The NHL season is here.
We’ve assembled a panel of Sportsnet NHL Insiders to take a shot at predicting the unpredictable.
From the Stanley Cup winner to which Canadian teams to watch for to how many points Connor McDavid will put up in his sophomore season, the following is our Insiders’ predictions for the 2016-17 NHL season.
Stanley Cup winner:
Elliotte Friedman: Washington Capitals
Sean McIndoe: Tampa Bay Lightning
David Amber: Washington Capitals
Eric Engels: Tampa Bay Lightning
Ryan Dixon: Tampa Bay Lightning
Chris Johnston: Tampa Bay Lightning
Mark Spector: Washington Capitals
Eric Francis: Tampa Bay Lightning
Kristina Rutherford: Washington Capitals
Gord Stellick: St. Louis Blues
Christine Simpson: Tampa Bay Lightning
Jeff Marek: Nashville Predators
Luke Fox: Tampa Bay Lightning
John Shannon: Chicago Blackhawks
Daren Millard: Chicago Blackhawks
Nick Kypreos: Nashville Predators
Doug MacLean: Tampa Bay Lightning
East champion:
Elliotte Friedman: Washington Capitals
Sean McIndoe: Tampa Bay Lightning
David Amber: Washington Capitals
Eric Engels: Tampa Bay Lightning
Ryan Dixon: Tampa Bay Lightning
Chris Johnston: Tampa Bay Lightning
Mark Spector: Washington Capitals
Eric Francis: Tampa Bay Lightning
Kristina Rutherford: Washington Capitals
Gord Stellick: Washington Capitals
Christine Simpson: Tampa Bay Lightning
Jeff Marek: Tampa Bay Lightning
Luke Fox: Tampa Bay Lightning
John Shannon: Pittsburgh Penguins
Daren Millard: Montreal Canadiens
Nick Kypreos: Tampa Bay Lightning
Doug MacLean: Tampa Bay Lightning
West champion:
Elliotte Friedman: Dallas Stars
Sean McIndoe: Dallas Stars
David Amber: Nashville Predators
Eric Engels: Chicago Blackhawks
Ryan Dixon: Nashville Predators
Chris Johnston: Nashville Predators
Mark Spector: St. Louis Blues
Eric Francis: St. Louis Blues
Kristina Rutherford: Chicago Blackhawks
Gord Stellick: St. Louis BLues
Christine Simpson: San Jose Sharks
Jeff Marek: Nashville Predators
Luke Fox: Nashville Predators
John Shannon: Chicago Blackhawks
Daren Millard: Chicago Blackhawks
Nick Kypreos: Nashville Predators
Doug MacLean: Chicago Blackhawks
Team most likely to exceed expectations:
Sean McIndoe: Philadelphia Flyers
David Amber: Calgary Flames
Eric Engels: Toronto Maple Leafs
Ryan Dixon: Ottawa Senators
Chris Johnston: Toronto Maple Leafs
Mark Spector: Calgary Flames
Eric Francis: Winnipeg Jets
Kristina Rutherford: Colorado Avalanche
Gord Stellick: Edmonton Oilers
Christine Simpson: Edmonton Oilers
Jeff Marek: Carolina Hurricanes
Luke Fox: Boston Bruins
John Shannon: Carolina Hurricanes
Daren Millard: Buffalo Sabres
Nick Kypreos: Calgary Flames
Doug MacLean: Toronto Maple Leafs
Team most likely to disappoint:
Sean McIndoe: Anaheim Ducks
David Amber: Detroit Red Wings
Eric Engels: St. Louis Blues
Ryan Dixon: Buffalo Sabres
Chris Johnston: Anaheim Ducks
Mark Spector: Toronto Maple Leafs
Eric Francis: Florida Panthers
Kristina Rutherford: Edmonton Oilers
Gord Stellick: Anaheim Ducks
Christine Simpson: Vancouver Canucks
Jeff Marek: Anaheim Ducks
Luke Fox: Florida Panthers
John Shannon: Florida Panthers
Daren Millard: Anaheim Ducks
Nick Kypreos: Anaheim Ducks
Doug MacLean: Anaheim Ducks
Canadian team with highest point total:
Sean McIndoe: Montreal Canadiens
David Amber: Calgary Flames
Eric Engels: Montreal Canadiens
Ryan Dixon: Winnipeg Jets
Chris Johnston: Winnipeg Jets
Mark Spector: Winnipeg Jets
Eric Francis: Winnipeg Jets
Kristina Rutherford: Montreal Canadiens
Gord Stellick: Calgary Flames
Christine Simpson: Montreal Canadiens
Jeff Marek: Calgary Flames
Luke Fox: Calgary Flames
John Shannon: Montreal Canadiens
Daren Millard: Montreal Canadiens
Nick Kypreos: Montreal Canadiens
Doug MacLean: Montreal Canadiens
No. of Canadian teams to make playoffs:
Sean McIndoe: One
David Amber: Three
Eric Engels: Two
Ryan Dixon: Three
Chris Johnston: Three
Mark Spector: Four
Eric Francis: Three
Kristina Rutherford: Three
Gord Stellick: Four
Christine Simpson: Two
Jeff Marek: One
Luke Fox: Three
John Shannon: Three
Doug MacLean: Two
Nick Kypreos: Two
Hart winner:
Sean McIndoe: Sidney Crosby
David Amber: Sidney Crosby
Eric Engels: Sidney Crosby
Ryan Dixon: Victor Hedman
Chris Johnston: Connor McDavid
Mark Spector: Connor McDavid
Eric Francis: Sidney Crosby
Kristina Rutherford: Sidney Crosby
Gord Stellick: Vladimir Tarasenko
Christine Simpson: Jamie Benn
Jeff Marek: Connor McDavid
Luke Fox: Jamie Benn
John Shannon: Sidney Crosby
Daren Millard: Connor McDavid
Nick Kypreos: Jamie Benn
Doug MacLean: Carey Price
Art Ross winner:
Sean McIndoe: Connor McDavid
David Amber: Connor McDavid
Eric Engels: Connor McDavid
Ryan Dixon: Sidney Crosby
Chris Johnston: Connor McDavid
Mark Spector: Jamie Benn
Eric Francis: Connor McDavid
Kristina Rutherford: Sidney Crosby
Gord Stellick: Patrick Kane
Christine Simpson: Sidney Crosby
Jeff Marek: Connor McDavid
Luke Fox: Jamie Benn
John Shannon: Patrick Kane
Daren Millard: Jamie Benn
Nick Kypreos: Patrick Kane
Doug MacLean: Connor McDavid
Calder winner:
Sean McIndoe: William Nylander
David Amber: Matt Murray
Eric Engels: Patrik Laine
Ryan Dixon: Ivan Provorov
Chris Johnston: Auston Matthews
Mark Spector: Auston Matthews
Eric Francis: Auston Matthews
Kristina Rutherford: Auston Matthews
Gord Stellick: Patrik Laine
Christine Simpson: Auston Matthews
Jeff Marek: Auston Matthews
Luke Fox: Mitchell Marner
John Shannon: Jesse Puljujärvi
Daren Millard: Patrik Laine
Nick Kypreos: Auston Matthews
Doug MacLean: Patrik Laine
Norris winner:
Sean McIndoe: Kris Letang
David Amber: Drew Doughty
Eric Engels: Erik Karlsson
Ryan Dixon: Victor Hedman
Chris Johnston: Victor Hedman
Mark Spector: Shayne Gostisbehere
Eric Francis: Shea Weber
Kristina Rutherford: Duncan Keith
Gord Stellick: Drew Doughty
Christine Simpson: Victor Hedman
Jeff Marek: Brent Burns
Luke Fox: Erik Karlsson
John Shannon: Drew Doughty
Daren Millard: Drew Doughty
Nick Kypreos: Drew Doughty
Doug MacLean: Duncan Keith
Vezina winner:
Sean McIndoe: Carey Price
David Amber: Braden Holtby
Eric Engels: Carey Price
Ryan Dixon: Carey Price
Chris Johnston: Braden Holtby
Mark Spector: Jake Allen
Eric Francis: Carey Price
Kristina Rutherford: Carey Price
Gord Stellick: Carey Price
Christine Simpson: Carey Price
Jeff Marek: Corey Crawford
Luke Fox: Braden Holtby
John Shannon: Henrik Lundqvist
Daren Millard: Carey Price
Nick Kypreos: Pekka Rinne
Doug MacLean: Carey Price
Jack Adams winner:
Sean McIndoe: Peter Laviolette
David Amber: Glen Gulutzan
Eric Engels: Glen Gulutzan
Ryan Dixon: Guy Boucher
Chris Johnston: Bill Peters
Mark Spector: Randy Carlyle
Eric Francis: Paul Maurice
Kristina Rutherford: Joel Quenneville
Gord Stellick: Bruce Boudreau
Christine Simpson: Jon Cooper
Jeff Marek: Bill Peters
Luke Fox: Glen Gulutzan
John Shannon: Joel Quenneville
Daren Millard: Todd McLellan
Nick Kypreos: Peter Laviolette
Doug MacLean: Lindy Ruff
Coach on the hottest seat:
Sean McIndoe: Michel Therrien
David Amber: Michel Therrien
Eric Engels: John Tortorella
Ryan Dixon: Michel Therrien
Chris Johnston: Michel Therrien
Mark Spector: Michel Therrien
Eric Francis: Michel Therrien
Kristina Rutherford: Todd McLellan
Gord Stellick: Michel Therrien
Christine Simpson: Claude Julien
Jeff Marek: Michel Therrien
Luke Fox: Willie Desjardins
John Shannon: Michel Therrien
Daren Millard: Michel Therrien
Nick Kypreos: Michel Therrien
Doug MacLean: Michel Therrien
GM on the hottest seat:
Sean McIndoe: Chuck Fletcher
David Amber: Garth Snow
Eric Engels: Jim Benning
Ryan Dixon: Marc Bergevin
Chris Johnston: Garth Snow
Mark Spector: Chuck Fletcher
Eric Francis: Don Sweeney
Kristina Rutherford: Marc Bergevin
Gord Stellick: Jim Benning
Christine Simpson: Jim Benning
Jeff Marek: Bob Murray
Luke Fox: Jarmo Kekalainen
John Shannon: Jim Benning
Daren Millard: Garth Snow
Nick Kypreos: Chuck Fletcher
Doug MacLean: Doug Armstrong
Connor McDavid point total (assuming 75 GP):
Sean McIndoe: 105
David Amber: 95
Eric Engels: 95
Ryan Dixon: 87
Chris Johnston: 105
Mark Spector: 85
Eric Francis: 102
Kristina Rutherford: 85
Gord Stellick: 80
Christine Simpson: 102
Jeff Marek: 95
Luke Fox: 88
John Shannon: 90
Daren Millard: 102
Nick Kypreos: 97
Doug MacLean: 108
Who will receive the most Norris votes: Subban or Weber?
Sean McIndoe: Weber
David Amber: Subban
Eric Engels: Subban
Ryan Dixon: Subban
Chris Johnston: Subban
Mark Spector: Subban
Eric Francis: Weber
Kristina Rutherford: Weber
Gare Joyce: Weber
Christine Simpson: Subban
Jeff Marek: Subban
Luke Fox: Subban
John Shannon: Who cares, they aren’t winning it
Daren Millard: Weber
Doug MacLean: Weber
After the trade deadline Jacob Trouba will be a member of the ______:
Sean McIndoe: Boston Bruins
David Amber: Dallas Stars
Eric Engels: Boston Bruins
Ryan Dixon: Detroit Red Wings
Chris Johnston: Winnipeg Jets
Mark Spector: Winnipeg Jets
Eric Francis: Edmonton Oilers
Kristina Rutherford: New York Rangers
Gord Stellick: Anaheim Ducks
Christine Simpson: Detroit Red Wings
Jeff Marek: Winnipeg Jets
Luke Fox: Edmonton Oilers
John Shannon: Boston Bruins
Daren Millard: New York Islanders
Nick Kypreos: Boston Bruins
Doug MacLean: New York Islanders
