Die By The Blade's Prediction Post

by Zachary Zielonka on Oct 6, 2011 10:03 AM EDT

MANNHEIM, GERMANY - OCTOBER 04: Thomas Vanek of Buffalo celebrates with Christian Ehrhoff and other team mates after scoring a goal during the NHL Pre-Season match between Buffalo Sabres and Adler Mannheim at SAP Arena on October 4, 2011 in Mannheim, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)

The start of the NHL season starts Thursday night and with that it is time for me to give my predictions for the season. It's also the post to bookmark so at the end of the season, I can be seriously mocked for exactly how wrong I am.

Eastern Conference

1. Pittsburgh - 110

2. Washington - 106

3. Boston - 102

4. Philadelphia - 101

5. New York Rangers - 99

6. Buffalo - 98

7. Tampa Bay - 97

8. New Jersey - 96

I had mentioned in our Northeast preview that I had thought that Boston was going to finish the season with 102 points and probably win the Northeast Division. That team is solid in all three facets and is still the defending champion. The Penguins showed last season that they could win without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin so as the team starts to get them back they should be even more dangerous. The New Jersey Devils are going to be the rebound team this season after getting a lottery pick last season. Injuries hurt that team and with coach Pete DeBoer, the team should be much improved over last season.

Northeast Division

1. Boston - 102

2. Buffalo - 98

3. Montreal - 94

4. Toronto - 92

5. Ottawa - 70

The Northeast Division is going to shake out pretty much how it did last season, but the Maple Leafs are going to be competing for a playoff spot right up to the start of the season. The Senators are still a young team that have a bunch of holes on both the offense and defense and another lottery pick for the team is going to help in the future.

Sabre Most Likely To Lead The Team In Scoring - Thomas Vanek

Thomas Vanek has been the team's leading scorer for the past five seasons and this year should be no different. The Sabres offense seems to be well balanced and the scoring could be spread out over six or nine different players, but Vanek has always had the potential to score 50 goals a season and he will lead the team again.

Sabre Most Likely To Become The New Scapegoat - Jochen Hecht

This has somewhat started already with Hecht's injury that will keep him out of the lineup for probably the first couple of weeks. With Tim Connolly headed to the Maple Leafs, fans will start riding Hecht and his lack of production throughout the season. While Hecht has proven his worth on the penalty kill over the past couple of seasons, he isn't an offensive powerhouse.

Sabre Most Likely To Surprise People At The Top Of The Scoresheet - Tyler Ennis

Fans are expecting Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford, and Derek Roy to put in a bunch of goals this season, but don't be surprised to see Tyler Ennis with 30 goals at the end of the season. Ennis finished last season with 20 goals so expecting another 10 out of him isn't that far fetched.

If you have more Most Likelys for this season, please put them in the comments below.

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Comments

Pretty much agree

I would switch the Rangers and Devils

by Winnie33 on Oct 6, 2011 10:22 AM EDT reply actions

My predictions.

1. Washington
2. Buffalo
3. Pittsburgh
4. Philadelphia
5. Boston
6. New Jersey
7. Tampa Bay
8. Montreal
9. Carolina
10. NY Rangers
11. Toronto
12. Florida
13. Winnipeg
14. NY Islanders
15. Ottawa

And Im going to say we have four 30+ goal scorers. Vanek at 40+ and Stafford, Ennis and Pominville all in the 30’s.

Fitz = M(C)²
"Lets Go Buff! a! lo!"

by bflo on Oct 6, 2011 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t think Philly will make the playoffs. They lost a lot of talent up front with Carter and Richards and I’m skeptical of their additions. Signing Jagr is never the right idea, and I think that Bryzgalov’s numbers in Phoenix were almost entirely the result of the horrible ice there.

by Philaster on Oct 6, 2011 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

While I do think they'll make the palyoffs

I agree that people are overrating them. They shipped out more talent then they brought in – at least until Schenn proves he’s a top-line center.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Oct 6, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree completely. Philadelphia does not look that good this year. Even if their new additions are on par with the subtractions, the complete chemistry change can’t be good.

by tpsabres on Oct 6, 2011 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

With all the additions

I think 98 points, which is one win ahead of where they finished last year, is too low. I see:
1 Pit- 112
2 Bos-107
3 Was-101
4 Buf-105
5 Nyr-99
6 Phi- 98
7 TB- 95
8 NYI- 94

9 Mtl-93
10 Nj- 91
11 Car-85
12 Tor 83
13 Win 79
14 Ott 79
15 Fl 73

I love how the Islanders are being built. That roster is starting to look strong from top to bottom and I think they’re one year of maturity, a good defenseman, and a strong goalie away from being a strong contender in the already tough ATL division. I think they’ll show signs of life this year and beat out the Devils, whose defensive weakness will be exploited when Brodeur can no longer carry the team on his shoulders.
I think the SE division will suck even more than usual this year and whoever finishes second in the NE will be loudly griping about the automatic 3rd place given to Washington. TB will struggle without a goalie and with an aging St Louis and a beat up Lecalvier. Stamkos will be able to pick up some of the slack, but not all of it.

by lgbfromoregon on Oct 6, 2011 12:35 PM EDT reply actions

Kind of wondering why Zach put the Rangers so high? I agree with those of you who think the Sabres will be higher, too. And I think the Canadiens will make it to the playoffs again, probably bumping out either NYR or NJ from Zach’s list. I’ve no idea about point totals, but as far as team ranking goes I wouldn’t differ much from Bflo. TB could be anywhere thanks to their uncertain goalie situation, but that’s something that could be addressed during the season. As far as everything else goes, they’re solid. St. Louis is ageless and Lecavalier’s holding up just fine, so I don’t buy that as a big problem for another couple years. And their current D is better than its been in years.

by Katemc on Oct 6, 2011 1:02 PM EDT reply actions

Predictions

Pittsburgh110
Washington108
Buffalo 103
Tampa Bay 101
Boston 99
Philadelphia 98
Rangers 96
Devils 95

Montreal 92
Carolina 91
Toronto 88
Islanders 87
Winnepeg 86
Florida 83
Ottawa 79

by Geolover on Oct 6, 2011 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

Pomonville our new captain gentlemen

by manic hispanic on Oct 6, 2011 1:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

Can’t say I’m surprised. He wore it well in the preseason game I saw. But for my taste, he still kind of has that Deer in the Headlights look too much.

by Philaster on Oct 6, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Full predictions (warning: homerism/extreme optimism/bold predictions)

Western:

1 Los Angeles 110
2 Vancouver 109
3 Chicago 98
4 San Jose 95
5 Detroit 93
6 Columbus 87
7 Edmonton 87
8 Nashville 86
-—————-
9 Colorado 84
10 Anaheim 84
11 St. Louis 79
12 Calgary 77
13 Minnesota 74
14 Phoenix 67
15 Dallas 63

Eastern:

1 Buffalo 114
2 Tampa Bay 103
3 Pittsburgh 93
4 Boston 98
5 Washington 98
6 New York Rangers 93
7 Carolina 93
8 Montreal 89
-——————-
9 Florida 87
10 New Jersey 86
11 Philadelphia 84
12 Winnipeg 84
13 Toronto 81
14 New York Islanders 64
15 Ottawa 62

Playoffs (yeah, that’s right, playoffs too):
1BUF>8MON in 4
2TBL>7CAR in 6
3PIT<6NYR in 5
4BOS<5WSH in 7
1LAK>8NSH in 6
2VAN>7EDM in 6
3CHI<6CLB in 7
4SJS>5DET in 7

1BUF>6NYR in 5
2TBL>5WSH in 6
1LAK>6CLB in 6
2VAN>4SJS in 7

1BUF>2TBL in 5
1LAK>2VAN in 7

1BUF>1LAK in 4, Terry Pegula is elected mayor of Buffalo… HELL. YES.

by lassathrax on Oct 6, 2011 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

I can go with these.

You’ve got us in the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Lead Writer for Oil On Whyte - An Edmonton Oilers Blog

by chappy35 on Oct 6, 2011 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m slightly more bullish than Zach with the Sabres, I see them just topping 100 points and finishing no lower than 5th, as long as they don’t get struck by the injury bug.

Die By The Blade - Your home for the best Buffalo Sabres talk online.
@andyboron

by Andy Boron on Oct 6, 2011 5:57 PM EDT reply actions