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Carolina Hurricanes 2018-19 Season Predictions

The Canes Country staff’s annual exercise in futility is back again for another season of inevitably wrong predictions.

Jamie Kellner

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.

2019-20 Metro Predictions

Writer 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
Writer 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
Brian Capitals* Hurricanes* Penguins* Islanders* Flyers Devils Blue Jackets Rangers
Brett Capitals* Hurricanes* Penguins* Rangers Islanders Devils Flyers Blue Jackets
Justin Capitals* Hurricanes* Penguins* Rangers Devils Islanders Flyers Blue Jackets
Cody Capitals* Penguins* Islanders* Devils* Hurricanes Rangers Flyers Blue Jackets
Zeke Capitals* Hurricanes* Penguins* Devils* Flyers Islanders Blue Jackets Rangers
Andy Capitals* Penguins* Hurricanes* Devils* Islanders Flyers Rangers Blue Jackets
Jake Hurricanes* Capitals* Devils* Flyers* Islanders* Penguins Rangers Blue Jackets
Alec Hurricanes* Penguins* Capitals* Flyers* Islanders Devils Blue Jackets Rangers
Kevin Capitals* Hurricanes* Penguins* Blue Jackets* Devils Islanders Flyers Rangers
Ford Capitals* Flyers* Penguins* Islanders* Hurricanes Blue Jackets Rangers Devils

2019-20 Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions

Writer 1st Metro 2nd Metro 3rd Metro 1st Atlantic 2nd Atlantic 3rd Atlantic 1st Wild Card 2nd Wild Card
Writer 1st Metro 2nd Metro 3rd Metro 1st Atlantic 2nd Atlantic 3rd Atlantic 1st Wild Card 2nd Wild Card
Brian Capitals Hurricanes Penguins Lightning Maple Leafs Bruins Islanders Panthers
Brett Capitals Hurricanes Penguins Lightning Maple Leafs Bruins Panthers Canadiens
Justin Capitals Hurricanes Penguins Lightning Maple Leafs Panthers Bruins Canadiens
Cody Capitals Penguins Islanders Lightning Maple Leafs Bruins Panthers Devils
Zeke Capitals Hurricanes Penguins Lightning Maple Leafs Bruins Panthers Devils
Andy Capitals Penguins Hurricanes Lightning Bruins Maple Leafs Devils Panthers
Jake Hurricanes Capitals Devils Lightning Maple Leafs Bruins Flyers Islanders
Alec Hurricanes Penguins Capitals Lightning Bruins Maple Leafs Panthers Flyers
Kevin Capitals Hurricanes Penguins Lightning Maple Leafs Bruins Panthers Blue Jackets
Ford Capitals Flyers Penguins Maple Leafs Lightning Bruins Canadiens Islanders

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!