2017 Jack Adams trophy preview

   

  Good coaching can bring championships. Scotty Bowman, the Hall of Fame coach, won 9 Stanley Cups (a record), and was a coach during the Canadiens dynasty and the Red Wings in the 90s. Only the best coaches win the Jack Adams (best coach) award. This year\’s Jack Adams finalists are Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Todd McLellan of the Edmonton Oilers and John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

       In his first as the head coach of the Leafs (last season), Babcock and the Leafs finished with 69 points, bad enough for last in the NHL. This season, they had 95 points, and made the playoffs. Their top players are all rookies. Of the 28 players on their roster, 19 of them are younger than 30, and 2 others are exactly 30. It\’s hard for coaches to coaches youngsters who are new to the NHL.

       After 7 years with the San Jose Sharks (making the playoffs 6 times), McLellan came to the Oilers. In year one, they finished with 70 points, which placed them last in the western conference, and second-to-last in the NHL to Babcock\’s Leafs. But in year two, things started clicking. 20 year old captain Connor McDavid won the Art Ross with 100 points. The Oilers finished with 103 points, making the playoffs. Pretty nice turnaround.

       After an 0-8 start to the 2015-16 season, the Blue Jackets fired head coach Todd Richards, and hired \”Torts\”. The Jackets finished with 76 points, only ahead of Babcock\’s Leafs, McLellan\’s Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks. This year, the Jackets finished with 108 points (32 from a 16 game winning streak), obviously making the playoffs. Sergei Bobrovsky should win the Vezina. The team all around played well, and thus they had a great season.

       I think Babcock, will win, but Tortorella will lose by a vote or two. The reason I think Babcock will win is because, like I mentioned earlier, it\’s not easy to coach rookies. Tortorella changed the team a lot since Richards\’ firing.

NHL playoff preview: Ottawa Senators vs New York Rangers

    

The country of Sweden probably can\’t wait for this series. Their goalie in international play for his entire career, Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers go up against super Swedish defenseman Erik Karlsson and the Ottawa Senators.

      New York Rangers

      First round: vs Montreal Canadiens in 6 games
Lundqvist and his 1.47 GAA and a SV% of .947 led the Rangers in round one. They have a very balanced team, which is always good to have.

      Ottawa Senators


      First round: vs Boston Bruins in 6 games
The Sens have very strong skaters, and Craig Anderson had a solid round one with a 1.94 GAA and a SV% of .921. They look totally different than last year\’s Sens.
       My prediction: Ottawa Senators
Honestly, I think this will be the first 7 game series in the playoffs. Both teams are even, but I\’ll give it to the Sens. Whoever wins will probably be eliminated in the eastern conference finals, though.

NHL playoff preview: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals

   

It\’s official. We have a rematch. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin will face each other in round 2 again. Last year, Crosby\’s Pittsburgh Penguins beat \”Ovi\’s\” Washington Capitals in 6 games en route to a Stanley Cup victory. This year, the Caps are hungrier to make it to the eastern conference finals for the first time in Ovechkin\’s career.

      Washington Capitals


       First round: vs Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games
The Caps didn\’t look like the Caps we know in the first round, but were able to beat the Leafs. Goalie Braden Holtby didn\’t have Braden Holtby like numbers in the first round with a 2.36 GAA and .925 SV%, which is still good. They are very good all around, and can really threaten to the Pens.
        Pittsburgh Penguins

        First round: vs Columbus Blue Jackets in 5 games
The Penguins eased through the Jackets in the first round. Behind Crosby, it gets weaker. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury had a GAA of 2.52 and a .933 SV% in round 1. If Pittsburgh\’s bottom six plays well, they can put up a very good fight.
        My prediction: Washington Capitals
It\’s simple. All three aspects of hockey: offense, defense and goaltending favor the Caps. I think this is really their year.

NHL playoff preview: Anaheim Ducks vs Edmonton Oilers

     

More playoff hockey, please. The first round has ended, and now half of the 16 playoff teams are gone, and the other half are in the second round. Once again, I\’ll be previewing all the second round series. Here is my previewing of the Anaheim Ducks playing the Edmonton Oilers.

      Anaheim Ducks

      First round: sweep vs Calgary Flames
The Ducks, led by goalie John Gibson, swept the Flames. Gibson had a 2.59 GAA and a SV% of .926 in the first round. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf combined for 4 goals in 4 games. Cam Fowler will return from injury, and that really helps their D.

      Edmonton Oilers

      First round: vs San Jose Sharks in 6 games
20 year old captain Connor McDavid\’s 100 point season was amazing. Goalie Cam Talbot almost was a Vezina finalist, and had a 2.03 GAA and SV% of .927 in the first round. If their defensive core has a good series, they\’ll have a good chance of winning.

      My prediction: Anaheim Ducks
The Oilers have a better offense. The Ducks have a better defense. The goalies are even. But defense wins championships, and that\’s why the Ducks will win.

NHL playoff preview: St. Louis Blues vs Nashville Predators


    
We have made it through the first round of the playoffs. Instead of 16, 8 teams remain in the second round. The first series of the second round that I\’ll be previewing is the Nashville Predators against the St. Louis Blues.

       St. Louis Blues

      First round: vs Minnesota Wild in 5 games
The Blues, led by Lady Byng finalist Vladimir Tarasenko, were able to surprise many (not me) by beating the Wild, and in just 5 games. Jake Allen was sharp in net with a 1.47 GAA and a SV% of .956. They played terrific, and most of their players have the experience of playing after the 1st round (they went to the Western conference finals last season).
      Nashville Predators

      First round: sweep vs Chicago Blackhawks
Did you think Allen\’s first round numbers were impressive? Then you haven\’t seen Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne numbers against Chicago. He had an amazing GAA of 0.70 and a SV% of .976. Wow. Their skaters continued to dominate, and should be good in round 2.
      My prediction: St. Louis Blues
Both teams are very even, but I\’m going to give this one to the Blues. Rinne beats Allen, and the Blues beat the Preds on offense. The defenses are similar, and strong. But I think the St. Louis offense is stronger, and the depth is better. So, the Blues should be in the Western conference finals again.