Puck pundits predict all things NHL 2023-24

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This article was published 07/10/2023 (730 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new NHL season is nearly upon us. And we here at the Free Press are adding a few new bells and whistles to our extensive Winnipeg Jets coverage featuring hockey writers Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre.

Among them: A game-day newsletter, called The Warmup, which arrives in your email inbox a few hours before puck drop and will have everything you need to know to get ready. An online mailbag, which will appear the first Sunday of every month. A detailed prospects report, which will run the last Monday of every month.

And a weekly Saturday column, called Dump & Chase, in which Mike and Ken take you around the league with a collection of notes, quotes, anecdotes and much more.

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One of the most enjoyable — and often challenging — parts of a new season is the opportunity to make picks and predictions.

Enjoyable because it’s always fun to try and gaze into the crystal ball to predict the future. Challenging because it’s difficult to be right when looking 82 games from now (and beyond), given the parity and unpredictability of the league and the game.

Once the picks are in print or on paper (virtual or otherwise), the receipts are there for all to see — and don’t worry, we’ll check in on those receipts over the course of the season to see how we’re doing.

Let’s start with the divisional standings:

CENTRAL:

Wiebe:

• Colorado
• Dallas
• Winnipeg
• Minnesota
• Nashville
• St. Louis
• Arizona
• Chicago

McIntyre:

• Dallas
• Colorado
• Minnesota
• Winnipeg
• St. Louis
• Nashville
• Chicago
• Arizona

PACIFIC:

McIntyre:

• Edmonton
• Los Angeles
• Vegas
• Seattle
• Calgary
• Vancouver
• Anaheim
• San Jose

Wiebe:

• Edmonton
• Vegas Golden
• Los Angeles
• Calgary
• Seattle
• Vancouver
• Anaheim
• San Jose

ATLANTIC:

Wiebe:

• Toronto
• Buffalo
• Boston
• Ottawa
• Tampa Bay
• Florida
• Detroit
• Montreal

McIntyre:

• Toronto
• Boston
• Ottawa
• Florida
• Tampa Bay
• Buffalo
• Detroit
• Montreal

METROPOLITAN:

McIntyre:

• New Jersey
• Carolina
• Pittsburgh
• New York Rangers
• Washington
• Columbus
• Philadelphia
• New York Islanders

Wiebe:

• Carolina
• New Jersey
• New York Rangers
• Pittsburgh
• Washington
• Columbus
• New York Islanders
• Philadelphia

Western Conference final:

Wiebe: Vegas Golden Knights over Colorado Avalanche

McIntyre: Edmonton Oilers over Dallas Stars

Eastern Conference final:

McIntyre: Carolina Hurricanes over Toronto Maple Leafs

Wiebe: New Jersey Devils over Buffalo Sabres

Stanley Cup winner:

Wiebe: Vegas Golden Knights over New Jersey Devils

Defending a title is tough to do, but the most recent to do it (the Tampa Bay Lightning), the Golden Knights have the talent, depth and the hunger to get back to the top of the mountain in June.

McIntyre: Edmonton Oilers over Carolina Hurricanes

The Canadian curse is finally broken, as Connor and Leon and a stronger supporting cast than they’ve ever had bring Lord Stanley back to the Great White North.

Now on to the individual awards…

Hart Trophy:

Wiebe: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

McIntyre: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Art Ross Trophy:

McIntyre: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Wiebe: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Rocket Richard Trophy:

Wiebe: David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

McIntyre: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Norris Trophy:

McIntyre: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Wiebe: Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars

Vezina Trophy:

Wiebe: Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars

McIntyre: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

Calder Trophy:

McIntyre: Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks

Wiebe: Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks

Selke Trophy:

Wiebe: Phillip Danault, Los Angeles Kings

McIntyre: Joel Erikkson Ek, Minnesota Wild

Lady Byng Trophy:

McIntyre: Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils

Wiebe: Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils

Jack Adams Trophy:

Wiebe: Don Granato, Buffalo Sabres

McIntyre: Lindy Ruff, New Jersey Devils

AROUND THE GLASS:

Jets forward Nate Schmidt might just have a future as a stand-up comedian. He brought his one-man show to the media scrum on Friday afternoon at Hockey For All Centre.

A few highlights:

On the yellow non-contact jersey he wore earlier in training camp: “I looked like a huge banana.”

On having Brenden Dillon as his defence partner: “We both love to chatter a lot. We’re usually fighting for air.”

On who gets the last word: “He’s usually louder. I’m just more persistent.”

 

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The Jets are enjoying some team bonding Saturday in the form of a group fishing trip. There’s no question goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is the master angler of the group. Fun story: With the team in Dallas last U.S. Thanksgiving and everyone headed to the Cowboys NFL game, Hellebuyck took a pass in order to go drop a line in a nearby lake.

However, the three-time Vezina finalist might have some stiff competition from newly acquired forward Alex Iafallo, an avid outdoorsman himself who was boasting earlier this week in the dressing room about the sturgeon he caught during a training camp off-day.

We’ll make sure to check in on who had the bigger haul when the team returns to practice next week, as no doubt the fish tales will be flying.

 

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It’s a tough blow for the Minnesota Wild as captain Jared Spurgeon is listed as week-to-week after suffering an upper-body injury in a preseason tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.

Spurgeon is a minute muncher who plays in all situations, so he’ll be tough to replace. His loss likely opens up some additional power play minutes for Brandon product Calen Addison — who is coming off a career-best three goals and 29 points in 62 games last season but was a frequent healthy scratch after Minnesota acquired John Klingberg at the trade deadline.

Earlier in the week, the Wild got some important business complete, inking forwards Marcus Foligno (four years, US$16 million) and Mats Zuccarello (two years, US$8.25 million) to contract extensions.

Foligno and Zuccarello bring experience, grit and important secondary production for a team that’s trying to nail down a playoff spot in the Central Division.

 

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The Jets may have been blanked in their final preseason game Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, but a few former players fared much better in their new hockey homes on the same night.

We couldn’t help but notice that Pierre-Luc Dubois (Los Angeles), Karson Kuhlman (New York Islanders) and Kevin Stenlund (Florida Panthers) all lit the lamp. A 2022-23 alumni hat trick!

Winnipeg fans won’t have to wait long to see Dubois and Stenlund make their returns to Canada Life Centre, with both the Panthers and Kings the first two regular-season visitors on Oct. 14 and Oct. 17.

 

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If there is a subject you would like to see tackled in this space, feel free to send an email to either one of us or reach out through our social media channels:

Thanks for following along for the ride. Enjoy the season ahead.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: WiebesWorld

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: mikemcintyrewpg