Let’s take a look back at how bad our 2016-17 NHL predictions were

Happy Independence Day, American readers!

Speaking of: The NHL season ended a couple weeks ago. By now, our panel of writers must be celebrating their freedom from the predictions they made back in October.

That was intentional. Once again, I have lulled them into a false sense of security.

Because now, without further ado, it is time to crown an SB Nation NHL predictions champion.

Once again, the points system is simple: one point for each correct prediction as marked in bold.

Onward.

Best round: A four-way tie thanks to Mary’s and my Boston picks and Katya and Mark picking Buffalo to finish dead-last. Otherwise a pretty bad start.

Worst round: Travis, who very nearly had the entire division standings backward.

Pick everyone got wrong: Oh ye of little faith in Toronto and Ottawa and too much in Tampa Bay and Florida. Shame.

Pick most got right: Buffalo’s awfulness.

Most ridiculous prediction: In hindsight, we all really should’ve known the Red Wings would hit the reset button this year. Oh, and the robot thought the Sabres would win the division.

Best round: Katya and Adam both cleaned up with three points apiece, giving Katya the overall lead.

Worst round: The robot, who once again went scoreless. And so did Mary. Whoops.

Pick everyone got wrong: Columbus. We saw this predictions carnage developing in December. Everyone but the robot had them last in the division. But the robot had them winning the division. More robotic humiliation for SB Nation dot com.

Pick most got right: Some combination of Pittsburgh and Washington in the top two. A slam-dunk, really.

Most ridiculous prediction: Look, those Columbus predictions didn’t look so dumb at the time, alright? I’ll go ahead and say that Travis and Adam were nuts for thinking Philly would finish in the top three. I will excuse the robot because he’s an idiot.

Best round: [laughs maniacally]

ME.

OK, technically Travis and the robot both had a point this round as well. But I’m tempted to award myself 10,000 points for having the Stars out of the top three. I am a genius!

And yes, I gave the robot a point for putting “null” in the seventh-place spot. “Null” is exactly how I’d describe the Avalanche this season.

Worst round: Everyone? We all whiffed on this division even though we mostly had the top four or five right. Just not the order.

But I must single out those of us who had Minnesota tanking. SMH.

Pick everyone got wrong: Minnesota and Dallas. I can see why, but the Stars’ injuries were an ominous sign of the season to come. And Minnesota took massive strides this year.

Pick most got right: Colorado sucking.

Most ridiculous prediction: Dallas missing the playo—OH WAIT NOT RIDICULOUS AT ALL MUAHAHAH.

Best round: Marc leads the field with three correct picks. This was a great round everyone not running on electricity; Vancouver in seventh was essentially the free space in Bingo.

Worst round: The robot went pointless, much like his existence. Mary, Sarah, and myself all finished with a measly point.

Pick everyone got wrong: Nobody hit on a top-three pick. And nobody thought highly enough of Edmonton. Sarah and I both overrated Arizona and three of us didn’t think much of playoff-bound Calgary.

Pick most got right: Vancouver. Unless you’re a machine. In that case you think they almost win the division!

Most ridiculous prediction: L.A. didn’t come close to winning the division this year. Sorry, Katya.

We’ll change up the points a bit here. Correct predictions earn two points.

Best round: Sarah somehow nailed the exact Stanley Cup Final. Bravo!

Worst round: Only the robot and Katya missed entirely on the Final. Boo.

Pick everyone got wrong: See above.

Pick most got right: Nashville winning the West. Wow! That’s actually pretty surprising. Even entering these playoffs I’m not sure many expected that. For us to nail that in October is pretty impressive, right? You should read more of us.

Most ridiculous prediction: The robot isn’t even trying at this point with that Winnipeg pick. But even the Ottawa pick was close!

If someone guessed one of the three finalists correctly, they earn a point. If they guessed the winner correctly, they get two points

Best round: Marc and Adam cleaned up here with two correct calls and a few correct nominations apiece.

Worst round: Tarvis.

Pick everyone got wrong: Like you expected John Tortorella to still have a job, let alone win the damn Jack Adams Award.

Pick most got right: Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews. C’mon.

Most ridiculous prediction: Mary picked Jared Bednar to win coach of the year for a team that finished with 48 points. Whoops.

Two points for correct picks to make this interesting. It’s neck-and-neck!

Best round: Marc, Travis, and I did well here with four points apiece.

Worst round: Katya and Adam with zero.

Pick everyone got wrong: We are very bad at predicting good players and bad coaches.

Pick most got right: Predicting the NHL would crack down on fun.

Most ridiculous prediction: John Tortorella again.

Congratulations to Marc! And thanks for a swell year of hockeying, readers.