Updated 2013 Win-Loss Record Predictions for Every NHL Team

Seven weeks remain in the 2013 NHL regular season, and while team's would be barely past the one-quarter mark 24 games into a normal season, the lockout has already put us within reach of the home stretch.

Slumping teams have dug themselves a significant hole. Teams in the middle of the pack are finding it hard to separate themselves enough to lock in a playoff spot. And aside from a few elite teams, nobody in the NHL can feel comfortable with less than two months to go.

Who will struggle? Who is in a position to turn things around? Whose luck is about to run out?

This article will examine each team and attempt to predict their record at season's end, based upon whether the team is a contender or pretender and what the first half of the season might be able to tell us about the second half.

Here are the projections for each NHL team's record at the end of the 2013 season.

Anaheim Ducks

Current Record: 18-3-3 (39 Points)

Prediction: 33-8-7 (73 Points)

The Chicago Blackhawks may have had the most noteworthy start to the 2013 NHL season, but one could argue that the Anaheim Ducks had the most surprising.

In fact, if it weren't for the giant shadow cast by the 'Hawks, we'd probably be talking about Anaheim as a Cup favorite and total juggernaut at this point. 

Expect the Ducks to cool off just a bit as opposing offenses begin to find chinks in Viktor Fasth's armor, but don't anticipate that these Ducks are going to lose their stride. They are the odds-on favorite to win the Pacific Division and should be considered a real contender for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.

Boston Bruins

Current Record: 17-3-3 (37 Points)

Prediction: 35-8-5 (75 Points)

The Ducks are on the short list of teams who will represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final, and the Bruins might be the headlining member of the same list in the East.

They've played fewer games than any team in the league (23) but the Bruins have only been beaten six times, and only three times in regulation. The downside of that fact is the Bruins will pay a more compact schedule over the next seven weeks than any other team.

However, this shouldn't be an issue for Boston. As one of hockey's toughest teams, the Bruins don't often get bullied or pushed around. They can withstand a brutal schedule as well as anyone, and barring a disastrous injury, they should be able to carry that resiliency and intensity into the playoffs.

Buffalo Sabres

Current Record: 9-14-3 (21 Points)

Prediction: 15-29-4 (34 Points)

A season that started with optimism in Buffalo has quickly turned to catastrophe. 

The team got off to such a horrible start that the league's longest-tenured coach, Lindy Ruff, was kicked to the curb and replaced by Ron Rolston on an interim basis. The Sabres seemed to find success, going on a three-game winning streak at the end of February.

However, Buffalo has since lost four in a row and only the lowly Florida Panthers are keeping Buffalo out of the Eastern Conference basement.

Calgary Flames

Current Record: 9-11-4 (22 Points)

Prediction: 15-26-7 (37 Points)

Anyone who had delusions that this was anything but a rebuilding year for the Calgary Flames is getting a cold dose of reality these days. 

While the Flames are only three wins out of a playoff spot, they would have to leapfrog five teams to earn that spot, and it simply seems too implausible for this shaky squad.

As the trade deadline approaches, the Jarome Iginla talk will begin to heat up, and Calgary may be forced to deal its franchise player to invest in the future. The second half of the season will be harder on the Flames than the first was.

Carolina Hurricanes

Current Record: 14-9-1 (29 Points)

Prediction: 25-19-4 (54 Points)

The Hurricanes seem to have a great shot at the third seed in the East, but they'll be relying more on the weakness of their division than the strength of their team in order to get there.

Carolina's offense is a formidable one, especially with the addition of Alexander Semin in the offseason, but the real concern is on the back end. 

The defense is passable, but with goaltender Cam Ward out for most of the remainder of the regular season with injury, wins will take a little extra effort for the 'Canes. They can take advantage of the weak Southeast for some easy points, but don't expect the Hurricanes to be on par with the likes of Boston, Pittsburgh, Montreal and company.

Chicago Blackhawks

Current Record: 21-2-3 (45 Points)

Prediction: 36-5-7 (79 Points)

I'm almost glad the Blackhawks finally became mortal over the weekend, because writing a prediction about the team's record at season's end would require me to meditate on whether or not a team really could go undefeated in regulation over the course of 48 games.

Luckily, problem solved. But the Blackhawks will still wind up being the only team in the NHL's whose shortened-season point total could qualify them for the playoffs in a full season too.

The team is on a two-game losing streak, much to everyone's surprise, but I don't anticipate their overall domination and proven resiliency during games to wane much over the second half of the year. This team simply has all the tools it takes to win, and they'll prove it by only losing in regulation five times this year.

Colorado Avalanche

Current Record: 10-10-4 (24 Points)

Prediction: 21-21-6 (48 Points)

The Avalanche could be the definition of a .500 team. 

They've earned 24 of a possible 48 points at the midway point of the season. They've lost easy games and won difficult ones. They're not great in any area, but they aren't terrible at anything, either.

It's been a long rebuilding process for the Avs, and they seem to still be one key piece away from finally competing in the Western Conference again. 

Columbus Blue Jackets

Current Record: 10-12-4 (24 Points)

Prediction: 19-22-7 (45 Points)

The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently on a five-game winning streak, tied for the longest active streak in the league. 

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been largely responsible, giving up only four goals while starting all five games and saving 124 of 128 shots in that span. 

The Jackets have their goaltender of the future in Bobrovsky, but this team is still well entrenched in the rebuilding stage. They should consider a handful of winning streaks to be a positive sign and they could play a legitimate spoiler role this season, but in a division as rough as the Central, a playoff berth is not in the immediate future for the Jackets.

Dallas Stars

Current Record: 12-10-2 (26 Points)

Prediction: 19-25-4 (42 Points)

The Dallas Stars are not without potential, but I believe this team is one that will falter in the coming months and eliminate itself from the playoff picture.

The Stars play an extremely difficult schedule in the month of April, facing only two teams that are not currently in the top eight in the West (and one of those two is the feisty Predators' squad). 

Dallas has some very important pieces in place to be competitive, but it will take more than Kari Lehtonen and Jamie Benn to get Dallas over the hump and back into the postseason picture.

Detroit Red Wings

Current Record: 12-9-5 (29 Points)

Prediction: 20-20-8 (48 Points)

Few people knew what to make of the Red Wings with the team losing important members of the defense like Nicklas Lidstrom and Brad Stuart, but all things considered, the Wings have stayed afloat nicely.

They certainly lack the dominance of years' past, but Detroit is currently sitting pretty with the third-best point total in the West (pending the outcome of the Kings and Flames). 

Still, the second portion of the year will not be as easy as the first. Detroit will play 14 of 22 games on the road, and they current have only three wins as the visiting team. That grueling road schedule could be enough to have the Wings clambering for their playoff lives at the end of April.

Edmonton Oilers

Current Record: 9-11-5 (23 Points)

Prediction: 19-22-7 (45 Points)

The Edmonton Oilers, as they always do, have gotten off to a slow start in 2013. 

However, the team has played 15 of its 25 games on the road, and while they aren't exactly setting the world on fire at home (4-4-2 record), the travel is surely taking a toll, even on a team this young.

Expect Edmonton to pick up its play in the second half of the season as they get more opportunities to play opponents in their frigid hometown. It just might not be enough to break through and qualify for the playoffs, yet.

Florida Panthers

Current Record: 7-13-6 (20 Points)

Prediction: 12-26-10 (34 Points)

The Panthers ended their playoff drought last season by winning the Southeast Division and taking the eventual Eastern Conference champs, the New Jersey Devils, to seven games in the postseason before bowing out.

This year, the Panthers are back in familiar territory, sitting dead last in the league at the halfway point. 

With Stephen Weiss and Jose Theodore injured, the dark before the dawn in Florida is going to extend well beyond the 2013 season. If this team finishes 29th or better, I'll be impressed.

Los Angeles Kings

Current Record: 14-8-2 (30 Points)

Prediction: 29-14-5 (63 Points)

The Kings looked to have the Stanley Cup hangover to end all Stanley Cup hangovers when the started the season 3-5-2, looking as lethargic as can be. 

Now that the rust has been shaken off, the Kings are on fire, going 11-3-0 going after Monday night's game against the Calgary Flames. As this hot streak continues, LA could separate themselves from the pack and safely settle in as the fourth seed, or even challenge the Ducks for the division title.

The Kings we're seeing these days are the real LA Kings, and before the regular season is done, they will be in the conversation with the 'Hawks and Ducks as the potential Western Conference champs. 

Minnesota Wild

Current Record: 13-9-2 (28 Points)

Prediction: 28-16-4 (60 Points)

The Wild got off to a slow start, perhaps due to the new look of the roster and the lack of time for the players to get oriented with one another.

Now, Minnesota appears to have hit its stride and the Wild are legitimate contenders to be the first team to take the Northwest Division title from the Vancouver Canucks since the Wild won it in 2007-08, back when the Northwest was the best division in hockey.

If this team continues firing on all cylinders, they will make a statement about the future of the division and the conference. We all know that Minnesota is on the verge of breaking out, and while we're all focusing on the Blackhawks and Ducks, the Wild could be the dark horse Cup contender to come out of the West.

Montreal Canadiens

Current Record: 17-5-4 (38 Points)

Prediction: 32-10-6 (70 Points)

No one outside the French-speaking population of North America thought the Montreal Canadiens would be so successful so quickly, but it's hard to argue that this team isn't for real.

Their youth is still something to be considered, as players like Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher balance out an offense that would otherwise rely too much on Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec, but the whole offense is competitive and Carey Price remains a stud in net.

I don't think they'll hold off the Bruins for the division title, but this team is fully capable of winning a first-round playoff series and becoming very competitive deep into the postseason.

Nashville Predators

Current Record: 10-9-6 (26 Points)

Prediction: 18-21-9 (45 Points)

The Predators are in a rough spot, playing in a very competitive division and trying to keep pace without Ryan Suter on the blue line. 

Led by Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber, Nashville still has a formidable defensive structure, but the team's offense is simply impotent. No organization has fewer goals this year than the Preds, and in the modern NHL, scoring is king.

Nashville is good enough on the back line to stay competitive all year, but there are simply too many opponents to overcome. The defense can't carry this squad all year, and I expect them to run out of steam as the end of the season approaches.

New Jersey Devils

Current Record: 12-9-5 (29 Points)

Prediction: 21-19-8 (50 Points)

Any prediction I make about the Devils needs to come with the caveat that I am always wrong when predicting what will happen to the Devils.

Nonetheless, the team that started hot is now falling fast, winning only three of its last 10 games and losing ground in the Atlantic Division to the rival New York Rangers. Veteran Martin Brodeur played 10 years younger than he is, but when he went down with an injury the Devils faced the reality that backup Johan Hedberg is nearly as old as Brodeur and has nowhere near the pedigree.

The regular season seems that it will be a struggle for the Devils until Brodeur returns, and the team could be fighting for its playoff life in April.

New Jersey desperately needs to improve its 4-6-3 road record.

New York Islanders

Current Record: 11-12-3 (25 Points)

Prediction: 23-21-4 (50 Points)

As the Devils attempt to right the ship, the New York Islanders are poised to take advantage.

Few people would describe the roster as a dangerous one, but many would be surprised to see the damage the Isles can do. John Tavares could be one of the top three forwards in the game, and the lineup can be very deep on nights when Josh Bailer and Kyle Okposo bring their "A" game.

The Isles will likely miss the playoffs again, but not by much. I do believe that they will be better than .500 for the first time since 2006-07, though.

New York Rangers

Current Record: 13-9-2 (28 Points)

Prediction: 29-15-4 (62 Points)

The team with perhaps the highest expectations for 2013 got off to a horrible start, but the Rangers have since found their footing.

Their defense and goaltending hasn't been quite as elite as it once was, but the offense is finally finding itself. Rick Nash is proving to be worth the price and depth players like Carl Hagelin and Derek Stepan make the Rangers dangerous beyond the big three of Nash, Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards.

There is no reason to believe this team won't be as capable as we all imagined it would be during the offseason. They have some stiff competition in the East with the likes of the Habs, Bruins and Penguins, but the Rangers will separate themselves from the pretenders in the second half of the season.

Ottawa Senators

Current Record: 13-8-5 (31 Points)

Prediction: 22-16-10 (54 Points)

It's hard not to be impressed by the Ottawa Senators.

They've played much of the season without their red-hot starting goaltender and the defending Norris Trophy winner, and they still sit in a tie for fifth with the Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference standings.

It is hard to imagine they can keep it up for another 22 games, though. Injuries take their toll in this shortened season, and the Sens will miss Erik Karlsson's production. Expect them to compete hard but ultimately falter in the second stage of the 2013 season.

Philadelphia Flyers

Current Record: 12-14-1 (25 Points)

Prediction: 20-25-3 (43 Points)

The 2013 season has been a struggle for the Flyers, and the team is quickly running out of time to get its act together.

Early in the year, goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov was playing well enough to keep the team afloat, but he has come back down to Earth and the rest of the team has failed to improve.

The offense can be ice cold. The defense can be stagnant. Special teams are unpredictable.

Without the luxury of time to practice and reset themselves, the Flyers are doomed to miss the playoffs and try to regroup in the summer.

Phoenix Coyotes

Current Record: 12-10-3 (27 Points)

Prediction: 21-22-5 (47 Points)

The Coyotes have a lot of great pieces to put together a Cup contender, but this season, the team is struggling to find its footing.

The Coyotes' modest 12-10-3 record puts them in the middle of a jam-packed playoff race in the Western Conference, but the team has some major obstacles ahead of it. The 'Yotes will play 14 of their final 23 games on the road, and they only have three wins away from their building this season.

With the Sharks, Blues, Canucks, Stars, Predators and Avalanche all hungry for a playoff berth, the Coyotes don't have the luxury of being a bad road team if they want to be in the top eight in the conference.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Current Record: 18-8-0 (36 Points)

Prediction: 34-12-2 (70 Points)

Evgeni Malkin's health is a concern, but with or without the reigning Hart Trophy winner, the Penguins have to be considered one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference.

They are a resilient team that has gotten better at keeping their emotions in check, and when Sidney Crosby and James Neal are worried about Chris Kunitz leading the team in goal-scoring, the Penguins know they have some good problems on their hands. 

They are one of the most well-rounded teams in hockey and they look poised to be one of the East's big contenders over the next few months.

San Jose Sharks

Current Record: 11-7-6 (28 Points)

Prediction: 21-17-10 (52 Points)

The Sharks sit in the midst of the battle for playoff position in the West, but as the Kings and Ducks heat up, it is becoming clear that the Sharks don't quite have the edge it takes to be major competitors.

The team could certainly make the playoffs, but they will need to improve their road record to go deep into the playoffs. The Sharks are 4-6-2 away from the Shark Tank, while they have only failed to register a point once while playing on home ice.

The team will need a trade to become serious contenders, and until then, the Sharks are a middle-of-the-pack hockey team.

St. Louis Blues

Current Record: 13-10-2 (28 Points)

Prediction: 28-16-4 (60 Points)

The Blues took a major hit in the first half of the season when starting goaltender Jaroslav Halak went down with an injury and backup Brian Elliott turned out to be a complete failure. 

Now that Halak has returned, the Blues are in better shape, but the team is still underachieving. The Blues hope that getting other injured players back will move them forward, including Alex Steen and Andy McDonald.

In addition, rookie scorer Vladimir Tarasenko is still on the injured list. As the team gets healthy, we'll begin to see more and more of the Blues that won the Central Division last season.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Current Record: 10-14-1 (21 Points)

Prediction: 17-28-3 (37 Points)

After starting the season averaging five goals per game, Tampa Bay has become incredibly mortal, and their lack of offensive dominance has made the team's deficiencies on the blue line that much more obvious.

The team will remain dangerous offensively, but with Anders Lindback struggling in net and the defense less than impressive, Tampa is not equipped to compete with the rest of the Eastern Conference.

The team will continue to slide in the second half of the year and will finish well outside of a playoff spot.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Current Record: 15-10-1 (31 Points)

Prediction: 29-16-3 (61 Points)

Finally!

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't made the playoffs since there were still ties in the NHL, but that will all come to an end this year.

It won't be an easy task for the Leafs either, who play in a solid division and give up goals more frequently than they would like. But the defense will get better with time and they have an offensive stud in James van Riemsdyk to make the team very tough to play against.

It's hard to say if the team has what it takes to go deep into the playoffs, but the Air Canada Centre will breathe easy when it finally hosts another playoff game.

Vancouver Canucks

Current Record: 11-7-6 (28 Points)

Prediction: 23-15-10 (56 Points)

The Vancouver Canucks have been a very good team for a very long time, but their window is closing fast.

There was a time when Vancouver combined great goaltending and stalwart defensive play with a potent offense, but that dominance is no more. The team is a minus-one in goals for/goals against this year, a sure sign of weakness for a team that used to be the best.

The Canucks will still make the playoffs, but not as a high seed. Perhaps, though, the team will have more success playing as an underdog than it did as the favorite in the Western Conference.

Washington Capitals

Current Record: 10-13-1 (21 Points)

Prediction: 21-25-2 (44 Points)

The Capitals are not as bad as their record would dictate, but they also aren't as good as their exposure would have you believe.

The team clearly needs time to adopt new head coach Adam Oates' system, but they also aren't the Capitals of four years ago. Alex Ovechkin no longer headlines the "best player" conversation. Mike Green's lack of defense is more obvious when he isn't scoring as much from the point.

The team plays a grittier style of game, and while that is something to build on, they aren't used to being the hard-working underdog. 

Their second half will be better than the first, but it won't be enough for Caps fans to be rocking any red in May.

Winnipeg Jets

Current Record: 12-11-2 (26 Points)

Prediction: 20-23-5 (45 Points)

The Winnipeg Jets currently sit ninth in the East in points, and that is truly remarkable.

It was bad enough last year when the Jets played all divisional road games south of Delaware and all conference games in the Eastern Time Zone.

This season, with no out-of-conference play, the Jets are constantly traveling to play hockey. The fact that the NHL did not include a quick fix to the division makeup in the new CBA is ludicrous. 

The Jets will play strong hockey and their end-of-season record will not reflect how talented they are. They will miss the playoffs, but when they play in a more geographically friendly division next season, their six new rivals had better be prepared.