2020-21 NHL Season Predictions

After long and grueling hours of negotiations, the NHL season is finally about to get underway. The season will look mighty different, with no fans in the stands and divisions that look all sorts of wacky. It will be one like no one has ever seen before, with the potential for interesting match ups in the Stanley Cup Final.

So, much like last year, I will try my best to predict the Top 4 seeds from each division. Those will be the ones that go to the playoffs and compete for the Stanley Cup. At the end, I will declare my pre season prediction of who will ultimately lift Lord Stanley's mug. 

Key:

p - Best Record in the League

y - Division Winner

x - Playoff Spot

Eastern Division

y - New York Islanders - Sure, why not a little surprise to start things off? Every year, it seems like the Islanders are going to break through and be a true Stanley Cup Contender, even though the roster may not be the best on paper. Last season, the Islanders went on a Cinderella run to the Eastern Conference Finals before ultimately succumbing to the eventual champion Lightning. Barry Trotz has proven to be one of the best coaches in hockey, especially with the goaltenders. Semyon Varlamov's career was barely hanging on in Colorado, and many wondered if he would ever get another job again. Now, he is the clear #1 goalie on the Island with Thomas Greiss departing for Detroit. 

When I think of the Islanders offense, depth is the first word that comes to mind. Jordan Eberle, Anders Lee, Anthony Beauvillier, Josh Bailey, and Mat Barzal make up a talented forward group for the Islanders. However, for this team to be drama free going into next season, the team will have to lock up Barzal for long term. Losing a perennial 60 point scorer is not going to look good for the front office, especially since that happened a few years ago with John Tavares. 

The defensive unit for the Islanders is one of the youngest in hockey. A plethora of home grown talent make this group quite interesting to watch. For the Islanders to win the tough Eastern Division, some of the kids, in particular Noah Dobson and Sebastian Aho, will need to live up to their draft day hype. I don't think that's much of a reach as people think.

It is going to be a war to win the Eastern Division, especially since each team has a solid argument for winning. The Islanders were red hot at the end of last season and they continued that momentum into the playoffs. This can be their breakthrough year to prove a statement to the rest of the league.

x - Boston Bruins - By all accounts, the Boston Bruins should have done much better in the NHL bubble. Losing in the second round as the President's Trophy winners was a disappointing end to a promising 2019-2020 season. The roster is a great mix of veterans and younger stars, and they have proven to be a formidable force over the last several seasons. With an Eastern Conference Championship in 2019 and a Presidents Trophy last season, no one is doubting the Bruins talent.

As much as I love the forward group with the Islanders, my favorite forward group in the Eastern Division belongs to Boston. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand are still forces to be reckoned with, even with a decade each under their belt. David Pastrnak is turning into a yearly Hart candidate, coming off a 95 point season and a Rocket Richard trophy. Add to that some trades for Charlie Coyle and Ondrej Kase, and the Bruins have retooled their roster quite nicely.

Even with Zdeno Chara's departure, Boston seems content with their defensive core. Much like the Islanders, they will have to rely on some younger players to break through. Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo are a solid first pairing, but there are question marks behind that. Can Connor Clifton and Zach Senyshyn turn into proven starting caliber players? That still needs to be seen. Furthermore, what's the situation with Tuukka Rask? Is he back to his usual form after leaving the NHL bubble early? Or are there still kinks that need to be ironed out?

Despite these questions, I am still confident Boston can make the playoffs. They are by no means a lock for a top 2 seed, especially since this division is so tough. The talent here is evident, and Boston can still be that Cup contender that we have seen over the past several seasons.

x - Philadelphia Flyers - Look at Philadelphia! All they had to get was a solid young goaltender and they instantly become a contender! It's amazing how that all works out! In all seriousness, the Flyers took some big leaps forward last season, going as far to clinching the #1 seed in the entire Eastern Conference. I still think that there are many positives toward the Flyers going into next season, but with a tougher division looming, it's going to be hard to replicate last season's success.

There are some really nice homegrown talents in this forward group. Claude Giroux is still producing at a solid rate, even with his decrease in certain statistical categories. Travis Konecny and Jakub Voracek are turning into great compliments for Giroux, with Voracek beginning to break out on his own. Add to that a returning Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick, and it's easy to see why people are so high on Philadelphia's forward group

The difference for me is that I'm higher on the Flyers defense. Travis Sanheim and Ivan Provorov have blossomed into stalwarts for the Philadelphia blue line. They each set career highs in points last season, and it would not surprise me if those numbers got topped again in 2021. On the contrary, the Flyers have to do something with Shayne Gostisbehere. He has not been the same for the past couple of years and he's falling into a rut with the team. He has a bright future in the NHL, but it is clear that it is not in Philadelphia. 

With Carter Hart becoming the league's next great young goalie, the Flyers can easily exceed 3rd in the Eastern Division. It will not be an easy task, but Alain Vigneault has faced this kind of adversity before. Who's to say he cannot do it again?

x - New York Rangers  - Last year, I had the Rangers sliding in and making the playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Metropolitan Division. In some way, I was right. The Rangers did make the playoffs, but there was no way this would have happened had the field not been expanded. They were promptly swept by a game Carolina Hurricanes team, but that elimination caused them to get the #1 pick thanks to Phase 2 of the NHL Draft Lottery.

Let's talk about Alexis Lafreniere. The 19-year old Quebec forward tore up the QMJHL last season, scoring a ridiculous 297 points in a career 173 games. He should add an instant boost to an already strong Rangers forward group. Artemi Panarin's name was brought up several times in Hart trophy talks after scoring a career high 95 points. With a developing Kaapo Kakko, back to back 70 point seasons from Mika Zibanejad, and a carry-over from the 2014 Eastern Conference Champion squad in Chris Kreider, the Blueshirts are officially back.

The Rangers defense was anchored by Tony DeAngelo and Jacob Trouba. Trouba was coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, with just 27 points. DeAngelo, meanwhile, was the 4th highest scoring defenseman in the entire league. He put up 53 points in 68 games in the shortened season. This offseason for New York also brought some goodbyes to familiar faces. Marc Staal was traded to the Red Wings while Henrik Lundqvist departed for DC. King Henrik's departure opens the door for Igor Shesterkin to become the starter. Shesterkin is the current betting favorite for the Calder after a really promising end to the 2019-20 regular season.

While the Rangers team this upcoming season will look much different than many of us are used to seeing, they will still be a really strong squad. Thanks to some great drafting by Jeff Gorton and a big fish signing in free agency, the Blueshirts executed one of the quickest rebuilds in NHL history. Now is their time to make their presence felt. 

Central Division

y - Tampa Bay Lightning - I know, it's a really bold move to have the defending Stanley Cup Champions winning the division. After years of coming up short, the Lightning finally won it all last season, and they should be right in the thick of it with the possibility of repeating as champions.

The offense of Tampa Bay is among the most talented in all of the National Hockey League, but they are dealing with multiple setbacks before the puck even drops. Former Hart trophy winner Nikita Kucherov is out for the season with hip surgery, with a hope of a potential playoff return. Team captain Steven Stamkos' status is unknown as well, having recovered from core muscle surgery during the NHL's pause. On the positive side, this allows Brayden Point to break through and lead Tampa Bay for the first bit of the season. Point is coming off a Stanley Cup playoffs in which he scored 33 points in 22 games, leading the entire league in playoff goals. If this momentum carries over into the regular season, he is a sleeper candidate for the Hart trophy. Add to that some depth pieces like Anthony Cirelli and Blake Coleman, and Tampa does not even need to have Kucherov or Stamkos to be a threat.

The Lightning defense is anchored by former Norris trophy winner Victor Hedman. As far as defensemen in the league that can score, Hedman is up there with the best of them. He has scored 4 straight seasons of at least 50 points, highlighted by a 72 point campaign in 2016-17. In the offseason, the team also locked up Mikhail Sergachev to a 3 year team friendly deal. He has blossomed into a great young piece for that Tampa Bay blue line.

Andrei Vasilevskiy has also turned into one of the league's best goaltenders. He, himself, is also a former Vezina trophy winner. Seems like the Bolts have a lot of former trophy winners. Even without their two best players to start the year, Tampa Bay is as great a threat as ever for the Stanley Cup. The only question is whether or not the Stanley Cup hangover will get to them.

x - Carolina Hurricanes - Every year, Carolina is one of the hardest teams to predict. One year, they look like they are going to go on a deep playoff run and win the whole thing. The next, they're fighting tooth and nail for the last playoff spot, only to come up short. It's a pattern that has repeated for the past 25 years in Carolina, but that pattern may stop soon.

The thing that I love about the Carolina offense is that there's no real superstar on it. There are, however, a ton of solid young pieces that work together as a unit. Sebastian Aho has averaged a point per game over the past 2 years. The scary part is that he's only 23 years old, with plenty of room to grow. Andrei Svechnikov has proven to be the real deal since being drafted 2nd overall in 2018. Teuvo Teravainen's point totals have skyrocketed since his trade from Chicago to Carolina in 2016. 

Despite the strong offensive pieces, I have the Hurricanes finishing 2nd mainly for their defensive core. Sure, they might not put up the greatest point totals in the league, but they block shots and clear the puck out of the zone, leaving Aho and crew to do their thing and score. Brett Pesce, Jaccob Slavin, Brady Skjei, and Dougie Hamilton make up the best Top 4 in the whole league. Hamilton is the one scorer of the bunch, scoring 40 points in 47 games last season. Whether or not the 27 year old can improve on that is still up in the air, but he seems to have finally found his touch with the Hurricanes.

My big concern with the team is actually in net. I am stunned that Carolina did not try to sign a free agent goalie. I do not think the team of Mrazek and Nedeljkovic is a solid long term solution. It seems like Carolina is trying to stop the puck from even getting to the net with their defensive bolstering. Could it work? Absolutely. However, for this team to be a true contender for the Stanley Cup, Carolina needs a really good goaltender. After that, we can talk about a repeat of 2006.

x - Dallas Stars - I think it's awesome that the defending Stanley Cup Champions are in the same division. We are blessed with seeing the Lightning and Stars go at it multiple times throughout the year, and I am all for it. I have no doubts that Tampa will repeat some form of success, but Dallas on the other hand, I have a few questions about. 

The offensive firepower of the Stars is amazing. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are back for another round of leading Dallas. Each of them has had declining point totals, but Seguin suffered through multiple injuries over the course of the season and playoffs. I fully expect a bounce back year for the superstar forward. Funny enough, it was their depth that propelled them to a deep run to the Stanley Cup last season. The play of Radek Faksa, Joel Kiviranta, and Denis Gurianov was what led Dallas, not the two headed monster of Benn and Seguin. If they can keep that momentum from the Stanley Cup Playoffs going, Dallas is a true contender.

The defense for Dallas is one of those questions I was talking about earlier. I like Miro Heiskanen a lot, he's one of my favorite young defenseman in the NHL, and he's only getting better. John Klingberg's play is highly praised and he thrived in the playoffs, but his regular season point total was a slight disappointment. The rest of the defense is hit or miss. Jamie Oleksiak is okay, but he is not an offensive defenseman by any stretch. Thomas Harley is a former 1st round pick, but expecting him to make a massive impact right away would be setting expectations too high. Dallas did bring in Mark Pysyk, which will help a little bit.

To go along with that, there's the issue with goaltending. Ben Bishop cannot seem to stay healthy. When he is on his game, he is still a rock solid goaltender who is always a sleeper candidate for the Vezina. Anton Khudobin was a playoff hero, but whether or not that success can transfer into an everyday role in the regular season remains to be seen. Overall, Dallas is a well rounded team, with a Stanley Cup not out of the questions. Once these solutions are solved, I expect Dallas to be right in the thick of the fight.

x - Columbus Blue Jackets - The Blue Jackets went big game hunting in the offseason for some of the league's top free agents. It was a disappointing result for Columbus, with no Pietrangelo, Hall, or Hoffman coming to the Blue Jackets. Even with the lack of star power, Columbus does have extra cap space now to try to make some trades to improve their roster. 

That's even if their roster needs improving. The Blue Jackets were able to flip Josh Anderson for Max Domi, an instant upgrade. Even with a down year in Montreal, Domi has been solid in scoring, which is exactly what Columbus needed. Pierre-Luc Dubois began to thrive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year, and he is only going to improve his game. Cam Atkinson and Gustav Nyqvist help with making the forward group well-rounded. No superstar needed here.

Similar to Carolina, Columbus' defense is why I have them making the playoffs. Seth Jones also had a down year last year, so if he can bounce back like he is expected to, Columbus is only going to improve as a whole. Zach Werenski led the entire league in goals by a defenseman with 20. With those 2 scorers alone, Columbus is in good shape. Even Vladislav Gavrikov earned a consistent role due to his play in the playoffs last season. The rest of the group is unproven, but this blue line begins and ends with Jones and Werenski.

Columbus moved on from Sergei Bobrovsky with Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo. Last year, with low expectations, the duo posted the best numbers of their careers, and have parlayed it into countless starting opportunities. That helps Columbus too, as they do not need to spend their money on a goaltender via free agency. Instead, they can give Merzlikins the money he wants to stay. Plus, they can do the same with Dubois, who is a current RFA. Columbus laughed in the face of everybody last season when they made the playoffs and took the Lightning to 5 overtimes in Game 1 of their series. Now, we need to see if that was a fluke, or if the Jackets are here to stay.

Canadian Division

y - Toronto Maple Leafs - That's right. Toronto Maple Leafs, Division Champions. All it took was to move the Lightning and the Bruins out of the division. It is not going to be a cakewalk by any means, but out of all of the teams in the NHL's Canadian Division, the Maple Leafs seem to be the most poised to take that next step forward.

The Maple Leafs forward group has been well documented over the years. The Core Four are back for another go round at the Cup: Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares. They combined for 266 points last season, the next highest scorer on the team was Tyson Barrie with 39. Yes, the team had to move on from forwards such as Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, but there are other solid pieces and prospects in Toronto. The team has faith that Nick Robertson will be a big piece of their future going forward, and Zach Hyman had one of the best years of his career, even with his injury. Also, the Leafs brought in Joe Thornton for a veteran presence. There are reasons to believe Toronto could lead the league in scoring.

On the contrary, the defense has been mediocre for an extended period of time. Besides Morgan Reilly, there was no defenseman that has been a good fit. There were high expectations for Tyson Barrie and Jake Muzzin, but they have produced mediocre results. Muzzin was able to stay long term, and the team signed TJ Brodie to a 4 year 20 million dollar deal in the offseason. I love the move for Toronto, and with the emergence of Travis Dermott and Pierre Engvall, Toronto's defense, I believe, has finally been fixed.

I think Frederik Andersen is a solid option in net, but his future there is unknown. He posted a solid 1.84 GAA in the playoffs, even in the series loss. The hunt for a backup might be over, with the trade to bring in Jack Campbell last year from Los Angeles. The former top Dallas prospect has finally got his opportunity and has run with it. With the big issues from last year addressed, Toronto may be referred to as Stanley Cup Champions sooner rather than later.

x - Calgary Flames - At some point, the Calgary Flames have to take that next step forward. Each of the past 2 years, they have lost in the first round of the playoffs, and GM Brad Trelivig wants that to change.

Despite constant trade rumors, this team starts with Johnny Gaudreau. He regressed in 2019-20, but he did put up 7 points in 10 playoff games. Whether or not he is part of Calgary's long term future is still up in the air, but he should be focused on making 2021 count with the Flames. Sean Monahan is another Flame that took a step back last season. He is a candidate that needs to bounce back in order for Calgary to reach their full potential. Elias Lindholm has become a big piece for Calgary, and Matthew Tkachuk led the team in points, solidifying himself as a piece to build around. Mikael Backlund has stayed consistent with his point totals over the past couple years, hovering around 45-55 points in each of the past 4 seasons. If everyone is healthy on their A game, Calgary's offensive firepower can be dangerous. And yes, that pun was fully intended.

I think Calgary's main loss in the offseason was their failure to re sign some of their key pieces on defense. They let TJ Brodie walk to a now-divisional rival, and they are still trying to bring back Travis Hamonic. To make up for this, they brought in Chris Tanev from Vancouver. Tanev's offense has not been great, failing to score 20 points in a season. However, he did have 7 points in 17 playoff games. Mark Giordano was a Norris Trophy winner just 2 seasons ago, and he can still score goals and pass the puck. Rasmus Andersson is now an everyday player in the lineup, and he has room to grow. If Calgary can bring back Hamonic, this defensive unit is dangerous.

Calgary also tried to find their long term solution in goal by signing Jacob Markstrom to a six year deal. Markstrom has played well with the Canucks over the past 3 seasons, but there are still some skeptics who believe that he cannot replicate that success in Calgary. I believe he can, and that the Flames finally have their goalie that can carry them forward. This team has the talent and pieces to make a deep playoff run, but they will have to work together like a well-oiled machine to make it work. And speaking of well-oiled machines:

x - Edmonton Oilers - Whether or not the Edmonton Oilers can be successful is not the question. The question is whether or not that success can be sustained over a long period of time. Much like other teams, Edmonton has something special going, but there are issues with the team that I have major concerns with.

Connor McDavid is the best player in the NHL. There, I said it. Had it not been for the shutdown, it would have been increasingly likely that McDavid would have broken 100 points for the 4th straight season. He also scored 9 points in 4 playoff games. He is also only 23 years old, with the ability to get even better, as crazy as that sounds. Despite all of this, he was second in the league in points. Who was first? His teammate, Leon Draisaitl. Draisaitl has quieted his detractors after signing a contract that paid him 8 million dollars a year back in 2017. He, much like McDavid, has also put up back to back 100 point seasons. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has become a nice third line center, and put 61 points in 65 games. Everything is going well for the Oilers, right? Well, not exactly. The wingers to complement these superstars are not players to build around. Sure, James Neal works for now, but he is on the older side. Until Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse Puljuvarvi are proven NHLers, McDavid and Draisaitl need some help. 

It also does not help that the Oilers top defenseman, Oscar Klefbom, is out for the year due to surgery. Klefbom has been the anchor of the Edmonton blue line, and his loss is a big one. This leaves new free agent Tyson Barrie and Ethan Bear to carry the load of the Oilers defensive unit. Adam Larsson and Caleb Jones with also see some time, but they are by no means difference makers.

The one thing the Oilers wanted to do in the offseason was sign a goaltender, and they failed to do so. Instead, they brought back Mike Smith on a cheap contract and reaffirmed their desires to stick with Mikko Koskinen. Unfortunately for Edmonton, I do not see that duo being a recipe for success. I know that they went hard after Jacob Markstrom and Thomas Greiss, but they signed elsewhere. I think the Oilers are trending, finally, in the right direction, but until the back end is fixed, they are not true contenders. I am not ruling out a deep playoff run, however.

x - Montreal Canadiens - There are some moves that Montreal did this offseason that made me want to apologize to Marc Bergevin for ridiculing him all these years. There are also some moves of his that made me ask myself what direction he really wants this team to go in. Then I remembered, they blew out Pittsburgh and almost upset the #1 seed in the playoffs, and I realized something. The Montreal Canadiens can be really, really dangerous.

Every year, it seems like Montreal's forward group is getting younger and younger. Nick Suzuki impressed with a 41 point campaign as a rookie. I'm beginning to appreciate the value of Philip Danault with the Canadiens. He probably would have had back to back 50 point seasons if not for the shutdown. There were also rumblings of him being a potential nominee for the Selke trophy last year. The Tomas Tatar pick up from Vegas a few years ago has paid off dividends, and he has recovered his career nicely with Montreal. Tyler Toffoli, a free agent signing, ended 2020 on a hot streak, and he should only continue putting up points with the Habs, posting career high numbers. Plus, if Jonathan Drouin can stay healthy, he is still a player that can make an impact.

Montreal's defense is, actually, quietly good. It seems like the Canadiens actually won the PK Subban-Shea Weber swap. PK is struggling to put up points in New Jersey, while Weber is the anchor of a Canadiens defense. Doesn't hurt that he's the team captain as well. Jeff Petry has put up 3 straight 40 point seasons, and he signed a 4 year extension back in September. The wild card, however, is rookie Aleander Romanov. The 2018 2nd rounder has impressed for Russia in the World Junior Classic, and Habs fans are hoping that success can translate into the NHL.

In my opinion, the best move Montreal made this offseason was solidifying a backup goaltender for Carey Price. When he is on his game, Price is one of the best in the league, and there's no reason to believe he cannot continue his success in 2021. Now with Jake Allen in the fold, Price does not need to play as much. This is good, because he will not be as fatigued as he has been in previous seasons. Montreal is a tough team to judge, but I think a playoff spot itself is fair. A series win would exceed expectations, and anything more than that is icing on the cake.

Western Division

p - Colorado Avalanche - It's only a matter of time before the Colorado Avalanche finally put everything together and have the top record in the entire NHL. In a shortened season, in which GM Joe Sakic made moves to improve holes on the roster, this would be the year to do it.

Nathan Mackinnon is finally realizing his potential as a former 1st overall pick. He now has 3 straight seasons of at least 90 points, and is a 2 time runner up for the Hart trophy. Even better for Colorado? He's only making 6.5 million dollars, which allows for greater improvements on the rest of the team. Mikko Rantanen is about a point a game player, and complements Mackinnon on his line really well. It's almost a perfect fit. Gabriel Landeskog continues to be a productive player as the third piece on the Mackinnon and Rantanen line. However, Brandon Saad may take that spot. Saad was acquired from Chicago for Nikita Zadorov, and many believe that this is a coup by Colorado. 

The defense for Colorado may be just as good as the forward group. Erik Johnson, who is of no relation to me, by the way, may not put up the most gaudy point totals, but he is still a force to be reckoned with when he's healthy. Sakic made a trade to acquire Devon Toews from the Islanders in exchange for some draft picks. Toews put up 28 points in 68 games for the Islanders, and he was a 2017 AHL All Star. 22 year old Samuel Girard is putting up mid 30s point totals for the team, and top draft pick Bowen Byram is expected to make his NHL debut this season. Things are looking up for the Avs.

My only doubts for the team are in net. Is Philipp Grubauer a solid everyday option? The team did re-sign Hunter Miska in free agency, and he could play some games as Grubauer's backup. And how will Pavel Francouz factor his way into the mix? Either way, I see Tampa as the NHL's most complete roster, but I see Colorado as the NHL's best. They're the current betting favorites for the Stanley Cup for a reason.

x - Vegas Golden Knights - This is the scariest part about the Western Division. In any other division, Vegas probably takes it easily. However, in the West, I could see it being a two horse race between the Golden Knights and the Avalanche. I have Colorado taking it, but Vegas will be giving them a fight until the very end.

The Golden Knights forward group did take a slight hit this season with the departure of Paul Stastny. Despite this, Mark Stone has quickly become a face of the team with several 60 point seasons. Jonathan Marchessault, who almost became a cap casualty in the offseason, can still give the team production and speed. Same exact thing goes for William Karlsson. Max Pacioretty is returning to old form after a down first season with the Knights. There are a few other noteworthy pieces, but if these 4 are on their game, Vegas cannot be stopped.

If you look back at my pre season preview from last year, you may have noticed that I said their defense was a weakness. Headed into 2020-21, that is no longer the case. Vegas was able to lure away Alex Pietrangelo from St. Louis. The team also acquired Alec Martinez from Los Angeles. Martinez has proven to be an early success in his small sample size with the team. Pietrangelo will replace Nate Schmidt, but it is unknown whether or not he can have that same production in a new city after parts of 12 years with the Blues. 

The duo of Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury is also one of the best NHL. Fleury had a rough 2019-20, which is why the team decided to bring in Robin Lehner. The Panda also re signed long term with the Golden Knights, which is great news for the team. He had a sub 2 GAA in the team's 16 playoff games. Vegas is looking strong once again headed into 2021, but whether or not they can beat Colorado is the real question. Plus, they really need to get that Cup sooner rather than later, with some major contracts coming up on the horizon.

x - St. Louis Blues - For the majority of the 2019-2020 season, the St. Louis Blues did not suffer through the Stanley Cup hangover. They had their moment in the sun. Even though some pieces are missing, St. Louis feels like a really solid team heading into 2021.

Ryan O'Reilly steps in as the team's new captain. He has provided wonders for the team since being acquired from Buffalo in 2018, winning a Conn Smythe and a Selke trophy in 2019. He will need to provide that offense in a big way, especially since Vladimir Tarasenko will be out for an extended period of time. The team will also lose Alexander Steen to retirement. This will allow opportunities for Robert Thomas and Sammy Blais to get into the lineup. David Perron has been a great re acquisition for the Blues, and Brayden Schenn has provided 50 points over the past two seasons. Plus, the team has one of the more underrated players in the league in Jaden Schwartz.

The defense, despite losing Alex Pietrangelo, remains mostly the same from last season. I think St Louis is getting an equal replacement in Torey Krug. Krug was the second best option available besides Pietrangelo. As long as he stays healthy, he'll work out just fine. Colton Parayko is good for about high 20s-mid 30s for points, and the team just brought back Vince Dunn on a cheap contract. Justin Faulk, on the other hand, needs to have a bounce back season. His first season in St. Louis was a nightmare, and if the team wants to get back to the high of 2019, he'll need to produce like he was in Carolina.

I like Jordan Binnington a lot as a #1 goalie, but the team is banking on Ville Husso to be the backup. I don't know if I like this, especially for a team that's supposed to be competing for the Stanley Cup. Plus, you don't want to overwork your young goaltender. The good news is, the season is shortened, so that may mean Husso would not have to play much. As long as the bounce back candidates return to form, St. Louis should have no problems making the playoffs. Bouncing back is a perfect segway to the final playoff team.

x - San Jose Sharks - I started this list off with a surprise, I might as well end it with one as well. San Jose, as much as they looked it last year, is not a bad team. The problem is that they had countless injuries and everyone underperformed. If those things change, San Jose, as shocking as it may be, could find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Before Tomas Hertl went down with an injury, he was on pace to have one of the best years of his career. Timo Meier has proven why he was a top 10 draft pick years ago. Logan Couture was on pace for standard numbers before the shutdown. As was Evander Kane. To add onto this, Ryan Donato was brought in from Minnesota to bolster the offense. There are also many young players that can make their debut from the Sharks prospect system. If one of them pans out, this offense could really explode. So why were the Sharks so bad?

Defense and goaltending. That's why. Erik Karlsson missed most of last season with a broken thumb. If he returns to prime Erik Karlsson form, he could be in the running for a Norris trophy. Brent Burns, meanwhile, fell off a cliff last season. His 45 points is his lowest in a season since the lockout shortened year. He has to come back to his old ways if the Sharks have any hope of returning to their heyday. Besides that, the defense is just, there. They need more, and a signing in free agency would've helped that.

Goaltending is the other major issue for San Jose. Martin Jones had a horrible 2019-2020, so much so that he was losing playing time to Aaron Dell. Devan Dubnyk is brought in from Minnesota as well, and  if he can be the Vezina caliber goalie he once was, San Jose will have their goalie issue fixed. The Sharks are a bunch of what ifs heading into 2021. If everything repeats from last year, they will be in the hunt for the #1 pick. If the once-great players return to form, San Jose will become a playoff contender once again.

And there you have it, my 16 teams that I have making the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last year, I ended it with a Stanley Cup Finals prediction that was way off. Let's try to fix that this year, shall we?

Colorado over Boston in 5

Sorry, Avs fans. You are the victims of my annual Stanley Cup Playoff jinxing. Look on the bright side, though. Your team is primed for a long term run at the Cup, not just one year. Anyways, enjoy the upcoming NHL season. We are getting a lot of hockey in a short period of time, so enjoy it while it lasts.