Hey everybody, since yesterday was the NHL’s halfway point of the season, I thought I would take a look back at my predictions for the Leafs roster as well as the standings. My roster wasn’t too far off and I think most of us knew what it would like. I had predicted:
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Brown
JVR-Bozak-Marner
Martin-Moore-Komorov
Leivo – extra skater
Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Dermott-Carrick
Marincin- Holl – Extra D
So flip flop Brown and Komorov and I had that right. I still think Brown should be with Kadri, but whatever. I was hoping at the beginning of the season that Dermott would make the team, but it took until last night. And boy did he look good last night. As for the GOAT, well he was badly injured last spring so I would have had no idea that he would in right now.
At the time the team hadn’t signed Polak, so I didn’t include him. Based on what I saw in camp I thought for sure Holl would have been on the team. I’m still convinced that the only reason Marincin was in the lineup is because they were using the analytics department a little too much. That and Babcock likes his big stick for some reason.
So all in all, taking into consideration that a lot of spots were predictable, I would give myself a B for my predictions. How I would like the D to look like now, with the players they have now and no trades would look like this.
As a side not I had predicted points for the THRIVING THREE. So lets compare.
Predicted Pace (if 82 games played)
Matthews 45G 35A for 80PTS 47G 35A 78PTS
Nylander 30G 40Afor 70PTS 15G 42A 57PTS
Marner 25G 45Afor 70PTS 10G 48A 58PTS
So basically I was pretty close on Matthews, I thought there would be twice as many goals by Nylander and Marner but almost exactly right for their assists. My thinking at the time was that they would improve upon year one, but it looks more like they are roughly on last year’s pace. They even pass that considering how they’ve been coming on lately.
Now let’s take a look at the standings. Although not sure I want to do this because I know I was really off here.
Predicted Actual
Atlantic Division Atlantic Division
Lightning Lightning
Leafs Bruins
Senators Leafs
Canadiens Red Wings
Bruins Panthers
Sabres Habs
Panthers Sens
Red Wings Sabres
Where did I go wrong? Well, I’ll start with the positives. I did have the Bolts and the Leafs in a playoff spot and I was pretty certain Panthers and Sabres would miss them. I think I gave the Habs and Sens way too much credit, I thought the Sabres would improve (Good Lord they’re terrible!) and didn’t think the Red Wings would win nearly as many games as they have.
Now for the metropolitan division. Holy crap was I ever wrong here. I predicted this division just as bad as the Sabres play hockey!
Predicted Actual
Metropolitan Division Metropolitan Division
Penguins Capitals
Blue jackets Devils
Capitals Rangers
Rangers Blue Jackets
Islanders Huricanes
Flyers Penguins
Hurricanes Flyers
Devils Islanders
Alright, well what did I do right? Ummmm, well, not very much. I had the Capitals in a playoff spot, (no shit Sherlock), I wasn’t too far off for the Rangers and the Flyers. I had a good idea that the Blue Jackets would be pretty competitive in the division.
Where did I go wrong? I had zero, and I mean absolutely no fucken idea, that the Devils would do as well as they have. I don’t think many people did though. The Penguins, even though I was way off, don’t really surprise me because they’ve played a ton of hockey in the last couple of years.
I would never have thought the Islanders would be at the bottom of their division. I thought they would hover around a playoff spot. I guess this is another reason why he should think hard about signing with the Leafs this summer. 🙂
So looking back, I would give myself a B for the Leafs roster, a B- for the THRIVING THREE’S point production, a C for the Atlantic Division and D for the Metropolitan Division. So overall a C+ for the exercise. What mark would you give me for my predictions?
Have a good one.
CousinEddie#Leafs
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