After all the summer heat, the waiting, some previews, all the pre-season events, more waiting, the 2022-23 NHL season kicks off in earnest tonight with two prime time games. The Penguins will get going on Thursday, so while we endure even a little bit more waiting before the games start, let’s knock out some season predictions.
Pacific Division
1. Calgary Flames
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Edmonton Oilers
4. Vegas Golden Knights
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Seattle Kraken
7. Anaheim Ducks
8. San Jose Sharks
—Big marks to the Flames, who avoided potential disaster when Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk each elected to not want to stay in Calgary.