"Predictions are for gypsies" - Punch Imlach
Hockey! The NHL season is less than two weeks away, and I'm dying for it already. Hockey is a big part of my life, from my days actually playing the game to the hours I spend watching it on TV. I'm excited. And so should you.
As per usual, I'm here to list out my regular season predictions.... where teams will place by the end of the regular season. You shall treat this post as gospel and from here on out, every bet you make needs to be cross-referenced with this blog entry. In 2007/2008, I did sport a healthy 14% correct percentage, after all. Take that Tim Panaccio!
Lets get to it, starting with the best.
(the best is the west)
1) San Jose**
Worse than last year, yet I still see them winning the Western conference, if not the entire President's Trophy. With the acquisition of disgruntled forward Dany Heatley, one could argue that the Sharks boast the best top heavy 1st line in the league, with Joe Thornton centering Marleau and Heatley. The one thing that concerns me about the Sharks is their third line... they will be relying on rookies or players with mimimal NHL experience... still, you can't fault their offense, or potential to provide offense.
2) Detroit*
Oh Detroit. Consistently, you're always one of the top teams in the league, so how can I possibly place you second? Blasphemy! Well, they're still my favorites as division winners. but my instincts tell me they will lose points simply due to the overall strength of the central division. That may or may not be the case, but you have to admit the Detroit Red Wings are a worse-off team without Marian Hossa scoring a bunch of goals. Todd Bertuzzi ain't no Hossa. One guy to look out for is Ville Leino, and another guy to watch out for is Chris "but everyone thought he done years ago" Osgood.
3) Vancouver*
This is a tough choice for me. Calgary could very well win the Northwest division this year, but I'm taking the Canucks for a few reasons. 1) I believe the Canucks are better at team defense (that Luongo guy sure helps) and 2) I still believe Vancouver's offense is better. Top prospect in the CHL, Cody Hodgson should make the opening day roster and there's some crazy Russain named Sergei Shirokov vying for a roster spot. It takes me back to the days of Linden and Bure, kind of nice.
4) Calgary
5) Chicago - The Blawkhawks really need to succeed this season. They really, really do.
6) Anaheim -
7) St. Louis -
8 ) Columbus - Playoffs are not a sure thing here,
Jay Bouwmeester is a GREAT signing in Calgary. It essentially means one of Regehr, Phaneuf, and Bouwmeester will be on the ice the entire game. And that scares me as a Canucks fan. It's imperative for the the Chicago Blackhawks to succeed this season, especially considering Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane needs needs needs new contracts next summer. Anaheim is truly an interesting team to watch, their one downfall may be defense, traditionally a strength of the Ducks. I really like the youth movement in St. Louis. Erik Johnson returns to the blueline provided he stays away from the golf course! The playoffs are not a sure thing for Columbus and I guess it depends how the players react to Ken Hitchcock's coaching.
9) Dallas
10) Edmonton
11) Nashville
12) Minnesota
13) LA
14) Phoenix
15) Colorado
The Dallas blueline sucks and I can't see them making the playoffs at all. Edmonton could, in my opinion, slide into the playoffs this season, but they need some help. Nashville is regressing despite their superb blueline and same with Minnesota, though perhaps more-so. LA is apprently biding time for whatever to happen and Phoenix is about a hair away from moving to Hamilton, despite Bettman's own wishes. Colorado... well, they're just the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.
EAST CONFERENCE
1) Philadelphia*
I effin' love the make-up of this team. Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, and Daniel Briere make up a pretty nifty trio of top three line centers, and the likes of Simon Gagne, Scott Hartnell, and the kid, Claude Giroux is a pretty dynamic secondary group of scorers. Chris Pronger joins a backend which consists of Kimmo Timonen and Braydon "Pronger-lite" Coburn. As far as goaltending goes, well... there's your problem. The big question mark in Philadelphia is Ray Emery, fresh off a season in the KHL after being banished from the NHL a year ago. Still, if Ray Emery can return to the form that saw him lead the Sens to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, look out.
2) Boston*
Tim Thomas is pretty remarkable. He's the aging netminder who spent all of his twenties and the better part of his thirties manning the bench as a second, and sometimes third or fourth string goalie. But at the tender age of 37, last year he won a Vezina trophy. Boston has a pretty solid team, even without maligned forward Phil Kessel and David Krejci out with an injury until Christmas. Of course they're a worse off team without them, but I still believe they're the best team in the Northeast. Marc Savard and Zdeno Chara has to help. Watch out for Tuuka Rask possibly stealing Thomas' thunder, oh, and Blake Wheeler is being asked to pick up some of Kessel's offense.
3) Washington*
This is Alex Ovechkin's team. Ovechkin is primed to again lead the NHL in scoring this season, not to mention remain as the league's most exciting player. Given the Caps' reckless defensive game, expect Semyon Varlamov (and not Jose Theodore) to get peppered nightly by the opposition, but hey... at least they're making it interesting. Can Mike Green score 30 goals again? How about Brian Pothier?
4) Pittsburgh
5) New Jersey
6) Carolina
7) Ottawa
8 ) New York Rangers
Pittsburgh could actually win their division, but with the strength of Philly, I have my doubts this year. Malkin and Crosby though, enough said. As for New Jersey, Jacques Lemaire is again taking the Devils by the horns. They'll be a good team. Rolston scores 30, book it. Ottawa is so much improved, it's not even funny. If Leclaire goes down (again), look out Ottawa! Milan Michalek with 70 points, Heatley who? If I have to give major props to Rangers' GM Glen Sather for ridding themselves of Scott Gomez's contract. Still, they're depending so, so much on Marian Gaborik' offense and that'll only work out if he's healthy.
9) Buffalo
10) Montreal
11) Tampa Bay
12) Toronto
13) Florida
14) Atlanta
15) New York Islanders
Buffalo could realistically squeeze into the playoffs, but I believe their team is just way too soft for that to happen. Tim Connolly's brain injuries say hi. Ditto goes for the Montreal Canadiens. Another thing to watch out for it the Habs changed their entire team dynamic in one offseason, usually a bad sign. Tampa Bay is certainly improved but can Hedman be that anchor on the blueline they so desperately need? Toronto just is not a good team this year, despite the arrival of Phil Kessel to the lineup. They just reek of mediocrity and Brian Burke desperation. As for Florida, every year I pick them to squeeze into the playoffs, but not without Jay Bouwmeester. Atlanta did absolutely nothing to improve their roster, so I'm going to poo-poo their team. As for the Islanders, it's going to be another long season in the island, Tavares or no Tavares. They stink.
...And there you have it. Sorry Leaf fans, I said it. Your team sucks.
Now, before I go.
You notice those asterix?
I gave San Jose two.
That means I'm predicting the Sharks will win the President's Trophy.
Who's going to win the Stanley Cup?
Well, it's a little bit early, but I'm going to predict that the Philadelphia Flyers win the Cup this year.
Crazy. Two bonus points to add to my list.
So at the end of the regular season and playoffs, I'll calculate my final score out of 32. Then we shall see who laughs last.
Bwaaahaha
