NHL 2011-12: 33 Bold Predictions for Next Season

The 2010-11 season has now officially come to a close with the completion of the regular season, postseason and NHL draft.

The Vancouver Canucks were the champs of the regular season as they had the best record, but it just wasn't enough as Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins crushed their dreams when they hoisted the Stanley Cup on Vancouver's Ice.

The 2011 NHL Entry draft came and went as Ryan Nugent Hopkins went No. 1 overall, and many other prospects found a new home.

So with the free agency period starting in three glorious days, humor me as I make 33 bold predictions for next season. Why 33? What is the number of the last captain to hoist the Stanley Cup?

Here's to you Zdeno!

1) Coyotes Will Leave Phoenix

They may not be headed to Winnipeg, but the Coyotes will be on the move after this season.

This may be the most obvious of all my predictions, but nonetheless, I see this as a sure thing. The blood is already in the water, and the NHL is running out of patience. Phoenix is a floundering hockey market, and other locales offer better possibilites.

Fans can argue semantics and attendance stats until they are blue in the face, but hockey is better off in a location where it will be loved, cherished and supported.

2) Tim Thomas Will Put Up Normal Numbers

Tim Thomas, the reigning Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe winner, put up some sick numbers in 2010-11. He was the king of the crease, and I have a feeling that he will fall back to Earth next year.

Tim Thomas is going to be 38 years old at the end of next season. He has already succumbed to injury in previous years, and the fact that he only appeared in 57 regular season games may be a hint that he is starting to slow down.

I have the utmost respect for Tim Thomas and for how hard he has fought to be where he is. The simple fact though is everyone is human, even Tim Thomas and his beard of greatness.

I see Tim Thomas appearing in about 55 games and winning 30 games. This would be wise as the Bruins have a good shot of defending their trophy.

3) Steven Stamkos Will Score 50 Goals

Steven Stamkos failed to hit back-to-back 50-goal seasons when he cooled off in the second half of the season.

Stammer is a true warrior, and he proved that by playing with a broken nose against Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Did Stamkos crack under pressure during the second half of the year? Was he consumed with having to put up stellar numbers to earn his next big contract?

Bottom line is this, Steven Stamkos is a player who can be a real game changer, and he will prove that this season.

4) Brad Richards Will Be a New York Ranger

Brad Richards is the prize jewel of the free-agent market this year. Dallas ownerships concerns have inhibited Joe Niewendyk from re-signing his best player. Richards has a hefty cap hit of $7.8 million a season, so not many teams will be able to compensate him. 

Glen Sather would love to add him to the Rangers, but he needs to do some financial maneuvering to accomplish this. 

The reported contract Richards seeks is in the neighborhood of $8 million a year for eight years.

Brad Richards will be signed on July 1 because both sides are crunching the numbers to get a deal done as soon as possible.

Richards has averaged a point total of 74 over the last six seasons and has also averaged 51 assists or more. The only asterisk associated with Brad Richards is that he played in only 56 games in the 2008-09 season.

Putting Brad Richards on the Rangers first line would immediately make them better and would add a first-rate passer to the fold.

5) John Tortorella Will out F-Bomb Boudreau on HBO 24/7

We all know about Bruce Boudreau and his colorful mouth was exposed on HBO 24/7 this year.

However, the above video tells you all you need to know about John Tortorella and what he does when the camera is rolling.

6) Gabriel Landeskog Will Win the Calder Trophy

Gabriel Landeskog was one of the most NHL-ready players in this year's draft class. He has a lot of skills and an impressive two-way game. 

Landeskog is going to fit right in with Matt Duchene on the Colorado Avalache. 

It seems like a match made in heaven as Landeskog's idle growing up was the Avalanche's legend Peter Forsberg  

Landeskog is a good goal scorer who has some grit to his game. 

Landeskog has a bright future because he does what it takes to score. He doesn't rely on pure talent but relies on his superior work ethic.  

Landeskog is going to impress a lot of people this year, and I think he will take home the hardware this season.

7) Jaromir Jagr Will Return Home

Jaromir Jagr's NHL return has been rumored and planned ever since he left the Rangers at the altar on Broadway a few years back.

The NHL free agency period starts Friday, and Jaromir may make a splash. The questions that remain are when and where he will return.

8) Logan Couture Will Have a Breakout Year

Logan Couture had a great full rookie season for the San Jose Sharks. He lit the lamp 32 times and helped 24 others to appear on the stats sheet for a total of 56 points.

These are some impressive numbers. He can only get better as he gets older on a team with such depth as the San Jose Sharks. He can learn from the tutelage of players such as Jumbo Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.

When I asked a former teammate of Couture's he had this to say,

"

"Couture has been exciting to watch & play against. I've had the pleasure of both. He's the definition of an 'athlete' in the NHL. If he wasn't in the NHL, he'd be in the MLB. His ability to play in all three zones at 22 years of age make him a definite future superstar"

"

Predictions for 2011-12: 35 Goals and 35 Assists for 70 Points

9) John Tavares Goes Elite Level

When you look at Steven Stamkos, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, you see two things. One obvious observation is that these three players are in a league of their own. They have put up superstar numbers and are also former No. 1 overall picks.

John Tavares has put up decent numbers so far, but next season, he will take it to the next level.

John Tavares is the next breakout star on the cusp of greatness. Tavares had 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points last season.

He did exceptionally well in his sophomore season for the Isles, and I can only see his point totals increase. 

Tavares is a 6'0", 202-lb center who has showcased his scoring abilities and his ability to turn on the jets when necessary.

Tavares has a cap hit of $3,750,000 and will be a RFA at the end of the 2011-12 season. His future with the Islanders however will most likely be determined when the vote on the proposed arena is cast in August.

Predictions for 2011-12: 40 goals 50 Assists for 90 Points

This may seem a bit drastic, but Tavares has the tools to pull this off.

10) Winter Classic Will Be a Primetime Spectacle

It appears right now that NHL hockey will reign supreme next fall and winter. The NFL is still in complete lockdown, and the NBA's current CBA talks are not going well.

Therefore, the Rangers and Flyers will be on primetime on Jan. 2nd for the Winter Classic. If the NFL season is cancelled, this could get pushed to Jan. 1st.

Regardless, the rivalry between the Broadway Blueshirts and the Broad St. Bullies is one of the best in all sports. This will be a great matchup with two marquee teams.

11) Taylor Hall Will Bounce Back for Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers rookie Taylor Hall lit the lamp 22 times in 2010-11. If not for a season-ending injury which limited Hall to appear 65 games, he may have found himself a member of the top rookies in the NHL.

Taylor Hall now has a lot of motivation as the future line of the Edmonton Oilers as been set. It is only a matter of time before Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle will play together.

I expect Hall to put up at least 60 points, but he has the potential to score more.

12) Sidney Crosby Will Not Be the Same Player

Concussions impacted the career of Eric Lindros, and he was never the same. Lindros, like Crosby, was pitched and hailed as the next big thing.

Sidney Crosby was off to a career year before being sidelined due to a concussion. Justin Morneau was having a similar year for the Twins and he suffered a concussion and has never been the same since he returned.

Crosby will return next year, but he would have played in about a year, and he will have a huge target painted on his back.

Crosby is a great player, but he won't be as effective as he has been.

13) Headshots Will Not Be Properly Enforced

This is a major issue that relates to the previous slide and countless others. I know the rules have been further amended, but until someone is slapped with a major punishment, head shots will remain a big part of the game.

14) Martin Brodeur Will Hang Up His Skates

Marty Brodeur is a goalie who needs no introduction, so I will let his stat sheet speak for itself.

Achievements and Records

• Most regular season wins: 625
• Most shutouts: 116
• Most shutouts, regular season & playoffs combined: 137
• Most overtime wins: 45
• Most consecutive 30-win seasons: 12
• Most consecutive 35-win seasons: 11
• Most 40-win seasons: 8
• Youngest goalie to reach 300, 400, and 500 career wins
• Only goalie to reach 600 career wins
• Most games played by an NHL goaltender: 1132
• Most total minutes played by an NHL goaltender: 66,636
• Only NHL goalie to score a game-winning goal
• Tied for Most career goals by a goaltender, including playoffs - 2 with Ron Hextall 
• Two Time Olympic Gold Medalist 
• Three Time Stanley Cup Winner 
• 10-Time All-Star
• Four time Vezina Trophy Winner
• Five Time William J Jennings Trophy Winner

Regular season

• Most wins in a single season: 48
• Most minutes played in a single season: 4697

Marty Brodeur is simply one of the greatest goalies the game of hockey has ever seen. He has put up mind-boggling numbers and records that may never be broken.

15) New York Rangers Will Make It Past Quarterfinals

Brad Richards or no Brad Richards, the Rangers are a legitimate playoff team this year and for many to come. They may be a seventh or eighth seed currently, but the Rangers have a great youth core that they are building upon.

The New York Rangers will make the playoff this year and will make it to at least the Conference semifinals.

Players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Stepan, Artem Anisimov and countless others give Rangers fans hope for better days ahead.

16) Pekka Rinne Will Be a Vezina Finalist

Pekka Rinne was a Vezina finalist this season. He put up some impressive numbers this year and made some beyond describable saves during the playoffs.

The Nashville Predators are a team that is slowly on the rise. With players like Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne leading the charge, the Predators will be a force to be reckoned with this season.

17) Jarome Iginla Will Be Traded

Jarome Iginla has been a loyal soldier for the Flames for his entire career. He has been a great captain,but he wants to win the Stanley Cup just like every other player in the league.

The Flames are currently at a crossroads. They are full of aging veterans and are in the need of a major rebuild.

Jarome Iginla is still an effective player and could fetch a hefty sum for his remaining NHL services.

18) Nassau County Will Vote the Islanders of the Island

The tribe has spoken, Charles Wang, bring me your torch. I could think of a plethora of Survivor-based references but simply, Aug. 1, 2011, is make or break day for the New York Islanders.

This is the day the county of Nassau will vote on whether approve or deny the building of a new home for the Islanders.

The day this project proposal was announced, thousands of viewers called in WFAN Sports Radio to say they were voting no because they were tired of taxes and money coming out of their pocket.

I somehow don't see Charles Wang footing the bill at this point because he is probably still bitter that he can't have his Lighthouse Project.

19) Alex Ovechkin Will Score Under 90 Points

Alex Ovechkin needs to reinvent himself. He used to be dominant when no one new his In-N-Out juke move. Now that move is well scouted and ineffective.

Ovechkin needs to start scoring more and has to return to an elite level. Ovechkin started off his career white hot as hit eclipsed 90 points almost every season.

I see Ovie having another down year, and the Capitals potentially making some moves.

20) Zach Parise Will Be a New Jersey Devil

Zach Parise is the New Jersey Devils' future captain. He is a fan favorite and familiar face. It makes sense for him to remain in New Jersey.

As it seems tempting for teams with cap space to attempt and offer sheet Parise, this is the real life and not NHL 11. Offer sheets are far and infrequent, and he appears to be staying put.

21) Bruce Boudreau Gets the Gate

Bruce Boudreau has a great team. GM's would kill to have Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin on their squads.

Year after year, the Caps dominate in the regular season and spoil the sheets in the postseason.

To paraphrase Samuel L Jackson, "Enough is enough I've had it with  #$%^#&# Bruce Boudreau during the regular season. It's time to open some $%^&* doors and don't let it hit you on the way out."

Bruce has been given more than enough, but sometimes it just has to end.

22) Massive Re-Alignment Plans Will Be Laid Out

It is no secret that the NHL is going to realign its divisions. The question is how are they going to do it? One plan calls for reverting to four division of equal balanced teams based on skill and travel time between each team.

Another plan involves the Winnipeg Jets moving to the Western Conference and a team moving back to the Eastern Conference.

Bottom line is this, a plan will be laid out, it will be debated on, it will be rehashed and we will complain about it.

23) Teemu Selanne Will Announce Retirement

The Finnish Flash is an icon when it comes to the game of hockey. His speed at his peak was unmatched, his hands were soft and gentle and his scoring touch was electric and lethal.

Teemu Selanne will have amassed a total close to 1,400 points by the time he hangs up his skates.

Achievements 

• Goals: 637
• Assists: 703
• Points: 1340
• Winter Olympic Games all-time points leader (37)^[
• NHL single-season record for goals by a rookie (76 in 1992–93)
• NHL single-season record for points by a rookie (132 in 1992–93)
• NHL single season record for most goals by a European player (76 in 1992–93 tied with Alexander Mogilny)
• NHL calendar month record for most goals (20 in March 1993)
• 10-time All-Star 
• 2006-07 Stanley Cup with Anaheim Ducks
• Calder Trophy: 1993

24) Nicklas Lidstrom Will Also Retire

Nicklas Lidstrom will go down in history as one of the greatest defenseman to ever play in the NHL. His overall play has made him one of the greats and fan favorites amongst the Detroit Red Wings.

Nicklas Lidstrom's offensive and defensive skills make him a dual threat on the ice.

 Achievements 

• Four-time Stanley Cup Winner
• 12-time All-Star 
• Seven-time Norris Trophy winner 
• Conn Smythe Trophy winner 
• Olympic gold medal winner (2006)
• 253 goals, 855 assists, 1108 points

25) Rick Nash and Jeff Carter Will Lead Columbus to Playoffs

Rick Nash has finally been given the star center the Columbus Blue Jackets have been searching for. Jeff Carter is young, fast and very talented. He has a long contract and will be a Blue Jacket mainstay for many years to come.

This dynamic duo will have a huge season offensively and will lead the CBJ to the playoffs. I see the pair scoring at least 75 points a piece and making an impact for the Blue Jackets.

26) Ilya Bryzgalov Will Have an Average Year

Yes the Flyers have now acquired a goalie who may lead them to the "promised land" of the Stanley Cup Finals. However, they got rid of two players that were a big reason they ever got there in the first place.

Cool Breeze Ilya Bryzgalov can put up OK numbers during the regular season, but he has been absolutley horrid in the last few postseasons.

Paul Holmgren is going to have a lot of second thoughts come April when the Blue Jackets and Kings are riding high and the Flyers are in the middle of the pack in the Atlantic Division.

27) Jonathan Huberdeau Will Make the Panthers out of Training Camp

Huberdeau has a lot of the tools required to be a top center in the NHL, and he is also a serviceable winger. He will fit well with the Florida Panthers as he brings an offensive arsenal that could really turn the Panthers around

Huberdeau is a force to be reckoned with on the ice. He is gifted with a great skill set which are complemented with his agile hands and his size. He has a great natural composure that makes him NHL ready. His killer instincts only enhance his lethal shot and hands.

Huberdeau is also a very clutch and skilled player, and this was his season during the playoffs as he racked up 30 points in only 19 games.

The Florida Panthers are on the rise as they unveiled their new jersey which shows a Panther out for blood and ready to attack. Jonathan Huberdeau is certainly a superstar in the making.

28) Roberto Luongo Will Be on the Block

Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks had one hell of a regular season.

For starters, Roberto Luongo was absolutely stellar. Luongo posted a  38-15-7 record with a 2.11 GAA and a .928 SV percentage. These numbers were enough to earn Luongo a Vezina Trophy nomination.

Roberto Luongo was considered one of the major reasons the Canucks won the President's Trophy and posted a franchise record of 54 wins and 117 points.

Roberto Luongo had a dreadful Stanley Cup Finals, and that is putting it mildly. In the seven-game series, Luongo was 3-4 with a 3.28 GAA and a .888 save percentage. Luongo allowed 23 goals in the seven games played.

This includes an 8-1 loss in Game 3, a 4-0 loss in Game 4, a 5-2 loss in Game 6 and a 4-0 loss in Game 7.

Roberto Luongo did not play like the goalie he was during the regular season. Roberto Luongo did not play like the goalie he was during last year's Olympics. 

Roberto Luongo is a big reason why the Canucks did not win the Stanley Cup.

Luongo may need to get out of Vancouver, and many teams would still love to have him.

29) Marian Gaborik Will Score 80 Points

Marian Gaborik had a career year back in his first year as a Ranger. He had 42 goals and 44 assists for 86 points.

Last year he slumped and never got going partially due to injuries.

The Rangers are the odds on favorite to get Brad Richards, and the pairing of the two will reinvigorate Gaborik.

Look for Gaborik to get going early and often.

30) Winnipeg Will Make the Postseason

The Winnipeg Jets will have some money to burn come Friday and will look to completely overhaul their squad.

Andrew Ladd and Dustin Bfyuglien are two anchors of this new franchise, and I anticipate the Jets to be active players in this year's free agency.

The Canadian citizens have waited for their Jets to return, and I don't think they are going to disappoint their fans

31) Tampa Bay Lighting Will Be Eastern Conference Champions

The Lighting came mighty close this year, but if they re-sign their key players, sign a top notch goalie and add a key player or two, they have the potentially to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Steve Yzerman has done a great job so far, and I won't underestimate what he has the potential to accomplish.

32) Nashville Predators Will Be Western Conference Champions

Here comes a BOLD prediction.

As I mentioned earlier, the Predators already have a solid goaltender in Pekka Rinne, good defense in Shea Weber and Ryan Sutter and countless other role players that almost got them into the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Preds will look to add some players to their squad, but watch out for the Preds as they are the dark horse in the NHL to win it all next season.

33) Tampa Bay Lighting Are 2011-12 Stanley Cup Champions

Vinny Lecavalier, come get the Stanley Cup. I know this is just my personal pick, but I have a gut feeling when it comes to the Lightning.

They have the talent, the coaching and skills required of a Stanley Cup contender, and I just think they will go all the way this upcoming season.

Comments, Questions, Concerns?

These are just some of my own predictions so if you think differently than I do, leave a comment below and we can have a great discussion about it.

Tom Urtz is a Featured Columnist and is a member of the Bleacher Report's Official 2011 NHL Draft Coverage Team. For more NHL draft news, updates and alerts about prospects

Follow @SH_TomUrtzNYR

Also check out Tom at SportsHaze.com