Bold Predictions for the 2014-15 NHL Season

Predictions are easy. Bold predictions are a little tougher.

As the NHL is set to drop the puck on its 2014-15 season, we take a glimpse into the future, forecasting a couple of awards, the standings, trade bait, the world of fantasy and, yes, the Stanley Cup champion.

How many of these will actually play out? It's possible all of them will. I could also win the lottery tomorrow. Because these are bold predictions and not obvious outcomes, even getting a few on the mark would be a thrilling review come the end of the season.

Feel free to add your own bold predictions in the comments.

Click ahead to get things started.

The Tampa Bay Lightning Will Top the Eastern Conference

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Maybe this would be bolder if I said the Columbus Blue Jackets would lock up the Eastern Conference title, and I do see the Jackets as a team to watch out for this season, but it's the Tampa Bay Lightning who will come out of the lesser of the two coasts (settle down, I'm only talking hockey here) to compete for the Stanley Cup in June.

Sure, they got swept in the first round of the playoffs last spring, but that was with Vezina finalist Ben Bishop sitting out injured.

With a healthy Steven Stamkos for a full year and the addition of dynamic rookie Jonathan Drouin bolstering an already deep and talented group up front, they should win the division and make their first-round matchup a little easier. From there, they have the skills to compete with the best the East has to offer.

Randy Carlyle Will Be the First Coach Fired

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This isn't to suggest the Toronto Maple Leafs will stumble early, although that's entirely possible. But the way things went down last season didn't set Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle up for success. His assistant coaches were fired. The general manager is walking on eggshells, and Carlyle was given a modest contract extension that means little in the way of security.

Forget massive struggles as a measuring stick—Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan will be looking for any excuse to bring a new guy aboard. Detroit Red Wings bench boss Mike Babcock's contract expires after this season, and he and Shanahan have history and plenty of mutual respect. Carlyle could just be keeping the seat warm for something better.

It doesn't help that Carlyle can't spell Corsi and his new staff is littered with advanced statistic gurus like assistant GM Kyle Dubas. Any conflict will lead to his departure.

Drew Doughty Will Win the Norris Trophy

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The Los Angeles Kings defenseman wasn't a finalist in the voting last year. He wasn't even in the top five. Drew Doughty will make a quick climb, though, and carry his playoff momentum into the regular season to earn the Norris Trophy despite less attractive offensive numbers than some of his competitors.

His 18 points in 26 playoff games helped open some eyes among the Professional Hockey Writers' Association voters to the other areas of his game they might not have noticed during the regular season. Part of it is because he plays late at night more often than not thanks to the Kings' spot on the Pacific coast. But when Doughty is standing out offensively, they tend to pay more attention to what he's doing in other areas of the ice as well.

All that said, his offensive numbers could rise this season to make it an easy call. His confidence after a second Stanley Cup season is sky high, and he's matured his game to the point that his risks are calculated and will frequently lead to scoring chances.

He'll score 10 goals or more and at least 40 points. Combined with strong possession numbers and his leadership abilities, the first-place votes will flood in even from the East Coast writers.

Hornqvist Will Score More Goals Than Neal

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When sniper James Neal was traded to the Nashville Predators for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling this summer, Pittsburgh Penguins fans must have been a little disappointed.

Neal has been a force for the Pens, racking up 88 goals in 179 games wearing the flightless bird on his chest the past three seasons. Two of them—if you pro-rate his tallies in the lockout-shortened season—were at the 40-goal mark. He scored 27 in 59 games one year ago. And despite missing 23 games last season, he produced at more than one point per game. In those last three seasons in Pittsburgh, he totaled 178 points.

That was with Evgeni Malkin as his center. And Sidney Crosby as a part-time power-play partner too.

Hornqvist will benefit from those superstar linemates now. And while Neal could flirt with the 30-goal plateau with Derek Roy as a potential setup man with the Predators, Hornqvist has put up some nice numbers in the past with much less talent around him in Nashville. The 27-year-old Swede will make the most of his new environment and be among the top 10 goal-getters in the NHL with anywhere from 35-45 markers if he stays healthy.

Johnny Hockey Will Win the Calder Trophy

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The popular pick for rookie of the year is Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin. His ties to last year's winner Nathan MacKinnon, who played with him in the QMJHL, and his status as the third overall selection in 2013 have people buzzing about his potential.

But it's a fourth-round pick by the Calgary Flames in 2011 who makes a bold choice for the Calder Trophy. Johnny Gaudreau is tiny but supremely skilled and continues to impress at every level. He won the Hobey Baker Award for Boston College after 35 goals and 77 points in 39 games last season and then debuted in the NHL finale for the Flames and scored.

He's continued to prove during the preseason that he can play against men, and he'll get a chance to showcase his skills early in the year as the Flames decide whether or not to keep him with the big club as they did with Sean Monahan last season.

Gaudreau is exactly the kind of playmaker the roster is currently lacking, and he will get plenty of time on the power play and top six minutes among the forwards. As long as he sticks, he'll be in the Calder race thanks to highlight-reel plays that will be on every sports network across the continent for voters to see. 

Brad Richards Will Lead the Chicago Blackhawks in Assists

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The former Conn Smythe Trophy winner scored 20 goals last season for the New York Rangers before his contract was bought out, but his points-per-game average was the lowest of his 13-year career.

With Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad on his wings, that number is going to climb back up and make him a steal of a deal at $2 million this season for the Chicago Blackhawks. The difference will be in the assists category, with either of his wingers or special teams linemates likely to take advantage of his setup skills.

The 34-year-old center should hit at least 45 assists and could flirt with 50—something he hasn't done since 2010.

Radim Vrbata Will Be the Fantasy Steal of the Year

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Few players set career highs at 33 years of age, but few of them get to play with the Sedin twins for the first time so late in their NHL journeys.

Albeit quietly, Radim Vrbata was quite an offensive player for the Phoenix Coyotes over the last half-dozen seasons, hitting the 20-goal mark four times (and falling just shy with 19 in another season and netting a dozen during the lockout-shortened year). He potted 35 of them in 2010-11 with Martin Hanzal, finishing with 62 points in 77 games—his best total to date.

Now he gets to play with an elite pair of NHLers who have plenty to prove after the worst seasons of their careers. Daniel and Henrik Sedin's struggles a year ago have them way down on some folks' fantasy rankings, which means their linemate will fly even lower on the radar.

Draft Vrbata and enjoy as many as 40 goals and 70 points.

Winnipeg Will Trade Evander Kane

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The Winnipeg Jets have been frustrated with the inconsistency and attitude of power forward Evander Kane. Trade rumors have swirled for months, with a recent report from TSN's Bob McKenzie (h/t Pro Hockey Talk's James O'Brien) suggesting the Philadelphia Flyers were close to landing the 23-year-old.

They—or another team—may finally land Kane this season when the Jets find themselves out of the playoff picture and looking for a big shake-up for the roster.

Teams parting with players as talented as Kane rarely win the deal, but if he's not going to help the team move forward, they'll have to part ways. That looks like it could happen as early as this year.

The Ottawa Senators Will Finish Dead Last in the Standings

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When your franchise player demands a trade, your goaltending tandem is unstable and injury-prone, and your defensive group has more question marks than track record, things aren't looking too good for your chances of winning.

That's where the Ottawa Senators are.

While the Buffalo Sabres made some moves to improve in the offseason, the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames are getting younger and should enjoy the fruits of some high draft picks, and the Carolina Hurricanes are counting on better seasons from stars Eric Staal and Alexander Semin, the Senators are looking at a decline in performance.

They'll be battling the Florida Panthers for worst in the league and will come away worse for wear in the end.

The Los Angeles Kings Will Win the Stanley Cup...Again

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No team has won back-to-back Stanley Cups since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and '98. And with the strength of the Western Conference teams the Los Angeles Kings will face as competition, the odds are probably against them winning for the third time in four seasons.

Still, the Kings continue to show that depth and determination go a long way in winning championships. They have a stellar group of forwards, an elite defenseman in Drew Doughty surrounded by a strong supporting cast on the back end and a goaltender who can be as stingy as any in the NHL.

This team has no weaknesses. That doesn't always guarantee wins, but the Kings have all the right pieces in place to solidify the dynasty label.