The NHL season is getting ready to start and I know that I am ready to watch some hockey. My first full season and offseason of my hockey fandom was a great experience and I am ready for more. While I still want to learn more about the history of the league and the history the sport, I am really enjoying learning how the game is played with the best that the league has to currently offer. I will attempt to give five predictions that I have for the season. I probably will not be going too bold with my predictions, but I’ll let whoever is reading this decide how bold these predictions actually will be.

Connor Bedard Will Not Exceed 70 Points This Season

At the moment, the rookie’s O/U Point Total for the 2023-24 season is set for 69.5 points. It doesn’t appear that the Blackhawks will be very good this season, so that is the main reason why I don’t think that he will reach 70 points in his rookie season. I realize the fact that the team is going to be bad could go in favor of Bedard’s point total due to potential reliance on him, but I don’t think that will be the case in his rookie season. I do think Bedard will be very good and I am interested to watch him play, but I don’t think he will light it up until later in the season. It is tough to tell what will happen with any rookie, not to mention the most hyped rookie of the last decade or two. I may look like an idiot with this prediction, but I guess we’ll see.

Carolina Will Be Bring the Stanley Cup Back to Raleigh

I don’t know how bold this one is because Carolina is currently the odds-on favorite, but I think they have a real shot. They are stout! If Svechnikov didn’t get injured prior to the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, there’s no telling what would have happened. I personally think that they would’ve gotten past the Panthers if he were healthy. They have him back this season. They also added Michael Bunting to their top line, that is where he is projected at the moment at least. Also, they added Tony Deangelo back into the fold. He is a 3rd Line Defenseman, if that tells you anything about how deep they are. My prediction is that the Oilers make it to the Cup Finals, but fall short to the Canes.

Connor McDavid Will Score 70 goals This Season

There hasn’t been a 70-goal scorer in the NHL since Teemu Selänne did it back in the 1992-93 season. What is crazy about it is the fact that Selänne was a rookie. Maybe I need to revisit my Bedard points prediction. Nevermind, too late. Back to McDavid. Connor McDavid had 64 goals last season, which was a career mark for him. It is pretty evident that McDavid is entering his prime, so I dont think we have seen the peak of what he can do. It would be a real shame if he and Leon Draisaitl can’t win a Stanley Cup together at some point.

The Maple Leafs Will Win the Presidents’ Trophy

Toronto was one of the better teams last season, but fell short in the playoffs. I think that they have the team to really run through the regular season. Heck, they may even have what it takes to make a run, but I am not ready to make that prediction yet. Canada hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since the 1992-93 season, oddly enough. Canada also only has 3 Presidents’ trophies since 1990. I think Toronto will be a tough team to beat this season and I think that they will be fun to watch, but I think them along with other Canadian teams extend the Stanley Cup drought. If not the Leafs, my next choice is the New Jersey Devils to be the best regular season team. They seem to be one of the strongest looking teams in the NHL.

The Florida Panthers Will Miss the Playoffs

This one may not be too bold considering how close they were to missing out on last season’s playoffs, but I think a lot of people have them doing well this year. After squeaking by the Boston Bruins in the first round, they ran through every team to get to the Stanley Cup Finals. I personally don’t think that they’re that good of a team. I think they happened to get hot at the right time. When looking at their division, I think the Bruins are still better than them. The Leafs are as well. The Lightning is a question mark with Vasilevskiy being unavailable for probably 3 months, but I think the Sabres and Senators are both going to make a leap this season. So that leaves the other division and I can’t imagine the Canes, Devils and Rangers all missing out. I also think the Penguins will be back and the Islanders will probably hang around as well. So, I think the Panthers may be the odd team out.

Yacs

5 Predictions for the 2023-24 NHL Season