Fearless NHL predictions for 2010-11
It’s going to be a banner season for Alex Ovechkin(notes) and the Washington Capitals, at least according to five resident hockey experts at Yahoo! Sports.
Yahoo!’s hockey staff is picking the Capitals to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and predicts that Ovechkin will be the driving force behind Washington’s success. Ovechkin received the most support to claim the Art Ross Trophy and the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer and top goal-scorer, respectively, while the explosive Capitals star tied with his arch-rival, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby(notes), for the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player.
Senior NHL writer Nicholas J. Cotsonika, NHL editor Sam McCaig, editor Ross McKeon and Puck Daddy bloggers Greg Wyshynski and Sean Leahy participated in the Yahoo! survey.
“Alex Ovechkin has never won anything?” Cotsonika said. “That will change soon.”
Washington received three Stanley Cup votes, while Pittsburgh and the ever-improving Los Angeles Kings each received one. Kings center Anze Kopitar(notes) was the only player not named Crosby or Ovechkin to receive an MVP vote.
“The Kings’ time is now and they have a talented goaltending duo that can get them there,” said Leahy, who likes Los Angeles’ net options of starter Jonathan Quick(notes), backup Erik Ersberg(notes) and promising prospect Jonathan Bernier(notes).
Washington also received the most support to capture the Eastern Conference title in the regular season, while the San Jose Sharks were a runaway to win the West after being named on four of five ballots.
“Three conference championships in a row, yet the Sharks find a way to come up short one final time before a roster overhaul,” said McKeon, who was a Sharks beat reporter for nearly 20 years before joining Yahoo! Sports.
Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin(notes), the reigning NHL MVP and last season’s leading scorer, received two votes to repeat as the Art Ross Trophy winner (compared to three votes for Ovechkin), while New York Rangers sniper Marian Gaborik(notes) prevented an Ovechkin sweep in the voting for top goal-scorer.
“He’s in prime position to follow up strong on 112 points,” said Cotsonika of Sedin, pointing out that Henrik’s twin brother and linemate, Daniel, missed nearly 20 games last season.
Drew Doughty(notes), the Kings’ 20-year-old defenseman who’s entering his third NHL season, was the biggest surprise of the survey, taking all five votes for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best blue liner. Forget Zdeno Chara(notes), Nicklas Lidstrom(notes), Duncan Keith(notes), Shea Weber(notes) and Chris Pronger(notes) – Doughty is the new favorite flavor. Now, all he has to do is deliver on those high expectations.
“We saw it last season and 2010-11 is when Doughty takes his game to the next level,” Leahy said.
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller(notes), a revelation last year in both the NHL and at the Olympics for Team USA, was tabbed to repeat as the Vezina Trophy winner as the league’s best netminder, beating out Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo(notes) and Boston Bruins youngster Tuukka Rask(notes).
“Miller will single-handedly carry the Sabres to a division title,” said McKeon, noting that Miller faces a tough task after Buffalo lost top defensemen Henrik Tallinder(notes) and Toni Lydman to free agency in the summer.
Taylor Hall(notes), drafted first overall by the Edmonton Oilers last June, was picked to claim the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, ahead of teammate Jordan Eberle(notes), Canucks center Cody Hodgson(notes) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman PK Subban(notes), who joined the Habs during their playoff run last spring and became an immediate fan favorite.
