NHL 2022-23 Season Preview

The NHL is back! Puck drop officially happened over the weekend in Prague where the Nashville Predators swept the San Jose Sharks in a 2 game international series in Czechia, but for all intents and purposes the regular season begins tonight. When we were last on the ice we saw Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche finally get over the hump and win a Stanley Cup with their current core. They will be looking to repeat even without starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper who left for my hometown Washington Capitals in the offseason. 32 teams, 16 playoff spots, and a whole bunch of drama and excitement are on the horizon, so let's get into some predictions and future bets!

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Final Standings Predictions:

(X denotes Wild Card Team)

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Metropolitan Division:

1. New York Rangers

It pains me to say it but the Rangers are dangerously good. Elite goaltending, top level forwards, and a young d-core that is only improving.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

Still lacking that star power that can punch them through to the next level. Not sure about some offseason moves, and Freddy Andersen’s health is always a question mark, but this team plays hard regardless.

3. Washington Capitals

Biggest issue last year was goaltending so what did the Caps do? Got the best goalie on the market. Age and injuries will be a factor but this is a playoff team.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins-X

Speaking of age and injuries, the Pens will be looking to do their best MJ impression and go for a Stanley Cup “Last Dance” style. Good luck, cause you are gonna need it.

5. New York Islanders

Last year's media darlings are this year's bubble team. Not enough top end skill to score and no more Barry Trotz to play vicious team defense. What even are the Islanders? Wouldn’t their fans like to know. 

6. New Jersey Devils

This year's media darlings are the 3rd and final NYC metro area team. Jack Hughes is awesome, but Vitek Vanecek is not the answer in goal and I'm hard pressed to say Mackenzie Blackwood is either considering his past history with avoiding shots. 

7. Columbus Blue Jackets

They brought in Johnny Hockey and locked down Laine but that is about all they have. Their powerplay will be dangerous but that can’t carry a team to the postseason.

8. Philadelphia Flyers

Hey now, at least Torts will be fun!

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Atlantic Division:

1. Tampa Bay Lightning

I don’t care who won the Cup last year, the Lightning are still the best team in the NHL and will continue to be as long as Stamkos, Kucherov, Point, Hedman, and Vasilevskiy are playing.

2. Florida Panthers

The offseason sign and trade for Matthew Tkachuk was a bit of a head scratcher but this team has too much firepower to miss the playoffs. Even new head coach Paul Maruice can’t mess this up.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

Is the goalie solution in the GTA really Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov? I’ll answer that for you now, it isn’t. Kyle Dubas will be making an account on Indeed come summertime.

4. Ottawa Senators-X

If the Devils are this year's media darlings then the Sens are this year's darkhorse. They loaded up in the summer and their fans actually have reason for optimism. I’m buying in while the stock is low. 

5. Boston Bruins

Wait, what was that? Oh, it was injuries and age again! Beantown has a history of success but no Marchand and McAvoy to start the year will cause them to slide out of the playoff picture early and they will fail to catch up.

6. Detroit Red Wings

Soon Red Wings fans, soon. This young team has all the makings of a future contender. All they gotta do is keep getting better and try to avoid becoming accustomed to losing.

7. Montreal Canadiens

*Insert puke emoji*

8. Buffalo Sabres

*Insert shoulder shrug emoji*

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Central Division:

1. Colorado Avalanche

There are 20 men on an NHL roster and the Avs have 18 of the best. It's just the 2 in net that are question marks for me. Georgiev and Francouz have never been full-time starters, how they handle it will decide if Colorado can win another Cup or be a JAPT (just another playoff team).

2. Minnesota Wild

I’ve doubted the Wild for the past two seasons and I will not be made to look like a fool again. They have some serious young talent that will break out this year and as long as Fleury can avoid falling off a cliff they will be good.

3. St. Louis Blues

Berube’s hard workers never let up and it certainly helps when the team has sneakily one of the best forward groups in the league. As long as Binnington keeps his head screwed on straight, and that's a big if, they will be fine. 

4. Dallas Stars-X

If last year's playoff performance is any indication then Dallas could be dangerous this year. Of course it all depends on Jake Oetinger and whether those 7 games against Calgary were real or a mirage. 

5. Nashville Predators

Meh. Every year I look at this team and say, “meh.” Take that for what its worth.

6. Winnipeg Jets

Toxic locker rooms normally don’t produce results and throwing in new head coach Rick Bowness, who loves to stir the pot, isn’t something that will help.

7. Chicago Blackhawks

*Insert puke emoji*

8. Arizona Coyotes

Oh boy where do I begin. Actually, you know what, I'll leave it at this: they are playing in a college hockey arena…

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Pacific Division:

1. Edmonton Oilers

I hate how much I love this Oilers team this year. I have long criticized every aspect of this franchise for failing the game's greatest generational talent in Connor McDavid but I actually think this is the year Edmonton makes a serious run.

2. Calgary Flames

They lost their best 2 players in the offseason and their Stanley Cup odds improved. Might as well give GM Brad Treliving the Jim Gregory Award right now (as I have below in my mock ballot)

3. Vegas Golden Knights

This team will go as far as rookie goalie Logan Thompson can take them. The season ending injury to Robin Lehner has this all-in team in a bit of a crisis and it would be a massive shame if Jack Eichel missed the playoffs…again.

4. Vancouver Canucks-X

I love Bruce Boudreau. I love the Canucks forwards. That is all.

5. Los Angeles Kings

This team shocked the league last year when they made the playoffs and then took the Oilers to 7 games but I think regression is in store.

6. Seattle Kraken

After the worst expansion draft ever seen I have to give some credit to GM Ron Hextall for improving this team. Burakovsky and Bjorkstrand are great pickups but as long as Dave Hakstol is the coach this team will not go anywhere.

7. Anaheim Ducks

Bring back the Mighty Ducks jerseys and then maybe you will make the playoffs. Also stop marketing Trevor Zegras so hard, I am beginning to hate him and the rest of hockey twitter will follow soon.

8. San Jose Sharks

People talk about the Coyotes and the Blackhawks in the hunt for Connor Bedard but San Jose is just as bad. If the lottery isn’t rigged (which we all know Bettman is gonna put this one on the tee for Arizona) then the next generational talent could be taking his talents to Santa Clara.

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Best Future Bets:

(Odds Courtesy of FanDuel)

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Stanley Cup: Lightning (+1200) & Rangers (+1800)

Presidents Trophy: Oilers (+1300)

Eastern Conference: Penguins (+1100)

Western Conference: Oilers (+750)

Metropolitan Division: Rangers (+350)

Atlantic Division: Lightning (+260)

Central Division: Wild (+400)

Pacific Division: Oilers (+250)

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Playoff Props:

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Canucks to Make

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Islanders to Miss

Bruins to Miss

Kings to Miss

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Team Point Totals:

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Rangers over 99.5

Senators over 85.5

Predators under 98.5

Golden Knights under 96.5

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Bonus Player Prop:

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Jack Hughes over 73.5 Points

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Awards Banquet Ballot:

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Hart (MVP): Connor McDavid

Art Ross (Leading Scorer): Connor McDavid

Rocket Richard (Most Goals): Auston Matthews

Selke (Defensive Forward):  Aleksandar Barkov

Calder (Best Rookie): Matty Beniers

Norris (Best Defenseman): Cale Makar

Vezina (Best Goalie): Igor Shesterkin

Jack Adams (Best Coach): Jay Woodcroft

Jim Gregory (Best GM): Brad Treliving 

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I would take these award winners with a huge grain of salt. Two of the last three head coaches I picked to win the Jack Adams were let go from their team that season. In my defense neither was a performance related issue, Jim Montgomery was a drunk and Joel Quennville helped cover up a sexual assault, but still if you know Jay Woodcroft personally you might want to tell him to watch out. Anyways, good luck to you all and let's have a great season!

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