2010-11 NHL Predictions: A Canucks-Capitals Stanley Cup Final?

As I did when the NFL season was about to start, it’s time to make some quick predictions about the upcoming NHL season. I am not as big of a hockey fan I used to be, but I still watch the sport enough to make some educated predictions.

Here are some predictions on the 2010-11 NHL season...

Eastern Conference

Atlantic – Pittsburgh Penguins

Northeast – Montreal Canadiens

Southeast – Washington Capitals

Playoff Teams

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

2. Washington Capitals

3. Montreal Canadiens

4. Philadelphia Flyers

5. Boston Bruins

6. New Jersey Devils

7. Buffalo Sabres

8. Ottawa Senators

Western Conference

Central – Chicago Blackhawks

Northwest – Vancouver Canucks

Pacific – San Jose Sharks

Playoffs Teams

1. Vancouver Canucks

2. Chicago Blackhawks

3. San Jose Sharks

4. Detroit Red Wings

5. Nashville Predators

6. Los Angeles Kings

7. Phoenix Coyotes

8. St. Louis Blues

2010-11 NHL Playoffs

Eastern Conference Finals – Penguins vs. Capitals

Western Conference Finals – Canucks vs. Kings

Stanley Cup Finals – Capitals vs. Canucks

Last year I predicted the Capitals and Canucks. and that flamed out quickly, so I am going for it again. The Capitals were pedal to the metal all season, and I think they just ran out of gas in the playoffs. That won’t happen again.

The Canucks have maybe the deepest team in the Western Conference, and I think this is the year they get back to the Stanley Cup finals. Not only do I think they will get to back to the finals, but I think they will win it all.

Canucks in six.

As for the Devils, well, the Ilya Kovalchuk deal was nice and he and Zach Parise should form one of the top two or three scoring tandems in hockey in 2010, but the Devils are missing the one thing they had in the '90s and early 2000s—a stud defenseman.

The Devils let Paul Martin go to Pittsburgh, and they now don’t have a single guy on defense that could be an All-Star in 2010. Sixth place at best for the Devils in 2010.