It's January and a new NHL season is upon us. This year's will be limited to 56 regular season games, and bring divisional realignment as the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to present challenges for all sports leagues.
So, we've assembled a panel of 21 Sportsnet NHL experts to give you their predictions on such things as Stanley Cup winner, divisional winners, award winners, and how many of the biggest pending UFAs will hit the market next summer.
TEAM QUESTIONS
North Division regular season winner
Chris Johnston: Calgary
Jeff Marek: Toronto
Caroline Cameron: Toronto
David Amber: Toronto
Mark Spector: Montreal
Luke Fox: Toronto
Iain MacIntyre: Toronto
Eric Engels: Toronto
Eric Francis: Calgary
Ken Wiebe: Calgary
Wayne Scanlan: Calgary
Christine Simpson: Toronto
Kyle Bukauskas: Toronto
Dan Murphy: Toronto
Gene Principe: Edmonton
Shawn McKenzie: Toronto
Sean Reynolds: Edmonton
Gord Stellick: Toronto
Ryan Dixon: Calgary
Rory Boylen: Calgary
East Division regular season winner
Chris Johnston: Boston
Jeff Marek: Philadelphia
Caroline Cameron: Boston
David Amber: Philadelphia
Mark Spector: Philadelphia
Luke Fox: Washington
Iain MacIntyre: Philadelphia
Eric Engels: NY Rangers
Eric Francis: Boston
Ken Wiebe: Philadelphia
Wayne Scanlan: NY Islanders
Christine Simpson: NY Islanders
Kyle Bukauskas: NY Rangers
Dan Murphy: Philadelphia
Gene Principe: Washington
Shawn McKenzie: Philadelphia
Sean Reynolds: Boston
Gord Stellick: Washington
Ryan Dixon: Philadelphia
Rory Boylen: Philadelphia
West Division regular season winner
Chris Johnston: Colorado
Jeff Marek: Colorado
Caroline Cameron: Colorado
David Amber: Vegas
Mark Spector: Colorado
Luke Fox: Colorado
Iain MacIntyre: Colorado
Eric Engels: Colorado
Eric Francis: Colorado
Ken Wiebe: Colorado
Wayne Scanlan: Colorado
Christine Simpson: Colorado
Kyle Bukauskas: St. Louis
Dan Murphy: Colorado
Gene Principe: Colorado
Shawn McKenzie: Vegas
Sean Reynolds: Colorado
Gord Stellick: Colorado
Ryan Dixon: Colorado
Rory Boylen: Colorado
Central Division regular season winner
Chris Johnston: Tampa Bay
Jeff Marek: Carolina
Caroline Cameron: Tampa Bay
David Amber: Nashville
Mark Spector: Carolina
Luke Fox: Tampa Bay
Iain MacIntyre: Tampa Bay
Eric Engels: Carolina
Eric Francis: Tampa Bay
Ken Wiebe: Tampa Bay
Wayne Scanlan: Tampa Bay
Christine Simpson: Tampa Bay
Kyle Bukauskas: Tampa Bay
Dan Murphy: Carolina
Gene Principe: Dallas
Shawn McKenzie: Tampa Bay
Sean Reynolds: Tampa Bay
Gord Stellick: Tampa Bay
Ryan Dixon: Tampa Bay
Rory Boylen: Tampa Bay
Stanley Cup semifinalists
Elliotte Friedman: Colorado, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Washington
Chris Johnston: Toronto, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Tampa Bay
Jeff Marek: Colorado, Toronto, Carolina, Philadelphia
Caroline Cameron: Toronto, Colorado, Tampa, NY Islanders
David Amber: Vegas, Vancouver, Tampa Bay, Washington
Mark Spector: Colorado, Winnipeg, Islanders, Carolina
Luke Fox: Toronto, Colorado, Tampa Bay, Washington
Iain MacIntyre: Carolina, NY Islanders, Vegas, Toronto
Eric Engels: Montreal, Washington, Carolina, Colorado
Eric Francis: Toronto, Boston, Colorado, Dallas
Ken Wiebe: Calgary, NY Rangers, Vegas, Tampa Bay
Wayne Scanlan: Colorado, Tampa Bay, Calgary, Philadelphia
Christine Simpson: Toronto, NY Islanders, Colorado, Tampa Bay
Kyle Bukauskas: Montreal, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay
Dan Murphy: Tampa, Vegas, Calgary, Washington
Gene Principe: Edmonton, Washington, Colorado, Dallas
Shawn McKenzie: Vegas, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Philadelphia
Sean Reynolds: Colorado, Toronto, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay
Gord Stellick: Toronto, Carolina, Colorado, Philadelphia
Ryan Dixon: Tampa Bay, Toronto, Colorado, Washington
Rory Boylen: Montreal, Vegas, Dallas, Washington
Stanley Cup winner
Elliotte Friedman: Colorado
Chris Johnston: Colorado
Jeff Marek: Colorado
Caroline Cameron: Colorado
David Amber: Vegas
Mark Spector: Colorado
Luke Fox: Colorado
Iain MacIntyre: Vegas
Eric Engels: Colorado
Eric Francis: Colorado
Ken Wiebe: Vegas
Wayne Scanlan: Colorado
Christine Simpson: Colorado
Kyle Bukauskas: St. Louis
Dan Murphy: Vegas
Gene Principe: Edmonton
Shawn McKenzie: Vegas
Sean Reynolds: Colorado
Gord Stellick: Colorado
Ryan Dixon: Colorado
Rory Boylen: Vegas
Team most likely to exceed expectations
Elliotte Friedman: Anaheim
Chris Johnston: Montreal
Jeff Marek: Nashville
Caroline Cameron: Buffalo
David Amber: Florida
Mark Spector: Ottawa
Luke Fox: San Jose
Iain MacIntyre: Vancouver
Eric Engels: NY Rangers
Eric Francis: NY Rangers
Ken Wiebe: NY Rangers
Wayne Scanlan: Ottawa
Christine Simpson: Ottawa
Kyle Bukauskas: Buffalo
Dan Murphy: Ottawa
Gene Principe: Edmonton
Shawn McKenzie: Montreal
Sean Reynolds: Buffalo
Gord Stellick: Carolina
Ryan Dixon: New Jersey
Rory Boylen: Florida
Team most likely to disappoint
Elliotte Friedman: Chicago
Chris Johnston: NY Islanders
Jeff Marek: NY Islanders
Caroline Cameron: Chicago
David Amber: Boston
Mark Spector: Toronto
Luke Fox: Pittsburgh
Iain MacIntyre: Washington
Eric Engels: Vancouver
Eric Francis: Buffalo
Ken Wiebe: Edmonton
Wayne Scanlan: Florida
Christine Simpson: Dallas
Kyle Bukauskas: Dallas
Dan Murphy: NY Islanders
Gene Principe: Boston
Shawn McKenzie: Washington
Sean Reynolds: Washington
Gord Stellick: Dallas
Ryan Dixon: Vegas
Rory Boylen: Boston
AWARD QUESTIONS
Hart Trophy
Elliotte Friedman: Nathan MacKinnon
Chris Johnston: Connor McDavid
Jeff Marek: Connor McDavid
Caroline Cameron: Nathan MacKinnon
David Amber: Nathan MacKinnon
Mark Spector: Nathan MacKinnon
Luke Fox: Nathan MacKinnon
Iain MacIntyre: Connor McDavid
Eric Engels: Nathan MacKinnon
Eric Francis: Nathan MacKinnon
Ken Wiebe: Nathan MacKinnon
Wayne Scanlan: Nathan MacKinnon
Christine Simpson: Nathan MacKinnon
Kyle Bukauskas: Connor McDavid
Dan Murphy: Nathan MacKinnon
Gene Principe: Connor McDavid
Shawn McKenzie: Connor McDavid
Sean Reynolds: Nathan MacKinnon
Gord Stellick: Nathan MacKinnon
Ryan Dixon: Nathan MacKinnon
Rory Boylen: Nathan MacKinnon
Art Ross Trophy
Elliotte Friedman: Connor McDavid
Chris Johnston: Connor McDavid
Jeff Marek: Connor McDavid
Caroline Cameron: Connor McDavid
David Amber: Connor McDavid
Mark Spector: Connor McDavid
Luke Fox: Connor McDavid
Iain MacIntyre: Connor McDavid
Eric Engels: Connor McDavid
Eric Francis: Connor McDavid
Ken Wiebe: Nathan MacKinnon
Wayne Scanlan: Connor McDavid
Christine Simpson: Connor McDavid
Kyle Bukauskas: Connor McDavid
Dan Murphy: Nathan MacKinnon
Gene Principe: Connor McDavid
Shawn McKenzie: Connor McDavid
Sean Reynolds: Connor McDavid
Gord Stellick: Connor McDavid
Ryan Dixon: Connor McDavid
Rory Boylen: Artemi Panarin
Calder Trophy
Elliotte Friedman: Tim Stuetzle
Chris Johnston: Tim Stuetzle
Jeff Marek: Igor Shesterkin
Caroline Cameron: Kirill Kaprizov
David Amber: Trevor Zegras
Mark Spector: Alexis Lafreniere
Luke Fox: Igor Shesterkin
Iain MacIntyre: Kirill Kaprizov
Eric Engels: Igor Shesterkin
Eric Francis: Igor Shesterkin
Ken Wiebe: Tim Stuetzle
Wayne Scanlan: Tim Stuetzle
Christine Simpson: Alexis Lafreniere
Kyle Bukauskas: Alexis Lafreniere
Dan Murphy: Kirill Kaprizov
Gene Principe: Tim Stuetzle
Shawn McKenzie: Igor Shesterkin
Sean Reynolds: Alexis Lafreniere
Gord Stellick: Bowen Byram
Ryan Dixon: Tim Stuetzle
Rory Boylen: Tim Stuetzle
Norris Trophy
Elliotte Friedman: Seth Jones
Chris Johnston: Victor Hedman
Jeff Marek: Dougie Hamilton
Caroline Cameron: Victor Hedman
David Amber: Victor Hedman
Mark Spector: Cale Makar
Luke Fox: Victor Hedman
Iain MacIntyre: Miro Heiskanen
Eric Engels: Shea Theodore
Eric Francis: Cale Makar
Ken Wiebe: Shea Theodore
Wayne Scanlan: Victor Hedman
Christine Simpson: Victor Hedman
Kyle Bukauskas: John Carlson
Dan Murphy: Seth Jones
Gene Principe: Victor Hedman
Shawn McKenzie: Victor Hedman
Sean Reynolds: Cale Makar
Gord Stellick: Seth Jones
Ryan Dixon: Cale Makar
Rory Boylen: Shea Theodore
Vezina Trophy
Elliotte Friedman: John Gibson
Chris Johnston: Robin Lehner
Jeff Marek: Carter Hart
Caroline Cameron: Connor Hellebuyck
David Amber: Carter Hart
Mark Spector: Carey Price
Luke Fox: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Iain MacIntyre: Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Engels: Carey Price
Eric Francis: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Ken Wiebe: Connor Hellebuyck
Wayne Scanlan: Carter Hart
Christine Simpson: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Kyle Bukauskas: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Dan Murphy: Carter Hart
Gene Principe: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Shawn McKenzie: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Sean Reynolds: Connor Hellebuyck
Gord Stellick: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Ryan Dixon: Jacob Markstrom
Rory Boylen: Robin Lehner
Jack Adams Trophy
Elliotte Friedman: Jared Bednar
Chris Johnston: Geoff Ward
Jeff Marek: Rod Brind'Amour
Caroline Cameron: Travis Green
David Amber: Peter DeBoer
Mark Spector: Rod Brind'Amour
Luke Fox: David Quinn
Iain MacIntyre: Jared Bednar
Eric Engels: Rod Brind'Amour
Eric Francis: David Quinn
Ken Wiebe: Alain Vigneault
Wayne Scanlan: Alain Vigneault
Christine Simpson: Jared Bednar
Kyle Bukauskas: Craig Berube
Dan Murphy: Jared Bednar
Gene Principe: Dave Tippett
Shawn McKenzie: Craig Berube
Sean Reynolds: Ralph Krueger
Gord Stellick: Rod Brind'Amour
Ryan Dixon: Rod Brind'Amour
Rory Boylen: Geoff Ward
MISCELLANEOUS
How many points will the Art Ross winner get?
Elliotte Friedman: 80
Chris Johnston: 85
Jeff Marek: 95
Caroline Cameron: 89
David Amber: 74
Mark Spector: 83
Luke Fox: 85
Iain MacIntyre: 75
Eric Engels: 83
Eric Francis: 76
Ken Wiebe: 72
Wayne Scanlan: 86
Christine Simpson: 72
Kyle Bukauskas: 90
Dan Murphy: 73
Gene Principe: 85
Shawn McKenzie: 71
Sean Reynolds: 87
Gord Stellick: 86
Ryan Dixon: 84
Rory Boylen: 87
How many goals will the Rocket Richard winner score?
Elliotte Friedman: 40
Chris Johnston: 38
Jeff Marek: 42
Caroline Cameron: 38
David Amber: 40
Mark Spector: 40
Luke Fox: 37
Iain MacIntyre: 41
Eric Engels: 39
Eric Francis: 46
Ken Wiebe: 36
Wayne Scanlan: 38
Christine Simpson: 36
Kyle Bukauskas: 40
Dan Murphy: 36
Gene Principe: 32
Shawn McKenzie: 32
Sean Reynolds: 37
Gord Stellick: 40
Ryan Dixon: 39
Rory Boylen: 39
Which team will Patrik Laine be playing for after the trade deadline?
Elliotte Friedman: Winnipeg
Chris Johnston: Winnipeg
Jeff Marek: Winnipeg
Caroline Cameron: Winnipeg
David Amber: Winnipeg
Mark Spector: Winnipeg
Luke Fox: Winnipeg
Iain MacIntyre: Winnipeg
Eric Engels: Winnipeg
Eric Francis: Winnipeg
Ken Wiebe: Winnipeg
Wayne Scanlan: Winnipeg
Christine Simpson: Winnipeg
Kyle Bukauskas: Winnipeg
Dan Murphy: Boston
Gene Principe: Winnipeg
Shawn McKenzie: Carolina
Sean Reynolds: Winnipeg
Gord Stellick: Winnipeg
Ryan Dixon: Winnipeg
Rory Boylen: Carolina
Of the following five off-season UFAs, what number of them will re-sign before testing the open market: Alex Ovechkin, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Tuukka Rask, Dougie Hamilton, Frederik Andersen?
Elliotte Friedman: 3
Chris Johnston: 4
Jeff Marek: 2
Caroline Cameron: 3
David Amber: 3
Mark Spector: 3
Luke Fox: 2
Iain MacIntyre: 3
Eric Engels: 2
Eric Francis: 1
Ken Wiebe: 2
Wayne Scanlan: 3
Christine Simpson: 2
Kyle Bukauskas: 1
Dan Murphy: 2
Gene Principe: 3
Shawn McKenzie: 3
Sean Reynolds: 3
Gord Stellick: 2
Ryan Dixon: 3
Rory Boylen: 4
