Ahead of the 2023-24 NHL season, Adam Proteau made four bold predictions for the upcoming year of puck action. Adam now bravely returns to revisit those same predictions made over three months ago.

With 2023 coming to a close, we thought it would be a good time to go back through the pages of THN.com and take a look at the four bold predictions this writer made back in September. 

There were a couple we’re happy with, and the other two…well, we’ll come clean and admit when we were wrong. But let’s look at the whole piece, prediction-by-prediction, and break down the details.

Prediction One

Prediction: Winnipeg Jets trade star center Mark Scheifele to the Seattle Kraken for center Alex Wennberg and a first-round pick.

Prediction Accuracy: Not good

Explanation: We weren’t the only ones surprised that the Jets would double down on a roster that was tremendously disappointing in 2022-23 and last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs, but Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff found a way to retain the services of Scheifele and star goalie Connor Hellebuyck beyond the current season. Cheveldayoff’s belief in his core has paid off handsomely for the Jets thus far this year, with the team battling for top spot in the Central Division.

Scheifele’s current salary of $6.125 million gets bumped up to $8.5 million beginning next season and lasting through the 2030-31 campaign when he’ll be 38 years old. But considering Scheifele is on a pace to beat his offensive totals last season, the Jets were fortunate to convince him to stick around without boosting his salary cap hit to $10 million per year or higher.

Prediction Two

Prediction: Maple Leafs rookie goalie Joseph Woll outplays Ilya Samsonov, but coach Sheldon Keefe does his best to make them a true 50/50-split tandem and rides the hot hand into the first round – which Toronto wins, knocking off Ottawa.

Prediction Accuracy: Not too shabby

Explanation: We were bang-on about Woll outplaying Samsonov, who has been dreadful this season and had his nadir appearance when Toronto was steamrolled 9-3 Thursday night in Buffalo. Woll’s performance last season gave us confidence in him, and the 25-year-old was thriving (with a .916 save percentage and 2.80 goals-against average) in 15 appearances, but he was injured on Dec. 7. The Leafs have received decent goaltending from veteran Martin Jones in Woll’s absence, but when Keefe gave Samsonov the opportunity to win back the starter’s job, Samsonov struggled.

Woll’s injury – an ankle sprain – will keep him out of the lineup for a while longer, but as it stands, Keefe and the Leafs need him back as soon as possible. He’s been the most consistently great performer between the pipes since he earned a full-time NHL job last season, and he’ll get every chance to win back the starter’s role once he’s healthy. (Oh, and as for the Senator's part of that prediction... never mind.)

Prediction Three

Prediction: Rookie centers Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli prove to be the real deal, pushing Chicago’s Connor Bedard hard in pursuit of the Calder Trophy.

Prediction Accuracy: Pretty solid

Explanation: Bedard is, as expected, the front-runner for the Calder as the league’s top rookie, generating 13 goals and 30 points in 33 games with the Chicago Blackhawks. However, Fantilli is in third place in the rookie race, posting nine goals and 20 points in 35 games with Columbus. And Carlsson isn’t that far behind Fantilli, posting eight goals and 15 points in 23 games with Anaheim. He's now expected to be out four to six weeks with a sprained MCL, but Carlsson has no doubt impressed when he's on the ice. All three rookies are playing on dismal teams at the moment, but they’re getting great chances to establish themselves as needle-movers at the NHL level, and they’re not disappointing those who believe in them.

Ultimately, Bedard is likely to win the Calder, but Fantilli, Carlsson and other rookies are making the 2023 NHL draft class something special. And we expect them to only be better with every passing game.

Prediction Four

Prediction: The Philadelphia Flyers tank perfectly (and luckily) for the 2024 No. 1 draft pick and land generational talent Macklin Celebrini after winning the draft lottery.

Prediction Accuracy: Swing-and-a-miss

Explanation: Let’s face it: the Flyers have shocked the hockey world with their above-average play this season. Anyone who believed Philadelphia would be sitting in third place in the Metropolitan Division at Christmas time was optimistic, but under coach John Tortorella, the Flyers have been far better than expected.

There’s still time for Philly to fall apart and miss the playoffs, but at this stage, you have to give them their due for overachieving. That may prove to be the wrong organizational move as the Flyers continue on a full roster rebuild, but you can’t fault players for being competitive and doing better than most people believed they would. Celebrini is not going to be a Flyer, but Flyers fans are happy to see their team taking it to opponents more often than not.