from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,

Note that these are only predictions, and though the author takes them seriously, he also decrees no one is allowed to hold him accountable if they do not come true.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will make the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The feeling around the Maple Leafs has changed drastically, with rookies Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner and William Nylander already proving how dominant and explosive they can be. The Maple Leafs have overcome their early season issues, including the struggles of goalie Frederik Andersen. They continue to improve as a team and slowly prove they are for real with balanced scoring, a better-than-expected defense, quality goaltending and excellent coaching. Example: They have won three consecutive road games to move within three points of a playoff berth entering play Thursday. They will battle with the Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers for two or three playoff spots. Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Andersen will continue to play well and Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk and Morgan Rielly will give the Maple Leafs balance to win enough games so they can shock the hockey world by qualifying for the postseason.

The NHL and NHLPA will agree to participate in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

This will come down to the wire because deadlines drive decisions, but at some point in January, perhaps around All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, the NHL and NHLPA will announce NHL players will be going to the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, even though the current signs from the NHL point in the other direction.

Olympic participation never has driven the League's bottom line, but a huge, important and realistic component to this difficult decision is if the League can get the NHLPA to agree to a broader international schedule, the Olympics will be included. It makes sense for the NHLPA because of the impact the global game can have on marketing and promotion of the players, not to mention the national pride that comes with it.

It would benefit the NHL and NHLPA if the decision to attend the Olympics and create a broader international schedule includes extra years tacked on to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. As NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said, it is important to have guaranteed labor peace at a time when both parties want to expand the game globally.

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