The start of the NHL regular season is just under two weeks away. With the start of a new season, everyone is looking forward to what their team is going to do this year. Here is my take on what I think the division standings are going to look like once the playoffs roll around.

ATLANTIC DIVISION: FINAL STANDINGS PREDICTION

1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Buffalo Sabres
4. Florida Panthers
5. Boston Bruins
6. Ottawa Senators
7. Detroit Red Wings
8. Montreal Canadiens

Team of Note: Buffalo Sabres

I think that this is the year that the Sabres will finally break their 12-season-long playoff drought. They have promising stars in Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Devon Levi to guide the team through the most challenging division in the NHL. The Sabres can make the playoffs this year, as long as they do not repeat last season’s 8-game losing streak. This streak would eventually be what caused them to miss the playoffs last season, being only 1 win away from beating the Florida Panthers out of their spot. This upcoming season will need to see the Sabres get results, or else upper management may begin to get frustrated and start making changes.

METROPOLITAN DIVISION: FINAL STANDINGS PREDICTION

1. New Jersey Devils
2. Carolina Hurricanes
3. New York Rangers
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. New York Islanders
6. Washington Capitals
7. Columbus Blue Jackets
8. Philadelphia Flyers

Team of Note: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins fell below the playoff line for the first time in 16 years this past season. They fell below the playoffs for a wide variety of reasons. The most apparent of these issues, in my opinion, was the depth scoring issues. Despite this, the Penguins went out during the offseason and managed to broker the largest trade of the summer for defenseman Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks. I believe that this trade will almost single-handily get the team back into the playoffs. The Penguins lacked scoring, which Karlsson brings. The Penguins lacked a solid defender, which Karlsson also brings. I think that with this trade, along with a few free agent signings, will have the Penguins playing in the latter half of April once again.

CENTRAL DIVISION: FINAL STANDINGS PREDICTION

1. Colorado Avalanche
2. Dallas Stars
3. Minnesota Wild
4. Nashville Predators
5. Winnipeg Jets
6. Louis Blues
7. Chicago Blackhawks
8. Arizona Coyotes

Team of Note: Chicago Blackhawks

I do not think that there will be a lot of change in the Central Division standings this year, but the team that I want to focus on is the Blackhawks. Chicago had the number one overall pick in last years draft, and to surprise of no one drafted Connor Bedard. This high draft pick basically signifies a new beginning for the Blackhawks. With the trade of Patrick Kane to the Rangers and with Jonathan Toews effectively retiring, Connor Bedard will be the new face of the franchise for many, many seasons to come. Chicago hockey fans have the most to be excited about, despite the fact that everyone knows it will still be a few seasons before they are relevant again. Just the promise of a better tomorrow will fill the fans with joy that hasn’t been felt since the 2015 Stanley Cup win.

PACIFIC DIVISION: FINAL STANDINGS PREDICTION

1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Vegas Golden Knights
3. Los Angeles Kings
4. Seattle Kraken
5. Calgary Flames
6. Vancouver Canucks
7. Anaheim Ducks
8. San Jose Sharks

Team of Note: Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers just need to win a Stanley Cup. The pressure for them to win this season from the fans and media will be massive. They have the virtually undisputed best player in the world in Connor McDavid, and the farthest they have made it in the playoffs is a conference final in which they were swept away by the Avalanche. The upper management in Edmonton will be absolutely brutal at the trade deadline, knowing that they will need to make good progress this year in order to keep their jobs. The fans in Edmonton will be able to watch another great season of hockey, but unless the team goes anywhere in the playoffs with that momentum, then I do not think that any fan will be too happy.