Fun Bold Prediction

[red36]

The Buffalo Sabres win the 2021 Stanley Cup!

I know some will think this is crazy talk but hear me out! Buffalo's young guns just took short-term deals at very reasonable cap hits. Reinhart 5.2mil, Olofsson 3.05Mil, Staal is only 3.25mil, and Hall just signed that nice 8mil contract. Leaves them with just under 4.65mil and one roster spot to fill with a league minimum F. I dont think they are done yet either!

Before the season starts I think they trade for Fleury. No way Vegas wants to pay 12mil+ in net. Something along the lines of Ullmark+Montour. Throw in whatever picks or prospects you want to call it an even trade. Dislike that trade, make up your own for Fleury. Fleury is a great starter for two years as Luukkonen develops. Vegas takes on a bit of Fleury's salary and Buffalo then signs Vatanen to replace Montour and give themselves a solid top 5 in Dahlin, Risto, Vatanen, McCabe and Miller. They have two mega elite Fs and will need line 1 and 2 to do a lot of the work like COL.

Very bold prediction but I think Buffalo will use COVID to put together a one year run team. Other teams are dropping internal revenues and Buffalo could take advantage by spending to the max. If they potentially lose money as an organization in 2020-21 it might be worth it longterm based off the prediction that a winning season increases their fan base, sales and attendance for the foreseeable future.

What bold predictions do you have for the 2020-21 season? Just a fun idea, not meant to be taken too seriously.

[Dennis]

Fleury has a 10-team no trade list and Buffalo probably takes up 1/3 of that. I'd love to see Buffalo get their act together though.

[havanablast21]

I love the brass danglers it takes to make this prediction. Props! I mean who picked St.Louis the year they won! Well laid out argument! Rep Red36

[lucafen4]

Even adding Vatanen & MAF. This teams is so utterly flawed they won't be able to complete.
They still have to face Tor - Bos - TB just to make the playoffs.

Some would say Mtl is improved and ahead of them as well.

I'm more of the opinion Reinhart, Olofsson & Hall are simply using short term deals in buffalo as leverage to build up a bigger payday next season.

[Napoleon23]

No love for poor ullmark. I think if buffalo is to stand a chance then they will need Ullmark. Hes better than hes been given credit for. Bold prediction indeed good sir! But a fun one for sure.

[tweetdrivr]

Here are a few...
Boston is not a playoff team. Their age, internal issues (Rask and their general lack of class as an organization), and lack of off-season moves catch up to them.
Montreal is a playoff team - particularly if there is a Canadian division - and they don't have to fight in the Atlantic for a spot. Either way I think they're in.
Arizona gets demoted to the AHL or possibly the ECHL because they are an utter crap organization.
Max Domi and Torts is a match made in heaven. Torts turns Domi into a Selke finalist.
Neither Bobrovsky nor Binnington regain the starting jobs they lost in the playoffs.
The Ottawa Senators are among the league leaders (top 5) in goals scored. They are also among the league leaders (top 3) in goals allowed.
For whatever reason MAF ends up with more starts in Vegas than Lehner does.

[Eskimo Brother]

Buffalo and the NY Rangers both make the playoffs in the East, LA surprises in the West.
I agree that Buffalo will be better, all they need now is some goaltending, and we know how random that can be. The Rangers have the goaltending, and if they acquire one more solid defence man (or promote one of their many prospects that could float, then they have a solidly deep roster. I think either Strome or Grandlund is handed the C2 job.

I also agree with Boston missing. Without Marchand and Pasta to start the year, and with Bergeron/Krejci always hurt, I think they have trouble getting started and they never find their groove.

Rossi, Fiala, and Kaprizov team up to each pace for over a point per game but Minnesota's goaltending tandem is again the worst in the league and they finish bottom three.
Pretty self explanatory.

Dahlin paces for 90 points and leads the league for defensemen. He's ready to pop and there are even more offensive weapons there now.

Jack Campbell starts more games than Frederik Andersen - on merit. Andersen was shopped this summer so they're ready to move on. Campbell shows he can be a starter and Toronto decides to ride him 60% of the time.

I'll come up with a few more for the start of the season.

[GinFizz]

Dahlin paces for 90 points and leads the league for defensemen. He's ready to pop and there are even more offensive weapons there now.

Not bold enough.. its gonna happen..

[Eskimo Brother]

Not bold enough.. its gonna happen..

I was going to say 100, but it is Buffalo after all... haha

[lucafen4]

Well... since this is turning into a bold prediction thread:

There will be 3 - 60 goal scorers and none are named Ovechkin - Eichel, Matthews, Guentzel
There will be 2 teams with 3 100 point players - Edm (RNH, Drais, McD) & Tor (Tavares, Marner, Matthews)
Vancouver trades Loui Eriksson

Domi doubles Anderson in points
Dreidger starts more games than Bobrovsky

LA & Chi sneak into the playoffs and pull off a shocker conference final repeat match-up of years past

Crosby wins the scoring title

[Eskimo Brother]

Dreidger starts more games than Bobrovsky

LA & Chi sneak into the playoffs and pull off a shocker conference final repeat match-up of years past

I'm 100% on board with Dreidger and the LA half of your projection.

LA on the basis of their youth stepping up on forward, an underrated D core, getting to pick on ANA, SJ, and ARZ in their division/conference (likely due to the realignment for the year) and the fact that Cal Petersen is ready to take the starter's load.

[lucafen4]

I'm 100% on board with Dreidger and the LA half of your projection.

LA on the basis of their youth stepping up on forward, an underrated D core, getting to pick on ANA, SJ, and ARZ in their division/conference (likely due to the realignment for the year) and the fact that Cal Petersen is ready to take the starter's load.

Just seemed too good fun to not throw a Chi-LA rematch into the mix.

[STONE.]

+5000 after the Hall signing. If you really believe, throw down a wager now!

[JHM]

FINAL FOUR
This years final four will feature Florida and Nashville.

Florida
Coach Q's troops will finally get it. The youth movement shall have its successes. Ekblad shall continue to show his upward form from last year. Bob will get it together, and there is enough star power already on board. Soderberg will prove a serviceable third line leader for $1M.

Nashville
The extra talent that has been added up front over recent years, will finally see the club boasting steady first and second lines, with each boasting a 70 pointer. Kunin will prove ready as a third line leader with ?Haula, at push and shove time. Another late signing bottom six vet will round out the squad with the maturing Saros finally ready to lead the back end.

Shesterkin will run away with the Calder voting, with Lafreniere proving the real deal and placing a steady 2nd.

It all comes together - McDavid will pace all scorers winning with 135 points.

Sophmore jinx - Quinn Hughes, finishing on a respectable 45 point pace.

Bounce back - Jack Hughes, connecting for 62 points.

Crash & Burn Teams - Boston (blueline struggles, injuries to top 6), Dallas (massive regular season and playoff overachievement)

[donpaulo]

Miro Heiskanen wins the Norris

Detroit doubles their win total

Calgary plays Philly in the finals