Sporting News’ hockey experts Brandon Schlager, Jim Cernyand Jackie Spiegelpredicted the final standings for the 2018-19NHL season. The playoff seeding below was determined by the average finish for each team based on ourcombined projections.
Acollective groan from Pacific Division general managers could be heard coast to coast when the Sharks pulled off the biggest trade of the summer, adding superstar Erik Karl sonto theirdefensive stable on the eve of training camp.
The landscape-altering deal elevatedSan Jose to elite contender status and effectively sealed their place as odds-on favorite to recapture the division title from the Golden Knights. As the rest of the division falls in line behind the Sharks, Vegas’ encore is the story to watch.
The expansion darling’s improbablefirst season in the NHL was a wake-up call for the Pacific’s old guard. And as teams like the Ducks and Kings age, there’s a sneaking suspicionthe Coyotes, Oilers or Flames could take their place in the playoffs as soon as 2018-19.
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Pacific Division: 2018-19 predictions1. San Jose Sharks
Additions: Erik Karl sonOut: Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo, Mikkel Boedker, Jannik Hansen, Eric Fehr
Whether Erik Karl son’s acquisition alone raises San Jose to the same pedestal as Nashville, Winnipeg or Vegas remains to be seen. But GM Doug Wilson, regarded as one of the NHL’s shrewdest executives, wasn’t keen to sit on his laurels this offseason, and the roster is undoubtedly improved from 2017-18.
Instantly, Karl son creates a defense corps that should be the most dangerous in the NHL in terms of jumping into the play and driving po se sion. The group already included2017 Norris Trophy winner Brent Drew Sample Jersey Burns, routinely among the NHL’s select few to challenge Karl son’s point output, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, one of the game’s best shutdown defensemen. Only Nashville (P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis) and Tampa Bay (Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Mikhail Sergachev) can compare. The me sage for 2018-19 is clear: The Sharksare squarely in”Win One for Joe” territory, asJoes Thornton and Pavelskiage deeper into their 30swithout a Cup.
2017-18 finish: 100 points, third in Pacific2018-19 finish (projected): 110.6 points, first in PacificYear over year: +10.6 points
(Schlager: 108 points; Cerny: 112 points; Spiegel: 112 points)
MORE:How Sharks’ all-in trade for Erik Karl son affects West’s power structure
2. Anaheim Ducks
Additions: Brian Gibbons, Andrej Sustr, Carter Rowney, Luke SchennSubtractions: Francois Beauchemin, J.T. Brown, Kevin Bieksa, Antoine Vermette
Corey Perry might’ve been a pivotalscorer for theDucks in 2018-19. The 2011 Hart Trophy winner has plummeted from 25-goal lock to fringe top-six forward in two underwhelming Cedric Peerman Jersey seasons, and Anaheim, already short on goal-scoring punch, was counting on the 33-year-old’s return to form. Those hopes are gone, with Perry out five months after undergoing preseason knee surgery.
On the other hand, the Ducks have faredfine without Perry’s goals the last two years. The injury is an opportunity forJakob Silfverberg,Ondrej Kaseand Troy Terry to contribute more in an offensive capacity. Anaheim still has John Gibson, arguably the NHL’s best goalie, and one of the league’s deepest defenses. It’s time to lean on the younger, quicker forwards more heavily after the Sharks skated circles in a sobering first-round sweep of the Ducks last year.
2017-18 finish: 101 points, second in Pacific2018-19 finish (projected): 100points, second in PacificYear over year: -1point
(Schlager: 93points; Cerny: 100 points; Spiegel: 107 points)
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3. Vegas Golden Knights
Additions: Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny, Daniel Carr, Curtis McKenzieSubtractions: Tomas Tatar, James Neal, David Perron, Luca Sbisa
Last season’s expansion darlings are back for an encore. There were many questions about how GM George McPhee would navigate the franchise’s first true offseason, managing immediate expectations withlong-term well-being. But the Golden Knights seem to be pulling the right strings. Gone are James Neal and David Perron, two main contributors from the inaugural season whose lo ses will be felt, but aren’tirreplaceable.
Luring Paul Stastny away from the conference rival Jets killed two birds with one stone, and the blockbuster Max Paciorettytrade was aswing-big, me sage-sending move that should numb any disappointment overErik Karl sonlanding in San Jose instead of the Sin City. Vegas is out to prove the greatest first season in sports history was no fluke. A step back would benatural, but this is still very much a playoff contender.
2017-18 finish: 109 points, first in Pacific2018-19 finish (projected): 99.6 points, third in PacificYear over year: -9.4 points
(Schlager: 98 points; Cerny: 102 points; Spiegel: 99 points)
MORE: How Golden Knights laid the groundwork to landMax Pacioretty
4. Calgary Flames
Additions: James Neal, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Derek Ryan, Austin CzarnikSubtractions: Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, Kris Versteeg, Matt Stajan, Lance Bouma
It’s not easy to make sense of the 2017-18 Flames. All thattalent never came together underGlen Gulutzan, for one reason or another, and the franchise opted for sweeping changes this summer, both to the team’s culture and their one-ice product. The draft day blockbuster shipping DougieHamilton to Carolina was a surprise; he partnered with Mark Giordano as one of the premier defense tandems in the NHL. But an ensuing character a sault on Hamilton and brother Freddie Hamilton allowed the franchise to spin the deal, scored in favor of the Hurricanes, as a fresh start for all involved.
Much will be expected fromElias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and, eventually, Adam Fox to shift perceptions of trading a high-end defenseman in his prime. New coach Bill Peters, hailed in Carolina as a skilled tactician, is out to show his style can produce playoff results in his first year with the Flames.
2017-18 finish: 84 points, fifth in Pacific2018-19 finish (projected): 92 points, fourth in PacificYear over year: +8 points
(Schlager: 88 points; Cerny: 96 points; Spiegel: 92 points)
MORE: SN’s top 50 prospects|NHLfarm system rankings
5. Los Angeles Kings
Additions:Ilya Kovalchuk, Peter BudajSubtractions: Tobias Rieder, Christian Folin, Andy Andreoff
IlyaKovalchukis one of the NHL’s more curious storylines forthe 2018-19 season. Once considered hockey’s most feared sniper, the 35-year-old returns to North America after a five-year hiatus in the KHLand the Kings are counting heavily on the a sumption he’sstill an effective goal scorer.Except, players of Kovalchuk’s age typically don’t score 30 goals (2013-14 is the last time a player over 35 reached that mark), a total he achieved the last two years overseas. Is he still Kerry Wynn Jersey able to beat NHL goaltending with regularity? And more critically: Can he skate well enough to match up against top competition in a league that’s become increasingly younger and quicker since 2012-13?
A healthy Jeff Carter rejoining MVP-level Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick should helpLos Angeles remain competitive. But this was already anold, slow, plodding team last season, which led to their swiftplayoff demise. The Kings didn’t do much this summer to correct that.
2017-18 finish: 98 points, fourth in Pacific2018-19 finish (projected): 90.3 points, fifth in PacificYear over year: -7.7 points
(Schlager: 96 points; Cerny: 90 points; Spiegel: 85 points)
MORE:What should we expect inIlyaKovalchuk’sNHL return?
6. Edmonton Oilers
Additions:Tobias Rieder, Kyle Brodziak,Mikko KoskinenSubtractions:Brandon Davidson, Mike Cammalleri, Iiro Pakarinen
In some ways, the Oilers are still the same 103-point team that blitzed the NHL two seasons ago, stirring up Stanley Cup chatter. Connor McDavid is Connor McDavid, two years more advanced. The rest of that core Leon Draisaitl,Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Cam Talbot, Adam Lar son,Oscar Klefbom, et al is intact, save for Jordan Eberle. But they’re also the same as the 2017-18 version, which wilted under those Cup expectations, dropping 25 points year over year.
So what does all that mean for 2018-19? After committing the cardinal sin of mi sing the playoffs with McDavid, it was expected the Oilers would try to shake things up after a wasted season, by trade or otherwise. Status quo includesownership’s decision to spare Peter Chiarelli, and they insist there’s a plan to set the team back on track without a complete overhaul. Failing that, heads will begin to roll before next summer sets in.
2017-18 finish: 78 points, sixth in Pacific2018-19 finish (projected): 86.6 points, sixth in PacificYear over year: +8.6 points
(Schlager: 82 points; Cerny: 92 points; Spiegel: 86 points)
7. Arizona Coyotes
Additions: Alex Galchenyuk, Vinnie Hinostroza, Michael GrabnerSubtractions: Max Domi, Luke Schenn, Jordan Martinook, Zac Rinaldo
Ifeveryone is picking the same darkhorse teamto make a surprise playoff run , does it mean they’re no longer a dark horse? It’s true: We’re all trying to predict if there will be another Avalanche or Devils. And the Coyotes are this year’s mostpopular last place-to-playoffs candidate, with a young, dynamicnucleus, steady veterans scattered about the roster and an underrated goalie who led the NHL in save percentage (min. 40 starts) last season. There’s a lot to like.
Except, theold hockey adage: Don’t judge a team based on its performance in garbage time. So sure, Arizona finished strong toward the end of 2017-18, when Antti Raanta returned from injury. There’s an internalbelief they would have challenged for a playoff spot had he been healthy start to finish. But there are still a lot of question marks before we pencil in the Coyotes for their first playoff berth since 2012.
2017-18 finish: 70 points, last in Pacific2018-19 Chris Baker Jersey finish (projected): 79.3 points, seventh in PacificYear over year: +9.3 points
(Schlager: 85 points; Cerny: 80 points; Spiegel: 73 points)
MORE: Last place to playoffs? Coyotes can be 2018-19’s Devils or Avalanche
8. Vancouver Canucks
Additions:Antoine Rou sel, Jay Beagle, Tim SchallerSubtractions: Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Ju si Jokinen, Nic Dowd
The Canucks might be the only team in the Western Conference without a case for the playoffs. Seriously. That’s not intended as a slight, but operating in reality, Vancouver is officially a team in transition sans the Sedins(even if the ever-impatient Francesco Aquilinidisagrees), one filled with promising young talent but far too many holes to ice a playoff contender just yet. Evena shakybraintrust, led byhockey’s whipping boy Jim Benning, has managed to draft and develop Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Elias Petter son, rated SN’s No. 1 prospect for 2018 . The focus now is building around those three and whoever they’ll draft in 2019.
2017-18 finish: 73 points, seventh in Pacific2018-19 finish (projected): 71 points, last in PacificYear over year: -2 points
(Schlager: 70 points; Cerny: 67 points; Spiegel: 76 points)