THN PREDICTS...

Moncton Wildcats beat reporter Neil Hodge, who also covers the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for The Hockey News, released his predicted standings for the upcoming QMJHL season. These predictions will appear in the junior hockey preview edition of THN.

Given the offseason moves by Montreal and Bathurst, it is a bit of a surprise as to where Saint John is predicted to finish.

Here's The Hockey News predicted standings for the QMJHL: 1. Saint John; 2. Montreal; 3. Acadie-Bathurst; 4. Quebec; 5. Rimouski; 6. Prince Edward Island; 7. Gatineau; 8. Chicoutimi; 9. Moncton; 10. Lewiston; 11. Shawinigan; 12. Drummondville; 13. Val d'Or; 14. Halifax; 15. Baie-Comeau; 16. Victoriaville; 17. Cape Breton; 18. Rouyn-Noranda.

Along with finishing first overall in the league, the THN junior hockey panel also predicts Saint John to finish third overall in the Canadian Hockey League Top 10 rankings.

Here's the full list: 1. Mississauga (OHL); 2. Saskatoon (WHL); 3. Saint John (QMJHL); 4. Portland (WHL); 5. Windsor (OHL); 6. Montreal (QMJHL); 7. London (OHL); 8. Swift Current (WHL); 9. Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL); 10. Oshawa (OHL).

Saint John finished first overall in the QMJHL’s regular season last year before falling in six games to the Moncton Wildcats. Saint John also finished the campaign ranked second in the country in the BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings.

Only once has Saint John been placed in THN’s pre-season Top 10. That was in 2008, when the Sea Dogs finished ninth overall in the league and were swept out of the first round of the playoffs.