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5 predictions for the 2015-16 NHL season

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Having the ability to predict the future is easily the best part about working in sports media.

So with the 2015-16 NHL season a little over 48 hours away, we're taking a look into our crystal ball. Here are five predictions for the coming nine months:

1. Seguin wins the Art Ross

The NHL is a young man's league, and players rarely come as young and talented as Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin.

The 23-year-old finished sixth in scoring last season with 77 points, but played in only 71 games. He's got back-to-back 37-goal seasons on his resume, with 50 of those coming at even strength. In two seasons in Dallas, Seguin proved he's one of the best players in the game.

What's more, he plays with the reigning Art Ross winner Jamie Benn, and he has a new right winger in Patrick Sharp - there may not be a better first line in hockey. Dallas' power play will be absurd, as Valeri Nichushkin returns to the lineup, as well.

Seguin's the real deal. If you don't know by now, you'll know come spring.

2. Canadiens will play for Stanley Cup

For the first time since 2011, a Canadian team will play in the Stanley Cup Final, and it'll be the Montreal Canadiens.

The Habs fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round last season, but will ride Carey Price's burning desire to win to another 50-win season, and more.

Alex Semin isn't done yet and will score 20 goals in a season for the eighth time, and Montreal will benefit from the continued blossoming of Alex Galchenyuk, who'll build on his 20-goal, 46-point 2014-15 by scoring at least 25 goals and recording 60 points. (Consider this a three-in-one prediction.)

Montreal knows what it's going to get from Price, P.K. Subban, and Max Pacioretty. The increased offense from Semin, Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher (he'll hit 50 points), and Lars Eller (he'll hit 40 points) will send the team's 2014-15 plus-32 goal differential even higher, and be the difference between a disappointing second-round exit and a chance to end a 22-season Cup drought.

3. Hanifin's the best rookie not named McDavid

Connor McDavid's winning the Calder Trophy - everyone knows that. But Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin will be the other rookie to turn the most heads this season.

The 18-year-old Hanifin will not only get a chance to play on Carolina's blue line, he's going to make up the top pairing with Justin Faulk and blow everyone away with his skating. The kid's built like a man at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, and his offensive ceiling is what's called "stupid high" in the business. The Hurricanes are making the right call, because Hanifin's ready, and he's going to prove it.

Let's not forget a defenseman taken with a top pick in the draft last year - Aaron Ekblad - proved he could make the leap at 18, and Hanifin's going to follow in his footsteps. This is the beginning of a trend.

4. Kane will wow in Buffalo

Jack Eichel's the talk of Buffalo, and rightfully so, but Evander Kane is going to become a 30-goal scorer for the second time in his career this season in the Queen City.

Kane never followed up on his breakout 2011-12 season in Winnipeg, when as a 20-year-old he scored 30 goals - a remarkable 24 at even strength - and added 27 assists in 74 games. Since then, he's scored 46 goals in 148 games, and has struggled to stay healthy.

Kane turned 24 in August. While he only scored 20 or more once in his career - in '11-12 - the potential for more has been and remains there. And he's now in his scoring prime.

With his well-documented struggles off the ice, no hockey player has needed a change of scenery more than Kane. He'll likely go down as the athlete happiest to be traded to Buffalo.

That sub-eight shooting percentage since 2013 is going up this season. It's going to work out for Kane and the Sabres in '15-16.

5. Return of the Mac

Nathan MacKinnon turned 20 on Sept. 1 and is entering his third NHL season. Think about that for a minute or 10.

Forget about last season when the "sophomore slump" slapped MacKinnon in the face, leaving him with only 14 goals and 24 assists in 64 games. It's done, over, gone, history.

And forget about talk of MacKinnon starting on the third line in Denver. That's no way to motivate a former first overall pick, especially when he could - and should - be playing with Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog.

MacKinnon will rise to the challenge this season and do his part in leading the Avalanche back to the playoffs. There's no denying his talent, and he'll end up in the top 20 in scoring in the league, touching 70 points for the first time in what will be a very fruitful and productive career.

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