S18 Predictions

Back with the second season of predictions. Now that I am retired I have 0 bias and I wish every team the best of luck this season! I was able to get help from @Joffman- @dodsyyy- @mjbenny- @Kingerr_- and @oFlxcka for chipping in and adding the Best and Worst Contracts as well as the team’s X-Factor.


Metropolitan Division

1. Carolina Hurricanes
Best Contract: @Dirtyduster88
Worst Contract: @HypaD-
X-Factor: @DrxpLex-

2. New York Rangers
Best Contract: @Norris Dud
Worst Contract: @Gunitdex
X-Factor: @JaYI77I

3. Columbus Blue Jackets
Best Contract: @l-Bidas-l
Worst Contract: @Kesselysnipes420
X-Factor: @MasonM_

4. Washington Capitals (WC)
Best Contract: @Hall of Fame31
Worst Contract: @AyoDoogs
X-Factor: @Love 2 Rag

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (WC)
Best: Contract: @Lxppy--
Worst Contract: @Jyuhnn
X-Factor: @Streetsmurf

6. New Jersey Devils
Best Contract: @OGBobbyBartIett
Worst Contract: @KarlssonIsGod
X-Factor: @BoKnows x 88

7. Philadelphia Flyers
Best Contract: @TGil36
Worst Contract: @XxJusT4TheShoWxX
X-Factor: @Nhlbot

8. New York Islanders
Best Contract: @TURTLE-98-
Worst Contract: @AbailG93
X-Factor: @Eyekyew

This is probably the most balanced division in the league. Teams 3-7 on this list could genuinely be put in a hat and you could pick them out and choose the order. I originally had the Rangers winning this division but since the Gab ban I see them not having as much success until they fill that 9 mil cap player to replace Jay's contract. They are still my pick to win the cup though as once that hole is filled they have 0 weaknesses. The Islanders aren’t that bad for the bottom of the division, they are missing a top end player but Trauma said he was sending AbailG to the AHL but it looks like he’s on a Veteran Contract? Idk what’s going on there but regardless this is a division that when playoffs come it’ll be Rangers vs Hurricanes and I think the Rags pull through.


Atlantic Division

1. Florida Panthers
Best Contract: @Mreedxr
Worst Contract: @Lurkyy_73
X-Factor: @CaLL Me Jakoo

2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Best Contract: @Hervieux09
Worst Contract: @xBouch
X-Factor: @Swarko-

3. Ottawa Senators
Best Contract: @rudymac
Worst Contract: @BLong67-
X-Factor: @Gourr-

4. Boston Bruins
Best Contract: @TTV_Bruins460
Worst Contract: @PLP Kenny
X-Factor: @YourFriendBR

5. Detroit Red Wings
Best Contract: @CJx31
Worst Contract: @Theos-_-
X-Factor: @Akonvict21

6. Montreal Canadiens
Best Contract: @ZxchXO
Worst Contract: @budfly
X-Factor: @Daoustttt_12

7. Buffalo Sabres
Best Contract: @D_SPORS_5
Worst Contract: @dont_cone_me_bro
X-Factor: @Hriiz

8. Tampa Bay Lightning
Best Contract: @Tcx7
Worst Contract: @AssisDragon
X-Factor: @Bxrber-

I really underrated a lot of these teams last season but that won't happen again in S18. I think this is Florida’s division to lose. Going into the season, I didn't know if Bo was going to go down the tanking route again like he did with the Rangers in S16 but it looks like he’s going all in and I really like his team! It’ll be a defence first lineup that’ll have to win those 2-1, 3-2 games. Toronto is basically the same team as last season, they just brought everybody back at a higher cost which is fine but they just won’t dominate as much. Ottawa’s got a pretty good lineup as well, they will have one of the best Game 7 forward lineup's for sure. I just don’t see them getting any higher than 3rd in this division. As for the other teams in this division, I just don’t really like them that much. They all have gaping holes in their lineup that’ll become problems as the season goes on and that’s why I think none of them grab a Wild Card. I also wanna give a best of luck shoutout to AssisDragon, Tcx7, Bxrber and Lehkk 31 because that Tampa team is quite interesting. But at least the managers got their friends from the CHL and AHL so I’m sure it’ll be tons of fun!

Central Division

1. Arizona Coyotes
Best Contract: @mjbenny-
Worst Contract: @Darkl79l
X-Factor: @mjbenny-

2. Minnesota Wild
Best Contract: @Mxkar-
Worst Contract: @KSKrish
X-Factor: @MikeyD I7I

3. Dallas Stars
Best Contract: @zZenkyyy-
Worst Contract: @ct83--
X-Factor: @LaFleuR11

4. Nashville Predators (WC)
Best Contract: @Troak__
Worst Contract: @Mxrkstrom--
X-Factor: @Heqld

5. Winnipeg Jets
Best Contract: @wayzox-_-
Worst Contract: @Distraqted
X-Factor: @Sahzyyy

6. Colorado Avalanche
Best Contract: @Jibad-
Worst Contract: @that70srock
X-Factor: @Jxson71-

7. Chicago Blackhawks
Best Contract: @eHxns
Worst Contract: @ItsWillee
X-Factor: @l0lCorbzzl3l

8. St. Louis Blues
Best Contract: @Wickie 71
Worst Contract: @Gwanzie
X-Factor: @Wickie 71


Very similar to last season, this is Arizona’s division to lose. I really like a lot of the contracts they got this season and I think that’ll correspond to their success and I have them winning the Western Conference. My only concern with them is that neither of their goalies have played in the NHL recently. I don’t think Arizona, Minnesota, Dallas and Nashville will have problems grabbing playoff spots, not a huge fan of the other teams in this division though. Seems like we are getting a good idea at what the PPExperience is like and I wish everybody on that team the best of luck. As for the other teams like Chicago, Winnipeg and Colorado they aren’t bad teams they just aren’t playoff teams right now. Maybe some trades can change that but that’s my stance on them right now.


Pacific Division

1. San Jose Sharks
Best Contract: @Hockeyockey2
Worst Contract: @Baloukxd
X-Factor: @LiIjegren

2. Vegas Golden Knights
Best Contract: @J-yardy
Worst Contract: @SMiiRK-_-
X-Factor: @BRIEREx

3. Los Angeles Kings
Best Contract: @x-Saindou-l89l
Worst Contract: @Chonzzy
X-Factor: @AXENSTAR

4. Vancouver Canucks (WC)
Best Contract: @Bweissss
Worst Contract: @Lafontaine92
X-Factor: @Grindxr-

5. Edmonton Oilers
Best Contract: @Moongee-
Worst Contract: @nehxC
X-Factor: @l Ringy l97l

6. Anaheim Ducks
Best Contract: @Silkyaim
Honourable Mention: @datsyukmagicman
Worst Contract: @BaconStaysCrispy
X-Factor: @Time2Shineee

7. Calgary Flames
Best Contract: @Shlarchey
Worst Contract: @Holland98x
X-Factor: @LEGAL x 76

8. Seattle Kraken
Best Contract: @xmank
Worst Contract: @Lambert--22
X-Factor: @juicyywave29


I really like the team that Liljegren and Catigory built. Being first time managers you never know how bidding will go and they built a super balanced lineup. I think that’s what wins them this division. It’s gonna be super hard for Vegas to repeat as they have an entire new look to them. This is probably the second best division in the league, I really struggled to place a lot of these teams where they were. I like Anaheim’s team a lot but I just see no way that it doesn't become toxic. Pucky was already talking down to ugotwrecked yesterday in the shoutbox apparently and they haven’t even played a game yet! I’m super curious to see how this division plays out from 3-8 because it’s gonna be a dogfight till game #82.

Season Predictions:
Western Conference Winner: Arizona Coyotes
Eastern Conference Winner: New York Rangers
Stanley Cup Winner: New York Rangers

Good luck to everybody this season! Please don't take any offence to this thread, you can use it as motivation! Remember this is a FREE league and you guys are playing for FUN. If you want to catch me on any social medias talking about NHL or streaming you can follow my twitter https://twitter.com/bwubz_ and https://twitch.tv/bwubz !

 

Rags too good

 

Go Rags baby

 

Just a heads up, the playoffs aren't determined by division/wild cards this season. They're going back to regular conference standings (excluding 1st seeds). Message from LG McDonald to everyone last month:

• We have had some requests to change the playoff format back to a 1v8, 2v7 format to better support competitive play.
• In the AHL we have seen the 5th seed in a division have over 100 points, and not make the playoffs, where a number 1 seed in the other conference make the playoffs with an 85 point season.
• In the NHL with the current wild card situation, some of the first-round matches ups tend to be more difficult than the later rounds. That would be avoided with a 1v8 system.
• The regular season format would remain, and the divisional winners would be given the 1st and 2nd seeds based on their seasonal point total, where 3 thru 8 would be decided be based on regular-season point totals.
• The AHL divisional alignment will be based on the NHL alignment and not the AHL's real-life decision to run a 8-7-7-10 divisional breakdown.
• We are going to try this and see how it works for this season on both Xbox and PSN

 

@Gunitdex

 

6. Colorado Avalanche
Worst Contract: @that70srock

@TakeNotes97 ^

 

Thanks man

 

@HypaD- Lol you suck

 

What we’ve all been waiting for !

 

Yawn

 

@Unclejake_213 is the panthers X-factor.

 

Worst contract here…

 

No trust for the goalies on Arizona

 

When did I say Abail was going to the AHL?

 

Me too bud, me too…

 

@LaFleuR11 as an X-Factor is almost as funny as the X-Factor he's pulled in HUT this year.

What do you think @ImLxziee- ?

 

I asked you in the SB literally the day you got him and you said you were sending him down

 

Interesting. I was obviously joking. Lol.

 

How can a 1.5m contract be our team's worst contract lol

 

Every team needed a best contract, worst contract and X-Factor. Take it as a compliment!