point per game man prior to the toe injury last season. He’ll play 25 minutes per game and accumulate 40+ points, while quarterbacking the league’s best power play unit.
Maurice Richard Memorial Trophy (Top goal scorer)
Alex Muscat – Steven Stamkos.
Alexis Boucher - Steven Stamkos – Stamkos will continue his goal scoring wizardry for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He faded a little at the end of last season, but this sniper will be in the hunt for another goal scoring title. It will be difficult not to be with Marty St. Louis setting him up on a regular basis.
Cheryl Adams – Steven Stamkos - This is a tough call among some excellent talent across the league, but I’m going with Stamkos on this one. The Lightning have made some interesting tweaks to their roster this summer and I think Stamkos will continue his high-scoring career.
Christopher Triantafilis - Steven Stamkos - There is so much offensive talent around him. Martin St. Louis and Stamkos have unbelievable chemistry together and now Tampa has added Jonathan Drouin to the mix. Stamkos is going to score a lot of goals this season. He could hit 60 again.
Cris Cohen – Steven Stamkos - With all the attention placed on Crosby, Malkin and Ovechkin, Stamkos has quietly gone about having 40+ goal seasons 3 of the last 4 years (and would have been on pace for around 50 in a full 82 game season last year). With that track record of consistency, he’ll add a third Rocket Richard Trophy to his impressive resume.
Jon Pitonzo – Alex Ovechkin.
Puck Sage - Steven Stamkos.
Seth Levin - Steven Stamkos - A goal-scoring machine, Stamkos can put the puck away from just about anywhere and in multiple fashions, be it a one-timer, breakaway or anything else.
Tom Dougherty - Phil Kessel - Toronto takes a step forward from last year and he’s the man who leads the way by scoring tons of goals.
W.B. Philp – Alex Ovechkin – Because in Russia, puck shoots you.
Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the year)
Alex Muscat – Jonathan Drouin.
Alexis Boucher – Jonathan Drouin - He may not have gone first overall, but Drouin will make a huge mark in the coming season. If he sees extended playing time with Stamkos or Marty St. Louis, his skills will be on full display. Drouin has already shown off his speed and puck virtuosity in the preseason. This kid is one to watch.
Cheryl Adams - Seth Jones - While I think there are some very exciting new draftees and other prospects ready to make the leap to the NHL, I think Jones will make Colorado, Florida, and Tampa Bay regret not picking him number one.
Christopher Triantafilis - Jonathan Drouin - He will be in the best situation to succeed. The third overall pick in this year’s draft is with Stamkos and St. Louis. That offense will be scoring a lot of goals in Tampa, and Drouin will have a hand in that.
Cris Cohen - Jonathan Drouin - If it works, playing with Stamkos and St. Louis will make 2013's third overall pick shine even brighter.
Puck Sage - Seth Jones.
Seth Levin - Seth Jones - Playing alongside Shea Weber might help. However, being passed over by three teams, Jones will be motivated to prove his doubters wrong, and should help Nashville get back to the playoffs this season.
Tom Dougherty - Jonathan Drouin - Seriously, this kid is a superstar and he’ll blow people away in his rookie year. He’ll have many points.
W.B. Philp – Seth Jones – Driven by being passed up in the draft, the NHL ready Jones will start on the third pairing and eventually play big minutes on Nashville’s blue line.
Lady Byng Trophy (Player who displays gentlemanly conduct)
Alex Muscat – John Tavares.
Alexis Boucher - Pavel Datsyuk - It’s been too long since his last broken English speech at the awards show.
Cheryl Adams – Patrick Kane - Kane is going to prove just how mature of a player he’s become and wrap this up. That is, of course, so long as publicly undressing defensemen and shaming goalies with his sick, filthy moves doesn’t detract from “gentlemanly” conduct.
Christopher Triantafilis - Matt Moulson - . Rarely penalized, Moulson has lost out to St. Louis in each of the previous two seasons. Not this year. Tavares is about to take his game to the next level, and he will be bringing Moulson along with him. 70+ points and fewer than 10 penalty minutes will earn Moulson the Lady Byng in 2013-14.
Cris Cohen – Teemu Selanne - Not that an athlete of his caliber who oozes nothing but class on and off the ice couldn’t win it strictly on those merits, but I expect this to be the professional hockey writers’ sentimental farewell to the “Finnish Flash” for what is his final NHL season.
Jon Pitonzo – Martin St. Louis.
Puck Sage – Martin St. Louis.
Seth Levin - Teemu Selanne - May be the parting gift in what has been a career full of things to celebrate, Selanne is perhaps the most respected player in the league today and is considered a true gentleman. It would only be right to top it off with his first Lady Byng Trophy.
Tom Dougherty - Martin St. Louis - He wins it a lot, so it’s tough to say anyone else.
W.B. Philp – Martin St. Louis – Who else?
2014 Olympic Gold Medal
Alex Muscat – USA.
Alexis Boucher – USA – The United States team has come a long way in recent years and that definitely showed in 2010. If anything, the 2014 squad will be better. USA all the way. Yes, I am biased.
Cheryl Adams – Sweden - As much as I want to say Team USA, I’m looking for Scandinavia and the Europeans to really excel on the larger ice sheet. I’m very tempted to say Team Finland – their goaltending choices alone (Rinne, Rask, Niemi, Backstrom) could single-handedly carry their teams to victory; but unfortunately, I’m not sure their forwards/d-corps could balance that out. Team Switzerland is also highly tempting, as a marvelous underdog story follow-up to last year’s World Championship. But ultimately, my prediction is for a beautiful and deep Team Sweden to own the Olympics in Sochi.
Benjamin Woodward – USA - If I answered anyone else, where's the fun?
Christopher Triantafilis – Canada - Every team has become so close in terms of competitiveness; however, I think Canada comes away with gold in Sochi, the x-factor being Tavares, who is arguably Canada’s most dominant international player over the past four years.
Cris Cohen – Canada - Much as it pains me, even though the goaltending is not on par with say, Team USA, I expect Canada to repeat. There is so much Canadian talent, they could probably ice two highly competitive teams at the Olympics, if they were allowed to.
Jon Pitonzo – USA.
Puck Sage – Finland.
Seth Levin – Canada - Russia will be set up to fail in front of the home folks and the pressure will be immense. Their roster simply is deeper than any other country, although goaltending will be the one potential downfall as the selection of the starter will be key.
Tom Dougherty – Canada - As much as I think the US will compete, I just can’t pick against Team Canada. It’s their sport; their game and the best players still come from that country. Canada over USA…again.
W.B. Philp – Canada – Team Canada’s roster will be an embarrassment of riches. They’ll repeat, rather easily.
We conclude with our writers answering the eight hot-button questions concerning the 2013-14 NHL season.
First coach fired.
Alex Muscat – Claude Noel.
Alexis Boucher - Peter Laviolette.
Benjamin Woodward – John Tortorella - He may not be the first to go, but I can't foresee the marriage between Torts and the Canucks lasting very long.
Cheryl Adams - I’m still trying to figure out who WASN’T fired last year.
Christopher Triantafilis – Kirk Muller.
Cris Cohen – Peter Laviolette - If the Steve Mason and Ray Emery tandem doesn't work and Vincent Lecavalier turns out to have not much left in the tank, who else could the Flyers make pay?
Puck Sage – Dan Bylsma.
Seth Levin – Mike Yeo.
Tom Dougherty - Dan Bylsma – I think the goalie situation costs him his job.
W.B. Philp – Dan Bylsma – Because of his sick and twisted love affair with Marc-Andre Fleury, he’s forced into hiding.
First player to be “Shanabanned.”
Alex Muscat – Duncan Keith.
Alexis Boucher - Matt Cooke - He’s been dormant for far too long.
Benjamin Woodward – Steve Ott.
Cheryl Adams - Raffi Torr– oh wait, he’s on IR.
Christopher Triantafilis – The Matt Cooke of old returns.
Cris Cohen - (Is there anyone left to Shanaban with how the preseason’s gone?) Patrick Kaleta. Would it be an NHL season if he didn't earn at least one suspension-worthy thing?
Puck Sage – Adam Burish or Andrew Shaw.
Seth Levin - Does Phil Kessel / David Clarkson not count? If not, Colton Orr on what will be the inevitable retaliation
Tom Dougherty – John Scott.
W.B. Philp – Colton Orr – He’ll take it on himself to retaliate and avenge Lumberjack Kessel.
Most likely to leave the bench for an altercation.
Alex Muscat - David Clarkson..oops, that happened already. I’d say Rich Clune.
Alexis Boucher - Radko Gudas’ beard.
Benjamin Woodward – John Scott.
Cheryl Adams - I think the Buffalo - Toronto preseason game has ensured that it won’t be a Toronto player.
Christopher Triantafilis - Nobody – not after David Clarkson did so already.
Cris Cohen - Raffi Torres - Whenever he returns from his ACL woes.
Puck Sage – P.J. Stock.
Seth Levin - Do we really expect a third? I'll say John Scott. He seems to be a nice sacrificial lamb.
Tom Dougherty – John Scott.
W.B. Philp – Not sure which one, but, if history tells us anything, it will be an Avalanche player as new coach Patrick Roy will direct someone to go over the boards and throw down on an already turtled opposing player.
First player romantically linked to Sean Avery in another online gag from @Iamseanavery.
Alex Muscat - Certainly not Dion Phaneuf.
Alexis Boucher - Paul Bissonnette - Already famous on Twitter, it’s a natural next step for the fourth liner. Also: not afraid to don a speedo.
Benjamin Woodward – Paul Bissonnette.
Cheryl Adams - No comment. #youcanplay
Christopher Triantafilis – James Wisniewski.
Cris Cohen - Dion Phaneuf - Figuring out which one of the two would be considered the "sloppy seconds" of the pair would be fun for all.
Puck Sage - Jeff Skinner.
Tom Dougherty – Dion Phaneuf.
W.B. Philp – James Wisniewski – Gesture or invitation? You decide.
First Fanbase to have a conniption.
Alex Muscat – Vancouver Canucks.
Alexis Boucher - Toronto Maple Leafs - It’s really just a matter of time.
Benjamin Woodward – Toronto Maple Leafs – Isn’t it always?
Cheryl Adams - Who plays the earliest games on Opening Night? Toronto vs. Montréal? Ok – whichever of those teams receives the first weak penalty call.
Christopher Triantafilis – New York Islanders - Because when aren’t they?
Cris Cohen – Vancouver Canucks - (Although the sky already seems to be falling on Broadway, according to some in my Twitter feed)
Jon Pitonzo – Washington Capitals.
Puck Sage – Pittsburgh Penguins.
Seth Levin – Toronto Maple Leafs.
Tom Dougherty – Boston Bruins.
W.B. Philp – Buffalo Sabres – After sitting through just two games with the team wearing the new Nashville Predators ugly cousin’s third jersey, that looks as if it is held together with Duct Tape, the Buffalo fans simply stop showing up.
First player penalized for “tucking.”
Alex Muscat – Nail Yakupov.
Alexis Boucher – Alex Ovechkin.
Benjamin Woodward – Pavel Datsyuk.
Cheryl Adams - Alex Ovechkin - He will probably spend the entire first game with his jersey tucked in, in protest.
Christopher Triantafilis – Jaromir Jagr.
Cris Cohen – Alex Ovechkin - Seems obvious, but with it being a signature of his, he'll likely be the most closely watched and likely nailed for it.
Jon Pitonzo – Alex Ovechkin.
Puck Sage – Alex Ovechkin.
Seth Levin – Alex Ovechkin.
Tom Dougherty – Alex Ovechkin.
W.B. Philp – Alex Ovechkin – Because in Russia sweater tucks you.
First goalie to blame diminished pad size for a poor performance.
Alex Muscat – Ray Emery.
Alexis Boucher - Marc-Andre Fleury.
Benjamin Woodward – Roberto Luongo.
Cheryl Adams – Mike Smith.
Christopher Triantafilis – Ryan Miller.
Cris Cohen – Roberto Luongo - And he'll do it via a witty tweet
Jon Pitonzo – Tim Thomas.
Seth Levin – J.S. Giguere – I would love to say Lundqvist, but I don't see him using it as an excuse.
Tom Dougherty – Ryan Miller – He whines about everything.
W.B. Philp – Patrick Roy.
Over/under - 10 games for Torts to “Brooksie” a writer.
Alex Muscat - Under! I give it eight games.
Alexis Boucher – Under.
Benjamin Woodward – Under.
Cheryl Adams – Under - As his patience is probably worn thin from a losing preseason and as he begins to relax and turn back to regular Torts vs. New-In-Town-Torts, I’m thinking that whoever hands the Canucks their most brutal loss vs. a ‘so-so’ team early in the season – maybe after the Sabres game on Oct. 17th. (8)
Christopher Triantafilis – Under- Torts is Torts.
Cris Cohen – Under – But it depends on whether or not the offending writer is someone he perceives that got beat up at the bus stop as a kid. I’ll take the under and give it seven games into the season.
Puck Sage – Over.
Seth Levin – Under.
Tom Dougherty – Under…WAY under.
W.B. Philp – Next question.