2012 Hockey Prognostications?

1) We are about halfway, the leaders have about a point per game, I'll say just under 100.

2) Judging by geography, NBC's bias, and the rotating locations, I'll say Detroit.

3) 82

4) Escrow money. The players want their money back in their hands, the owners will give it to them, but it'll cost a reduction of revenue% going towards the salary cap.

5) Well they wont put the redline back in to reduce the speed of the game, so how about installing Nascar restrictor plates on all players to slow them down? In all seriousness I would recommend the 3 point game, the NHL loves what the shootout has done, fine great, but if they can implement at better cap system (see #4) that keeps the salary cap from ballooning, then parity should be somewhat fine again, and make the owners agree that the 3 point system is fine.

6) I'm thinking the Blue Jackets will finish last (whether they win the lottery is another question), but if you look at their salary, they have the 12th highest payroll in the league with little under $3mil in space. You cannot have that kind of a result when you are paying your team that kind of money. Add to the fact that this team has been awful since they came into the league, and the fact that outside of Rick Nash they have bombed on draft day, I see the Blue Jackets making a trade involving their #1 pick. Who gets the pick? No idea, but the Jackets need some solid players, and Nail Yakupov will garner a lot of interest.

7) Zach Parise - He will not be resigned by the Devils, he wants out and he will garner the largest contract this offseason, expect the bidding to start at $6.5mil per season.

8) If things hold up the way they are now (roughly speaking), call me a homer, but I can see the Jets acquiring Selanne from the Ducks, all that matters is the asking price. Aside from my homer pick, I'll say Ales Hemsky in Edmonton will be traded away, I don't think anyone knows for certain if he fits in Edmonton's long term rebuild (and keep them under the cap in 3 years when all the youth need new contracts).

1) At least 100 most likely.

2) The East Coast teams get it too much, so I hope a team that is in the existing Western Conference gets it. Detroit, St. Paul and Denver are all good choices.

3) Hopefully 82, but I worry about another lockout because of greedy owners and players. All I can say is, there had better be at least half a season.

4) I suspect revenue sharing.

5) Relocation of the Coyotes to Houston, the 4th most populated city in the U.S.

6) The Blue Jackets will most likely make the 1st overall pick, that being Nail Yakupov. No guarantees on either of those statements, though.

7) Shea Weber.

8) I don't know if any big name players will get moved before the trade deadline. I've heard rumors about Bobby Ryan, but there's no telling if that will happen. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.

1) 97

2) Detroit

3) 0. Fehr, the same guy who stopped progress last year is holding firm again this year, or so I hear. But I hope i'm wrong.

4) Likely lowering the cap. I'm sure I heard owners wanted to take away a few percentages, and I'm sure the players are going to fight that.

5) Changes to the cap. I say 55 percent cap with wider gap between cap and floor (24M). This gives the owners the lowering they'd like, and gives owners who don't want to spend as much the option to.

6) Nail Yakupov to the Detr... Columbus Blue Jackets

7) Zach Parise. The two other big ones are Lidstrom (who I can't see moving...) and Semin (who I can't see getting more than Parise, nor playing for a team where I can comfortably pronounce the name)

8) Ales Hemsky or Bobby Ryan

1. 114

2. Colorado makes sense, but since it's been said I'll throw out a curve ball. Winnipeg. Good way to bring attention to a 'new' team. Have them play Vancouver or Calgary. But I still agree Colorado is a likely choice.

3. 82

4. Salary cap and floor...profit/revenue sharing between teams. Some teams like to spend, some don't some wish they could. That and banning fighting or not.

5. I want to change the point system during regular season. No loser points. 2 points for a win in regulation or OT, 1 point for a shootout win, zero points for a loss.

6. Blue Jackets. Not sure who they'll take, I don't pay as much attention to prospects as I should. They need a goalie though. But no goalie is going 1st overall

7. No clue.

8. Rick Nash

1. I'll say 105.

2. Since the new Conferences will be in play, I'll take a guess that it will be something completely "new" and it will be Colorado, and one of the Cali teams. Probably LA....since it's LA. And Colorado because, well they need somewhere cold! IF they let Canadian teams play in it (Which I personally think they should!) then of course Toronto and Montreal! But I wouldn't mind seeing Detroit in it against Dallas or St. Louis.

3. I'll probably sound stupid....but it isn't going to still be 82 anymore?

4. Hopefully there won't be another lockout due to the Salary Cap changes and hits and all that stuff that I'm not smart at lol

5. Concussions. I Still don't understand why they just don't change the size of the equipment. At LEAST test it out....it wouldn't hurt anything (Or more importantly, anyone).

6. Columbus.....and I have no clue sorry

7. Alex Semin....which he may go to the KHL

8. Shea Weber....and I'm hoping and praying he will sign with the Wings!!

These were pretty tough....but I tried!

1) 98

2) At the Meadowlands: New York Islanders vs New Jersey Devils.

3) It will stay at 82.

4) Rookie contracts might be an issue. Some teams might want longer-term rookie deals or some shorter-term rookie deals.

5) My suggestion: JUST GET THIS DEAL DONE BECAUSE I CAN'T GO THROUGH ANOTHER LOCKOUT!

6) I think it will be Carolina. They will probably have good odds in the lottery. Who they will pick? I'm not sure, but it will probably be a defenseman.

7) Shea Weber will be important. If Nashville doesn't sign him, they would be sunk. The Sabres would probably get in the running and I'd go crazy if they signed him.

8) Zack Parise would really help a playoff contender, and New Jersey could probably get some good stuff in return.

EDIT: to viphockey, it can't be at Yankee Stadium because they host the Pinstripe bowl annually now on Dec. 30th every year.

1) What will be the number of points needed to win the Art Ross trophy for 2011-12?

110

2) What city will be chosen to host the 2013 NHL Winter Classic? Not your wish but what you think the NHL will do.

NBC will branch out and pick Minnesota

3) How many regular season games will each NHL team play next year?

I'm hoping there's no lockout both party's have been quiet on the matter its hard to tell at this point

4) What will be the single biggest issue to come about during the CBA negotiations, and why?

The easy answer is money other than that protection equipment (getting rid of the hard plastics) and weather or not the NHL will participate in the olympics

5) You have been invited to present ONE recommendation among fellow fans at the next Board of Governors Meeting. What is this suggestion (that might actually garner support among the Board of Governors)?

A second team in southern Ontario

6) What team will make the first overall draft pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft, and who will they pick?

Columbus and I have no idea

7) Come July 1st 2012 who will be the biggest name UFA on the market that is unsigned?

i would have said semin at the beginning of the season but his stock dropped. Most of the other players will either retire or resign. Maybe Doan or liles

8) Who will be the biggest name player to be moved during the trade deadline?

Rumor I read yesterday is carter and Nash are in play for the right price.

1. 103

2. Yankee stadium seems logical and profitable.

3. hopefully 82....a lot will depend on the damage that the NBA can or cant overcome. They wont lose a season again as the last lockout really hurt some teams.

4. cap and gauranteed contracts...it is always about the money and this will be no different

5. find a way to correct inconsistent ref calls

6. Columbus/Aheheim or Isles and Nail is the only choice as of this moment

7. Lidstrom/ Parise

8. Weber

1. 110

2. Well it would be a step in the right direction if we steered away from the East coast. St. Louis!

3. 82.

4. Not sure, I am not big on stuff like that.

5. Have Winter Classics banned from the East coast for 5 years.

6. Colubmus will pick Nail Yakupov.

7. Ryan Suter.

8. Zach Parise.

1. 112

2. Detroit

3. 82 like usual

4. No clue, but it will involve alot of money

5. No more instigator rule. Cheapshots will magically disappear

6. Either Columbus or Anaheim, and they will most likely Fail for Nail, but watch out for Tanner Pearson and Yanni Gourde

7. Parise and Weber

8. Bobby Ryan