Welcome to Part 2 of 10 of my season predictions. I haven’t been able to do this since Wednesday because of recent events. I will do parts 2 and 3 today and 4 and 5 tomorrow. Our focus today is on the San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators. Let’s get started.

San Jose Sharks

2015-16 Record: 46-30-6 98 points (3rd in the Pacific)

Playoffs: Stanley Cup Finalists

The Sharks got red hot in the postseason last year smashing the Kings in 5 games, Predators in 7 and Blues in 6. However they met a brick wall in the finals aganist the Penguins when they lost on home ice in game 6. The Sharks older core of Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns had great seasons but didn’t do much in the Finals. Plus the window for them to try and get back to win is this year and no further in my opinion. I think the Sharks were carried through the postseason by Martin Jones like the Panthers were in 1996 by Vanbiesbrouck. Hopefully Jones can keep up the fantastic play he displayed last year and win his team a Stanley Cup. Patrick Marleau’s time is past and Thornton is at his sunset with Pavelski and Burns close behind. Logan Couture can hopefully help out the Sharks as a young player. I project they will finish with 95-110 points. 

Top 3 Players: C Joe Pavelski, D Brent Burns, G Martin Jones

Top 3 Prospects: C Timo Meier, C Nikolay Goldobin, C Micro Mueller

New Jersey Devils

2015-16 Record: 38-36-8  84 Points (7th in Metropolitan)

Playoffs: Missed

The Devils made a huge trade this offseason fleecing the Edmonton Oilers of Taylor Hall in exchange for Adam Larsson. The Devils have franchise netminder Cory Schneider but they were the worst in goals for per game last year despite having 2 30 goal scorers such as Kyle Palmeri and Adam Henrique. Travis Zajac needs a bounce back season. Hopefully Hall can help the Devils improve in scoring. The former number 1 overall pick has 132 goals and 196 points which is 328 career points in 331 career games. I think with good scoring the Devils are a pretty good team. However since they traded Adam Larsson they need help on the defense. Their best defenseman are now Ben Lovejoy, Andy Greene and John Moore but they have Cory Schneider. I think instead of offense being a concern next year the defense will be a concern. I project they will get 88-103 Points next year

Top 3 Players: Cory Schneider, Taylor Hall, Tie between Adam Henrique/Kyle Palmeri

Top 3 Prospects: Pavel Zacha, Steven Santini, Scott Wedgewood

Nashville Predators

2015-16 Record: 41-27-14 95 Points (4th in the Central)

Playoffs: Lost in Round 2 in 7 games to the San Jose Sharks

The Nashville Predators got to the 2nd round and pushed the Sharks to 7 games before they lost. Then in the offseason they made a huge splash trading Captain and Franchise Defenseman Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens for Franchise Defenseman PK Subban. Subban is younger and better for marketing. He is also a better personality. I think Subban will make hockey in Nashville more popular. He should do well with Josi. I think the Predators will have another good season. On offense they have Foresberg, Johansen among other good players. I project they will finish with 90-109 Points

Top 3 Players: PK Subban, Ryan Johansen, Pekka Rinne

Top 3 Prospects: Kevin Fiala, Vladislav Kamenev, Juuse Saros

Later we will feature the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks