Raw Charge
Summary
A tradition as old as time itself is back. Yes, that’s right, three days into the NHL season, we finally post our preseason predictions. You call it procrastination, we call it building suspense. No matter what we call it, it’s a chance to believe in all that can be good in the world of hockey. It is hope in 1,500 words or more. It’s also entertaining to look back on this many months from now and see what we got right, and what we got so horribly, horribly wrong. The Tampa Bay Lightning season may not have begun with the best of efforts , but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still looking forward to being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Are they all the way back? Are they somewhat back? Or are they destined for another first-round exit? Let’s delve in and see! Prediction Number One Nikta Kucherov signs a 6-year, $114 million extension at some point this season. Fans immediately call him overpaid when he only posts one assist in the first game after the announcement. Look, it would have been great to start the season without this hanging over the team, but we still feel like it gets done at some point. Kucherov is the most gifted player to ever put on a Lightning uniform and he deserves every penny that he or his agent is asking for. It would be an absolute punch to the solar plexus if he ever plays a game in a different uniform. Of course, the minute he puts ink to paper, the already lofty expectations he carries on a daily basis will skyrocket. So good luck with that. Bonus prediction – With his new deal in hand Kucherov finishes with 114 points. For the first time in recent memory he’s not a Hart finalist. That’s not a bad thing though. A more balanced offense, and resurgent play from Brayden Point and Victor Hedman, saps his point totals a little. Prediction Number Two The Tampa Bay Lightning finish second in the division to the Montreal Canadiens. It’s another tight race down the stretch, but the Lightning finish strong to nab the second spot in the division behind the Habs. They advance to the second round by sweeping the Boston Bruins in the first round. Sadly, our Magic 8-ball says “Reply hazy, try again” when we ask about the second round. Our division predictions: Montreal – Just a solid team up and down the line-up. The goaltender combo of Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler flourishes after Sam Montembeault is traded to Winnipeg. They build a big lead in the division and hold off a late charge from the Bolts. Tampa Bay – After some early season struggles, they figure out the power play and grind their way through a tough season. Boston – Written off by everyone, they somehow wind up in the third spot in the Atlantic. No one can name their leading scorer or remember any dominating stretch of play for them, but Jeremy Swayman puts in a Vezina-caliber performance to carry the team. Florida – Injuries take their toll. Goaltending is a big pile of okay and rumors of the Tkachuk brothers bickering behind the scenes are whispered about in press boxes around the league. They pull off a trade for Quinn Hughes somehow, but it doesn’t matter in the end. Buffalo – Everything that went well for them last year, doesn’t work this year. Lack of scoring dooms them and they lose out on Connor Hellebuyck as Los Angeles makes a surprise trade for the Winnipeg netminder. Toronto – Are they better than last year? Yes. They still miss the playoffs. Gavin McKenna hits a late-season slump that allows Porter Matrone to snatch the Calder Trophy away from him. Ottawa – They exist as a hockey team. Detroit – It’s another rough season in the Motor City. They fully commit to the rebuild as they trade Alex Debrincat, Andrew Copp, and Justin Faulk. Somehow, they get a 2029 first-round pick and Easton Cowen from Toronto for Ben Chiarot. Shawn Horcoff has the interim tag removed from his general manager title. Oddly enough, Dylan Larkin stays in town and has a solid season. Prediction Number 3 Connor McDavid wins the Hart Trophy. The beleaguered captain of the Edmonton Oilers puts up a 140-point season and drags his team to the Western Conference Finals despite being a wild card team. After they are eliminated he openly contemplates his future in Edmonton and the trade speculation powers the hockey-based ecosystem for the entire summer. Prediction Number 4 Brayden Point rebounds with a 35-goal, 80-point season. Anthony Cirelli replaces him in the bumper-spot on the power play and Point finds his touch with a little more open ice in the left circle. Great joy fills the Tampa area as the power play looks dangerous on a consistent basis for the first time post-Stamkos. Prediction Number 5 Conor Geekie stays with the Lightning for the entire season. He finds a groove on the third line and scores 18 goals including 5 power play goals. Yanni Gourde, Pontus Holmberg, and Geekie becomes Coach Cooper’s favorite line of the season. It does come at the expense of Gage Goncalves, who is claimed off of waivers by Ottawa in December. Prediction Number 6 Congratulations to your Stanley Cup champion….Dallas Stars? Sure, why not. Honestly, we have no idea who is winning the title this year. It feels pretty open, so why not give it to the Stars. They figure out the Jason Robertson situation, get some help from Debrincat (ahh..see how we tie these predictions together?) and survive tough playoff matches against the Wild and Oilers to take down the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup. All of those are Justin’s predictions. How many are influenced by alcohol? We’re not saying. He’s not the only voice on this site this year. So, for a more rational take on things, here are some predictions from Mantis Toboggan: Prediction Number 1 Forwards: Kucherov doesn’t finish in the top five in points this year but finishes with ~40G, 80A and just outside the top five in points. Point and Guentzel will both record 100 points. Geekie scores 20 goals and 40+ points. Prediction Number 2 Defense: Hedman comes back in a big way and finishes with 60+ points – 15G and 50A is my guess. Carlson will also finish with 60+ – 10G and 50A points mostly because the Lightning PP will finish in the top 5 with Carlson as the QB. Prediction Number 3 Goalies: Vasilevskiy is nominated for the Vezina again but Hildeby’s good play forces Cooper to give him more starts and finishes with over 25 starts to Vasy’s 55. Prediction Number 4 Bold prediction: Lightning are first team since Chicago in 2013 to win the President’s Trophy and Stanley Cup as a refreshed Vasy carries the team and wins the Conn Smythe. Lightning sweep Dallas in a rematch from 2020. [Justin’s note] Honest to goodness, I wrote my section before seeing Mantis’. Guess we’re both high on Dallas this year. Alright. Our predictions are locked in and posted for all of the world to see and ridicule. Now it’s time for yours. Post your predictions in the comments.