5 bold NHL predictions for 2018

The end of the calendar year offers hockey fans some time to reflect on the year that was. But it also offers us a chance to look ahead at what's to come for the next 365 days of puck.

With that in mind, we thought it was the right time to be a little forward-thinking and bust out our crystal ball in an attempt to envision some of the biggest upcoming stories.

Here are five bold predictions for 2018. And please, be sure to @ us accordingly.

The 60-goal mark is hit for the first time since 2012

Entering Friday's schedule, 586 games have been played so far this season, with league scoring sitting at an average of 2.95 goals per contest - the highest mark since 2007.

We expect the goal barrage to continue, leading to the first 60-goal campaign since Tampa Bay Lightning stud Steven Stamkos netted 60 during the 2011-12 season.

The math isn't on our side for this one, as the league's leading goal-scorer, Nikita Kucherov, is on pace for only 53. Kuch has just one goal in his last five games, but we fully expect him to regain his early-season form, back when he was converting at almost a goal-per-game clip.

And with the likes of pure snipers John Tavares, Alex Ovechkin, and Brock Boeser not far behind, the 60-goal mark is most definitely attainable.

Americans win back-to-back Calder Trophies

There haven't been consecutive American Calder winners since Chris Drury and Scott Gomez did it back in 1999 and 2000, respectively. But that all changes with Boeser, who is rapidly proving to be the real deal.

Now, this prediction may not be as bold as the others, given the amount of young Americans who are setting the league on fire, but the feat is still impressive. Take a look at the U.S.-born players who are currently in the top 10 in rookie scoring.

Player (Team)	Place	Points	Home state
Brock Boeser (Canucks)	1st	38	Minnesota
Clayton Keller (Coyotes)	3rd	31	Missouri
Alex DeBrincat (Blackhawks)	5th	25	Michigan
Kyle Connor (Jets)	T-10th	23	Michigan
Will Butcher (Devils)	T-10th	23	Wisconsin

With that level of quality already in the NHL, and the USA Hockey National Team Development Program churning out high-end talent on the regular, the Calder might be calling America home for the foreseeable future.

NHL witnesses a changing of the guard

As the league continues its trend toward being "a young man's game," we are set to lose some of the favorite faces of our beloved sport.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin (37), Joe Thornton (38), Roberto Luongo (38), Zdeno Chara (40), and Jaromir Jagr (45) all plan to hang up their skates in 2018 after leaving indelible marks on the last two decades of hockey.

But as these legends exit due to mounting injuries and expiring contracts in the ruthlessly unfair fight against Father Time, a new batch of stars is set to carry the torch for the next generation.

Rasmus Dahlin struggles in his first North American season

This is perhaps the boldest prediction on the list, as Dahlin has looked to be the complete package. The 17-year-old Swede is currently enjoying another solid season (five goals and six assists in 26 games) for Frolunda of the SHL, a respectable pro league filled with quality players.

But it's not the NHL.

The smooth-skating blue-liner undoubtedly possesses the type of talent and size - 6-foot-2, 180-plus pounds - to compete in North America, but he will struggle to adapt to the smaller rinks and more aggressive style of NHL hockey.

And it's worth mentioning that if he ends being drafted by the Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, or Ottawa Senators, the three teams currently in line to receive the No. 1 overall pick, his struggles could be precipitated by having to anchor one of the worst blue lines in the game.

Dahlin falls short of the initial hype - book it.

A Canadian club wins the Stanley Cup

Hands in the air if you picked the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs over the Edmonton Oilers as the top Canadian team this year? We'll wait.

Despite the Oilers finally starting to figure it out (6-3-1 in their last 10), the Jets and Leafs are Canada's best shot at a Cup. The last time Lord Stanley's chalice was hoisted by a team from north of the border was in 1993 when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings in five games.

Aside from both the Leafs' and Jets' strong positioning in the standings, each club also boasts talented lineups loaded with the kind of offensive talent needed to make a deep playoff run - Toronto and Winnipeg sit third (130) and fourth (128) in total goals scored, respectively.

It may be a long shot, but it's not out the question: The Cup resides in the north for 2018.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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