With the 2020-21 NHL season starting in less than 48 hours, I thought I would share my predictions in what will be a 56-game sprint, before a hard fought two-month battle for the greatest trophy in all of sports, the Stanley Cup. I’m sure people will disagree with my predictions, and there’s nothing wrong with that. This is based off my knowledge of the game, and what teams did in the off-season to improve their teams, or what they didn’t do.
With the divisions being different then normal this year, and a shortened season, it’s likely going to be a close race to the beginning of the playoffs.
It was definitely tough making some of these predictions. There are a few teams that I had missing the playoffs, that could very well make it.
Anyways, let’s dive into the regular season standings first, followed by the playoffs, and then the awards.
Reminder: Top 4 teams in each division qualify for the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Qualified teams in bold and italics).
North Division
| Plc | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS |
| 1st | Toronto | 56 | 37 | 16 | 3 | 77 |
| 2nd | Montreal | 56 | 34 | 18 | 4 | 72 |
| 3rd | Calgary | 56 | 33 | 20 | 3 | 69 |
| 4th | Vancouver | 56 | 31 | 22 | 3 | 65 |
| 5th | Edmonton | 56 | 29 | 25 | 2 | 60 |
| 6th | Winnipeg | 56 | 28 | 24 | 4 | 60 |
| 7th | Ottawa | 56 | 23 | 28 | 5 | 51 |
East Division
| Plc | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS |
| 1st | Washington | 56 | 36 | 16 | 4 | 76 |
| 2nd | Philadelphia | 56 | 35 | 18 | 3 | 73 |
| 3rd | NY Rangers | 56 | 33 | 19 | 4 | 70 |
| 4th | Pittsburgh | 56 | 33 | 20 | 3 | 69 |
| 5th | Boston | 56 | 31 | 22 | 3 | 65 |
| 6th | Buffalo | 56 | 27 | 23 | 6 | 60 |
| 7th | NY Islanders | 56 | 25 | 25 | 6 | 56 |
| 8th | New Jersey | 56 | 21 | 32 | 3 | 45 |
Central Division
| Plc | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS |
| 1st | Tampa Bay | 56 | 39 | 14 | 3 | 81 |
| 2nd | Carolina | 56 | 36 | 16 | 4 | 76 |
| 3rd | Nashville | 56 | 35 | 18 | 3 | 73 |
| 4th | Dallas | 56 | 34 | 18 | 4 | 72 |
| 5th | Florida | 56 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 69 |
| 6th | Columbus | 56 | 32 | 21 | 3 | 67 |
| 7th | Chicago | 56 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 59 |
| 8th | Detroit | 56 | 21 | 33 | 2 | 44 |
West Division
| Plc | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS |
| 1st | Colorado | 56 | 40 | 14 | 2 | 82 |
| 2nd | Vegas | 56 | 37 | 15 | 4 | 78 |
| 3rd | St. Louis | 56 | 35 | 18 | 3 | 73 |
| 4th | Arizona | 56 | 33 | 19 | 4 | 70 |
| 5th | Anaheim | 56 | 30 | 23 | 3 | 63 |
| 6th | Minnesota | 56 | 29 | 24 | 3 | 61 |
| 7th | San Jose | 56 | 25 | 25 | 6 | 56 |
| 8th | Los Angeles | 56 | 23 | 28 | 5 | 51 |
2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs
North Division
- (N1) Toronto vs (N4) Vancouver….Maple Leafs in 6.
- (N2) Montreal vs (N3) Calgary….Canadiens in 7.
- (N1) Toronto vs (N2) Montreal….Maple Leafs in 7.
East Division
- (E1) Washington vs (E4) Pittsburgh….Capitals in 6.
- (E2) Philadelphia vs (E3) NY Rangers….Rangers in 6.
- (E1) Washington vs (E3) NY Rangers….Capitals in 5.
Central Division
- (C1) Tampa Bay vs (C4) Dallas….Lightning in 5.
- (C2) Carolina vs (C3) Nashville….Hurricanes in 6.
- (C1) Tampa Bay vs (C2) Carolina….Lightning in 7.
West Division
- (W1) Colorado vs (W4) Arizona….Avalanche in 4.
- (W2) Vegas vs (W3) St. Louis….Golden Knights in 6.
- (W1) Colorado vs (W2) Vegas….Avalanche in 7.
Stanley Cup Semi-Finals (a.k.a. Conference Final round)
Because there are no conference’s this season, the “Conference Final” will feature the winner of each division in the playoffs. The seeding will be determined by regular season standings.
- (1) Colorado vs (4) Washington….Avalanche in 7.
- (2) Tampa Bay vs (3) Toronto….Lightning in 6.
2021 Stanley Cup Final
- (1) Colorado Avalanche vs (2) Tampa Bay Lightning….Avalanche in 6.
2020-21 NHL Awards
- Rocket Richard Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin (WSH) (41 goals).
- Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM) (73 points).
- Hart Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM). Runners-up: Nathan MacKinnon (COL), Auston Matthews (TOR).
- Ted Lindsay Award: Connor McDavid (EDM). Runners-up: Nathan MacKinnon (COL), Auston Matthews (TOR).
- Lady Byng Trophy: Ryan O’Reilly (STL). Runners-up: Nathan MacKinnon (COL), Aleksander Barkov (FLA).
- Vezina Trophy: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL). Runners-up: Carter Hart (PHI), Jacob Markstrom (CGY).
- Norris Trophy: Victor Hedman (TBL). Runners-up: Roman Josi (NSH), Cale Makar (COL).
- Jack Adams Award: Jared Bednar (COL). Runners-up: Jon Cooper (TBL), Peter DeBoer (VGK).
- Selke Trophy: Patrice Bergeron (BOS). Runners-up: Sean Couturier (PHI), Aleksander Barkov (FLA).
- Calder Trophy: Kirill Kaprizov (MIN). Runners-up: Alexis Lafreniere (NYR), Alexander Romanov (MTL).
- Conn Smythe Trophy: Nathan MacKinnon (COL).
Thank you to everyone for reading. I have a feeling the 2020-21 season is going to be a good one!
Do you disagree with my predictions? Be sure to let me know who you think will make the playoffs, win the Stanley Cup, etc.
-Cooper.