Tonight we begin one of the most anticipated Toronto Maple Leafs seasons of all time. Normally this would be a huge load of hyperbole but with John Tavares partnering with Mitch Marner on the Leafs top line and Auston Matthews and William Nylander....texting each other?

We here at PPP Kitten Ranching, Basement Renovations, and Bedsheet Fabrication, GmbH have sat down, put on our best thinking caps and made our bold predictions for the upcoming NHL season. No, we weren't total homers about things.

Where will the Maple Leafs end up in the Atlantic, East or NHL? We’re all picking in about the same place, except for Brigstew who’s all in this season.

Predictions: Standings

NameLeafs finish in DivisionLeafs finish in conferenceLeafs finish overall
seldo235
katya236
Arvind347
Kevin224
Fulemin224
Brigstew112
Hardev225
Species124
nafio246
Annie235

We all see a tight Atlantic Division and the top of the East is there for the Leafs. League wise we’re expecting a top 10 finish.

Predictions: Numbers

Name# of winsGoals ForGoals Against
seldo55298245
katya50285230
Arvind45283236
Kevin51233
Fulemin50290230
Brigstew53302255
Hardev54291234
Species55309201
nafio52290240
Annie53All of themAll of them -1

50+ wins this year, almost 300 goals makes for a good looking team. The goals against are pretty high, so we’re not super confidant in the defense as it is on paper.

Predictions: Trades

NameWho gets traded?
seldoLeivo, Sparks, Johnsson, Hyman
katyaCarrick and Leivo
ArvindFuture draft picks
Kevin2019 First
FuleminLeivo, Sparks
BrigstewBrown, Nielsen and a 2nd
HardevSparks, Leivo, 2019 picks
SpeciesPickard, Gauthier, Borgman, Leivo
nafioLeivo,
AnnieLeivo, future picks

These predictions were made before the big trade with the Dallas Stars, so I have to give Katya the credit on saying Connor Carrick would get traded. Most of us don’t see Josh Leivo lasting too much longer in Toronto either. I went off the board and threw in Andreas Johnsson and Zach Hyman. If the Leafs want to make a big deal, roster players will have to go.

Predictions: Outcomes

NameBest (realistic) outcome for the LeafsWorst case scenario
seldoConference FinalMiss the playoffs
katyaConference FinalMiss the playoffs by one game
ArvindWinning the CupMiss the playoffs
KevinWinning the Cup in VegasInjuries, miss playoffs
FuleminParade down Yonge St.Global warming makes Earth uninhabitable
BrigstewCup ChampionsInjuries, miss playoffs
HardevChampions. OF THE WORLDlose wild card to Buffalo
SpeciesParade down Bay St.Miss the playoffs by one point determined in the April 1 game against the Islanders and losing because Matt Martin gets a hat trick
nafioCup ChampionsMiss the playoffs
AnnieWinning the damn CupNarrowly miss the playoffs, everyone blames Jake Gardiner

At a minimum we have a conference final appearance, otherwise it’s Stanley Cup time. We see missing the playoffs as the worst possible thing to happen to the Leafs this year, aside from Fulemin who reminds us of the destruction we are doing to ourselves.

Always there for a good time, that Fulemin.

What we want as hockey fans

NameWhat you want as a fan
seldoBRING ME THE CUP
katyaFUN!
ArvindBetter breakouts, outshooting teams, and hopefully a playoff series win
KevinPlayoff series win vs. Boston
FuleminDynasty
BrigstewCurb stomp Boston in first round and win the Cup
HardevBeat Tampa and Boston
SpeciesLocker room shower access
nafioMany goals, much scoring
AnnieConquering victory, Auston Matthews wearing ridiculous clothes

We all want different things as fans. I want a cup. I want to watch the Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup while sitting on my couch with my kids. I want to raise that Leafs flag for all eternity and call Google to come by and take a new street view picture.

Katya wants fun and Species...well, I did ask I guess.

Now, the lesser teams.

The winners

NameWho wins the EC?Who wins the WC?Who wins the cup?
seldoTorontoNashvilleToronto
katyaPittsburghSt. LouisSt. Louis
ArvindTampa BayWinnipegWinnipeg
KevinPittsburghWinnipegWinnipeg
FuleminTampa BayWinnipegTampa Bay
BrigstewTorontoSan JoseToronto
HardevTorontoLos AngelesToronto
SpeciesCapitalsSan JoseToronto
nafioTorontoSan JoseSan Jose
AnnieTampa BaySan JoseSan Jose

Everyone who picked the Jets* to win the Cup are dead to me. Hell, everyone who didn’t pick Toronto is dead too.

The Losers

NameWho finishes last?
seldoDetroit
katyaOttawa
ArvindDetroit
KevinOttawa
FuleminOttawa
BrigstewNYR
HardevOttawa
SpeciesMinnesota
nafioChicago
AnnieOttawa

As much as I’d love Ottawa to lose then win the lottery, I just have to see HOCKEYTOWN finish last for nothing more than pettiness. Plus if Ottawa doesn’t finish last but wins the lottery, it’s funnier.

Player predictions

NameHartArt RossRichardNorrisVezinaSelkeCalder
seldoTavaresMarnerLaineHedmanAndersenCoutourierTkachuk
katyaTaylor HallMcDavidLaineHedmanBobrovskiyBergeronDahlin
ArvindMcDavidMcDavidMcDavidDoughtyGibsonCouturierPettersson
KevinMcDavidMcDavidLaineHedmanGibsonBergeronPettersson
FuleminMcDavidMcDavidMatthewsHedmanVasilevskiyCouturierPettersson
BrigstewMcDavidMcDavidMatthewsProvorovAndersenBergeronStrome
HardevMcDavidMcDavidOvechkinSeth JonesVasilevskiyCouturierDahlin
SpeciesMatthewsJvRMatthewsHedmanAndersenCouturierDahlin
nafioHallMcDavidMatthewsProvorovAndersenBergeronDahlin
AnnieMatthewsMcDavidMatthewsProvorovAndersenCouturierPettersson

I’m a Leafs homer through and through so I want to see Tavares, Marner, and Frederik Andersen to take home some hardware. As it should be Connor McDavid gets a lot of picks for awards, but Auston Matthews gets the majority of Rocket Richard votes.

Management picks

NameAdamsBest GMFirst coach fired?
seldoBabockDubasJulien
katyaBill PetersWilsonHousley
ArvindJim MontgomeryKevin CheveldayoffJoel Quenneville
KevinRod Brind'AmourArmstrongMcLellan
FuleminPaul MauriceKyle DubasHousley
BrigstewBabcockDubasBoucher
HardevNYR's guyMr. WilsonMcLellan
SpeciesBabcockKyle DubasBoudreau
nafioJim MontgomeryRon HextallBoucher
AnniePaul MauriceKyle DubasBoucher

I have some feelings that Marc Bergevin’s choices will come back to haunt him and he’ll make a panic move and fire Claude Julien and make Patrick Roy head coach. Arvind thinks that the Blackhawks will move on from Quenneville even though it’s Bowman who put them in their current funk.


Those are our picks for this season. Share your predictions below to get the greatest prize of them all: Being right about sports.