Tweet
I know its kinda hard since things have been shuffled...and who really knows what teams will be effected most by the rule changes, but the NHL is back this week, and I'm pretty excited so I figured I'd start one of these threads...
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Philly Flyers - Esche needs a repeat of 2 years ago, Jeff Carter is going to be a star
2. New Jersey Devils - They lost some good players, but they still have the best goalie in the NHL
3. Pittsburgh Penguins - They will be an exciting, but average hockey team with shaky D and goaltending
4. New York Islanders - Headed in the right direction w/ young talent, as long as DiPietro realizes his hype
5. New York Rangers - Not a good collection of forwards past Jagr unless Lundmark and Hossa become stars
Northeast Division
1. Boston Bruins - The deepest collection of forwards in the NHL, decent D, Raycroft needs to step it up a bit.
2. Montreal Canadiens - Theodore controls this teams destiny, good collection of forwards and D-men
3. Ottawa Senators - Hasek has to be about done, they look good on paper, but I don't know about them.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs - Like above, a 40 year old goalie won't be able to generate the consistancy
5. Buffalo Sabres - They need someone on this team to establish themselves as a star and leader
Southeast Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning - Without Khabby they won't sniff the Cup, but they are still the best in the division.
2. Atlanta Thrashers - Kovalchuk along with Hossa and Bondra forms a great PP unit, goalie is a ?
3. Florida Panthers - Only hope for a playoff spot is if Luongo wins the Vezina, IMO
4. Carolina Canes - Decent collection of defensemen, not much else.
5. Washington Caps - Alexander Ovechkin is the only exciting thing about this team.
Playoffs
1. Philadelphia Flyers vs 8. Pittsburgh Penguins - Flyers
2. Boston Bruins vs 7. Atlanta Thrashers - Bruins
3. TB Lightning vs 6. Ottawa Senators - Senators
4. Montreal Canadiens vs 5. NJ Devils - Canadiens
1. Philadelphia Flyers vs 7. Ottawa Senators - Flyers
2. Boston Bruins vs 4. Montreal Canadiens - Canadiens
1. Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens - Flyers
Western Conference
Central Division
1. Detroit Red Wings - I don't think they are very good, but they are the deepest in the division
2. Nashville Predators - Their team is largely the same as when they last played + Kariya, Markov.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets - Time for the great drafting to pay off, still may be a bit young.
4. Chicago Blackhawks - Khabibulin has to win the Vezina for the Hawks to be successful, not enough depth.
5. St.Louis Blues - The worst collection of forwards in the NHL, young defense, not great goaltending
Pacific Division
1. San Jose Sharks - Best skating team in the league, deep at all positions, a Cup contender
2. Anaheim Ducks - Very deep team who will benefit from the rule changes, Giguere controls destiny.
3. LA Kings - I think Garon will be a decent goalie, decent team, could surprise in playoffs.
4. Phoenix Coyotes - Defense isn't very good and the goaltending won't make up for it.
5. Dallas Stars - Won't be high scorers, not much depth on D, Turco can't do it all
Northwest Division:
1. Vancouver Canucks - They will be a force in the regular season, but Cloutier will fail in the playoffs.
2. Calgary Flames - They just outwork you, and have great goaltending. Scoring could be an issue.
3. Edmonton Oilers - Might be a stretch w/ Conklin in net. Always fun to watch, even more w/ Pronger.
4. Colorado Avalanche - Everyone is getting old, they aren't very deep, and Aebischer is nothing special.
5. Minnesota Wild - Trying to rebuild around their drafted guys...
Playoffs:
1. Vancouver Canucks vs 8. Nashville Predators - Predators
2. San Jose Sharks vs. 7. Edmonton Oilers - Sharks
3. Detroit Red Wings vs. 6. LA Kings - Kings
4. Calgary Flames vs. 5. Anaheim Ducks - Flames
2. San Jose Sharks vs. 8. Nashville Predators - Sharks
4. Calgary Flames vs. 6. LA Kings - Flames
2. San Jose Sharks vs 4. Calgary Flames - Flames
Stanley Cup Finals
Philadelphia Flyers vs Calgary Flames - Flames
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Philly Flyers - Esche needs a repeat of 2 years ago, Jeff Carter is going to be a star
2. New Jersey Devils - They lost some good players, but they still have the best goalie in the NHL
3. Pittsburgh Penguins - They will be an exciting, but average hockey team with shaky D and goaltending
4. New York Islanders - Headed in the right direction w/ young talent, as long as DiPietro realizes his hype
5. New York Rangers - Not a good collection of forwards past Jagr unless Lundmark and Hossa become stars
Northeast Division
1. Boston Bruins - The deepest collection of forwards in the NHL, decent D, Raycroft needs to step it up a bit.
2. Montreal Canadiens - Theodore controls this teams destiny, good collection of forwards and D-men
3. Ottawa Senators - Hasek has to be about done, they look good on paper, but I don't know about them.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs - Like above, a 40 year old goalie won't be able to generate the consistancy
5. Buffalo Sabres - They need someone on this team to establish themselves as a star and leader
Southeast Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning - Without Khabby they won't sniff the Cup, but they are still the best in the division.
2. Atlanta Thrashers - Kovalchuk along with Hossa and Bondra forms a great PP unit, goalie is a ?
3. Florida Panthers - Only hope for a playoff spot is if Luongo wins the Vezina, IMO
4. Carolina Canes - Decent collection of defensemen, not much else.
5. Washington Caps - Alexander Ovechkin is the only exciting thing about this team.
Playoffs
1. Philadelphia Flyers vs 8. Pittsburgh Penguins - Flyers
2. Boston Bruins vs 7. Atlanta Thrashers - Bruins
3. TB Lightning vs 6. Ottawa Senators - Senators
4. Montreal Canadiens vs 5. NJ Devils - Canadiens
1. Philadelphia Flyers vs 7. Ottawa Senators - Flyers
2. Boston Bruins vs 4. Montreal Canadiens - Canadiens
1. Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens - Flyers
Western Conference
Central Division
1. Detroit Red Wings - I don't think they are very good, but they are the deepest in the division
2. Nashville Predators - Their team is largely the same as when they last played + Kariya, Markov.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets - Time for the great drafting to pay off, still may be a bit young.
4. Chicago Blackhawks - Khabibulin has to win the Vezina for the Hawks to be successful, not enough depth.
5. St.Louis Blues - The worst collection of forwards in the NHL, young defense, not great goaltending
Pacific Division
1. San Jose Sharks - Best skating team in the league, deep at all positions, a Cup contender
2. Anaheim Ducks - Very deep team who will benefit from the rule changes, Giguere controls destiny.
3. LA Kings - I think Garon will be a decent goalie, decent team, could surprise in playoffs.
4. Phoenix Coyotes - Defense isn't very good and the goaltending won't make up for it.
5. Dallas Stars - Won't be high scorers, not much depth on D, Turco can't do it all
Northwest Division:
1. Vancouver Canucks - They will be a force in the regular season, but Cloutier will fail in the playoffs.
2. Calgary Flames - They just outwork you, and have great goaltending. Scoring could be an issue.
3. Edmonton Oilers - Might be a stretch w/ Conklin in net. Always fun to watch, even more w/ Pronger.
4. Colorado Avalanche - Everyone is getting old, they aren't very deep, and Aebischer is nothing special.
5. Minnesota Wild - Trying to rebuild around their drafted guys...
Playoffs:
1. Vancouver Canucks vs 8. Nashville Predators - Predators
2. San Jose Sharks vs. 7. Edmonton Oilers - Sharks
3. Detroit Red Wings vs. 6. LA Kings - Kings
4. Calgary Flames vs. 5. Anaheim Ducks - Flames
2. San Jose Sharks vs. 8. Nashville Predators - Sharks
4. Calgary Flames vs. 6. LA Kings - Flames
2. San Jose Sharks vs 4. Calgary Flames - Flames
Stanley Cup Finals
Philadelphia Flyers vs Calgary Flames - Flames
Comment