It’s time to ring within the New Year, and that at all times makes for an ideal prediction window. Roundtable members: Offer your wildest hockey prediction for the calendar yr 2023. The spicier the take, the higher.
MATT LARKIN: Here goes nothin’. Patrick Kane wins the Stanley Cup. With the scenario getting uglier by the day in Chicago, I predict he waives his no-movement clause. Because he has that veto energy, he’ll have an affect on his vacation spot, which suggests he’ll go to an actual contender. Given his pedigree as one of many best clutch gamers in NHL historical past, I consider he’ll put his new crew excessive, whether or not it’s the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs — you get the concept. Kane would be the lacking piece and can find yourself incomes his fourth Cup ring in spring 2023.
NICK ALBERGA: Patrice Bergeron retires following the 2022-23 marketing campaign. For some cause, this season for Boston has had that “Last Dance” really feel from the onset. It’s most likely the conspiracy theorist in me, however each time I hear a Bruins participant speak about Bergeron, it’s like they know that is it — therefore the ridiculous begin. And let’s be trustworthy, the 37-year-old has nothing else to show. He’s performed all of it. On high of that, he simply strikes me as a man who has no drawback calling it quits when he clearly nonetheless has lots left within the tank. For me, the B’s really feel like a crew of future. At the very least, I hope there’s a digicam crew following their each transfer.
STEVEN ELLIS: This…is lastly the yr the Toronto Maple Leafs break the playoff curse. I’m unsure I might have stated that earlier than the yr based mostly on their goaltending. But the actual fact Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov are each able to successful video games — and so they lastly have some defensive depth — is a big factor. I feel they may nonetheless use somebody able to placing some pucks within the web within the backside six, however I do assume that is lastly the yr that Toronto has realized from its previous failures and may make some noise. After the primary spherical, although? I’m not satisfied but.
MIKE MCKENNA: My prediction is that not one NHL head coach will get fired earlier than the top of the 2022-23 NHL common season. I imply, who’s truly in bother? Bruce Boudreau? Vancouver is enjoying respectable sufficient hockey and the crew will clearly be promoting on the commerce deadline. So I feel Bruce makes it to the top. I don’t assume Vancouver’s possession desires to be paying three head coaches (Travis Green continues to be accumulating a examine), a lot much less make a hurried choice midseason. How about Dallas Eakins? Anaheim is horrible. But why would they hearth Eakins midseason? There’s actually no want contemplating the crew is within the Connor Bedard sweepstakes and Eakin’s contract is expiring. Brad Larsen in Columbus? D.J. Smith in Ottawa? Both groups have been ravaged by harm and expectations weren’t excessive to start with. Basically, I don’t see any tire fires across the league proper now. Obviously, that may change. But I don’t assume the actual teaching fireworks occur till the offseason when Barry Trotz tosses his hat again within the ring.
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