There is a fine line between hopeful and delusional. Especially with our beloved New Jersey Devils, it is easy to be blinded by unrealistic optimism and set delusional expectations. Sometimes, though, if you want to nail against-the-tide picks, you need to be embrace delusion.
It required at least a dose of madness to predict that New Jersey Devils forward Jesper Bratt, barely 19 and a 6th-round pick, would be one of the top Devils scorers in January. Or that Taylor Hall, not even in the top 25 in Hart Trophy odds to start the season, would take home the award. Or that the Golden Knights, deemed 500-1 Stanley Cup longshots, would rule the Western Conference.
Similarly, all of the following picks daringly contradict conventional thinking. Granted, these five predictions may be a little over the top; however, you do not earn the bold moniker by being bland.