Carolina Hurricanes 2018-19 Season Predictions

This is the year for the Carolina Hurricanes to finally break their playoff drought. At least, that’s what half of the Canes Country staff thinks.

As is our tradition, prior to every season we present our predictions, and this year we’re doing them a bit differently. Below you’ll find a table of our projected finish for teams in the Metro. Then, we’ll go writer by writer, detailing the best case, worst case, and most likely scenarios for the Canes this season. We’ll also offer our projected Eastern Conference playoff teams, our prediction for the Stanley Cup Final, and who will raise the chalice come June.

And here we go! First up: our Metro predictions. An asterisk denotes a projected playoff team.

---

Best Case, Worst Case, Most Likely, SCF Predictions

For this exercise, we used the following criteria:

• Best case: how many points do the Canes earn if everything goes to plan, the rookies contribute above and beyond what’s expected, additional injuries don’t take a significant toll (take Darling’s injury into account here, since it’s already happened) AND how likely (percentage-wise) is it that this happens
• Worst case: how many points do the Canes earn if nothing goes right, veterans regress, the rookies can’t keep up, the goaltending sucks again AND how likely (percentage-wise) is it that this happens
• Most likely: how many points you think the Canes will end up with assuming a relatively normal NHL season

---

Brian

• Best case: 101 points, 15%
• Worst case: 82 points, 25%
• Most likely: 95 points
• SCF matchup: Sharks over Penguins

---

Katariina

• Best case: 105 points, 25%
• Worst case: 78 points, 15%
• Most likely: 98 points
• SCF matchup: Lightning over Jets

---

Justin

• Best case: 103 points, 15%
• Worst case: 74 points, 30%
• Most likely: 88 points
• SCF matchup: Sharks over Lightning

---

Jake

• Best case: 103 points, 24%
• Worst case: 74 points, 13%
• Most likely: 93 points
• SCF matchup: Predators over Lightning

---

Andrew S

• Best case: 98 points, 30%
• Worst case: 75 points, 17%
• Most likely: 90 points
• SCF matchup: Lightning over Sharks

---

Antoine

• Best case: 100 points, 35%
• Worst case: 77 points, 20%
• Most likely: 94 points
• SCF matchup: Sharks over Lightning

---

Brett

• Best case: 97 points, 25%
• Worst case: 75 points, 20%
• Most likely: 88 points
• SCF matchup: Sharks over Lightning

---

Jamie

• Best case: 98 points, 10%
• Worst case: 82 points, 20%
• Most likely: 92 points
• SCF matchup: Jets over Lightning

---

Cody

• Best case: 105 points, 25%
• Worst case: 74 points, 20%
• Most likely: 95 points
• SCF matchup: Capitals over Predators

---

Zeke

• Best case: 106 points
• Worst case: 77 points
• Most likely: 94 points
• SCF matchup: Lightning over Predators

---

Andy

• Best case: 102 points
• Worst case: 66 points
• Most likely: 90 points
• SCF matchup: Jets over Maple Leafs

---

Liam

• Best case: 98 points, 30%
• Worst case: 84 points, 10%
• Most likely: 92 points
• SCF matchup: Jets over Lightning

---

Andrew A

• Best case: 100 points, 20%
• Worst case: 80 points, 25%
• Most likely: 93 points
• SCF matchup: Lightning over Predators

---

Kevin

• Best case: 100 points, 10%
• Worst case: 78 points, 20%
• Most likely: 92 points
• SCF matchup: Lightning over Sharks

---

Those are our picks. What are yours? Feel free to share in the comments. Tomorrow, we’ll have you covered for opening day from start to finish, including a new podcast out tomorrow morning, live commenting from the game, and all the reaction from the locker room.

You’ve finally made it. The summer’s over. Hockey is here. Enjoy the season!