2003-4 Predictions

I think it will be fun to see how the experts rate at the end of the season so I will save this post on opening night. Last season I recall ESPN had the Islanders out of the playoffs and the Rangers winning the Eastern Conference (their predictions come out on Wednesday).

Feel free to add your own and others that you may find.
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EASTERN CONFERENCE - IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
By Alan Hahn

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/ny-fared313482342oct05,0,6186761.story?coll=ny-hockey-headlines

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Philadelphia FLYERS
New Jersey DEVILS
New York ISLANDERS
New York RANGERS
Pittsburgh PENGUINS

NORTHEAST DIVISION

Ottawa SENATORS
Toronto MAPLE LEAFS
Boston BRUINS
Buffalo SABRES
Montreal CANADIENS

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Washington CAPITALS
Tampa Bay LIGHTNING
Carolina HURRICANES
Atlanta THRASHERS
Florida PANTHERS
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DAILY NEWS - EASTERN CONFERENCE

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/s...3p-110975c.html

1. Ottawa
2. Devils
3. Philadelphia
4. Toronto
5. Tampa Bay
6. Boston
7. Carolina
8. Buffalo
9. Rangers
10. Washington
11. Islanders
12. Atlanta
13. Montreal
14. Florida
15. Pittsburgh
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The Hockey News 10/01 13:54:32 ET

2003-04 New York Islanders Preview
By Chris Ruddick,
Contributing NHL Writer

http://146.145.120.3/default.asp?c=hockeynews&page=nhl/news/ADN2825111.htm

"WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The pieces are there for the Islanders. Laviolette, it would appear from the surface, got a raw deal from Milbury, who at some point has to answer to somebody. Peca will bounce back and Yashin will thrive with Czerkawski on his side, with Stirling reaping the benefits, while Laviolette watches. DiPietro will also be much more comfortable knowing it is his team. The Islanders will finish middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference and have a chance at winning a series or two in the postseason."

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2003-2004 TSN.CA Expert Predictions
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature.asp?fid=1704

Neil Smith

Team primed for a breakthrough - New York Rangers
Team primed for a dropoff - New York Islanders
Breakthrough player - Ales Hemsky, Edmonton
Top rookie - Tuomo Ruutu, Chicago
All Hart - Peter Forsberg, Colorado
Regular season scoring champ - Joe Thornton, Boston
2004 Stanley Cup Champions - Colorado Avalanche

Dave Hodge

Team primed for a breakthrough - Carolina Hurricanes
Team primed for a dropoff - New York Islanders
Breakthrough player - Jason Spezza, Ottawa
Top rookie - Joni Pitkanen, Philadelphia
All Hart - Joe Thornton, Boston
Regular season scoring champ - Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh
2004 Stanley Cup Champions - Ottawa Senators

Pierre McGuire

Team primed for a breakthrough - Edmonton Oilers
Team primed for a dropoff - New York Islanders
Breakthrough player - Jason Spezza, Ottawa
Top rookie - Jiri Hudler, Detroit
All Hart - Peter Forsberg, Colorado
Regular season scoring champ - Paul Kariya, Colorado
2004 Stanley Cup Champions - Ottawa Senators

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Another Year is Here (Dan Pollard and TSN.CA staff)
http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/dan_pollard.asp?id=52535

2003-04 PREDICTED FINISH
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Ottawa
2. New Jersey
3. Philadelphia
4. Tampa Bay
5. Toronto
6. Boston
7. NY Islanders
8. NY Rangers
9. Buffalo
10. Atlanta
11. Washington
12. Carolina
13. Florida
14. Montreal
15. Pittsburgh

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TSN.CA - Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division - New York Islanders
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature.asp?fid=7905

TSN.ca Outlook: The Islanders will look much the same as they did a year ago, except in goal, where Rick DiPietro will get his chance to shine. The top pick in the 2000 draft will have to live up to lofty expectations for this team to go very far. That will be tough with a defence corps that is better in the other zone, and a forward group that can't score. The Islanders need more offensive production from the players paid to score, and more elbow grease in front of DiPietro.

Newsday NHL Power Rankings

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/ny-nhlpowerrankings,0,2966745.htmlstory?coll=ny-sports-utility

"In Alan Hahn's preseason list, it's the Senators at the top, with the Rangers and Isles in the middle of the pack."

Islanders - 12th and 3rd in the division behind Flyers (4) and Devils (6)
Rangers - 4th in the division and 16th overall in the conference.

ESPN Week 1 Power Rankings - Sept. 9, 2003
"A time for optimism, except in Manhattan"
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/powerranking[/url]

Rank Last Seasons Record
16 (16) Islanders 35-34-11-2

"New coach Steve Stirling inherited a potential hornets nest. Locker room bickering and backstabbing led to Peter Laviolette's ouster, and could rear their ugly heads again if team leaders don't do their jobs. If Rick DiPietro doesn't take over the No. 1 job, GM Mike Milbury will have some explaining to do."

18 (19) Rangers 32-36-10-4

"The Rangers will start the season with the oldest lineup in the NHL, the same distinction held by the Red Wings two seasons ago. Unlike the Wings, who went on to win the Cup, most of the Rangers veterans are past their prime. What about working younger players into the lineup so there's hope after 2004-05?"

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?page=0304pvw/predictions

10/8/2003
Espn Experts Predict 2003-04

ESPN's and ESPN.com's NHL experts give their predictions for division, conference and Stanley Cup champions, as well as the Hart, Vezina, Norris and Adams trophies............

Barry Melrose picking the Rangers out of the East. I think he did that last season as well.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?page=0304pvw/predictions

10/8/2003
Espn Experts Predict 2003-04

ESPN's and ESPN.com's NHL experts give their predictions for division, conference and Stanley Cup champions, as well as the Hart, Vezina, Norris and Adams trophies............

How about Steve 'the stiff' Levy? - He picks TOR for the Cup!!!! and Olczyk for the Adams...completely laughable!

that's a real 'expert' for ya...

Barry Melrose picking the Rangers out of the East. I think he did that last season as well.

last year, Morganit picked the Isles to win the division or make the finals...something absurd like that...