The 2021-22 Chicago Blackhawks season gets started on Wednesday night, with the team out in Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche in the season opener.
Oh … what’s that?
There was hockey on Tuesday night?
Oops.
Two regular-season games have been played. There are still 1,310 to go. Those games didn’t tell us much, so here’s how the the ‘21-22 NHL season will unfold according to the members of the SCH staff. Feel free to add your own predictions in the comments for future ridicule consideration.
Teams are listed in order of the projected standings with only playoff qualifying teams listed below:
Central Division
Dave: Avalanche, Blues, Wild
LBR: Avalanche, Jets, Blues
Mil: Avalanche, Stars, Jets
Shepard: Avalanche, Jets, Wild
Pacific Division
Dave: Golden Knights, Oilers, Canucks
LBR: Golden Knights, Kraken, Oilers
Mil: Golden Knights, Edmonton, Canucks
Shepard: (My) Golden Knights, Oilers, Kraken
Western Conference wild card picks
Dave: Jets, Blackhawks
LBR: Wild, Blackhawks
Mil: Wild, Blackhawks
Shepard: Stars, Blues
Atlantic Division
Dave: Lightning, Panthers, Maple Leafs
LBR: Lightning, Maple Leafs, Bruins
Mil: Lightning, Maple Leafs, Panthers
Shepard: Maple Leafs, Panthers, Lightning
Metropolitan Division
Dave: Hurricanes, Penguins, Islanders
LBR: Islanders, Hurricanes, Penguins
Mil: Hurricanes, Islanders, Penguins
Shepard: Islanders, Hurricanes, Flyers
Eastern Conference wild card picks
Dave: Bruins, Capitals
LBR: Panthers, Rangers
Mil: Devils, Rangers
Shepard: Bruins, Penguins
Stanley Cup Final
Dave: Panthers def. Avalanche
LBR: Avalanche def. Islanders
Mil: Avalanche def. Panthers
Shepard: Golden Knights def. Islanders