHL season predictions: better fashion, the rise of the Kraken and the NY title | NHL

Seattle won’t get inaugural playoff visit

There’s a lot to like about the NHL team finally returning to Seattle (the jersey collectors are undoubtedly waiting for a revival Golden Seal kit), if for no other reason than to give the Vancouver Canucks a true regional rival even if their jerseys are, annoyingly, almost indistinguishable on TV. However, the Krakens expansion plan may not prove to be as fruitful as the Vegas Golden Knights did a few years ago. Jordan Eberle, Mark Giordano, Jamie Oleksiak and perhaps above all Philip Grubauer, will surely provide a good base to work with. But it doesn’t feel like this team is deep enough to get them out of a difficult division with Avalanche and Golden Knights, or even get past the Flames and Oilers.

More teams will adopt a relaxed dress code

The NHL game day dress code isn’t just a tradition, it’s written in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the player association. Paragraph 5 of Exhibit 14 stipulates that players are required to wear a jacket, tie and trousers for all Club games and when traveling to and from such games unless otherwise specified by the Head Coach or General Manager. Enter the Arizona Coyotes, the first team to loosen the code, thanks to orders from their brand manager. This is likely why other teams will follow suit, uh, accordingly (sorry). While players may see it as an opportunity to showcase their bona fide fashion, owners will likely recognize a marketing and sales opportunity. This Summer, Maple Leaf collaborate with Justin Bieber’s clothing line, Drew House and, surprisingly, this isn’t a bunch of suits and ties.

Connor McDavid and Oilers fans will be disappointed again

There are few storylines more frustrating in the NHL than McDavids. Magical alien people. He’s weird. NS the fastest child alive. NHL’s best player. But constantly not fulfilled. Last year was no different. Not only did the Oilers lose a first-round draw against the Winnipeg Jets last spring, they were swept away, 4-0. It’s hard to pinpoint a single cause, but they were beaten 14-8 in the series, not only by McDavid but also Leon Draisaitl. as well, perhaps it. Obviously goaltending is also a factor, and remains one. Adding Zach Hyman is a positive move. But Duncan Keith feels like the answer to a question no one asks but it’s about anti-vaxxers. McDavid may have to settle for Olympic gold in February. That is, unless

America wins gold in Beijing

If there ever was a moment for the United States to win Olympic gold in men’s hockey, would this be what I thought? Come see. So far, the US has appointed three players to the Olympic roster: Auston Matthews, Seth Jones and Patrick Kane. Seems like a great start! Who else can cut? Cole Caufield, the Canadiens wunderkind/playoff savior might do it. What about Jack Eichel (assuming he’s healthy)? Who else is on this list? Johnny Gaudreau, Brock Boeser, Kyle Connor, John Carlson, Ryan Suter, Connor Hellebuyck, Ben Bishop yes, these guys are stacked. Honestly, Canada will most likely also have a solid squad. In addition to the already mentioned McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Alex Pietrangelo on the team, the Canadian options include Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, Jonathan Huberdeau, Brad Marchand, Mat Barzal and Cale Makar a solid group! But it feels like America may have the upper hand now. Unless it’s actually Finland? Or maybe Russia? Must be a good tournament.

The Maple Leafs will not lose to the Canadiens in the playoffs

The good news for Leafs fans is that they likely won’t see a repeat of last spring’s brutal playoffs to Montreal. But that’s only because the Canadiens won’t qualify for this year’s playoffs. Is that underestimating the team that qualified for the Finals just a few months ago? Yes. But a return to a regular divisional format in 2021-22 means the Habs are in far more difficult company than when they faced only the North (against whom they frankly struggled). Bruins, Panthers, and Lightning would be too challenging. Same story for Leaf. While they are likely to make it post-season again, Toronto is likely to have to get past the Bolts, Bruins or Panthers to progress and that is only if Matthews and Marner start to really put up points, which they tend not to do in the playoffs. The Leafs went a long way maybe, but yeah, I dunno, maybe not?

The best match will be in the Central Division

Keep your eyes on Central. Colorado will be looking to redeem themselves after their second-round playoff loss to Vegas. Dallas will be looking for a playoff spot and a repeat of their 2020 Stanley Cup Finals spot before everyone gets too old. Meanwhile, Winnipeg remains a threat and the Blues and Predators are likely to be in a tight battle for the wildcard spots. As for Chicago? The Blackhawks exceeded expectations for much of the truncated 2021 season but faltered and missed the playoffs. With Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes now and Seth Jones on the blue line, Chicago may now have what it takes to slip into the postseason. It will be a competitive division with deepening competition and the highest potential for meaningful mid-season games.

Will talk more about what happens beyond the ice

The NHL continues to account for some of its darkest demons. During the summer, TSN reported that a former Chicago Blackhawks player alleged that he had been sexually assaulted by the team’s video coach in 2010, and that the team did nothing after he spoke about the alleged abuse. The coach has denied the allegations, and the Blackhawks are expected to release a report on the incident soon.

Recently, Golden Knights goalkeeper Robin Lehner made a different allegation. Lehner tweeted about disagreements between Buffalo Sabers and Jack Eichel over the proper treatment for his herniated disc injury (the team wanted Eichel to have fusion surgery, but Eichel preferred disc replacement surgery. The disagreement led to Sabers stripping Eichel of the captaincy and his request a trade). Lehner tweeted a story about Eichel, commenting Better to suffer pain for the rest of their lives At least they will supply the same pain meds. He later accused the league of supporting irresponsible prescription drugs and distribution of sleeping pills to players. Lehner has since spoken to the NHL and NHLPA and said he is passionate about the potential changes that can be made to protect the younger generation. More to come, as they say.

And then there’s Carey Price. Last spring’s shock Montreal Cup game wouldn’t have happened without Price between the pipes and certainly not without him, by all appearances, once categorized in an almost trance-like state. We don’t know what happened since then, nor is it our business. But last week, Price join voluntarily NHL player assistance program, which helps players with mental health or substance abuse problems. Might as well find out more, maybe not. In any case, Price’s decision was a good one for himself and his family, and for hockey more broadly. It’s okay to ask for help.

The playoffs will unfold like this

The league hasn’t confirmed the 2022 playoff format, but assuming it returns to pre-pandemic form, here’s what it looks like: In the East, Tampa, Florida, Boston, and Toronto will make the postseason, along with the Islanders, Carolina, Washington, and Philadelphia. In the west, the weaker Pacific division will see only three teams advance to the playoffs, Vegas, Edmonton and Calgary. Five teams from Central will make it past Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, with St. Louis, and Chicago took the wildcard spots. The Islanders will beat Toronto to face Tampa in the second round, while Florida will advance to face Carolina. Calgary would be better off playing Edmonton for Dallas, and Vegas would be meeting Colorado. This would mean that

New York Islanders will reach the Finals

Post-Olympic, the biggest question in the NHL is probably: Who can beat Tampa? Guys, this is a resident of the New York Islands. They came close last year, however, only losing 1-0 in Game 7 against Tampa Bay in the semifinals. It’s almost the same story in 2020. For Tampa, the road to the Stanley Cup always seems to lead through Long Island. And while Lightning might not win all three Cups on its own, it does seem like a third semi-final between the two teams is possible. Tampa still feels like a champion team, but if anyone can end it, it’s the islanders. Captain Anders Lee will return after an ACL injury last season. Mat Barzal should be in his usual form. And the Semyon Varlomov-Ilya Sorokin combo on the net is one of the best, if not the best, goalkeeping duo in the league. The end result?

Stanley Cup will leave Florida

See, Florida can be fun. And Lord Stanley’s trophy is clearly enjoying itself there, though there head injury. But come on, you can’t live in Florida forever (OK, maybe in the Keys). Tampa will fall to the Islanders, eventually. The Panthers will try to keep the Cup in good shape, but against the Islanders they won’t be quite prepared. A lengthy Final Series will see the Islanders lift the Stanley Cup.