By @StefanKubus –
EA SPORTS has released the results of its annual NHL season simulation in their latest video game, NHL 17.
And the results aren’t particularly great for Red Wings fans.
Detroit finished the virtual 2016-17 season with 87 points and a 10th-place Eastern Conference finish, snapping their 25-year playoff streak in the final season at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit joins the New York Rangers as the only two teams from the Eastern Conference in last season’s playoffs to miss out this year.
If the Wings do end up extending their streak, it wouldn’t be the first time the EA SPORTS simulation was wrong, as in 2015 they were also projected to miss.
After the shocking blockbuster trade this past summer, PK Subban and the Nashville Predators meet none other than Shea Weber and the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final. The Preds top the Habs in six games to capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
When it comes to individual awards, USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program alum and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews takes home the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, while newly-minted Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid wins the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP), Art Ross Trophy (leading point scorer) and Ted Lindsay Award (MVP as voted by the players).
Below are the full results of the simulation, including the final standings and end-of-season award winners:
Eastern Conference
A healthy Carey Price leads the Montreal Canadiens back to the postseason while the Tampa Bay Lightning dominate and finish atop the Eastern Conference standings. After a full-on rebuild, the Toronto Maple Leafs manage to squeak into the playoffs, leaving the Detroit Red Wings on the outside looking in. The New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings are the only teams from the East to not return to the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning – 107 pts
Montreal Canadiens – 99 pts
Washington Capitals – 97 pts
Pittsburgh Penguins – 93 pts
Florida Panthers – 93 pts
Philadelphia Flyers – 93 pts
New York Islanders – 92 pts – Wild Card
Toronto Maple Leafs – 91 pts – Wild Card
New York Rangers – 89 pts
Detroit Red Wings – 87 pts
Ottawa Senators – 87 pts
Buffalo Sabres – 85 pts
Boston Bruins – 84 pts
Carolina Hurricanes – 81 pts
New Jersey Devils – 79 pts
Columbus Blue Jackets – 76 pts
Metropolitan Division
The Washington Capitals, while not as dominant as last season, win the Metropolitan Division thanks to strong performances from Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin, both who finished in the top 10 in league scoring.
Washington Capitals – 97 pts
Pittsburgh Penguins – 93 pts
Philadelphia Flyers – 93 pts
New York Islanders – 92 pts
New York Rangers – 89 pts
Carolina Hurricanes – 81 pts
New Jersey Devils – 79 pts
Columbus Blue Jackets – 76 pts
Atlantic Division
Detroit’s impressive streak of 25 consecutive playoff berths comes to an end as they fall just short of the playoffs. Multiple injuries to core players hampers the Boston Bruins while the Buffalo Sabres improve slightly on their last season.
Tampa Bay Lightning – 107 pts
Montreal Canadiens – 99 pts
Florida Panthers – 93 pts
Toronto Maple Leafs – 91 pts – Wild Card
Detroit Red Wings – 87 pts
Ottawa Senators – 87 pts
Buffalo Sabres – 85 pts
Boston Bruins – 84 pts
Western Conference Standings
In the wild Western Conference, the dominant Nashville Predators blue line led the team to their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. Connor McDavid carries his Edmonton Oilers into the playoffs, narrowly making it in on the final day of the season.
Nashville Predators – 110 pts
Dallas Stars – 107 pts
San Jose Sharks – 107 pts
Chicago Blackhawks – 102 pts
St. Louis Blues – 95 pts – Wild Card
Los Angeles Kings – 93 pts
Minnesota Wild – 87 pts – Wild Card
Edmonton Oilers – 85 pts
Calgary Flames – 84 pts
Arizona Coyotes – 83 pts
Winnipeg Jets – 82 pts
Anaheim Ducks – 77 pts
Colorado Avalanche – 74 pts
Vancouver Canucks – 63 pts
Central Division
The Central Division featured three of the top four teams in the NHL, and the coaching change provided the Minnesota Wild enough of an edge to make the playoffs again.
Nashville Predators – 110 pts
Dallas Stars – 107 pts
Chicago Blackhawks – 102 pts
St. Louis Blues – 95 pts
Minnesota Wild – 87 pts
Winnipeg Jets – 82 pts
Colorado Avalanche – 74 pts
Pacific Division
The Anaheim Ducks got off to a slow start and are the only team from the Western Conference last season to not make the playoffs this season. The Vancouver Canucks finish in last place in the NHL, landing the best odds to draft top prospect Nolan Patrick.
San Jose Sharks – 107 pts
Los Angeles Kings – 93 pts
Edmonton Oilers – 85 pts
Calgary Flames – 84 pts
Arizona Coyotes – 83 pts
Anaheim Ducks – 77 pts
Vancouver Canucks – 63 pts
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
STANLEY CUP FINALS:
MONTREAL CANADIENS VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS
After perhaps one of the biggest one-for-one deals in NHL history, the Shea Weber and the Montreal Canadiens find themselves against P.K. Subban and the Nashville Predators. The Nashville Predators continued their regular season dominance, and won the Stanley Cup Final in Game 6. Filip Forsberg took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after registering 26 points in the postseason.
Stanley Cup Winners: Nashville Predators
End of Season Award Winners
Presidents’ Trophy: Nashville Predators
Conn Smythe Trophy: Filip Forsberg (NSH)
Hart Memorial Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM)
Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM)
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Brent Burns (SJS)
Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy: Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)
Vezina Trophy: Carey Price (MTL)
William M. Jennings Trophy: Martin Jones (SJS)
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Anze Kopitar (LA)
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Nicklas Backstrom (WAS)
Calder Memorial Trophy: Auston Matthews (TOR)
Ted Lindsay Award: Connor McDavid (EDM)