It’s time to ring in the New Year, and that always makes for a perfect prediction window. Roundtable members: Offer your wildest hockey prediction for the calendar year 2023. The spicier the take, the better.
MATT LARKIN: Here goes nothin’. Patrick Kane wins the Stanley Cup. With the situation getting uglier by the day in Chicago, I predict he waives his no-movement clause. Because he has that veto power, he’ll have an influence on his destination, which means he’ll go to a real contender. Given his pedigree as one of the greatest clutch players in NHL history, I believe he’ll put his new team over the top, whether it’s the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs — you get the idea. Kane will be the missing piece and will end up earning his fourth Cup ring in spring 2023.
NICK ALBERGA: Patrice Bergeron retires following the 2022-23 campaign. For some reason, this season for Boston has had that “Last Dance” feel from the onset. It’s probably the conspiracy theorist in me, but every time I hear a Bruins player talk about Bergeron, it’s like they know this is it — hence the ridiculous start. And let’s be honest, the 37-year-old has nothing else to prove. He’s done it all. On top of that, he just strikes me as a guy who has no problem calling it quits when he clearly still has plenty left in the tank. For me, the B’s feel like a team of destiny. At the very least, I hope there’s a camera crew following their every move.
STEVEN ELLIS: This…is finally the year the Toronto Maple Leafs break the playoff curse. I’m not sure I would have said that before the year based on their goaltending. But the fact Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov are both capable of winning games — and they finally have some defensive depth — is a huge thing. I think they could still use someone capable of putting some pucks in the net in the bottom six, but I do think this is finally the year that Toronto has learned from its past failures and can make some noise. After the first round, though? I’m not convinced yet.
MIKE MCKENNA: My prediction is that not one NHL head coach gets fired before the end of the 2022-23 NHL regular season. I mean, who’s actually in trouble? Bruce Boudreau? Vancouver is playing decent enough hockey and the team will clearly be selling at the trade deadline. So I think Bruce makes it to the end. I don’t think Vancouver’s ownership wants to be paying three head coaches (Travis Green is still collecting a check), much less make a hurried decision midseason. How about Dallas Eakins? Anaheim is terrible. But why would they fire Eakins midseason? There’s really no need considering the team is in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes and Eakin’s contract is expiring. Brad Larsen in Columbus? D.J. Smith in Ottawa? Both teams have been ravaged by injury and expectations weren’t high to begin with. Basically, I don’t see any tire fires around the league right now. Obviously, that can change. But I don’t think the real coaching fireworks happen until the offseason when Barry Trotz tosses his hat back in the ring.
