The 2016-17 NHL season has finally arrived and with the excitement building we decided to look ahead to some unlikely scenarios that could actually become a reality. There have been some substantial roster changes in both conferences over the offseason and with NHL expansion set for next season there is bound to be at least a few more moves that change the overall landscape of the league. That should lead to some unexpected results with teams rising and falling out of the playoff picture in their respective conferences. Here is a look at four bold predictions for the 2016-17 NHL season.
Canadiens Will Win the Presidents Trophy
One year ago, the Montreal Canadiens went from the best record in hockey to missing the playoffs altogether following an injury to Vezina and Hart trophy-winning goaltender Carey Price. Fast-forward to this season and Price is healthy again and in excellent form after leading Canada to a championship at the World Cup of Hockey. The Canadiens have also improved as a team on paper with Shea Weber entering the picture after he was acquired in a trade that sent PK Subban to Nashville, while wingers Alexander Radulov and Andrew Shaw were acquired to improve the club’s scoring and grit. Montreal’s roster is very deep this season and with Price back in between the pipes they could surprise by finishing with the best record in the NHL this season.
Stars Will Miss The Playoffs
The Dallas Stars are projected to be a Stanley Cup contender this season but we aren’t sold on a roster that still has far too many holes. Dallas chose not to pull the trigger on a deal to acquire a capable No. 1 goaltender in the offseason, spending money on Jiri Hudler to add to their league-leading offense while ignoring that the tandem of Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen just weren’t good enough last season. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn have both dealt with injuries this offseason and if either one of them is hurt it could mean big trouble for the Stars.
We’re also not a huge fan of their blue line. Typically, teams that are solely reliant on one aspect of the game don’t thrive long-term, but it looks like that’s what the Stars did last year. The Stars somewhat remind us of the Colorado Avalanche, who were a one-hit a few years ago and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Stars fell off too.
Dallas has unbelievable scoring potential but their inability to stop the puck could come back to haunt them if they falter and actually end up on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture this season.
Flames Will Make The Playoffs
The Calgary Flames are coming off a disappointing season but last year’s stumbles forced their hand and pushed them to make some substantial moves in the offseason. The Flames finally found a capable starting goaltender in Brian Elliott while signing star forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan to long-term contracts. Calgary is extremely deep on defense and their young forwards have the potential to emerge as superstars in the NHL this season. Everything is trending favorably for the Flames and with a stable goaltender in place they should be knocking on the door for a playoff spot in the Western Conference this season. This is a complete team with a solid, young core that should be in position to contend for a playoff spot.
Hurricanes Will Make The Playoffs
The Carolina Hurricanes have taken a slow and methodical approach to their rebuild but they are absolutely stacked with young talent so this could be the year they finally make the jump in the standings. Elias Lindholm, Jeff Skinner, Victor Rask and Noah Hanifin will all have the opportunity to make a significant impact while the goaltending situation should be a lot more stable with Eddie Lack emerging as the starter in front of Cam Ward. Carolina has a good blend of young talent and veteran players so don’t sleep on them as a serious playoff contender in the Eastern Conference this season.
