Polka’s NHL 2021/22 Predictions

Well after 56 games last season, I managed to nail two of my pre-season predictions, Auston Matthews winning the Rocket, and of course the Lighting winning the Cup again.  Here are my offerings for this upcoming season, and hopefully we will get a full 82 game slate so McDavid can race for scoring records and Ovi can move higher up the all time goals scoring list, as he’s been robbed due to Covid, as we all have.  So let us prepare finally and hopefully for a complete 82 game season this year. 

Atlantic                                Metro                           Central                            Pacific   

*Tampa Bay                       *Carolina                      *Winnipeg                         *Vegas             

*Toronto                             *Philadelphia               *Colorado                          *Edmonton

*Boston                              *N.Y. Rangers              *St. Louis                          *Vancouver

*Florida                              *Washington                *Minnesota                        Calgary           

Montreal                             N.Y. Islanders                Chicago                            Los Angeles

Detroit                                Pittsburgh                     Dallas                                Seattle            

Ottawa                                Columbus                    Nashville                            Anaheim

Buffalo                                N.J. Devils                    Arizona                              San Jose

Conference Finals

East – Tampa Bay vs. Toronto

West – Winnipeg vs. Vegas

Cup Final – Tampa Bay vs. Winnipeg

Winner – Tampa Bay Lightning (Three-Peat)

Awards Predictions:

Hart Memorial (MVP) – Connor McDavid/Edmonton

Art Ross Trophy – Connor McDavid/ Edmonton

Norris Trophy – Victor Hedman/Tampa Bay

Calder Trophy – Cole Caufield/Montreal

Selke Trophy – Mark Stone/Las Vegas

Rocket Richard Trophy – Auston Matthews/Toronto

Vezina Trophy – Connor Hellebuyck/Winnipeg

Jack Adams – Gerard Gallant/N.Y. Rangers

Comeback Player of the Year – Filip Forsberg/Nashville

Good Luck NHL in keeping up with all this.

Last year and over this Covid shortened mess the last two seasons, two things are certain.  First, Connor McDavid is amazing, and secondly, Leon Draisaitl is his Kurri, and these two are going to provide years of entertainment.  Victor Hedman is the best defensemen by miles in my opinion, and Andre Vasilevskiy is the best goalie, even with my Connor Hellebuyck Vezina call.  The Jets defense is a year wiser, plus adding Nate Schmidt to the mix, and they are loaded up front to score with anyone.  The Jets lacked playoff experience and maturity (hmmm...Mark Scheifele, looking in your direction) and they just need to protect their own end,  which will give Hellebuyck a heck of a season. 

The Calder will be an interesting race with Cole Caufield and Trevor Zegras in Anaheim, and I edged it to Cole, as he has a better team to play alongside with, but the Rangers Vitali Kravtsov is my dark horse in this Calder race.

Steve Yzerman’s favorite, Gerard Gallant will win his third Jack Adams, and then will seemingly be fired a year or two down the road.  Just in time to take over the Red Wings when we’re ready to start another 25-year playoff run. 

Until further notice, Auston Matthews is the best goal scorer since Alex Ovechkin, and he's yet to come close to his prime.  I do expect Alexander Ovechkin, David Pastrnak, Nathan MacKinnon, and Edmonton deadly of McDavid/Draisaitl to all contest Matthews for the Rocket. 

If you want to talk hockey, I’m your man! @PolkaPat is my Twitter handle and I also cover fantasy football and baseball, as the Fighting Chance Triple Threat.