By Mike Rifkin
2023 Standings
- Vancouver Canucks : 109 points
- Edmonton Oilers : 104 points
- LA Kings : 99 points
- Vegas Golden Knights : 98 points
- Calgary Flames 81 points
- Seattle Kraken :81 points
- Anaheim Ducks : 59 points
- San Jose Sharks : 41 points
X FACTORS
DUCKS : TREVOR ZEGRAS :. After posting back to back 23 goal and 60 plus point seasons, Zegras had six goals and 15 points in 31 games last season. Zegras has been the center of the Ducks rebuild, but during the summer Zegras’s name came up in trade rumors. We will have to see what direction the Ducks use the 23 year old Center.
FLAMES : DUSTIN WOLF : There’s a lot of moving parts in Calgary, GM Craig Conory has talked about a rebuild, but they also have some bad contracts on their books. Dustin Wolf got into 17 games last season starting 15 of them, and posted a 7-7 record with a 3.16 GAA and a .893 save percentage. Now with Jacob Markstrom in New Jersey it’s time for the 23 year old to take the reins of the net in Calgary
Oilers : VIKTOR ARVIDSSON : The real answer here is Stu Skinner, but if he struggles the Oilers should upgrade at the trade deadline. But my answer is Viktor Arvidsson, who the Oilers are familiar with from playing the Kings in the playoffs. But with the news on Evander Kane, who will miss a few months, Arvidsson might be able to get into the top 6 and play with either McDavid or Draisaitl.
LA Kings : DARCY KUEMPER : The Kings are still looking to fill the void left by Jonathon Quick, in the 2010’s. As guys like Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty get older, the Kings find themselves in a spot where they are still trying to win with an eye on the future. This summer they made an interesting trade with the Capitals, Pierre Luc Dubois for Darcy Kuemper straight up. Kuemper, was a member of the Avs Stanley Cup winning team, the Kings are hoping for him to regain that form and help them advance in the Playoffs.
SHARKS : YAROSLOV ASKAROV : It was a busy summer for Mike Grier, who has talked about the Sharks rebuilding for a few seasons now. The Sharks won the draft lottery and selected Macklin Celebrini, they signed Tyler Toffoli and added Barclay Goodrow up front. Grier than pulled the trigger on a high upside trade, acquiring goalie Yaroslov Askarov from the Predators. Askarov, was awesome in Milwaukee in the AHL winning 56 games over the last two seasons including going 30-13-1 last season with a 2.39 GAA and .911 save percentage with six shutouts. The Sharks may have found their goalie of the future.
Kraken : SHANE WRIGHT : There’s a new bench boss in Seattle in Dan Bylsma. Bylsma, had been coaching Coachella Valley, the AHL affiliate of the Kraken. Shane Wright was the fourth overall pick in 2022, and has yet to find a regular footing with the Kraken. In 16 games Wright has five goals and seven points. Maybe knowing the new coach could create the right advantage for Wright.
Canucks : Goal tending : Part of the reason the Canucks were successful last season was their goal tending. Thatcher Demko was 35-14-2 with a 2.45 GAA and a .918 save percentage along with five shutouts. There have been questions about Demko’s health, if he is out long term that can be a major issue for the Canucks.
Golden Knights : Goal tending : The Knights have a very interesting trio of goalies. Led by Adin Hill, who helped the Knights win the Stanley Cup a few seasons ago. Over the summer they traded Logan Thompson and replaced him with Ilya Samsonov. Last season in Toronto wasn’t a good one for Samsonov, who had a goals against average of 3.13 and a save percentage of .890. They also acquired Akira Schmid from the Devils. Schmid went 5-9-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .895 save percentage last season for the Devils. One other x factor for the Knights is who steps up in place of Jonathan Marchessault, who went to Nashville.
PREDICTIONS
- OILERS
- GOLDEN KNIGHTS
- KINGS
- KRAKEN
- CANUCKS
- FLAMES
- SHARKS
- DUCKS
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