The Hockey News 2011-12 standings prediction

[puckhead]

they reveal a new team from each conference every weekday
The Hockey News: Special Features: The Hockey News 2011-12 NHL regular season predictions: No. 14

so far we have:

West
15 Oilers
14 Coyotes
13 Dallas

East
15 Senators
14 Panthers
13 Winnipeg

 

[johnnytata]

wow that's a big drop for the coyotes.

i'm shocked they have the panthers so low after all that money they spent over the summer.

 

[whacktoseintolerant]

I'd tend to agree with you on the Panthers. I think they're looking at finishing around 10th. They did spend a lot but there's still so much talent in the top half of the East. I dont see them breaking through for at least a year or two. I also think the Oilers are poised for a move up the standings. Also, I guess they put a lot of stock into Bryzgalov's importance to the Yotes, dropping them that far.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I hope they put the Sabres next, I want them to be a sleeper that no one thinks about.

 

[whacktoseintolerant]

I hope they put the Sabres next, I want them to be a sleeper that no one thinks about.

Sabres will finish second in the Northeast. You heard it here first!

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Sabres will finish second in the Northeast. You heard it here first!

Behind the Leafs?

 

[whacktoseintolerant]

Behind the Leafs?

Haha of course, obviously that's what I meant.

In all seriousness though, I think the Sabres will be a team to worry about this year.

 

[johnnytata]

not that these lists really mean all that much, but still...

hoping this list bores me until next month

 

[esls79]

I was waiting for this thread and I had all my good material cued up saying the Wild are already rated too high (even if THN had them pegged at 15)

Then they go and make all these moves to redeem themselves, kind of like trading a van in for a scooter.

Fukin' bums. Bring back Risebrough.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Haha of course, obviously that's what I meant.

In all seriousness though, I think the Sabres will be a team to worry about this year.

They did make some nice moves esp on Defense. We will see.

 

[dash]

All I can say is long live Lowebellini...

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

They must not have looked at the Islanders depth chart on defense.

The Coyotes have goaltending issues. The Panthers overpaid a lot of guys who didn't deserve it because the Panthers had to spend the money. I don't expect them to finish 14th though.

I actually think the Senators will be better than 15th as well. Anderson played very well down the stretch.

Edmonton is my pick to finish DEAD last for the third straight year. The Yakupov sweepstakes have begun.:

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Neither the Sens nor the Panthers strike me as that bad of a team.

However, in thinking about it, I'm not sure who I could rank below either of them, except for possibly Winnipeg.

Not meant as a knock against them, but I think between the relocation, new arena, and the huge travel schedule, it's going to be a tough year for them.

 

[SLY]

This feels like one of the hardest seasons to predict in a long time.

 

[DChero]

Winnipeg dodged the bottom?

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I could definitely see my Sens at the bottom of the pack in the East this (I really kinda hope they finish last; hello Yakupov).

I could also see them as much better than that with a healthy Spezza, an actual NHL goalie in Anderson and some semblance of a full season from Alfie and Michalek. Their blueline is likely to have a bunch of youth and hence a ton of ????s. I think ultimately that will keep them as a lottery team.

The future looks pretty bright in Sens land though.

 

[dash]

Winnipeg and Dallas in the 13-hole...

 

[puckhead]

Fuck Dallas!!

 

[UTVolCountry]

wow that's a big drop for the coyotes.

i'm shocked they have the panthers so low after all that money they spent over the summer.

I know, that's what I'm sayin...damn

 

[Nasty_Magician]

I hope they put the Sabres next, I want them to be a sleeper that no one thinks about.

Kind of what I like about the Devils this year. Not a whole lot of talk about them.