These are just rankings based on what I think. In a 56-game season where there could be Covid positives, pauses and player movement at the trade deadline, a lot can change. Keep that in mind.
Only four teams per division make the playoffs. It’s divisional format like the old days which means 1 plays 4, 2 plays 3 and the winners face each other for a chance at the Conference Final. Very simple. Now can we go back to the Wales and Campbell? Get back to tradition.
WALES CONFERENCE
Patrick Division
*1. Flyers
*2. Capitals
*3. Bruins
*4. Islanders
5. Penguins
6. Rangers
7. Sabres
8. Devils
(1) Flyers over (4) Islanders
(3) Bruins over (2) Capitals
Flyers over Bruins
Adams Division
*1. Lightning
*2. Hurricanes
*3. Stars
*4. Blue Jackets
5. Predators
6. Panthers
7. Blackhawks
8. Red Wings
(1) Lightning over (4) Blue Jackets
(3) Stars over (2) Hurricanes
Lightning over Stars
Wales Conference Final
Lightning over Flyers
CAMPBELL CONFERENCE
Norris Division
*1. Golden Knights
*2. Avalanche
*3. Blues
*4. Wild
5. Coyotes
6. Kings
7. Ducks
8. Sharks
(1) Golden Knights over (4) Wild
(2) Avalanche over (3) Blues
Avalanche over Golden Knights
Smythe Division
*1. Maple Leafs
*2. Canadiens
*3. Flames
*4. Canucks
5. Jets
6. Oilers
7. Senators
(4) Canucks over (1) Maple Leafs
(2) Canadiens over (3) Flames
Canadiens over Canucks
Campbell Conference Final
Avalanche over Canadiens
Stanley Cup
Avalanche over Lightning
NHL Awards
Conn Smythe Nathan MacKinnon
Hart Nathan MacKinnon
Norris Seth Jones
Vezina Carey Price
Calder Kirill Kaprizov
Selke Anthony Cirelli
Byng Artemi Panarin
Adams Claude Julien
First Coach Fired Jeff Blashill
First Coach Hired Gerard Gallant
hasan4978
Derek
Battle Of Hudson 
It’s more like the Patrick Division plus since it also added Boston and Buffalo. But yeah, I pretty much agree with your order in our division although 3-6 could be a bit fluid. That Adams division, oof…Detroit’s gonna wind up with the worst record in the league again. I might pick Nashville over CBJ for the last spot (especially with Dubois wanting out) but you never know with a Hynes team. The Norris top three is brutal, whoever gets the #4 seed (either Minnesota or Arizona) really gets a booby prize. I think you’re too bullish on Montreal but that IS a wide open division.
Some of the travel is weird too, they weren’t able to make the division play as clean as baseball did travel-wise because of the Canada problem in part. One thing I didn’t add in my post is probably not being able to go to any games this year might also be contributing to my blase mood toward this season, even if I might have started peacing out on going to games halfway through the season, tomorrow will still be the first home opener I miss being at since 2003 tbh.
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I understand how you feel. I know what it’s like to not know or have much expectations. The division is tough. The Pens have the offense but can they keep goals out? They looked hideous. The rematch is tomorrow.
I can see the Predators possibly making it. It’ll be interesting with CBJ due to Dubois. Coyotes better bank on Kuemper and some of their kids to continue the progression.
Both Detroit and Chicago are so bad. The Blackhawks due to no Dach and whatever is going on with Toews. Yikes. Hope it’s not what I think. Hope he makes a full recovery. They looked awful vs Bolts who don’t even need Kuch.
The Habs, it depends on the new guys. They should have more balance. That’s a tough division to call. I like it.
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