OK, We've Hit Bottom...Predictions Are Out

In the surest sign that we've pretty much hit bottom in the dog days of hockey off-season, we have not one, not two, but three sets of predictions out. Never mind that teams are still likely kicking the tires on deals and/or signings that could influence their opening night rosters, we've got reasonable folks with nothing better to do than to go on record six weeks before the season starts with their outlooks.

Courtesy of Spector and James Mirtle, here they are...

The Sports Forecaster

Eastern Conference.

Northeast

Ottawa Senators
Buffalo Sabres
Toronto Maple Leafs
Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens

Atlantic

New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins
New Jersey Devils
Philadelphia Flyers
New York Islanders

Southeast

Carolina Hurricanes
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Washington Capitals
Atlanta Thrashers.

Western Conference

Central

Detroit Red Wings
St. Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks
Nashville Predators
Columbus Blue Jackets

Northwest

Colorado Avalanche
Calgary Flames
Minnesota Wild
Vancouver Canucks
Edmonton Oilers

Pacific

San Jose Sharks
Anaheim Ducks
Dallas Stars
LA Kings
Phoenix Coyotes.

The Hockey News

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Ottawa
NY Rangers
Pittsburgh
Buffalo
Carolina
Tampa Bay
New Jersey
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Washington
Toronto
Florida
Montreal
NY Islanders
Boston

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Detroit
Anaheim
Calgary
San Jose
Minnesota
Vancouver
Nashville
Colorado
St. Louis
Chicago
Dallas
Los Angeles
Edmonton
Columbus
Phoenix

McKeen's

EASTERN

Pittsburgh
Ottawa
NY Rangers
Buffalo
New Jersey
Toronto
Carolina
Montreal
Tampa Bay
Philadelphia
Florida
Washington
Boston
Atlanta
NY Islanders

WESTERN

Detroit
Colorado
Dallas
Anaheim
Vancouver
San Jose
Calgary
Minnesota
Los Angeles
St. Louis
Nashville
Chicago
Edmonton
Columbus
Phoenix

Clearly, there is little Caps love at this early juncture, but then again, who had Pittsburgh as a 105-point team-in-waiting at this point last year? Here is what Spector passed along last year from a few publications (note: the predictions are not his):

THE HOCKEY NEWS YEARBOOK PREDICTIONS:

EASTERN

Carolina Hurricanes
Ottawa Senators
New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils
Buffalo Sabres
Philadelphia Flyers
Montreal Canadiens
Atlanta Thrashers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs
Florida Panthers
Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
New York Islanders
Washington Capitals

WESTERN

Anaheim Ducks
Nashville Predators
Calgary Flames
San Jose Sharks
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Minnesota Wild
Columbus Blue Jackets
Phoenix Coyotes
Los Angeles Kings
Vancouver Canucks
Edmonton Oilers
Colorado Avalanche
Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues

THE SPORTING NEWS (Division)

Atlantic 1. Rangers 2. Devils 3. Flyers 4 Islanders 5. Penguins

Northeast 1. Sabres 2. Senators 3. Canadiens 4. Maple Leafs 5. Bruins

Southeast 1 Hurricanes 2. Thrashers 3. Lightning 4. Capitals 5. Panthers

Central 1. Predators 2. Red Wings 3. Blackhawks 4. Blue Jackets 5 Blues

Pacific 1. Sharks 2. Ducks 3. Stars 4. Kings 5. Coyotes

Northwest 1. Canucks 2.Flames 3. Avalanche 4 Oilers 5. Wild

THE SCORE (Division)

Northeast 1. Sabres 2. Senators 3. Bruins 4. Maple Leafs 5. Canadiens

Atlantic 1. Devils 2. Rangers 3. Flyers4 Islanders 5. Penguins

Southeast 1. Lightning 2. Hurricanes 3. Thrashers 4 Capitals 5 Panthers

Central 1 Predators 2. Rd Wings 3. Blue Jackets 4. Blues 5. Blackhawks

Northwest 1. Flames 2. Wild. 3. Canucks 4. Avalanches 5. Oilers

Pacific 1. Ducks 2. Sharks 3. Stars 4. Coyotes 5. Kings

Who is this year's "Pittsburgh" that everyone is missing?