2014-15 NHL Predictions Part 1

It's that time of year to start assessing the next NHL season, sight unseen. Here's how I think the 2015 post-season picture will look.

Playoff Teams

Western Conference 

Anaheim Ducks

LA Kings

Vancouver Canucks

Dallas Stars

St. Louis Blues

Chicago Blackhawks

Minnesota Wild

San Jose Sharks

Eastern Conference

Boston Bruins

Montreal Canadiens

New York Rangers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Tampa Bay Lightning

New York Islanders

Columbus Blue Jackets

Toronto Maple Leafs (I WILL NEVER LEARN!!!)

President's Trophy Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins

Stanley Cup Finalists: LA Kings and Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup Champions: LA Kings

If I could have two back-up guesses, I'd pick the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks. One thing I feel confident about is that the East will not beat the West, no matter how battered and bruised the western teams render each other on the way to the Final, the West will remain superior.

I base all of my predictions on avian augury, which is the great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather of advanced stats.

Now that I've outlined what I think will happen, I'd like to predict the other end of the spectrum (e.g. the non-playoff contenders, the non-champions, the losingest team, and the draft lottery champ). Next spring, I'll write a recap post that assess whether my yea-saying or nay-saying was more accurate.

Non-Playoff Teams

Western Conference

Calgary Flames

Colorado Avalanche

Edmonton Oilers

Nashville Predators

Phoenix Arizona Coyotes

Winnipeg Jets

Eastern Conference

Buffalo Sabres

Carolina Hurricanes

Detroit Red Wings

Florida Panthers

New Jersey Devils

Ottawa Senators

Philadelphia Flyers

Washington Capitals

Most Improbably Stanley Cup Finalists: Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes

30th Overall in NHL Standings: Phoenix Coyotes

Draft Lottery Winners: Florida Panthers (call them the Edmonton Oilers of the EC)

Least Likely to Win Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs (Hey, I'm not a totally unrealistic fan)