Hey puckheads, it’s nearly close to being almost that time, and I’m sure somewhere in the world a pond is starting to freeze. If you’ve been following the fragments of hockey coverage going on in the major media outlets, you’ve seen the predictions for the upcoming NHL season. Well, it’s my turn, and since I’ve never been wrong with my predictions for FORF, these predictions should be no different.
First we’ll get the Eastern conference playoff contenders out of the way.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins: In America you’re innocent until proven guilty, in hockey you’re the Champs until someone dethrones you. Last year’s champs like a fine wine will only get better with age.
Washington Capitals: A strong playoff run last season leaves Alexander Ovechkin and Co hungry for a shot at dethroning Sid.
3. Boston Bruins: A team that may have been a surprise last year won’t be turning any heads this year, if only because all eyes will be on them from the start. Look for Tim Thomas to either build on his Vezina Trophy year or fall into obscurity, either way the Bruins who are deep in goaltending should have a strong year.
4. Philadelphia Flyers: Jeff Carter looks to build on his breakout season, and adding Chris Pronger to the mix sure doesn’t hurt them…Goaltending remains an issue for the Flyers, but they should stay a playoff team if all doesn’t go well for them.
5 . Ottawa Senators: Goaltending may be an issue, and the distractions Dany Heatley may cause could derail this club, but on paper this already was a high powered offense before the Sens picked up Alex Kovalev.
6. Montreal Canadians: A top line of Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, and Michael Cammalleri would make any defense wet themselves, but is this team a one line show? Look for Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn to have breakout years if this team is going to go anywhere. Finally this will be the year that Carey Price nuts up and becomes one of the elite backstoppers in the NHL.
7. New Jersey Devils: There has been a changing of the guard in East Rutherford as this team no longer needs Marty Brodeur to steal games for them. Zach Parise and Travis Zajac provide more firepower, and old dogs Patrick Elias and Brendan Shanahan don’t exactly need to learn new tricks to be successful in this league.
8. Tampa Bay Lightning: So the Barry Melrose experiment failed early, and may have left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths. And sure Steven Stamkos wasn’t the second coming of Pat Kane in his first year. But when you throw Vincent Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, an older and wiser Steven Stamkos, and a Ryan Malone out there, it can’t be all that bad can it? And word on the street is this Victor Hedman kid is for real. He won’t be winning Norris Trophies just yet, but the Bolts are very happy that he fell to the number 2 overall pick. Look for Antero Nittymaki to grab the starting reigns early in camp.
Eastern Conference Surprises:
Should my predictions be incorrect, I expect to replace one of these teams with the Carolina Hurricanes. Finally I’ll be on record when the Washington Capitals do reach their first Cup Final in the Alex Ovechkin era.
Now for the more interesting and more important Western Conference.
1. Calgary Flames: A Blueline with Dion Phaneuf and now Jay Bouwmeester is just scary, almost as scary as a top line of Jarome Iginla, Rene Bourque (who set a career high point total in only 58 games), and Ollie Jokinen.
2. San Jose Sharks: Sure they’ll win the division, two strong top defensive pairings and two outrageously skilled top forward lines will guarantee that. Oh and that Evgeni Nabokov isn’t too shabby either. The big question for the Sharks will be, can they finally go deep into the playoffs?
3. St. Louis Blues: Yes, you read this right, and yes the ranks are in order. Finally yes this does mean the Blues will win the Central Division. A perfect storm of goaltending, young guys hitting their stride and vets sinking into their new roles, combined with turmoil in the rest of the division doesn’t come around that often; Andy Murray won’t let this opportunity go to waste.
4. Detroit Red Wings: I struggled with putting the Dead Wings in the home ice advantage area, (you’ll see why), but when in doubt the Red Wings have shown that they deserve the benefit of that doubt. They sure aren’t getting any younger though and I don’t expect much of a playoff run for them.
5. Anaheim Ducks: Bobby Ryan’s only going to get better, Corey Perry showed last year why he was a first round pick in 2003, and Ryan Getzlaf may contend for the Art Ross and Hart Trophies in 2010. Great goaltending, solid D and good depth in the second and third lines make this an easy regular season for the formerly Mighty Ducks.
6. Columbus Blue Jackets: I really wanted to put them in the fourth spot, but they’re going to have to prove to me this season that they belong there. Steve Mason will one day be the best keeper in the league, but will it be next year? Rick Nash challenges Alex the Great for the Richard Trophy. Both are good news for Jackets fans.
7. Vancouver Canucks: They were a good team with a great goalie last year…not much will change, except they won’t challenge Calgary much for the Northwest Division lead.
8. Chicago Blackhawks: They won’t start the season well with all their distractions on and off the ice, but they’re just too good of a team to not make the playoffs. A late surge with the return of Marian Hossa will put them over the Minnesota Wild for the 8th spot late in the season.
Western Conference Surprises.
Well one of them I’m staking my reputation on, the Blues’ Central Division Championship, the other I’m not counting on just yet; the Calgary Flames will give Canada it’s first Stanley Cup Parade since 1993.
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