2017-2018 NHL Standings Predictions

[Dean Ambrose]

So you've come around on Montreal then?

It started with my really expecting a lot out of Tampa, but their forwards leave a lot to be desired after their top-5 (Kucherov, Stamkos, Johnson, Palat, Point) and their defense only really looks good to me if Sergachev steps in and is an instant top-4. If he doesn't, all Tampa really has back there is Hedman and Stralman and then you have anchors like Sustr and Girardi (lol).

It's not really me coming around on Montreal as much as it is tempering expectations from other teams.

I still wouldn't be completely shocked if Buffalo, Tampa, Ottawa and Boston somehow finish ahead. Of course, in my projections (player projections will come later) I have Montreal winning a lot of games on the back of Carey Price again, and, thus, not scoring as much which would come as a shock considering Galchenyuk, Drouin, Pacioretty, Lehkonen, Gallagher are there, but I do think the transition from the blue line is going to hurt our offense unless we acquire a puck moving LHD.

[Josh]

So you've come around on Montreal then?

[Dean Ambrose]

Using depth charts and expectations, with most major names and impactful names off the market (aside from maybe Jagr and Franson of those that can positively affect a team), I made my standings projections:

***

ATLANTIC DIVISION

	GP	WINS	LOSSES	OTL	POINTS
TORONTO	82	45	26	11	101
MONTREAL	82	45	37	10	100
TAMPA BAY	82	45	28	9	99
OTTAWA	82	42	29	11	95
BOSTON	82	38	29	15	91
BUFFALO	82	38	30	14	90
FLORIDA	82	38	38	6	82
DETROIT	82	32	34	16	80

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

	GP	WINS	LOSSES	OTL	POINTS
PITTSBURGH	82	51	23	8	110
WASHINGTON	82	45	29	8	98
CAROLINA	82	44	30	8	96
COLUMBUS	82	42	29	11	95
NY ISLANDERS	82	44	32	6	94
NY RANGERS	82	41	30	11	93
PHILADELPHIA	82	41	30	11	93
NEW JERSEY	82	30	37	15	75

CENTRAL DIVISION

	GP	WINS	LOSSES	OTL	POINTS
DALLAS	82	49	25	8	106
NASHVILLE	82	47	28	7	101
ST. LOUIS	82	45	26	11	101
MINNESOTA	82	45	28	9	99
CHICAGO	82	42	28	12	96
WINNIPEG	82	39	33	10	88
COLORADO	82	26	43	13	65

PACIFIC DIVISION

	GP	WINS	LOSSES	OTL	POINTS
ANAHEIM	82	47	25	10	104
EDMONTON	82	46	27	9	101
SAN JOSE	82	44	30	8	96
LOS ANGELES	82	39	28	15	93
CALGARY	82	39	30	13	91
ARIZONA	82	36	35	11	83
VANCOUVER	82	27	40	15	69
VEGAS	82	26	46	10	62

**

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 - PITTSBURGH
2 - TORONTO
3 - MONTREAL
4 - TAMPA BAY
5 - WASHINGTON
6 - CAROLINA
7 - OTTAWA
8 - COLUMBUS
-------------------------------------
9 - NY ISLANDERS
10 - NY RANGERS
11 - PHILADELPHIA
12 - BOSTON
13 - BUFFALO
14 - FLORIDA
15 - DETROIT
16 - NEW JERSEY

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 - DALLAS
2 - ANAHEIM
3 - NASHVILLE
4 - ST. LOUIS
5 - EDMONTON
6 - SAN JOSE
7 - MINNESOTA
8 - CHICAGO
-------------------------------------------
9 - LOS ANGELES
10 - CALGARY
11 - WINNIPEG
12 - ARIZONA
13 - VANCOUVER
14 - COLORADO
15 - VEGAS