NHL

10 Bold Predictions For Second Half of NHL Season

10 Bold Predictions For Second Half of NHL Season

Nashville Predators Hockey
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL season has reached the All-Star break and the stretch run to the playoffs will commence next week. The first half has brought many surprises, but now is when the hockey really counts. Here are 10 bold predictions for the second half of the NHL season.

10. Buffalo Sabres Win the Connor McDavid Sweepstakes

Buffalo Sabres
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

10. Buffalo Sabres Win the Connor McDavid Sweepstakes

Buffalo Sabres
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres are the epitome of futility and will continue their losing ways to close out the season. The Sabres will battle with the Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes for the rights to Connor McDavid, who is regarded as a generational talent. The Sabres have a league-worst minus-78 goal differential, and that number figures to get worse as the season progresses.

9. Four Canadian Teams Will Make the Playoffs

Montreal Canadiens Hockey
Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

9. Four Canadian Teams Will Make the Playoffs

Montreal Canadiens Hockey
Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

A year after only one Canadian team made the playoffs, four will make the playoffs in 2015. The Montreal Canadiens will lead the way into the playoffs along with the Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames. It’s always an exciting time when the playoffs roll around, but even more so when the teams north of the border and their fans are involved.

8. Winnipeg Jets Will Break Their Long Playoff Drought

Winnipeg Jets Hockey
Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

8. Winnipeg Jets Will Break Their Long Playoff Drought

Winnipeg Jets Hockey
Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

The Winnipeg Jets have been one of the surprise stories during the first half of the season, amassing 60 points and comfortably sitting in a playoff position. The Jets will finally break their seven-year playoff drought, which is the second longest streak in the NHL behind only the Edmonton Oilers. It will be a banner year for the Jets and their fans, who will have Winnipeg rocking when the playoffs roll around.

7. New York Teams Will Square Off In First Round of Playoffs

New York Islanders Hockey
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

7. New York Teams Will Square Off In First Round of Playoffs

New York Islanders Hockey
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Islanders and New York Rangers will take their rivalry to the next level by squaring off in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Islanders are the current leaders in the Metropolitan Division, but will fall back one spot and take on the Rangers, who have bounced back from their early season struggles. The NHL offices and all of New York would love to see this matchup.

6. Mark Giordano Wins Norris Trophy

Mark Giordano Calgary Flames
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

6. Mark Giordano Wins Norris Trophy

Mark Giordano Calgary Flames
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Giordano has been the heart and soul of a resurgent Calgary Flames team. The Flames' captain leads all NHL defensemen in points at the break with 40 (11 goals and 29 assists) and is second behind teammate T.J. Brodie for plus-minus by a defenseman (plus-19). Giordano is one of the main reasons why the Flames will snap their five-year playoff drought and he will be rewarded with the Norris Trophy for his efforts.

5. Detroit Red Wings Secure No. 1 Seed In Eastern Conference

Detroit Red Wings
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Detroit Red Wings Secure No. 1 Seed In Eastern Conference

Detroit Red Wings
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Red Wings built a dynasty of NHL dominance while in the Western Conference, but struggled mightily in their first season in the East. After squeaking into the playoffs, the Red Wings were easily dispatched by the Boston Bruins in five games. However, Detroit has bounced back this season and will surge into the top spot in the Eastern Conference during the second half.

4. Tyler Seguin Wins Scoring Title

Tyler Seguin Dallas Stars
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4. Tyler Seguin Wins Scoring Title

Tyler Seguin Dallas Stars
Chris LaFrance-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Seguin has been nothing short of remarkable in trying to keep the Dallas Stars in the playoff hunt. Seguin is tied with Rick Nash for the league lead in goals scored with 28 and is second behind Jakub Voracek in points with 52. Seguin will eclipse the 100-point mark while also surpassing the 50-goal plateau in securing the scoring title.

3. Ryan Getzlaf Wins MVP Honors

Ryan Getzlaf Anaheim Ducks
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

3. Ryan Getzlaf Wins MVP Honors

Ryan Getzlaf Anaheim Ducks
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Getzlaf has been a force for the league-leading Anaheim Ducks and he will be rewarded with his first ever MVP award this season. Getzlaf, the Ducks' captain, has led Anaheim with 50 points (15 goals and 35 assists) and will continue to do so in helping the Ducks capture their second consecutive Pacific Division title. It will be a justified award for Getzlaf, who has been a dominant center for years on the West Coast.

2. Los Angeles Kings Will Miss the Playoffs

Los Angeles Kings Hockey
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

2. Los Angeles Kings Will Miss the Playoffs

Los Angeles Kings Hockey
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Kings have been the gold standard in the NHL the past three years, but their luck will run out during the second half of the 2014-15 season. The Kings will be the first team since the Carolina Hurricanes, who won the cup in 2006 but did not qualify in 2007, to miss the playoffs entirely after winning the Stanley Cup the prior season. Jonathan Quick won’t be able to save the Kings this time, as they will fail to qualify.

1. Nashville Predators Will Win the Presidents Trophy

Peter Laviolette Nashville Predators
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

1. Nashville Predators Will Win the Presidents Trophy

Peter Laviolette Nashville Predators
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Nashville Predators have been the surprise team of the first half of the season and will carry that success all the way to the Presidents Trophy. After finishing the 2013-14 season sixth in the Central Division, the Predators fired their only coach in franchise history in Barry Trotz. However, new coach Peter Laviolette has reinvigorated the Nashville franchise and will lead them to their first ever Presidents Trophy.

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