Predictions aren’t exactly my specialty.
I was recently reviewing old blog posts and stumbled across an article from the 2011 off season where I boldly predicted that Nikita Filatov would have 25 goals and 51 points in his first season with the Senators. Only off by about 50 points! And as we’ve all learned over the years, the SensChirp Curse has some pretty magical powers.
But it’s late August and until the Rookie Camp kicks off in a couple weeks, there really isn’t a whole lot else to talk about. So here goes…ten quick predictions for next season.
Leave your own predictions for this coming season in the comment section below!
1) Colin Greening scores double digit goals– I mentioned this one during the Blogger Panel at Sens Summer Fan Fest and now I’m foolish enough to put it in writing. There’s a pretty good chance Greening spends the entire season in Binghamton and doesn’t even get one goal but I’m rolling the dice a little bit here. The Senators would still like to move Greening at some point and a good start from him may help them do just that. So I won’t promise they’ll all be with the Senators but I’m calling a ten goal season for Greening.
2) Jared Cowen Improves- Bold prediction, I know. After the last couple seasons, it’s sort of difficult to imagine Cowen looking much worse. But I think he’ll recognize this is his last chance to make an impression on this organization and put together a decent season. On paper, he seems to be number 6 or 7 on the depth chart so he’ll have to play well if he wants a regular spot in the line up. I think there will be times this year where you watch Cowen and think to yourself, “he actually doesn’t look that bad”.
3) Mika Zibanejad hits the 50 point mark- I’m expecting a big year from Zibanejad. He had sort of a weird off season last year where his training was limited a little bit and it caused him to get off to a bit of a slow start. Not this year. Whether it ends up being with Hoffman and Ryan or some other combination of wingers, I expect Zibanejad to crack the 50 point mark this year. He had 46 last season.
4) Patrick Wiercioch finishes with 30+ points- This is a big year for Wiercioch. After an appearance for Team Canada at the World Championships, Wiercioch seems like a player poised for a breakout season offensively. He had 23 points a couple seasons ago. I think he improves on that this year and hits the 30 point mark.
5) Bobby Ryan Scores 20- Considering the money he’s going to earn this season I don’t know if this is considered a good season or not but I’m going to say Bobby Ryan hits the 20 goal mark this year. He came up just short in 2014/2015 and that’s mostly because of a dreadful slump towards the end of the year. The Senators will be counting on production from Ryan this year and I’ll say he gives them at least 20 goals.
6) Mike Hoffman Takes a Step Back– After a breakout 27 goal season last year, Mike Hoffman has set the bar pretty high for himself heading into this season. Maybe just because there were a few too many good news predictions on here but I’ll say Hoffman falls short of the 27 he scored last year.
7) Chris Phillips plays less than 30 games- Early indications are Chris Phillips plans on being healthy and ready to go in time for training camp but it’s going to be a tough hill to climb for the now 37 year old Phillips. With Karlsson, Methot, Wiercioch, Ceci, Borowiecki, Cowen and Wideman all pushing for spots and Mikael Wikstrand eager for his shot, it’s going to be a battle for playing time all year. I’ll say Phillips plays less than half the games this season.
8) Erik Karlsson runs away with the defensive scoring race– Not exactly an earth shattering prediction the way Karlsson finished last season but I’m going to say Karlsson wins the defenceman scoring race by a significant margin and finishes with more point than he did last season (66).
9) Erik Karlsson wins the Norris Trophy- Assuming he can stay healthy and he has his buddy Marc Methot playing with him most of the year, I think Karlsson wins his third Norris Trophy. He won it last year despite having an average first half. He looked like his old self down the stretch. If he plays like that all season, no other defenceman is even close.
10) The Ottawa Senators make the playoffs- The Senators will get off to a strong start and unlike last season, won’t need to win every game for two months just to get in. It won’t be easy but I think the Senators make it back to the playoffs this season.
