04/26/24
October 07, 2015
The NHL Season Begins Anew!: It's October, memories of Summer are fading as there is a nip in the air, the leaves are turning color, the weather is perfect for foot...errr...hockey! The new NHL season is upon us and [your_team] is still mathematically in the playoff hunt. What could be better in life? What's new and different this season? What is going to happen this season? Who is going to win it all? I NEED 30 BOLD PREDICTIONS! Go team!
Leafs Number 1!! (well, okay, 1st draft pick).
I did see this clip this morning, it may be the highlight of the season.
posted by tommybiden at 02:27 PM on October 07, 2015
I don't know about cable systems, but DirecTV is showing a preview of NHL's Center Ice package starting tonight through Oct. 27.
posted by jjzucal at 05:44 PM on October 07, 2015
The Columbus Blue Jackets make the playoffs this year (but lose in the first round in a hard fought series).
Ovechkin and Crosby will not win a Cup and both will be blamed for their team's lack of winning one, though both will be in conversation for the Hart.
"My" New York Islanders will make it out of the first round of the playoffs, but their fanbase will still be bitter about the move to Brooklyn and the horrible seating arrangement at the Barclays.
Bettman will do something to solidify, once again, why he is considered (and rightfully so) the worst commissioner in all of North American sports.
Las Vegas will be announced as a expansion franchise, Quebec will have to wait (will Seattle get it instead?) to find out their fate until next offseason. (Personally, I think, it will come down to if any current franchises end up moving--like the Coyotes, because some owners want to see more travel balance for the teams out west)
The playoffs will score some of the highest TV ratings of the last 5 years but the Finals will flop in the ratings department.
Buffalo will not have the worst record in the league this year (but maybe second or third worst)
I will win the fantasy hockey league.
Nashville will be the "in" pick to win it all before the playoffs begin, but will fall short.
The Rangers will not win a playoff series.
After taking the Ducks to a classic seven game series, the Sharks go on to beat the Bruins in six to hoist the cup.
These are my bold predictions for this year. (if you are near Vegas, go ahead and put money "against" all of these and you'll finish ahead/lol)
posted by jagsnumberone at 08:41 PM on October 07, 2015
Lemme guess ... the one Leafs' goal tonight or were they more interested in the Leafs than the Blue Jays?
posted by jjzucal at 10:49 PM on October 07, 2015
Little late to this party, but...
The Sharks narrowly edge out the Ducks to win the Pacific, beat the playoff doldrums to reach the Cup finals, and then trip over their dicks and get swept..
...by the Islanders.
Rookie of the year honors goes to the "field" rather than McDavid or Eichel. Let's say teenager Dylan Larkin by virtue of playing between Zetterberg and Abdelkader.
The Miami Redhawks men's hockey team will win the first national title in any sport for my 206-year old alma mater (flagrant homerism)
posted by tahoemoj at 11:10 AM on October 08, 2015
For the first time ever in my years as a Devils fan, I know that that this year they are going to suck. I will still watch though I won't use "there's a Devils game on tonight" as a reason to not attend a social function.
posted by MrFrisby at 12:26 PM on October 08, 2015
My buddy scored some free tickets in the local newspaper's luxury box for this Saturday's home opener against the Wings.
posted by NoMich at 01:39 PM on October 08, 2015
I kept up with almost NOTHING that has gone on in the NHL this summer. Pretty much from the moment the baseball season started, I've put the NHL far FAR back in my mind. I didn't realize that Kessel had been traded until a few days later. I couldn't tell you who the starting goalies are for the Leafs, or who is going to be their young star. I didn't even realize that Jamie Benn was the leading scorer last year.
I'm in zero hockey pools, and I've watched zero pre-season games. (The hockey pools thing is a co-incidence of timing, but I'm kind of glad as I would have had to buy one of those hockey pool magazines to have ANY idea who half the players are, nowadays.)
I think it is safe to say that I've reached a turning point in my fandom, and unless the Leafs have some miraculous season, I can safely say that they (and the sport) are going to be taking a back seat behind baseball (and the Blue Jays) for the near future.
Even when the Jays were winning in 1992/93, the Maple Leafs were also winning so it was easier to be a fan of both teams. But when one team makes bold moves (signing Martin, trading for Donaldson, then trading for Price/Tulo) and the other team just flails helplessly...it's not hard to explain my position.
(Throw in the fact that I've been able to attend about 15-20 baseball games in the time since I was able to attend my last Maple Leafs game...)