With four NHL games on the docket Wednesday night, it's seems like an appropriate time to make our predictions for the 2015-16 campaign.
Sounds easy enough, right? Not so much. Last season was wildly unpredictable but incredibly exciting at the same time.
Who saw Calgary's emergence in the Pacific Division coming? What about the dominating Carey Price, who won some of the highest honors in the game (more on that later)?
Plenty of executives, coaches and players have found new homes this offseason, so all that's left is to sit back and watch how everything unfolds.
But before the puck drops, what do you say we break out the old crystal ball and give our best predictions for how things might play out? Here we go!
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Predicted winner: Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL
General manager Steve Yzerman didn't do much this offseason because, well, he didn't need to. The defending Eastern Conference champions saw veteran Brenden Morrow leave via free agency, but they also signed winger Erik Condra to help fill a defensive-minded void on offense. But when you look up and down Tampa's roster, it's hard not to peg them as the favorite heading into the season. The Lightning, who led the NHL in goal scoring last season, should be just as dangerous on the attack in 2015-16, especially with Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Nikita Kucherov, Valtteri Filppula and Jonathan Drouin leading the charge. The team also boasts a solid defensive corps in front of towering netminder Ben Bishop. Head coach Jon Cooper has done an excellent job since arriving in Tampa and has all the ingredients in front of him to get the Bolts back to the Cup Final. They're a legitimate threat.
The rest of the pack
2. Montreal Canadiens
3. Ottawa Senators
4. Detroit Red Wings
5. Buffalo Sabres
6. Boston Bruins
7. Florida Panthers
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
Predicted winner: Washington Capitals
It's not crazy to think five teams from the Metro could earn playoff bids this season, but Washington seems poised to seize control of the division. The additions of T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams will help take some of the offensive load off sniper Alex Ovechkin, but don't be surprised if No. 8 turns in another 50-goal campaign with the added firepower around him. Ovechkin has looked much more relaxed under Barry Trotz, who is entering is second season as Washington's head coach, and is arguably the most dangerous weapon in the NHL. Couple a strong cast of forwards with emerging star netminder Braden Holtby (41-20-10, 2.23 goals-against average, .923 save percentage last season) and there's a real chance the Caps could finish the season with the most goals for and least goals against. Scary thought.
The rest of the pack
2. New York Islanders
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
4. New York Rangers
5. Columbus Blue Jackets
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Carolina Hurricanes
Western Conference
Central Division
Predicted winner: St. Louis Blues
Ken Hitchcock has found tremendous success in the regular season during his tenure as head coach of the Blues, but it's crucial for him to guide the club to a deep playoff run if he wants to keep his job. St. Louis has no shortage of skill on offense — Vladimir Tarasenko, Paul Stastny and Jaden Schwartz — and relies on a three-headed monster in Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester and Kevin Shattenkirk to keep things calm in its own zone. Really its only question mark comes in net. Will the tandem of Jake Allen and Brian Elliott get the job done? The potential is certainly there, but ultimately this club will be judged on what happens in the postseason after being ousted in the first round of the playoffs three years in a row.
The rest of the pack
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Minnesota Wild
4. Dallas Stars
5. Nashville Predators
6. Colorado Avalanche
7. Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
Predicted winner: Anaheim Ducks
Bob Murray was a busy man in the offseason. The Ducks' GM went out and acquired goalie Anton Khudobin, defenseman Kevin Bieksa and winger Carl Hagelin in trades and signed free-agent forwards Chris Stewart and Mike Santorelli for depth. And with superstars Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler carrying the offense and one of the league's most underrated defensive corps continuing to show signs of improvement, it's easy to envision the Ducks' competing for the Western Conference crown. Bruce Boudreau is another bench boss who needs to prove himself in the playoffs, and it certainly looks like this could be the team to get him over the hump and into the Final.
The rest of the pack
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Calgary Flames
4. San Jose Sharks
5. Edmonton Oilers
6. Vancouver Canucks
7. Arizona Coyotes
Conference finalists
West: Ducks vs. Blues
East: Lightning vs. Capitals
Stanley Cup winner: Capitals
Now, let's get to the real fun by predicting who will take home some hardware.
Calder Memorial Trophy
Predicted winner: Connor McDavid
The No. 1 overall pick from this summer's NHL draft has been billed as a once-in-a-generation talent. With that distinction comes lofty expectations. McDavid is more than capable of living up to them, though. He recorded 97 goals and 188 assists in 166 career games in the OHL and should provide plenty of highlights for the Oilers. He'll have some stiff competition in No. 2 overall pick Jack Eichel, however. Sit back and enjoy this race.
Frank J. Selke Trophy
Predicted winner: Jonathan Toews
Is there even any more room on Toews' trophy case? The 27-year-old just does it all. He can score when needed. He is a terrific playmaker. He wins faceoffs. And he can shut down the opposition's best players, too. The guy is an incredible two-way talent. That's why he'll be recognized, for the second time in his career, as the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game in 2015-16.
Jack Adams Award
Predicted winner: Todd McLellan
McLellan, who helped San Jose reach the playoffs in six of his seven seasons as head coach, was named the Oilers' 14th bench boss in franchise history on May 19 after he decided to part ways with the sinking Sharks. Now in charge of a rebuilding club, McLellan has the difficult task of bringing the organization back to prominence. They may not return to the postseason this year, but expect a significant turnaround in hockey-crazed Edmonton.
James Norris Memorial Trophy
Predicted winner: Drew Doughty
In recent years, the Norris has gone to high-scoring defensemen, not necessarily the top blueliners in the league. But let's go with Los Angeles' Drew Doughty, who is more than capable of chipping in points while playing a key role and eating up big minutes in his own zone. The two-time Stanley Cup winner has been a finalist twice for the award and, at age 25, is unquestionably among the elite defenders in the NHL.
Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy
Predicted winner: Alex Ovechkin
Who else? Ovechkin has played 10 NHL seasons and he's scored the most goals in the league five times. He's broken 50 markers in each of his last two campaigns and has 475 in in 760 career games. He's also taken home the Rocket Richard three years in a row. Who's going to unseat him?
Art Ross Trophy
Predicted winner: Sidney Crosby
With the addition of Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh should have no problem putting up big offensive numbers this season. So Crosby, a two-time scoring champion and playmaker extraordinaire, is an easy pick for the Art Ross. The Penguins' captain has arguably the strongest offensive supporting cast he's ever had and could easily break 100 points if he stays healthy.
Vezina Trophy
Predicted winner: Carey Price
Price's numbers last season were absolutely insane. He went 44-16-6 with a 1.96 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in 66 games. The league took notice, too, awarding him the Vezina Trophy (best goaltender), Ted Lindsay Award (most valuable player as voted by NHL Players Association) and the Hart Trophy (most valuable player as voted by the Professional Hockey Writer's Association). Though it'd be difficult to replicate last year's performance, Price is at the top of his game and undoubtedly our favorite to add another Vezina to his résumé.
Hart Memorial Trophy
Predicted winner: John Tavares
Third time will be a charm for the Islanders' franchise player. Tavares, who scored 38 goals and registered 86 points in 2014-15, has been a finalist twice for league's most valuable player award but has lost out to Crosby and Price, some pretty good company. Not this year, though. He'll continue to produce at a point-per-game pace and help the Isles reach the postseason in their first season in Brooklyn.
So how did I do? Am I right or way off base? Feel free to leave your own predictions in the comment section below.