It’s that time again! Around this part of the calendar every year, everyone tries to look into their faux-crystal ball and predict how the season will look come mid-April. Everybody from NHL.com’s Robby Stanley to Sirius XM weekend host Todd Lewis to CBS Sports’ Chris Peters to video game maker EA Sports is picking the Nashville Predators to go to the Stanley Cup Final. Consider this an addition to that pile.
PACIFIC DIVISION
1. San Jose Sharks
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. Arizona Coyotes
5. Calgary Flames
6. Edmonton Oilers
7. Vancouver Canucks
CENTRAL DIVISION
1. Nashville Predators
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Dallas Stars
4. Minnesota Wild
5. St. Louis Blues
6. Colorado Avalanche
7. Winnipeg Jets
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
1. Washington Capitals
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. New York Islanders
4. New York Rangers
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. Columbus Blue Jackets
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Carolina Hurricanes
ATLANTIC DIVISION
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Florida Panthers
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. Boston Bruins
5. Toronto Maple Leafs
6. Buffalo Sabres
7. Detroit Red Wings
8. Ottawa Senators
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. Nashville Predators
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Los Angeles Kings
5. Anaheim Ducks
6. Dallas Stars
7. Minnesota Wild
8. St. Louis Blues
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. Washington Capitals
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Florida Panthers
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. New York Islanders
6. Montreal Canadiens
7. New York Rangers
8. Philadelphia Flyers
STANLEY CUP FINAL
Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning