After some uncertainty, the 2021 NHL season officially is here andthe puck will drop on a 56-game, 116-day sprint to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Like always, hope springs eternal for all 31 teams and,like previous seasons,it's different for each one. Some are looking at the next couple of months as Elias Pettersson Jersey a time to setup their strategy and prepare for the postseason as a Cup contenderwhileothers are using the time to continue tobuild and breed succe s with their club. This season will be a unique one filled withtwists and turns. Aside from the compact schedule, which will include the first time in league history that teamswill playfour consecutive games against the same opponent within a regular season, COVID-19 has and will impact things. Divisions have already been realigned based on geographic locations, withone containing just Canadian teams because of a travel ban between the U.S. and Canada. And the NHL is expecting more games to be postponed;the Stars' first three games two against the Panthers and one against the Lightning have been postponed because of 17 players testing positive. The postseason has also been tweaked, with the four top teams in each division advancing to the playoffs and the No. 1 team playing No. 4 and No. 2 playing No. 3. The winners then face off, with the champ of the division meeting the other four Danton Heinen Jersey winners in a re-seeded semifinal before the Stanley Cup Final. NHL SCHEDULE CHANGES: Normally, the road to the Stanley Cup is a long, twisting,curving one with never-ending potholes this year will be extra winding but it will end with the same result: a Stanley Cup champion. Who will be there is the greatest mystery. The tight schedule this year makes it even more critical to get off to a good start while avoiding losing streaks throughout the season. Predicting what will be is always a tricky concept, but it's time to look into the future and see who will make the 2021 season one to remember. NHL predictions for 2021 Awards Award Winner Hart Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche Vezina Jacob Markstrom, Flames Art Ro s Connor McDavid, Oilers Rocket Richard Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs Norris Cale Makar, Avalanche Calder Alexis Lafreniere, Rangers Selke Jake Debrusk Jersey Mark Stone, Golden Knights Jack Adams Travis Green, Canucks East Division 1. Philadelphia Flyers 2. New York Islanders 3. Washington Capitals 4. New York Rangers 5. Boston Bruins 6. Pittsburgh Penguins 7. Buffalo Sabres 8. New Jersey Devils Central Division 1. Tampa Bay Lightning 2. Dallas Stars 3. Carolina Hurricanes 4. Columbus Blue Jackets 5. Nashville Predators 6. Florida Panthers 7. Detroit Red Wings 8.Chicago Blackhawks West Division 1. Colorado Avalanche* 2. Vegas Golden Knights 3. St. Louis Blues 4. Minnesota Wild 5. Arizona Coyotes 6. Los Angeles Kings 7. San Jose Sharks 8. Anaheim Ducks North Division 1. Toronto Maple Leafs 2. Calgary Flames 3. Montreal Canadiens 4. Vancouver Canucks 5. Edmonton Oilers 6. Ottawa Senators 7.Winnipeg Jets *Presidents' Trophy: Avalanche Playoffs East bracket Series Winner (1) Flyers vs. (4) Rangers Flyers (2) Islanders vs. (3) Capitals Capitals Akito Hirose Jersey (1) Flyers vs. (3) Capitals Flyers Central bracket Series Winner (1) Lightning vs. (4) Blue Jackets Lightning (2) Stars vs. (3) Hurricanes Stars (1) Lightning vs. (2) Stars Stars West bracket Series Winner (1) Avalanche vs. (4) Wild Avalanche (2) Golden Knights vs. (3) Blues Golden Knights (1) Avalanche vs. (2) Golden Knights Golden Knights Northbracket Series Winner (1) Maple Leafs vs. (4) Canucks Maple Leafs (2) Flames vs. (3) Canadiens Flames (1) Maple Leafs vs. (2) Flames Maple Leafs Semifinals Teams are re-seeded based on points from the regular season. Series Winner (1) Flyers vs. (4) Stars Flyers Tristen Nielsen Jersey (2) Maple Leafs vs. (3) Golden Knights Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final Series Winner Flyers vs. Golden Knights Golden Knights Conn Smythe Trophy Robin Lehner