NHL training camp is right around the corner, and there’s so much potential for this to be one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory. The salary cap is rising, there’s more parity than ever, and several potential generational players are either in their primes or headed there.
We’ve still got a month until opening night, so let’s ease back in with a prediction for each NHL team.
The Prediction: The Ducks are going to finish the season just below .500, which will be a significant improvement on last season’s 27-50-5 record.
Why?: Because the youth movement and head coach Greg Cronin took a step forward and meshed together quite well at times last season. Trevor Zegras is healthy and is rocking a biblically accurate mullet, which feels ominous. Also, management elected to keep Frank Vatrano last trade deadline to provide the “kids” with some high-scoring veteran presence.
They’re doing it right, and that doesn’t mean they’re going to have a winning record next season, but they’re going to take another big step forward.
Prediction: Jeremy Swayman will be signed by opening night.
Why?: Imagine you’re Swayman’s agent. Arbitration was already tough and Swayman publicly said he felt unappreciated. Then he comes in and puts up career numbers that rank among the best in the league, which he only elevates in the playoffs.
Then as he hits restricted free agency, his tandem partner, Linus Ullmark, gets traded. You rarely see anything like a 50-50 tandem between two Vezina-caliber goalies, let alone one leaving while the other is unsigned.
This is leverage an agent absolutely needs to milk, and Swayman’s camp is doing so. Both sides realize the situation they’re in, and it’s leading to some drama and reluctance to budge all around. But you get the feeling something will give in time for the regular season.
Prediction: Devon Levi will break out.
Why?: Look, I lean negative on the Sabres because I’m wrong every time I’m positive. But if we zoom in, enticing young goalie Levi had some time to taste the NHL last season, and he was under immense pressure through no fault of his own.
We expected too much out of him because the Sabres put him in that position, but his and our expectations are tempered now. He’s going to have a strong season in net, regardless of what’ll go on around him.
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