Can RHL GMs see the future?

How well can RHL GM’s predict how the coming NHL season is going to unfold? Or more specifically, how well can five of them do while the rest point at laugh at how dumb we all are. For those of you have missed it, each of the ten questions allows you to choose up to five answers and the more right answers you get, the more points you get, up to a total of 15 per question. However, one wrong answer wipes the whole question to zero.

Below you can see the consensus answers for each question as well as one or two off the board picks that could make or break an entry.

1. Name up to five teams that will make the playoffs.

Consensus:

Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs

Four strong teams that all have arguments for being the favorites to win their own division.

Off the Board:

Winnipeg Jets, LedTasso

After Colorado and Dallas the Central is likely open for the taking, and the Jets did just commit to trying to win with twin 8-year extensions for Scheifele and Hellebuyck, but the Jets only took the 8th seed in the West last year and so could be a risky pick.

2. Name up to five teams that will not make the playoffs.

Consensus:

Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks

#WeeniforCelebrini

Off the Board:

Ottawa Senators & Nashville Predators, Blix 900

Two teams that seem hard to pin down this year, but both teams that seem to believe that they will be playing meaningful games come March and April. Neither is a lock for the playoffs by any means though.

3. Name up to five teams that will finish in the middle 16 of the regular-season standings (i.e. between 9th and 24th).

There was little consensus here, with the most commonly picked teams only being picked by 2 entrants. Those teams were the Flames, Predators, Senators, Penguins, Kraken, Canucks, and Jets.

4. Name up to five coaches who will not be fired or otherwise leave their job before July 1, 2024, NOT including any coach who has held their current job for less than one year.

Consensus:

Bruce Cassidy

Hard to see a path for the coach of the most recent Cup Champions going anywhere, but there is always inherent risk in Vegas seeing a new shiny thing and moving on with no regard for anyone’s feelings.

Off the Board:

Sheldon Keefe, MixtureBill

Bill seems to believe in the Leafs way more than I do, as with a new GM, high expectations, and media and a fan base that love running people out of town, the ingredients all seem to be there for the Leafs to make a move behind the bench if the team gets off to a shaky start.

5. Name up to five GMs who will not be fired or otherwise leave their job before July 1, 2024, NOT including any GM who has held their current job for less than two years.

Consensus:

Don Sweeney, Don Waddell

Each of the Dons were only chosen by 3 of 5 entrants, but both make sense. Sweeney is coming off of having the best team in NHL history and nobody will be surprised if the team takes a step back this year, while Waddell is the head of one of the favorites in the East in the Hurricanes.

Off the Board:

Kelly McCrimmon, Rsyzygy

He just won the Cup, but as mentioned previously, you never know when Vegas will stab you in the back with a huge sword.

6. Name up to five goaltenders who will start at least 50 games this season.

Consensus:

Connor Hellebuyck, Juuse Saros

Both go into the season as their team’s undisputed number 1, and it’s likely that only injuries would see either Laurent Brossoit or Kevin Lankinen starting over 30 games.

Off the Board:

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Blix900

The optimistic projection seems to be that Vasilevskiy will miss 8 weeks, which would see him miss around the first 30 games of the season.

7. Name up to five rookies who will finish in the top 10 of Calder balloting.

Consensus:

Adam Fantilli, Connor Bedard, Logan Cooley

The 1st and 3rd picks in the draft that will both get lots of opportunities on bad teams, as well as “The best prospect in the league” according to Coyotes PR

Off the Board:

Fraser Minten, LedTasso

The kid had no shot at making the NHL coming into camp and just left no option to send him down. Consensus seems to be he’ll get his 9 games and go down, but who knows?

William Eklund, Blix900

The RHL Blues love this.

8. Name up to five defensemen who will finish in the top 10 of Norris balloting.

Consensus:

Cale Makar

He’s never finished lower than 9th (which was his rookie season), and managed to earn a nomination despite missing over 20 games last season.

Off the Board:

Erik Karlsson, Blix900

It feels weird to call last year’s winner an off the board selection, but 4/5 seem to be on the side of father time rather than a guy who scored 100 points and is moving to a powerplay with Crosby and Malkin

9. Name up to five players who will finish in the top 15 of Hart Trophy voting.

Consensus:

Connor McDavid

Duh

Off the Board:

Igor Shesterkin, LedTasso

It’s always tough for goalies to get Hart votes, which Shesterkin has only done once, which was when he earned a nomination in 2022.

10. Name up to five players who are currently on an NHL roster who will change teams between puck drop on opening night and the end of the first day of 2024 free agency. This means they must be on a new roster via trade, free agency, waivers or whatever else, but does not include retirement, leaving the league entirely, or being an unsigned free agent.

Consensus:

Anthony Mantha

Mantha is on the last year of a rather large deal and the Capitals seem unlikely to be great

Matt Dumba

A one year deal with the Coyotes seems like the largest signal for getting traded to ever exist

Off the Board:

William Nylander, Blix900

I do not like this

Jake Muzzin, Blix900

Muzzin just signed on to be a scout with the Leafs, otherwise it might make sense for them to try to move his money around for some Brandon Pridham magic.

Optional bonus question:

11. For 15 bonus points, name one and only one player who will finish this season with at least 100 points, and who is not an Edmonton Oiler. Remember, you don’t have to answer the bonus if you don’t want to, and a wrong answer wipes out your entire entry.

Two votes for MacKinnon, two for Jason Robertson, and one for Matthew Tkachuk

All entries can be seen here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WlB0lmGifIlD7LJjb-pjqdqwyFsn4Gerr2ZrBj0gGq0/edit?usp=sharing

Although the season has started, I will accept any further entries for a little while longer, but I will reserve the right to wipe out any answers clearly made with the benefit of being made later, such as in the case of a large injury.

https://forms.gle/UU4Kw2DteExCtrZJ8