NHL 2022-23 season preview: Daring predictions, awards and Stanley Cup picks

The 2022-23 NHL season is right here, and which means it’s time to escape the crystal ball and make some predictions. 

The great thing about this time of 12 months is that the chances are limitless. Each workforce has a point of hope that this 12 months could be higher than the final (properly, aside from the Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks). We now have put collectively some daring predictions for the 2022-23 marketing campaign, together with which groups would possibly crash the postseason, how far these groups would possibly go, and which gamers will pop. After that, we get into which gamers will take dwelling awards and which workforce will hoist the Stanley Cup.

Daring Predictions

Nivison: The New Jersey Devils will attain the playoffs

The Devils may be the kings of successful NHL offseasons. They’ve made some key additions in every of the previous couple of summers, however the strikes have led to zero postseason appearances in 4 years. On the danger of falling into that entice myself, I feel this Devils workforce has a really actual shot at reaching the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. New Jersey is loaded with proficient gamers below the age of 25, lead by Jack Hughes.

The workforce’s underlying numbers have been worthy of a greater end final season, however abysmal goaltending sank the Devils to seventh place within the division. Is Vitek Vanacek the savior between the pipes? In all probability not, however he cannot be any worse than what New Jersey received from that place final 12 months, proper? The Devils get common goaltending and attain the postseason for the primary time since 2018.

Nivison: The Toronto Maple Leafs will attain the Japanese Convention Finals

If somebody had no reminiscence of latest NHL postseasons, they’d take a look at this roster and surprise why this can be a daring prediction. However bear in mind… that is the Maple Leafs we’re speaking about. I stood on the desk for them forward of the playoffs final 12 months, solely to see them fall to the Tampa Bay Lightning in yet one more first-round exit. Idiot me as soon as, disgrace on you, however I’ll finally neglect about it and trip with you once more simply months later. This roster is simply too tantalizing to wager towards.

Auston Matthews is the reigning league MVP. Mitch Marner is a top-five winger within the league. William Nylander nonetheless appears to be underrated. The blue line is deep. The one query about this workforce is in web, and Toronto can rating its method out of bother when want be. But, this franchise has not seen the second spherical of the playoffs since 2004. That adjustments in 2023. Toronto breaks by and goes on a deep run.

Nivison: Jason Robertson will lead the NHL in targets

I wished to go method off the board for this final one. With a brand new contract sizzling off the fax machine, Robertson is poised for a large season with the Stars. Robertson is coming off a 41-goal season in 2021-22, and he has confirmed that he can rating in quite a lot of methods. Robertson has the ability and shot to create his personal scoring alternatives, however being on the NHL’s finest line helps, and he has a nostril for the web. He is not afraid to take some punishment across the crease with a view to punch dwelling some greasy targets. At simply 23, Robertson continues to be coming into the prime of his profession, and he’s arrange properly to fill the web in 2022-23.

Bengel: The Ottawa Senators will finish their playoff drought

I am an enormous fan of what the Senators did within the offseason. The entrance workplace swung for the fences after they acquired Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks on draft evening and parted with a major quantity of draft capital to do it. Simply days later when free company opened, they landed winger Claude Giroux on a three-year contract to carry some much-needed veteran management to the workforce’s locker room.

This was a workforce that scored simply 2.7 goals-per-game final 12 months and wanted a shot within the arm. Including two extraordinarily proficient playmakers to play on Ottawa’s second line is big, contemplating that they have already got Josh Norris and Brady Tkachuk within the fold. If the protection can enhance in entrance of goaltender Anton Forsberg, I’ve little question that this can be a playoff workforce.

Bengel: The Tampa Bay Lightning shall be eradicated within the First Spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

It might appear a tad untimely to place the Lightning within the grave so rapidly, however the indicators are there. That is the third-oldest workforce within the NHL and it is merely not almost as proficient of a roster than the one which went to the Stanley Cup Closing in every of the previous three seasons. They are going to miss Ondrej Palat and Ryan McDonagh greater than I feel lots of people notice. I additionally assume that the Japanese Convention goes to be extremely deep this season and that might simply sign a primary spherical exit for the Lightning. 

Bengel: Alex DeBrincat will lead the league in targets

I am additionally going to go off the board and predict this season’s goal-scoring chief. As when you could not inform, I am a giant believer in what the Senators are constructing. DeBrincat is recent off of a season wherein he scored 41 targets enjoying alongside Patrick Kane. Now he’ll be skating on a line with Claude Giroux a majority of the time and, whereas Giroux is not fairly the playmaker that Kane is at this stage of his profession, he is nonetheless an elite passer that DeBrincat will profit from enjoying with. It actually is not going to shock me if DeBrincat shatters his career-high in targets and leads the NHL in that division through the 2022-23 season.

Award Predictions