NHL Predictions

- Scott Niedermayer will find a way to become a Vancouver Canuck. He's a UFA, and he has expressed a strong desire to play in his home province. Says here that Nonis finds a way to make the numbers work with his cap space.

- Colorado cannot sign all of the RFA's they have without cutting significantly elsewhere. My prediction is that they will sign Forsberg (a UFA) but likely have to let Adam Foote, Milan Hejduk or Alex Tanguay find a new employer. One of those three simply won't be an AV in October, maybe more. I'll go out on a limb and suggest that Knights Templar FP Hejduk is too expensive compared to the others, and ends up elsewhere.

- The Penguins will make the playoffs. Now that Mario doesn't have to shoulder the world in terms of running and playing for the team AND worrying about whether payroll is going to get made, he can concentrate on staying healthy. With Recchi back to ride shotgun, cap space to add players capable of filling out the roster in front of MA Fleury, and two more teams making the playoffs, the Pens get in. Kovalev will also sign to play in Pittsburgh.

- Here's a limb for you, I bet the Blues sign Pronger and don't sign Tkachuk. I further bet that if they sign both, they miss the playoffs. Weight and maybe Demitra are both casualties.

- Jay Bouwemeester plays well enough over the year to have his name mentioned for the Norris (top 10 finalists), but is still at least a year or more away from winning it outright. I bet that some patient FUNHL GM will poach him in the first from the Barbarians (where he won't be matched) to make him an FP.

- Detroit is secretly praying that Lidstrom stays in Sweden. If he plays in the NHL next year, they will honour his deal, and Derian Hatcher (among others) will be released to create enough space to sign Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Ray Whitney and Cujo are also likely casuallties. The Grind Line of Maltby/Draper/McCarty stays intact.

- Now that the playing field has been leveled, Thornton will get close to the Max in his deal, and once that deal is struck SindenCo. will then try to find him some offensive support with the money left. Chances are good that two or more talented free agents with size and hand skills will be brought in to create a new Legion of Doom - and I'll go out on a limb and say that short-term fix John LeClair is one of them. He can be had for cheap once Clarke buys him off, and he'll have something to prove. The other player they sign, will be much younger and better than LeClair with mgt intending to groom a long term chemistry relationship.

- Calgary mgt. will eventually resign themselves to paying Iggy Max or close to it. Iggy will sign for a multi-year deal. Calgary wins cup #2 in the next 3 years. I'm a believer.

- Tampa Bay has three scenarios; sign Big Vinny to a three or more year deal at the Max, or let him go. If they sign him, they CAN'T sign both 'Khabakulin' (Bob speak for 'Khabiboulin') and St Louis.

Scenario one; St Louis go, sign Khabiboulin and Lecavalier.

Scenario two; Vinny is let go, St Louis and Khabiboulin are kept.

Scenario three; Habby-Boo-lin is let go, Vinny and the midget both sign.

Actual result will be; Vincent Lecavalier puts on the Montreal bleu blanc et rouge, Martin St Louis finishes in the top 5 in scoring and Khabiboulin gets them back to the final four.

- Edmonton will find a way to screw things up. Including not signing anyone who can outscore Ryan Smyth. If there is an exception to this prediction, it is Doug Weight - whom Edmonton might actually make a play for.

- Lindros and or Kariya will wear the Maple Leaf jersey.

- Owen Nolan will sign with....Philadelphia.

-The nightmare scenario: All hope for the future of hockey will be exitnguished when Sidney Crosby is drafted by the Minnesota Wild. Jacques Lemaire turns him into Kris Draper - on purpose.

- Dream scenario one: The Canadiens win the lottery and install Crosby on Big Vinny's line.

- Dream scenario two: Detroit wins the lottery in a fluke, and Yzerman decides to stick around for one more year at 41 to tutor him at minimum salary. He is thereafter promoted straight to GM. This dream seamlessly blends with Pittsburgh as well where Mario teaches the young grasshopper how to play offense.

What will actually happen... ok, this I really don't know.