Prediction Panel Revisited!

At the start of every season, the Silver Seven staff make some predictions about the upcoming Senators season. At the end of the season, we look at what we said at the start of the season and tallying up the answers and arbitrarily assign points. So who came out on top tonight?

Who will have a better save percentage over 18 games, choosing best possible performances: Robin Lehner or Craig Anderson? (Double bonus: Name the save percentage for each--remember, we'll be taking their 18 best games)

Amelia:

Anderson will have the better SV% because he will have more opportunities to have 18 awesome games. Andy = 94.4%, Lehner = 92.5%.

Amelia gets a point for correctly guessing Andy, but her percentages are a little low.

Mark:

I like Lehner here. Even if we look at something like a 57-25 split, Lehner's hovered around the .935 level the past two years, while Anderson has a .914 "blemish" on his record. I'm looking for Lehner to shine in his starts just based on how he's attacked his chances the past two years. I'm expecting .928 for Anderson and .931 for Lehner.

Mark backed the wrong horse by choosing Lehner.

Adnan:

Anderson will have the better save percentage because the top 18 games for him will be around the top third of his games. For Lehner, it will involve about two thirds of his games, so he won't get to drop as many bad games. Anderson's best 18 will be 96.5% and 93% for Lehner.

Adnan gets one point for correctly predicting Andy.

Bonk's Mullet:

Anderson .965 Lehner .930. Also, this is the dumbest question I've ever been asked.

Bonk's Mullet also gets a point for correctly predicting And.

Peter:

What the... what kind of a question is this? Umm... well, I guess I'll pick Craig Anderson with .962 in his best 18 games, compared to Lehner's .943 best-18-games number. Or something.

So close, Peter! Unfortunately, only one point for Raaymakers!

Dave:

Craig Anderson. Look, I love Robin Lehner as much as the next guy, but when Craig Anderson gets hot, he gets scorching. He can put together a hell of a stretch. I'm going with 96.1%.

Dave was also close with his save percentage guess, but ultimately only comes away with one point.

Ryan:

If we're talking best stretch, I think Anderson only because he'll play more games and have a better opportunity to put together a string. Anderson .945, Lehner .930.

Ryan snags a point.

Darren:

Craig Anderson. Anderson will play more games, therefore, he'll have more high SV% games to choose from if you're only picking 18. .950 for Anderson, .927 for Lehner.

Darren also gets a point.

Craig Anderson (96.8%) edged out Robin Lehner (95.2%) for best save percentage over the best 18 games.

*****

Who is most likely to get moved at the trade deadline? That's right, no cheap Da Costa answer opportunities!

Amelia:

Zack Smith will get traded to Edmonton at the deadline for a 2nd round pick.

Nope.

Mark:

It's not who, but what. We're trading a 2nd rounder to upgrade Joe Corvo.

No, but in a different way!

Adnan:

Since we will be buyers, we will not trade any players around the deadline. We will trade our 2nd round pick as always though.

Nope!

Bonk's Mullet:

I'm with Gord. We made so many moves in the off-season that moving anyone out at the deadline seems unlikely. I'd say there's an outside shot of Zack Smith for a young d-man though if Corvo Corvos.

Sorry, but no.

Peter:

It's not likely to be Craig Anderson, because the Senators will want two very good goaltenders heading into the playoffs even if Robin Lehner comes out and becomes the number one. It could be someone like Milan Michalek, since he's on an expiring contract, but he'll either be injured or a critical part of the team's offence so I doubt it. More likely, someone like Joe Corvo might join another team as an offensive catalyst from the blue line, since the Senators may not need his offence in the post-season.

Peter gets half a point for predicting Corvo's move to the AHL's Chicago Wolves.

Dave:

Milan Michalek. He's on his last year of his deal, and will get paid next year, and yet the Senators don't look to be big spenders. A team may want him out west for a little speed and scoring punch down the stretch, and with a bevy of young talented wingers in the system, it may be time to move on.

Sorry!

Ryan:

Z. Smith. With all the centers and Chris Neil, plus an extension for Greening, my prediction is Neil as odd man out.

I think this means Smith. Either way, no points.

Darren:

Nobody. [ed note: Garrulous answer.]

Darren wins. One point for Darren.

Correct answer: nobody was traded.

*****

Who will have more points this season, Clarke MacArthur or Patrick Wiercioch? (Bonus: How many points for each?)

Amelia:

Clarke MacArthur, but it will be close. MacArthur will have 22 goals and 51 points. Wiercioch will have 10 goals and 42 points.

One point for correctly predicting MacArthur, but it was not close.

Mark:

I think this will be a lot closer than it appears. MacArthur is the obvious choice because he's the forward, but Wiercioch looks like he'll get top power play minutes with players like Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza, and Bobby Ryan. He's going to rack up assists just by passing the puck up the ice. MacArthur's not playing on the top unit unless someone else gets hurt. Still, as good as Wiercioch has looked in the preseason, I think he's going to have his off nights when he doesn't get the luxury of playing against AHL competition, so I'm picking MacArthur with 42 points and Wiercioch to put up a respectable 37.

One point for predicting MacArthur.

Adnan:

Wiercioch will have have more points (48) than MacArthur (45).

Incorrect.

Bonk's Mullet:

Clarke MacArthur's 44 points will outmatch Wiercioch's horribly embarrassing sophomore slump of 40 points.

Correct. One point for Bonk's Mullet.

Peter:

Clarke MacArthur will have 55 points, Patrick Wiercioch will have 46. So it will be a pretty close race, but MacArthur will come out in the end.

Peter gets one point for correctly predicting MacArthur and another for predicting MacArthur would have 55 points by season's end.

Dave:

I have to go with Patrick Wiercioch. The last few seasons, the Senators have seen two D-men and 4 forwards as their top 6 scorers. Gone is Sergei Gonchar, but I think Patty W fills that void, and I can't see MacArthur scoring more than the Sens top 4 forwards. This team is built on offence from the defence, and I think that gives Patty an edge... say 44 points for Patty and 40 for Clarke.

Not quite.

Ryan:

MacArthur. I feel like he'll be consistent while Wiercioch can run hot and cold. MacArthur 40, Wiercioch 30.

One point for Ryan.

Darren:

MacArthur. I have to go with the second-line forward over the second pairing-defenseman. MacArthur with 43 points, Wiercioch with 37.

You got it, Darren. One point.

While most of us were able to correctly predict MacArthur would have higher point totals than Wiercioch, we underestimated MacArthur's production and overestimated Wiercioch's playing time.

*****

Bobby Ryan will score __ goals this year.

Amelia:

Bobby Ryan will score 72 goals.

If only points were given for optimism.

Mark:

41. Book it. He'll get tons of power play time and he's never gotten to play with someone as dynamic as Erik Karlsson. He won't have to make plays by himself to score goals.

Nope.

Adnan:

Bobby Ryan will score 38 goals.

Closer, but no.

Bonk's Mullet:

Bobby Ryan will score 38 goals this year. I think Erik Karlsson's influence, not Spezza's will be the one to increase his former totals.

Unfortunately, no.

Peter:

Yes, he will. Oh, you want a number? Alright, Bobby Ryan will score 39 goals this year.

Sorry, Peter.

Dave:

33, and people will be upset (unfairly). I know one day he may score 40 or 50 with us. But this year, I'll say 33 and hope I'm wrong.

Dave is closest, but still 10 goals too high.

Ryan:

35.

No.

Darren:

36. He'll beat his old career high of 35 due to more time on ice, particularly on the power play.

Sorry.

Well, that wasn't that much fun. In an injury-plagued first season with the Senators, Bobby Ryan scored 23 goals.

*****

Where will the Senators finish the regular season in the standings?

Amelia:

Well, Bobby Ryan is scoring 72 goals so we're winning the division.

Hahahaha.

Mark:

Amelia's right. First in the Atlantic and second overall within the conference.

So much optimism.

Adnan:

The Senators will finish second in the Atlantic Division.

Lower.

Bonk's Mullet:

2nd in the division, 3rd in the East, and 7th in the league. 1st in our hearts.

Still Lower.

Peter:

They'll finish first in the Atlantic Division, by a hair.

Wrong.

Ryan:

Second in the Flortheast Division.

Incorrect.

Dave:

Third in the Atlantic division, 6th in the East.

Even lower.

Darren:

3rd in the Atlantic, 5th in the East.

Nope.

In reality the Sens missed the playoffs. Boo.

*****

Bonus Frenzy Round: What will be the biggest surprise this year? (It could be a breakout player, blindside trade, Paulrus shaving--do not limit your mind!)

Amelia:

Shane Prince will join the team as an injury replacement in late November and will stick, out-scoring fellow rookie sensation Jean-Gabriel Pageau by 3 points and Prince will finish as a Calder nominee.

It seems like you forgot about how much Paul MacLean likes his veterans.

Mark:

Despite Erik Karlsson being the only member of the team even nominated for a major award (and not winning), the Ottawa Senators represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final.

I like the part about competing for the Cup.

Adnan:

Jean-Gabriel Pageau still not a lock to make the team, will score 35+ points this season.

Err...no.

Bonk's Mullet:

Milan Michalek ft. das neue Knie will score his career high in goals.

No, but he did have good final month.

Peter:

Andre Petersson plays more than 30 games with the big squad.

I think Erik Karlsson would have liked this.

Dave:

My answer last year is impossible to beat, so this year I'm sure I'll look like a chump. I'll predict Kyle Turris scores the second most goals on the team this year.

We'll give Dave points for this answer.

Ryan:

The biggest surprise will be Peter Regin having a healthy season for the Islanders. Or if you want a specifically Senators answer, Jim O'Brien is claimed off waivers by someone.

Ryan gets points. Regin has been a healthy scratch at times for the Islanders/Blackhawks!

Darren:

Milan Michalek will be replaced on the top line a few weeks into the season.

Darren gets points. This was true without being that surprising.

By rule, a correct answer in the Bonus Frenzy Rule doubles your score, meaning the final standings are:

Darren - 6

Ryan - 4

Peter - 3.5

Dave - 2

Bonk's Mullet -2

Amelia - 2

Adnan - 1

Mark - 1

The fabulous Darren has won this year's prediction panel. Congratulations, Darren!!! Darren's title defense begins in September!