The 2019 NHL season is upon us again and there has been a wave of free agency splurges and trades which may change the landscape a bit from 2018 following their splurges. Two of the big offseason spenders are in the Metropolitan division, and it will be really interesting to see how the New York Rangers do, given they were supposed to be beginning a long and painful rebuild. Well, that was before they acquired 2019’s No 1 free agent Artemi Panarin!
This may be one of the shortest rebuilds in NHL history and we have them making the postseason. It will be doubly sweet as their neighbours the Rangers were keen to secure his services. The Hurricanes were also busy getting Sebastian Aho & Ryan Dzingel and they should figure in the playoff conversations too. Still, they might both struggle to beat out 2018 Stanley Cup winners The Washington Capitals who lost in a thrilling series to the Hurricanes in last years playoffs.
Image: RozenskiP
The defending champions the St Louis Blues are pretty much returning the same roster so although is really hard to repeat as champions we think they will be there or there about again. However, we expect the winner to come from the east this time and it could be either the Maple Leafs or Lightning lofting the trophy.
Anyway, here’s our predicted finishing order:
Eastern Conference
ATLANTIC DIVISION
1 Toronto Maple Leafs
2 Tampa Bay Lightning
3 Boston Bruins
4 Florida Panthers
5 Buffalo Sabres
6 Montreal Canadiens
7 Detroit Red Wings
8 Ottawa Senators
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
1 Washington Capitals
2 Carolina Hurricanes
3 Pittsburgh Penguins
4 New York Islanders
5 New York Rangers
6 Philadelphia Flyers
7 Columbus Blue Jackets
8 New Jersey Devils
Wild Cards NY Islanders & Florida
Western Conference
CENTRAL DIVISION
1 St. Louis Blues
2 Nashville Predators
3 Dallas Stars
4 Colorado Avalanche
5 Winnipeg Jets
6 Chicago Blackhawks
7 Minnesota Wild
PACIFIC DIVISION
1 Vegas Golden Knights
2 Calgary Flames
3 San Jose Sharks
4 Arizona Coyotes
5 Anaheim Ducks
6 Edmonton Oilers
7 Vancouver Canucks
8 LA Kings
Wild Cards Colorado & Arizona
Final Tampa Bay Lightning beats Vegas Golden Knights
