Playoffs predictions - Eastern Conference

NHL playoffs are approaching quickly, and the teams are ready to fight to get the precious honors or the Stanley Cup. In this article, I will make some predictions for playoffs.


Washington vs. Philadelphia  

I think this series is pretty obvious; Capitals win. I think they will win the series 4-1. I am not sure that the Flyers will hold on. I think this because the Capitals have been a dominant force in the league, also winning the Presidents trophies. We will see if i was right...


Tampa Bay vs. Detroit

Tampa Bay in 6 games is my prediction. It will be a tight one. I just think Tampa is a more dynamic and young team than Detroit, but Hockeytown does have some experience. We will see if its an experienced team or young and dynamic team. We will follow this one closely


Pittsburgh vs. New York Rangers

I think this one will be the tightest of the Eastern Conference, but I think Pittsburgh will avenge themselves. I think Pittsburgh will win in a thrilling game seven. Even though NYR beat Pittsburgh in the two last years, I think history will change this time...


Florida vs New York Islanders

Another interesting series to follow. I think New York Islanders in seven games. I think the Panthers are not experienced, because they do have a young team. This series will be interesting to see.


Write your comments below!

NHL playoffs: Its heating up in the Eastern Conference!

NHL playoffs are approaching soon in the league, and teams are still fighting for there participation. Its heating up, but mostly in the Eastern Conference.

This is a board for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference:

Atlantic division                             GP            PTS 

1.  Tampa Bay                           67             83  
2.  Boston                                  68             83
3.  Florida                                  66             81

Metropolitan division                                             

1.  Washington                          66             102
2.  New York (Rangers)            67             84
3.  New York (Islanders)           64             81

Wildcard spot                                                         

1.  Pittsburgh                             66             76
2.  Detroit                                  66             75
3.  Philadelphia                          65            73
4.  Carolina                                67            71
5.  Ottawa                                  68             70
6.  New Jersey                           67              69
7.  Montreal                               67              68
8.  Columbus                             67              64
9.  Buffalo                                 68              63
10.  Toronto                                65               53

Legend:

PTS: Points

GP: Games played

- Teams in red are currently in playoffs, but no teams are guaranteed yet -

So that is the board. You can probably deduct that Washington has a very small chance of not making the playoffs. They're currently the league leaders with 102 points. The second and third teams are St. Louis and Chicago with 87 and 85 points respectively.

I think that the Penguins are going to stay in the playoffs, but I am uncertain for the Detroit Red Wings. I think that either Philly or Carolina are going to go pass them in the standings. Its something we will need to watch closely over the next few days or even maybe weeks.

I think that all the teams under Ottawa (including Ottawa) are unfortunately not going to make the playoffs this season. I think most of the teams that are currently in the playoffs will stay.

I'm excited to see what teams make and don't make the postseason. Will Ottawa do like last year, or will a team imitate them this year? Leave your comments below.

----- The stats board is of March 9th 2016 ----- 

Trade deadline: Eric Staal

Trade deadline is approaching soon, and in the many names tossed around, I think C Eric Staal is one of the best players to get traded.

picture source: jsportsblogger.wordpress.com

Eric Staal was the 2nd overall pick in the 2003 entry draft, right after Marc-Andre Fleury. The thirty-one year old forward has won one Stanley Cup, with the Carolina Hurricanes, the team he is still with currently. He is in his last contract year, and will receive a total of 8.25 million dollars this season.

Eric has a total of 10 goals and 33 points in 63 games. Its not so good when you think about it. In the 2013-14 season, Eric had 21 goals and 61 points in 79 games. Eric is still a natural scorer, so maybe he's just having a bad streak. Maybe he'll have another 100 point season, like he had in the 2004-05 season.

Eric Staal has two brothers in the NHL. One of them, Jordan Staal, plays on the Hurricanes too. Marc, the other one, is a D-man for the New York Rangers.

Staal might not get traded, because Carolina is in the playoffs race. They are currently two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Pittsburgh has four games in hand.

I do see the Montreal Canadians try to get Eric Staal, but they aren't really in the playoff race anymore, so i'd be surprised if they do so. Montreal do need a first line forward though.

Another team that might try to get his services is the New York Rangers.

Do you think Eric Staal will get traded and where?

Leave some comments below.

Trade deadline: Who's next?

Trade deadline is scheduled to be February 29th this year, so next Monday, and less and less players are available. Many players have already changed teams like Andrew Ladd, Roman Polak and Dion Phaneuf, but there are still some options.

Picture source: rotogrinders.com 

Radim Vrbata, forward for the Vancouver Canucks, is one of the players who hasn't yet been traded. At the age of 34, Vrbata still has some potential and could help a team who need offense and some experience. This year, he has accumulated 12 goals and 24 points in 57 games played. Its not as good as last season, where he had 31 goals and 63 points in 79 games. Vrbata could be an interesting fit for many teams. I thought he would've gone to Chicago, but they traded for Andrew Ladd, just yesterday. I'm interested to see where he lands, if he gets traded.

Picture source: allhabs.net 

Secondly, Danish forward Mikkel Boedker from the Coyotes is an interesting fit for multiple teams. Only 26, Boedker has a bright career ahead of him. He is currently in his last year of a 3.75 million dollar deal, so even the teams with a high salary cap could try to work an agreement to get him. He currently has 13 goals and 38 points in 61 games. This young forward is a great fit for a team who needs a young dynamic forward for a long time. I see Boedker with the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit doesn't have a bad defensive squad, but they need to score more goals. I'm sure Boedker would help...

Picture source: causewaycrowd.com 

Lastly, 30 year old forward Loui Eriksson of the Boston Bruins is another good fit for many teams. He currently has a great season with 23 goals and 48 points in 61 games this season. The Swedish forward was in the Tyler Seguin trade a few years ago. He is currently in the last year of his contract. Boston might try to get a D-man, because they aren't very strong defensively. Rumors send D Kevin Shattenkirk and D Matt Dumba, but Boston will have to give much more than Eriksson to get those players.

These are three players that have a possibility of getting traded. Will it be today or on the 29th?



Leave some comments below.

   

Trade deadline: Andrew Ladd

NHL trade deadline is February 29th, 2016. Teams will try to fill in needs for there team before entering the playoffs. Many interesting players are going to be traded soon and the forward Andrew Ladd of the Winnipeg Jets is in this list.

The Winnipeg Jets captain is currently in his last contract year, earning 4.5 million dollars. They resigned Byfuglien earlier in the season to a contract extension, so it will be surprising to see Ladd resign with the Jets next season.

Many teams are interesting in him for plenty of reasons.

Image website source: http://jets.nhl.com/club/gallery.htm?id=36352

Firstly, Ladd has experience in the league, winning the Stanley Cup twice, once with Carolina in the 2005-06 season and another with Chicago in the 2009-10 season. Secondly, he can bring depth to a team and be great on a second or third line. Lastly, his statistics aren't bad. He has 17 goals and 34 points in 59 games this season. Its okay, but we've seen him do better. In the 2014-15 season, he had a career high of 62 points in 81 games.

I think that two teams could potentially try to trade for Ladd.

Florida Panthers are one of them. The Panthers are a young and dynamic team, and they're leading the Atlantic division with 75 points. they have Jaromir Jagr, but if they want even more experience to help the younger players, they should get Ladd. Also, they have enough salary cap to bring him. He would be a great addition to there depth. Also, General Manager Dale Tallon was the GM of the Chicago Blackhawks during the organization's Stanley Cup win of 2009-10, so Ladd and Tallon know each other.

The other team that could try to trade for Andrew Ladd is the Chicago Blackhawks. Ladd has already won once with them, so why not twice? Ladd know the city and the organization well. He might be better than the previous acquisitions GM Stan Bowman had, like for example Antoine Vermette. Anyways, it's less probable that Ladd lands in Chicago because the team is also interested in Canucks forwards Radim Vrbata and Mikkel Boedker from the Coyotes. They'll have to choose between the three of them...

I'll be interested to see where Ladd gets traded

Leave some comments down below in the comment section  

  

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