Predicting the 2023–24 NHL Regular Season — Western Conference
My predictions for last season’s Stanley Cup were about as awful as one could have had. Perhaps the real predictions were the friends we made along the way, or however that goes. Anyways, here’s how I figure the new NHL season will go. A blurb for every single team. This one might take a while to go through, but enjoy my inevitable jinxes regardless. We start with the west.
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks — Rebuilder
It’s not exactly a secret that this season for Chicago is not exactly one where fans are scheduling their playoff beard growth already. Connor Bedard will be the one thing that’s likely to pull people to the United Center for Hawks games. However, Bedard’s presence shouldn’t discount other names to watch for, like Hall, Perry and Kevin Korchinski — another big rookie, one that would be getting far more coverage if I had a say.
Chicago shouldn’t expect playoffs this year — but if Bedard can perform to the high standards set for his role, an exciting season should be on the way at least. He just doesn’t have a ton of help around him besides the top lines.
Arizona Coyotes — Sleeper
You just have to believe in the group in the desert. No, not Vegas — they don’t need your support, they have a ring now. I’m talking about the Coyotes — a team that’s been stuck in a “when will this rebuild end?” phase for quite some time now. But, if my guess is as good as anyone’s, something tells me this team might be finally on the course to at least being considerably okay, not a bottom-feeder.
My hot take of the season? Arizona is hunting for a playoff spot. I’m not sure they squeeze in, but it’s possible. The youth are developing into star power. The goaltending might just be able to hold up some games. I believe — and hope I’m right. This franchise needs all the good news it can get.
Colorado Avalanche — Contender
There’s no question where the Avalanche’s target is this season — this franchise should have no reason to not be near (if not at) the top of the Central come the playoffs. The core is still together for the most part. My one question mark I will throw in here — who’s the goaltender for this team?
Pavel Francouz would make sense, but he’s out with no timetable for a return as of now. It appears Alexandar Georgiev will be tasked with keeping the net in check for the time being. If there’s one thing the Avalanche could learn from the most recent champions in Vegas, it’s that you don’t necessarily need a Carey Price or Andrei Vasilevskiy-like goaltender to win.
Dallas Stars — Contender
Some are picking Dallas to be their cup winner this year — and quite frankly, I can’t blame them. While I have a different team from the west making the final on my bracket, the Stars are a force to be reckoned with. This shouldn’t be news to any hockey fans, this team has been on the up-and-up for a few years now. The Benn/Seguin to Robertson/Heiskanen transition has been working perfectly to plan.
Like Colorado, If Jake Oettinger can play to his potential? Dallas should be watched carefully. They could be a runaway team in the west.
Minnesota Wild — Early Exit
I really want the Wild to do well. This is the state of hockey, after all. This franchise has the number one retired in honour of their fans. This fanbase deserves a contender. And yet, I just see problems for Minnesota. The team should be good — definitely good enough to be a playoff team — but I’m not sure about anything more than that.
The feeling of an early playoff exit is not exactly something Wild fans are unfamiliar to — and given they made fairly minor changes in the offseason (including losing Matt Dumba), I don’t see a reason to say anything other than “they’ll be fine.”
St. Louis Blues — Early Exit
Similar to the Wild, I foresee a season filled with mediocrity for the Blues this season. There’s one key thing to note — this team is not the Pietrangelo and O’Reilly Blues team that won a Stanley Cup in 2019 — this is Kyrou and Thomas’ team now. The extensions signed by the two young studs make it clear that St. Louis is in a bit of a transitional period (regardless of the “C” being on Brayden Schenn.)
The Blues have been known to surprise, and a more relaxed Jordan Binnington could help that. But some things can only be found out with time.
Winnipeg Jets — Sleeper
If you look back a few months, to when Jets fans thought this team would be without Dubois, Scheifele, Wheeler and Hellebuyck, it was a difficult time to be optimistic. Now, that tide has turned. Not for the first time, Winnipeg has beaten the expectation and kept their stars around. Dubois is gone, but with a very good return package from Los Angeles. Scheifele and Hellebuyck were extended to seven-year deals. The only major loss was the former captain in Blake Wheeler, but that’s a loss you accept. The core is still, for the most part, together.
If you’re asking me? I don’t see a reason why this team doesn’t make some noise in a questionable central division this season. Like the Yotes, Winnipeg is another team I think may surprise some people.
Nashville Predators — Sleeper
As a hockey fan, I still look back at the days of the Stanley Cup Final run that the Preds had what seems like an eon ago now. The days of Fisher, Rinne and Weber (or Subban) are long gone now. While some pieces remain, this team is not the powerhouse it once was.
That said, the incredible goaltending that Jusse Saros can provide, along with the Forsbergs and Josis of the team can still provide a jolt. All things considered, I think this team could make the playoffs — but I’m not confident enough to say they’re a shoo-in by any means.
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights — Contender
You can probably just skip this one, to be honest. The Golden Knights were finally able to climb that final mountain in 2022–23, winning the Stanley Cup in convincing fashion over the Florida Panthers. There’s no reason to believe they aren’t right back at the top of their division come the conclusion of this season.
I will say that despite the performance in the playoffs, I wonder if Vegas really goes with the tandem of Hill/Thompson in net all season, or if they make a move for a more well-known goaltender to fill the pipes.
Anaheim Ducks — Rebuilder
Not much doubt where the Ducks should have their mindset this season — the youth core is there and is getting better, but I don’t think this team is quite ready to be a playoff team just yet. The addition of Alex Killorn is a good one, albeit a bit strange given the Ducks’ position in their division.
Someone free John Gibson, for the love of all things hockey. That man deserves to play on a contender. The Zegras/Drysdale age is coming, but in the meantime? It’s not likely to be a playoff push in SoCal, but some fun highlights could certainly be on the horizon, similar to last year.
Calgary Flames — Sleeper
This team really should make the playoffs. Heck, I’d say they should probably be a contender. But, the Flames have been notoriously unstable. As a colleague (and noted Flames fan) said to me when I probed him for an opinion, “they were just so bad last year.” I’d concur with that.
Markström/Wolf/Vladar in net seems like a solid goaltending situation. The forward core should be good. The Flames just need to prove they can be good. I think this season, they could do just that.
Edmonton Oilers — Contender
I’m about to drop the most lukewarm take — cup or bust, Edmonton. There’s no question about it. This team’s roster is built for a long run. And despite the question marks in goal, Campbell and Skinner seem to still be a very reliable tandem. McDavid and Draisatl remain arguably the two best players in the NHL, depending who you ask. The backend has been bolstered with the help of Mattias Ekholm, though his injury to start the season will be a bit of a speedbump.
Either way, this season should be the “we need to win” season for the Oilers — a new contract for Leon Draisatl awaits in a couple years, and that isn’t going to be cheap. Neither is McDavid’s — especially if you don’t have a ring to show for the effort so far.
Los Angeles Kings — Early Exit
I like a lot of what the Kings have been up to the past few years — the building around the youth while bringing in veterans to help teach the kids has worked well. However, the idea of trading away key parts to that core like Vilardi and Iafallo to get back a Pierre-Luc Dubois? I’m not sure this team needed another centre (especially at the cost of his extension) when they already have quite a bit of depth in that spot.
That said, the Kings always seems to find a way, and so, like in years past, I’m sure they will be the team Edmonton has to beat in the first round come playoff time. Hopefully the goaltending can hold their ground without any real big names.
San Jose Sharks — Rebuilder
If there was ever a slam dunk pick for a team finishing last in their division, picking the Sharks to finish last in the Pacific would have to be it. San Jose, similar to Nashville, brings back memories of a team that couldn’t beat the Penguins in the Final a few years back. But, the core of Burns, Pavelski and Meier is long gone. A few pieces in Couture and Hertl still lay in the dust, but the Sharks know their place.
The real thing to watch for Sharks fans this season will be the development of the youth, similar to the past couple seasons. Seeing progression of William Eklund is something I’ll be personally watching for if the Sharks don’t want to be in the basement for the foreseeable future.
Vancouver Canucks — Sleeper
There’s a bit of a mystery around Vancouver. The Canucks should be a very solid team given the talent they have. Quinn Hughes as your number one defenseman, names like Pettersson, Miller and — most importantly perhaps, Demko — should in theory, yield good results. However, that hasn’t been the case. That said, pending a healthy season from the big core, especially in net, I see Vancouver perhaps pulling a miracle and making a push for the playoffs.
More than anything, I just want the Canucks to make the playoffs, mostly so they can start a rivalry with my next team on this list…
Seattle Kraken — Early Exit
Yes, I think Seattle will drag themselves into a playoff position again this season. Last year was a bit of a shock to the hockey world — we’ve seen the bad Kraken in year one, then a gritty playoff grinder in year number two. What will we see this season? I have no reason to believe this team doesn’t continue to grow. The young prospects are no longer prospects, they’re faces of the franchise (minus Shane Wright, which is a bit of a different case.)
Like I said regarding the Canucks — I want to see a Kraken/Canucks rivalry so very badly. And these two fighting in the playoffs would be real fun. Unlikely, but a man can dream.
There you have it, my thoughts on every Western Conference team coming into a very interesting 2023–24 season. I have the Oilers making it out of the west this postseason, for what it’s worth.
Now, let the games begin.
