NHL 18 Simulates 2017-18 Season

Article by Matthew Sherdan

With the start of the new 2017-18 NHL season right around the corner, NHL 18 is keeping with the title’s annual tradition of simulating the upcoming campaign. Past season simulation results have eerily resembled real life outcomes.  

Last season, NHL 17 shockingly predicted the Nashville Predators to win the Stanley Cup. Although the Predators didn’t win it all, they certainly shocked the hockey world by knocking the number one seed Chicago Blackhawks out of the playoffs. Nashville eventually found themselves advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Let’s see what NHL ‘18 predicts will happen this season. You may be somewhat surprised with their results.

This season, EA’s NHL ‘18 predicts the Pittsburgh Penguins will remain in the top spot in the Eastern Conference with the Dallas Stars sitting in the number one spot in the Western Conference.

The final standings in the East have the Bruins and Hurricanes barely securing Wild Card spots over the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres as only three points separate the four teams.

As you can see, NHL 18 has the Detroit Red Wings finishing dead last in both Eastern Conference and the entire league which earns them the best odds of picking first in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Check out the fully simulated Eastern Conference and the Division standings below:

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS   

1. Pittsburgh Penguins – 112 pts
2. Washington Capitals – 109 pts
3. Tampa Bay Lightning – 106 pts
4. Montreal Canadiens – 101 pts
5. Columbus Blue Jackets – 98 pts
6. Toronto Maple Leafs – 97 pts
7. Boston Bruins – 95 pts – Wild Card
8. Carolina Hurricanes – 95 pts – Wild Card
9. New York Rangers – 93 pts
10. Buffalo Sabres – 92 pts
11. Florida Panthers – 90 pts
12. New York Islanders – 89 pts
13. Ottawa Senators – 85 pts
14. Philadelphia Flyers – 81 pts
15. New Jersey Devils – 79 pts
16. Detroit Red Wings – 69 pts

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

1. Pittsburgh Penguins – 112 pts
2. Washington Capitals – 109 pts
3. Columbus Blue Jackets – 98 pts
4. Carolina Hurricanes – 95 pts – Wild Card
5. New York Rangers – 93 pts
6. New York Islanders – 89 pts
7. Philadelphia Flyers – 81 pts
8. New Jersey Devils – 79 pts

ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. Tampa Bay Lightning – 106 pts
2. Montreal Canadiens – 101 pts
3. Toronto Maple Leafs – 97 pts
4. Boston Bruins – 95 pts – Wild Card
5. Buffalo Sabres – 92 pts
6. Florida Panthers – 90 pts
7. Ottawa Senators – 85 pts
8. Detroit Red Wings – 69 pts

It’s a little bit of a different story in the Western Conference this season. The NHL 18 season simulation results has the St. Louis Blues finishing only one point away from making the playoffs with the Anaheim Ducks and Winnipeg Jets securing the Wild Cards.

Perhaps the biggest surprise from this season’s simulation is the Chicago Blackhawks finishing all the way down in 12th place missing the playoffs all together. If this holds true, that would be the first time Chicago missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the last 10 NHL seasons. Check out the fully simulated Western Conference and Division standings below:

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Dallas Stars – 104 pts
2. Nashville Predators – 103 pts
3. Minnesota Wild – 100 pts
4. Edmonton Oilers – 99 pts
5. Winnipeg Jets – 98 pts – Wild Card
6. Calgary Flames – 95 pts
7. San Jose Sharks – 94 pts
8. Anaheim Ducks – 94 pts – Wild Card
9. St. Louis Blues – 93 pts
10. Arizona Coyotes – 89 pts
11. Los Angeles Kings– 88 pts
12. Chicago Blackhawks – 86 pts
13. Colorado Avalanche – 81 pts
14. Vegas Golden Knights – 78 pts
15. Vancouver Canucks – 75 pts

CENTRAL DIVISION

1. Dallas Stars – 104 pts
2. Nashville Predators – 103 pts
3. Minnesota Wild – 100 pts
4. Winnipeg Jets – 98 pts – Wild Card
5. St. Louis Blues – 93 pts
6. Chicago Blackhawks – 86 pts
7. Colorado Avalanche – 81 pts

PACIFIC DIVISION

1. Edmonton Oilers – 99 pts
2. Calgary Flames – 95 pts
3. San Jose Sharks – 94 pts
4. Anaheim Ducks – 94 pts – Wild Card
5. Arizona Coyotes – 89 pts
6. Los Angeles Kings– 88 pts
7. Vegas Golden Knights – 78 pts
8. Vancouver Canucks – 75 pts

STANLEY CUP FINAL

Tampa Bay Lightning VS. Edmonton Oilers

The NHL 18 simulation results predict a Stanley Cup Final featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Edmonton Oilers. The NHL 18 season simulation ultimately has the Tampa Bay Lightning winning Lord Stanley’s Cup.

NHL 18’s season simulation does not stop with winners, losers, and an eventual champion. They also have the results for various end of season award winners. As you  can see, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is predicted to take a lot of hardware home this season. Check out the fully simulated list of yearly award winners below.  

END OF SEASON AWARD WINNERS

• Presidents’ Trophy: Pittsburgh Penguins
• Conn Smythe Trophy: Nikita Kucherov (TBL)
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM)
• Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM)
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: Erik Karlsson (OTT)
• Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy: Nikita Kucherov (TBL)
• Vezina Trophy: Carey Price (MTL)
• William M. Jennings Trophy: Devan Dubnyk (MIN)
• Frank J. Selke Trophy: Patrice Bergeron (BOS)
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Nicklas Backstrom (WAS)
• Calder Memorial Trophy: Clayton Keller (ARI)
• Ted Lindsay Award: Connor McDavid (EDM)

NHL 18 is currently available in stores or for download. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out SGO’s NHL 18 review for news and information on the latest installment of the long-running hockey franchise.

---

Want to talk sports and/or games with the fastest growing community in gaming? Join the conversation by registering at the official Sports Gamers Online Forums, and check out our Twitter and Facebook pages.