So, how do they stack up? As it gets going tomorrow with the first game between polar opposites in the Battle Of Ontario between Toronto and Ottawa, there will be surprises because there always are.

This is just my best guess. Some divisions are much harder to call than others. Without further notice, let’s go division by division and do rankings for both conferences. Predictions will follow.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

1.Maple Leafs

2.Lightning

3.Bruins

4.Panthers

5.Canadiens

6.Sabres

7.Red Wings

8.Senators

Metropolitan Division

1.Hurricanes

2.Capitals

3.Flyers

4.Penguins

5.Devils

6.Islanders

7.Rangers

8.Blue Jackets

EAST RANKINGS

*1.Maple Leafs 111 Points

2.Lightning 106

3.Bruins 104

*4.Hurricanes 102

5.Capitals 100

6.Panthers 97

7.Flyers 95

8.Penguins 94

9.Devils 91

10.Islanders 89

11.Canadiens 88

12.Sabres 87

13.Rangers 85

14.Blue Jackets 81

15.Red Wings 77

16.Senators 55

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division

1.Stars

2.Avalanche

3.Blues

4.Predators

5.Jets

6.Blackhawks

7.Wild

Pacific Division

1.Golden Knights

2.Sharks

3.Flames

4.Coyotes

5.Ducks

6.Canucks

7.Oilers

8.Kings

WEST RANKINGS

*1.Golden Knights 107

2.Sharks 103

*3.Stars 102

4.Avalanche 99

5.Blues 97

6.Predators 96

7.Flames 95

8.Coyotes 93

9.Jets 92

10.Blackhawks 89

11.Ducks 85

12.Wild 84

13.Canucks 81

14.Oilers 79

15.Kings 68

FIRST ROUND MATCH UPS

(A1) Maple Leafs over (M4) Penguins in 5

(A3) Bruins over (A2) Lightning in 6

(M1) Hurricanes over (A4) Panthers in 6

(M3) Flyers over (M2) Capitals in 7

(P1) Golden Knights over (P4) Coyotes in 5

(P2) Sharks over (P3) Flames in 6

(C1) Stars over (C4) Predators in 7

(C2) Avalanche over (C3) Blues in 7

SECOND ROUND

(A1) Maple Leafs over (A3) Bruins in 7

(M3) Flyers over (M1) Hurricanes in 6

(C2) Avalanche over (C1) Stars in 6

(P1) Golden Knights over (P2) Sharks in 7

CONFERENCE FINALS

Maple Leafs over Flyers in 5

Avalanche over Golden Knights in 7

STANLEY CUP

Maple Leafs over Avalanche in 7

NHL AWARDS

Conn Smythe- Mitch Marner

Hart- Nathan MacKinnon

Vezina- Ben Bishop

Norris- Victor Hedman

Art Ross- Connor McDavid

Rocket Richard- Alexander Ovechkin

Selke- Mark Stone

Calder- Jack Hughes

Byng- Johnny Gaudreau

Adams- Alain Vigneault