Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

[Josh]

Got any bold predictions for this season? Post them here, and at season's end we can come back and see which ones did well and which were totally off-base.

[Josh]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

Here are my bold predictions for the year:

1 - The New York Rangers will win the Stanley Cup.
2 - The Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Atlantic Division.
3 - The Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, and Washington Capitals will all miss the Playoffs.

[Victor]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

I think all of yours are completely wrong. I'll think of my own shortly.

[matchesmalone]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

I've only made one so far. That Logan Couture will make Canada's Olympic team. But I'll post more if I think of them.

[Josh]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

Canucks and Capitals missed, those were pretty good calls. Detroit came close to missing, and Toronto had a pretty good stretch early on (like always, :lol:). But picking Boston to miss was obviously a big mistake. Most people didn't have the Rangers even making the Playoffs, let alone the Finals, so I'm sticking by that one as a pretty damn good prediction. They were supposed to be bold predictions, after all..

[Alfie11]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

Your Boston one was obviously bad, but you did pretty well I'd say. Especially the Rangers one...as you said, you were a lot higher on them than most people. The Toronto one, for like 75% of the season wouldn't have been right but it wasn't a bad prediction.

All the teams you said would miss the playoffs, while a few didn't miss, they all did worse than expected whether it was regular season or playoffs. You did really well.

[matchesmalone]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

So close on mine. I honestly believe he'd have made it if not for the injury. I'll have to start thinking of some for next year. I'm thinking maybe I'll go with Florida making the playoffs. Anybody have any yet?

[Matt the Aussie]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

I'll go with Montreal missing the playoffs.

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

I'll go with Montreal missing the playoffs.

lirl

[Matt the Aussie]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

Thought you'd like that one :P

[Josh]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

That might not be a bad call. Montreal could do poorly next season. They're without a first-line centre, and are anemic at left-wing after Pacioretty. Plekanec - Eller - Desharnais would be perfect if slotted as 2C - 3C - 4C respectively, but right now they're each a slot higher on the depth chart and probably aren't getting any better as players, as they're all late-20s or early 30s. The bigger problem is at left-wing though; they're basically looking at Pacioretty - Prust - Bournival - Moen, if you go off of last season's play, and that's one first-liner and three fourth-liners. Bournival is the exception of course, and he should be able to jump into at least a LW3 capacity, but that still leaves LW2 vacant, and Bournival is no promise either; he's slightly undersized and only 22. Then you have Galchenyuk, a natural centre, but who was being used a lot as a left-winger. Based on last year's play, he would be a LW3 or C4, but we all know he's got major upside. But he can't be the answer for the team's problems both at C1 and LW2 even if he could solve one of those problems. A final point of contention is RD. LD is secure with two first pairing guys on most teams - Emelin and Markov - occupying the left side of the top-four while Beaulieu is primed to occupy the left side of the bottom pair. And of course you don't get much better than Subban at RD1, but neither Gilbert or Weaver makes a great partner for Emelin, or for Markov if Emelin ends up with Subban (like he should, in my opinion). Gilbert would be better used at RD3, as Beaulieu's partner, and Weaver should probably be the 7th defenseman.

Basically, this is what I see Montreal icing for most of next season:

Pacioretty - Plekanec - Parenteau
Galchenyuk - Eller - Gallagher
Bournival - Desharnais - Bourque
Prust - Malhotra - Weise
Moen/Sekac

Markov - Subban
Emelin - Gilbert
Beaulieu - Weaver

While I think that, if they want to win now, they should be trading for a C1, LW2, and RD2:

Pacioretty - C1 - Parenteau
LW2 - Plekanec - Gallagher
Galchenyuk - Eller - Bourque
Bournival - Desharnais - Weise
Prust

Emelin - Subban
Markov - RD2
Beaulieu - Gilbert
Weaver

That lineup, if the holes were filled properly, could win a Stanley Cup, in my opinion.

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

We're a better team than last year. We're making the playoffs lirl.

Pacioretty - Desharnais - Parenteau
Galchenyuk - Eller - Gallagher (I can wish)
Sekac/Bourque - Plekanec - Bourque/Sekac
Prust - Malhotra - Weise
Moen

Markov - Subban
Emelin - Gilbert
Beaulieu - Weaver/Tinordi
Weaver/Tinordi

I found it funny how you said it we want to win now, Emelin would be on the top pairing and Galchenyuk isn't in the top six lol. We're done sheltering Galchenyuk. It's his 3rd pro-year, it's time for top six minutes, PP time, and hopefully center time as the season goes on.

Sekac did not join the team play in the AHL and he's good enough for NHL time, many scouts saying he could already get top six minutes.

[Josh]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

Desharnais would run the Habs into the ground as a first-line centre..

San Jose is desperate for prospects at G and LW, both positions of strength for Montreal with Fucale and Tokarski at G, Bozon and Hudon at LW. San Jose also has a ridiculous glut of first-line talent at C, Tommy Wingels fits Montreal's needs and would be the easiest to pry. The Sharks don't have a Round 3 pick in 2015. Colorado could do well to trade Jamie McGinn for an NHL body, some futures, and extra cap room to add with at the deadline, as they've already got Landeskog, Tanguay, and McLeod at LW, are pretty bare for prospects on the wings, and don't have a 2nd Round pick in 2016. McGinn also needs a change of scenery. Los Angeles needs cap space and can afford to trade Greene, having Doughty and Voynov already on the right side. If the Kings could add additional prospects at C and LW, they'd have one of the best future cupboards while being one of the best current teams.

SJ - Wingels for Moen, Tokarski, 3rd 2015
COL - McGinn for Tinordi, Hudon, 2nd 2016
LA - Greene for Malhotra, Bozon, de la Rose

Pacioretty - Wingels - Parenteau
McGinn - Plekanec - Gallagher
Galchenyuk - Eller - Bourque
Bournival - Desharnais - Weise
Prust

Emelin - Subban
Markov - Greene
Beaulieu - Gilbert
Weaver

Price
Budaj

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

Wingels is not a 1st line center lirl.

We got as far as we did with DD as our #1 C this past season. Was it ideal? No, but it's transitional until Galchenyuk takes the spot. Budaj is going to be dealt before Tokarski is for a cheap return.

Again, stop putting Emelin as the #1 LD. That would probably do more damage than DD as the #1 C and I'm the furthest thing from DD's biggest fan.

And stop putting Galchenyuk on the 3rd line in your mock lineup so McGinn can take his spot, Jesus. :roll:

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Bold 2013-2014 Predictions

I'm not the only one laughing at the suggestion of Chucky on the 3rd line, Emelin as #1 D and fucking Wingels as #1 C :lol: