2017-18 NHL Pacific Division Predictions

After achieving 103 points for second place in the Pacific Division last season, plus a trip to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the Oilers are now armed with a bit more experience, and with a taste for success. They will be hungry for more, and more will be achieved if Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Cam Talbot can stay healthy. Talbot played 73 regular season games last year, plus 13 in the playoffs so the Oilers have to be careful that he doesn’t get burned out, as they don’t have a capable back-up at the moment to step in if he goes down to injury. After his trade to Edmonton from New Jersey for Taylor Hall being heavily criticized (including from yours truly) at the time, Oiler’s GM Peter Chiarelli is looking like a genius after defensemen Adam Larsson had one hell of a season with a +21 in 79 games and anchored what was in theory, supposed to be a weak defensive team, (Taylor Hall who?) He and Kris Russell will have to be strong and steady again this season while fellow defensemen Andrej Sekera heals up from an injury that may keep him out for a long period of time. If the stars align perfectly for Edmonton, the sky will be the limit. This team can cause some serious damage.

2 – Anaheim Ducks

Oh, those pesky Ducks. A regular season juggernaut, the Ducks may finally lose their grip on the Pacific Division title to the Oilers after a 5-year run due to injuries. With Ryan Kesler, Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm and possibly Patrick Eaves out for lengthy periods of time, the two out of the last three Western Conference Finalists will have to rely on their depth, which they do have in abundance, to keep themselves in the playoff race. First, former Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry has to bounce back after what was the worst season of his career. At this point in his life, he won’t be scoring 50 goals anymore, but a return to form would help the Ducks a long way (unless he’s pulling a Mike Richards like decline here? If that is the case, he’s doomed). If Rickard Rakell can achieve, or get close to 30 goals again, while Nick Ritchie continues his development, and Cam Fowler emerging as a bonafide star, the Ducks will be their usual pesky (and extremely annoying) competitive selves. It also doesn’t hurt them that they now have Ryan Miller backing up John Gibson in the crease.

I am gonna say it, and this is of course depending if the Flames can get some sort of consistency and in goaltending this year with Mike Smith, with him at 35 years old, this is not a sure bet, but if the Flames do get their goaltending act together, they will be one of the toughest and scariest teams for teams to face from the Pacific. Mike Smith is going to have to become the 2012 version of himself when he backstopped the (then) Phoenix Coyotes to a Pacific Division title and the Western Conference Final. Can Smith do what Brian Elliott and others could NOT the last few years? He is going to need some defensive help and he definitely has that with Travis Hamonic possibly being lined up with TJ Brodie, Captain Mark Giordano teaming with Dougie Hamilton and a 3^rd defensive pairing of Mike Stone and either Matt Bartkowski or Brett Lulak on the blue line. The second line of Mikael Backlund, Matt Tkachuk and Michael Frolik are defensive beasts, (in my opinion, Backlund is the best defensive zone face-off center in the NHL today), but the top line of Johnny Gaudreau (aka Johnny Hockey), Sean Monahan and Troy Brouwer are not, but they can score points, (assuming they can bounce back from a disappointing year last season). Forward Sam Bennett will also need to step up and help out. The Flames are now a lot more solid overall then they were two years ago with coach Bob Hartley’s run and gun system and if the Flames can improve on their 5 on 5 offensive output, they’ll be in great shape and will turn a lot of heads. But in the end, it’s all up to how Mike Smith plays.

4 – Los Angeles Kings

With a new head coach in John Stevens, assistant coaches, GM and a new vibe, the Kings are entering a new dawn in their history. With their Stanley Cup winning core still intact, and a bunch of fresh new faces from the Ontario Reign to fill in the roster gaps, the Kings will be an improved team than the lethargic mess we witnessed last year, but they are still a team in transition. Captain Anze Kopitar and Jake Muzzin are well aware that they need to bounce back to form this season and bravo to new GM Rob Blake for re-signing both Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson to cap friendly 3-year contracts. Having a healthy Jonathan Quick for an entire season would be huge as well, but the Kings are still going to need to improve in scoring, especially with their bottom 6. Having some younger talent from the Reign like Adrian Kempe, and Jonny Brodzinsk could make things fresh and exciting, but the free agent signing of (former LA King) Mike Cammalleri, who is now 35 years old, and is well known for being a streaky player, (when he’s hot, he’s HOT, when he’s not, he’s invisible), might not be the solution that is needed. And who knows what’s going on with Marian Gaborik? He might a lost cause. Look for him to be bought out or dropped to the farm. Still with Drew Doughty and Jeff Carter at the helm, the Kings will be more competitive this year, and could land in 3rd place at the highest, but with the Pacific Division overall becoming stronger, it is going to be a long uphill battle to get back into the playoffs. I’m predicting they land in 4th place, with hopes that the Central Division don’t hold both Wild Card playoff spots hostage. If it helps, let’s also remember that the Kings actually have cap room space now with $8 million of room to play around with, for the first time since 2014, so Blake can make some moves if needed before the trade deadline arrives.

5 – San Jose Sharks

I have the aging Sharks at 5^th place but I wouldn’t be surprised if they finish 3rd, or 4th in the division. It’s gonna be really close. The Sharks PP was horrendous last year at 25^th overall. The offense was 19^th and they lost the longtime player and former Captain Patrick Marleau to the Toronto Maple Leafs and gone with him is his 27 goals, and he is 38 years old! So what does that tell you?  Even in his late 30’s Marleau could play in all 3 zones, so that will be missed and “Jumbo” Joe Thornton is now another year older, also at 38 years old while Captain Joe Pavelski is also on the wrong side of 30.  Age is major concern here. Mikkel Boedker, Joonas Donskoi and Chris Tierney need to step up and put that puck in the net like NOW and help with the offensive duties if the Sharks are going to legitimately try to get a playoff spot. The Kings have improved and will be in their face so this whole team is going to have to step up, and not get burned out, as they did last year, (due to a Stanley Cup Final, and possibly, World Cup of Hockey hangover). With Martin Jones in net, and Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic on the blue line, the Sharks simply just need some more offense. If they get that, they can compete and (annoyingly) snatch a playoff spot out of someone’s hands.

6 – Arizona Coyotes

Well for what it’s worth, the Coyotes are young and have no pressure on them whatsoever, especially with head coach Dave Tippett, long time Captain Shane Doan and longtime goalie Mike Smith all gone from the franchise.  Max Domi, along with Anthony Duclair, and top prospects Dylan Strome and Clay Keller will make things fun in the desert as they mature and develop. The Coyotes still have one of the best defensemen in the league today with Oliver Ekman-Larsson (so underrated it’s not even funny. Then again he plays for the crappy Coyotes, so no wonder nobody is talking about him), and signing former Chicago Blackhawk and the Stanley Cup winning Niklas Hjalmarsson was a great pick up. The youth and speed of the Coyotes are going to surprise some unsuspecting teams and play spoiler.

7 – Vegas Golden Knights

Will be better than this pre-season is indicating and they will also be better than the Canucks. There is going to be and in a way not going to be a lot of pressure on former Pittsburgh Penguin and 3 time Stanley Cup Champion Marc-Andre Fleury in net, as this is an expansion team, so that should keep him cool for awhile, but we all have seen Fleury collapse in talent and confidence and get rattled for whatever reason, so if he isn’t mentally strong, then forget about it. I thought McPhee did a good job with the expansion draft (or at least as best as he could), but it’s hard to build a whole team in that manner, and expect them to win or score, but getting James Neal, who has scored 40 goals in this league was a very good pick. Shea Theodore, Jason Garrison, former King Brayden McNabb and former Kings prospect Colin Miller were excellent picks, as was hiring Gerard Gallant as head coach.

8 – Vancouver Canucks 

Oh Vancouver, where do I start with you? You were 29^th overall in offense, 24^th overall in defense, 29^th on the PP, 28^th on the PK and with the Sedins both now 37 years old. I don’t see much good or positive coming out of the Canucks this year, except for maybe goalie Jacob Markstrom, who may, no he WILL have to steal some games for them if they aren’t going to rot in the Pacific Division basement.. Plus they have to stay healthy, as the Canucks suffered 462 man-games lost. Like WOW. Reminds me of the 2003 to 2006 LA Kings. I really like rookie Brock Boeser, there’s a lot of potentials there and Bo Horvat had 20 goals and 52 points last year, so he’s got to continue doing that. Besides that there isn’t much to be hopeful for.

My Stanley Cup prediction? Okay, I never get these right but how about …

OR … 

But even better …

So there you have it. The CaliSports’ News Hockey Department Predictions for the upcoming 2017-18 NHL Pacific Division and Stanley Cup Final.

Do you agree or disagree with our predictions??? Do you have predictions of your own?

Let us know in the comments below!

Now let’s get this season started already!!!

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