The Ducks are this year’s trendy pick for the Stanley Cup, but a number of quality teams will challenge Anaheim this season.  

I’ll take the New York Rangers coming out of the East, and defeating the Ducks in the finals.  

Here’s the “short-list” of my predictions for the 2015-16 NHL season:

MVP:  Steven Stamkos

Top Goaltender: Carey Price

Top Defenseman: Victor Hedman

Top Rookie: Connor McDavid

Points Leader: Sidney Crosby

Pacific Winner: Ducks

Atlantic Winner: Lightning

Metropolitan Winner: Rangers

Central Winner: Blackhawks

West Winner: Ducks

East Winner: Rangers

Stanley Cup Champion: Rangers 

Who might win if not the Rangers?  1.  Ducks  2.  Lightning  3.  Blackhawks  4.  Capitals  5.  Predators

My Darkhorse Team: Blue Jackets

NHL Coaches On The Hot Seat:  Everyone not named Mike Babcock.  The first coach to go will most likely be Ken Hitchcock, if the Blues don’t get off to a good start.

Game–Changers this year: The three-on-three overtime is introduced that will decide a large percentage of games that are tied after regulation (75+%), along with the coaches challenge for offside and goalie interference.