2016-17 NHL regular season projections | 2017 NHL playoff predictions

Here are the early 2016 – 17 NHL regular season projections and 2017 NHL playoff predictions.

The Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets will miss the playoffs again. Is this the year the Detroit Red Wings finally miss the playoffs? The Red Wings, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens will fight for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be a top contender for the 2017 #1 overall pick.

In the Western Conference, the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets will fight for the final wild card spot. The Vancouver Canucks will be the worst team in the Western Conference.

(WC) = Wild Card Teams (MP) = Missed Playoffs

2016-2017 NHL Regular Season Predictions

Eastern Conference

Metropolitan Division

1. Pittsburgh Penguins
2. Washington Capitals
3. Philadelphia Flyers
4. New York Islanders (WC)
5. New York Rangers (MP)
6. New Jersey Devils (MP)
7. Carolina Hurricanes (MP)
8. Columbus Blue Jackets (MP)

Atlantic Division

1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Florida Panthers
3. Buffalo Sabres
4. Montreal Canadiens (WC)
5. Ottawa Senators (MP)
6. Detroit Red Wings (MP)
7. Boston Bruins (MP)
8. Toronto Maple Leafs (MP)

Western Conference

Central Division

1. Dallas Stars
2. St. Louis Blues
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Nashville Predators (WC)
5. Winnipeg Jets (WC)
6. Colorado Avalanche (MP)
7. Minnesota Wild (MP)

Pacific Division

1. Anaheim Ducks
2. San Jose Sharks
3. LA Kings
4. Calgary Flames (MP)
5. Edmonton Oilers (MP)
6. Arizona Coyotes (MP)
7. Vancouver Canucks(MP)

2017 NHL Playoff Predictions

2017 Eastern Conference Playoffs

Playoff Round 1

#1 seed Pittsburgh vs #8 seed New York Islanders Pittsburgh wins (4-1)
#2 seed Tampa Bay Lightning vs #7 seed Montreal Canadiens Tampa Bay wins (4-2)
Division Match-up #2 Washington Capitals vs #3 Philadelphia Flyers Washington wins (4-2)
Division Match-up #2 Florida Panthers vs #3 Buffalo Sabres Florida wins (4-3)

Playoff Round 2

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals Washington wins (4-3)
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Tampa wins (4-2)

Eastern Conference Finals

Washington Capitals vs Tampa Bay Lightning Washington wins (4-3)

2017 Western Conference Playoffs

Playoff Round 1

#1 seed Dallas Stars vs #8 seed Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg wins (4-3)
#2 seed Anaheim Ducks vs #7 seed Nashville Predators Nashville wins (4-2)
Division Match-up #2 St. Louis Blues vs #3 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago wins (4-3)
Division Match-up #2 San Jose Sharks vs #3 LA Kings San Jose wins (4-2)

Playoff Round 2

Chicago Blackhawks vs Nashville Predators Nashville wins (4-3)
San Jose Sharks vs Winnipeg Jets San Jose wins (4-2)

Western Conference Finals

San Jose Sharks vs Nashville Predators Nashville wins (4-2)

2017 Stanley Cup Finals

Washington Capitals vs Nashville Predators Washington Wins (4-2)