The NHL prediction contest: midseason reflections and lessons learned
The annual prediction contest is a highlight for me, as it allows me to feel better about my own poor predictions and reminds us all of the NHL's unpredictability. This year, with over a thousand fans participating, it's even more intriguing.
Let's dive into the results and see how we're doing so far.
Playoff Teams: Most of you have done well, picking Dallas, Carolina, Vegas, Edmonton, and Colorado as the top five. The Oilers and Knights are on a bumpy road, but not in danger of missing the postseason. The Lightning is also a safe choice. However, the Leafs, Panthers, Jets, and Devils are outside the playoff picture, and there's still time for them to turn things around.
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Middle 16 Teams: The NHL's middle is muddier than ever, with most teams in the running. Utah, St. Louis, Montreal, and the Senators are not looking great. Detroit, Vancouver, Calgary, and Columbus are also in the mix. The Jets, with the least confidence in predicting their season, were right to be nervous, as they may end the season with the biggest standings plunge.
Coaching and GM Safety: Only one coaching change has occurred, and one GM has been fired. Dean Evason was the 11th safest coach, and most seem safe barring unexpected events.
Goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck was a near-unanimous pick, but his injury is a concern. Jake Oettinger and Ilya Sorokin are safe, but Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin could be dicey. Sam Montembeault is likely to miss based on performance.
Rookies: Ivan Demidov and Zeev Buium are safe picks. Michael Misa is a long shot, and Matthew Schaefer is the Calder favorite, despite being the No. 1 pick on only 252 entries.
Defensemen: Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are safe bets. Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Werenski, and Miro Heiskanen are also in the top 10. Adam Fox is a potential trouble spot, while Moritz Seider could be emerging as a front-runner.
Hart Trophy Contenders: Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov, and Leon Draisaitl are safely in play. Auston Matthews needs a strong second half, and Macklin Celebrini is a genuine Hart contender, despite being seen by only six.
Olympics Goal Scorers: No player on any entry has been proven right so far. Jason Robertson and Cole Caufield were underpicked, while Bill Guerin is completely vindicated.
Bonus Question: Connor McDavid is on track, but David Pastrnak, Kirill Kaprizov, and Tage Thompson need to improve. Nathan MacKinnon is threatening to run away with the goals title, but was underpicked.
The author concludes by reminding readers that predicting the NHL is a challenging task, and encourages them to keep participating in the contest.
