The NHL 2018 season is upon us, and though it’s only a month or so old, there’s already been plenty of hard hits, highlight reel goals, and great saves. Whether you’re a diehard or a casual hockey fan, we’ve put together this post to give you an idea of the top NHL players, top NHL teams, and our hockey sports picks. Let’s take a look:
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not?
Like we said in the opening, the hockey season is just over a month old, so take the NHL standings with a grain of salt for now – because they’re going to be in flux for a while before any team really gains separation. The same can be said about the NHL’s top players, though you tend to know what you’re getting from most players. Here are some observations so far to help you make your NHL picks:
- The good: Though superstar Auston Matthews is currently injured, the Leafs are off to a hot start, currently leading the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Other teams off to a good start are the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Carolina Hurricanes.
- The bad: With only one win and four points so far this season at the time of this writing, the Red Wings are currently the worst team in hockey. They’re currently playing with a goal differential of -20.
- Players to watch: Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is coming off of back-to-back league MVP years, San Jose’s Erik Karlsson looks for a big year after a trade, and don’t sleep on Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Winnipeg’s Patrick Laine, and Capitals goalie Braden Holtby.
NHL Season Headlines and Stories
Can Washington repeat as Stanley Cup Champions? Can the Las Vegas Golden Knights recapture some of the magic from their inaugural Stanley Cup runner up season from a year ago? Will Toronto finally be able to end its Stanley Cup drought? How will Russian superstar Ilya Kovalchuk fare in yet another return to the NHL? How will rookie defenseman and No. 1 overall pick Rasmus Dahlin look in his debut NHL season? So many questions, and a long season to get answers to all of them.
2018 Stanley Cup Favorites and Predictions
Every year, it seems like there’s a handful of Stanley Cup favorites and then a team that comes out of nowhere to make a run. Last year, it was the Las Vegas Golden Knights – an expansion franchise – getting all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. A year before that, it was an upstart Nashville Predators squad making noise. Here’s a look at our picks:
- The favorites: We think that there are a handful of serious Stanley Cup contenders. We like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and the Edmonton Oilers.
- The sleepers: Don’t sleep on The Columbus Blue Jackets, who are always seemingly on the cusp of winning. Another team that could make some noise is the Carolina Hurricanes.
Who do we have winning it all? We like the Toronto Maple Leafs. The addition of John Tavares complements an already talented roster, and we think the Leafs look poised to break their 50-year championship drought. That’s our pick. What’s yours?
Image Source: NHL