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Before you look at my rankings I’ll provide a bit of an explanation. I’m going to give you a team list with an explanation for why the team will succeed and why not. Don’t expect some statistical analysis or regression theories, it’s all gut instinct as no one gets this stuff right.
Boston:
They are going to be good as what’s not to like about them? Seguin on the upswing, the biggest delta bravo in the league with Marchand and have they lost anything in net after Thomas left? In fact they shed a divisive presence with Thomas and his Chick-Fil-A hiatus.
The Bruins could flounder because Lucic is softer than 2005 Keith Tchunk and sucking more air than the Lakers. Should Rask get injured or need a rest who steps in now?
Buffalo:
Miller seems to have shown some intensity finally- at least during lockout interviews and his play alone could move the Sabres into playoff territory. Getting rid of Roy and his Ferrari for some one who cares about the game in Ott could be a huge help.
Leino, Ehrhoff, need to be better and can Buffalo find soft minutes and easy zone starts of Hodgson? If not- watch out.
Carolina:
Staal and Semin. Staal and Semin. Need we say more? Adding those to guys to make the offense that much more dynamic has Carolina looking at tops in the southeast. They have a good chance.
Who’s on defense? Seriously, who are these guys after Gleason? Also if Ward goes down it’s all about #danellisproblems
Florida:
I don’t really know what to make of the Panthers- trending up or trending down? If they find some cohesion again and Versteeg can play Jet killer again while Theodore actually remembers the goalie position, again they have a chance.
2 of their top five scorers were defense and one now plays for Vancouver. They have also brought in a character guy like Mueller after losing Samuelsson. Better hope Theodore can still play.
Montreal:
Price has a new deal, there’s no Gomez anymore and the Habs get a full season of Bourque.
If...oops when Markov goes down and having Subban with no deal leaves that defense might thin. Good thing Kaberle is there. bwahahahhaha
New Jersey:
The wonder that is Marty Brodeur has to keep on playing like he is 30 not 40. Kovalchuk has to bring his KHL legs and new contract recipient Zajac has to show why he didn’t wait for hometown Winnipeg to offer him a deal. Regardless the Devils are always competitive.
Marty plays like his age dictates and Kovalchuk with home sickness could spell disappointment for Jersey. When is Henrique back?
NY Islanders:
At some point they have to get this thing right, right? Taveres, Bailey, Moulson, Okposo and Grabner are too good to waste away for another year. “So what you’re saying is there’s a chance?”
What’s the over/under on goalies used this season? Waiver wire pickups and baffling roster moves. The Islanders will find a way to make a mess of what should be a good thing.
NY Rangers:
They added Nash to go with Richy and Gabby and re-upped with Del Zotto and have the sexiest goalie in the NHL, oh and he can play hockey too. It’s the Rangers’ conference to lose.
Nash has only cracked 70 points once. Gaborik played in 82 games last year his first full season ever so that means he’s out after 15 this year- can Nash carry the load?
Ottawa:
Karlsson, Karlsson, Karlsson! Can he repeat that Norris season? Most think so and as he goes so do the Sens. With better goaltending from the start this year the Sens are in the mix.
If Karlsson goes down it’s “head’s up buttercup” for Ottawa because one has to wonder how much Alfie has left in the tank?
Philadelphia:
Captain Claude, brothers Schenn, and a whole lot of youth are what will guide this team to be in the hunt and challenge for tops in the East.
The Flyers are the only team who could trade their #1 goalie for Dipietro, buy him out and trade for Luongo and come out ahead. Something goofy will happen in Philly, it always does.
Pittsburgh:
If Crosby is half the player we say in 2010-11 then the Penguins are in the thick of it. Add in a fit and ready Malkin and it gets scary. They took a lesson out of Vancouver’s playbook by getting Vokoun for when Fleury goes all “Luongo” on them.
One word: concussion.
Tampa Bay:
This team has me scratching my head as I can’t decide what’s to like about them after Stamkos? Oh yeah St. Louis, Malone and Purcell. Better get goaltending.
If Sami Salo is healthy it give them a cannon on the point and a great defender- go look at what Vancouver’s record was with Salo in the line-up. Key word there is ‘in’.
Toronto:
It’s too easy to pile on the Leafs. Not much fun anymore either unfortunately. JVR is better than most think and they had a true first line last year. They should be better than last year but I don’t know how they will do it.
I’ve never seen a team trade from their weak spot to improve their strong area, except the Leafs. Goaltending and a iffy defense will be the undoing of the Leafs yet again. I’m sure Sean Avery could come up with a joke about plugging the Leafs holes and dikes.
Washington:
If Ovechkin is motivated, watch out. He’s a game changer but has been asleep for two seasons and perhaps a bit of home cooking in the KHL is all he needed to wake up and feel good about 9 million a year.
No Semin to add depth firepower so Holtby and Neuvirth better step up huge as the Caps didn’t do much to instill confidence.
Winnipeg:
The Jets may have two cohesive top lines now, a proper third and fourth line and no more Randy Jones and that means they have to be better.
Pavelec is a huge question mark after this off season and some think Jokinen will be your best player over 200 feet, and oh yeah no real 3rd pairing defense. Bogosian can’t come back soon enough.
So here is how it finishes
Rangers
Bruins
Hurricanes
Penguins
Devils
Flyers
Senators
Capitals
Sabres
Panthers
Jets
Lightning
Leafs
Islanders
Canadiens
The West
Anaheim:
Perry, Getzlaf, Ryan, Selanne, Fowler, Koivu, are all on this team but there just doesn’t seem to be enough. A year with Boudreau could help but don’t bet on it.
Other than Fowler who’s on D?
Calgary:
Jarome Iginla is a stud, so is Kipper and Cammalleri is a decent guy too but what’s left is akin to being tossed in a blender and hope it tastes good. Bob Hartley could make a big difference.
Was Hudler and Wideman enough to change the fate of the Flames? It just seems like more of the same rolling of the dice in Calgary’s front office.
Chicago:
There’s a trend in the NHL and the Hawks are a part of it- solid core with iffy goal tending- if things go right they will go really, really right.
Take out the core and you have another team with parts that just don’t fit right and I don’t think Coach Q can coach his way out of the problems in 48 games.
Colorado:
This is a team who should have taken off after Duchene’s rookie year. Can they sign O’Reilly and get him in the roster soon? Does Giguerre have any game left?
That defense is ugly and we’re not talking about Shane O’Brien’s score at the Roxy either.
Columbus:
It’s so ugly that finding something positive is easier in Lance Armstrong now.
Dallas:
They added Jagr and Roy but lost super pest Ott. Benn is a stud but needs to get signed and playing. This team could be a sleeper pick for the west.
If Lehtonen goes down the rest of the cards will crumble.
Detroit:
Just when everyone thinks Detroit will fall off they rise up again. Even without Lidstrom they will charge ahead in a tough division.
You can’t replace Lidstrom but you can adapt to life without him- the real test is on for Babcock.
Edmonton:
If all this youth explodes into the level of play expected this team will be deadly.
Dubnyk better not regress and if Smid and Schultz aren’t studs it’s a long year playing in their own zone.
Los Angeles:
It’s all about Sutter and how he motivates and manages his team. All the talent is there but it took the right guy to bring it together. Can he do it again.
Mitchell is out and Kopitar too to start the season but the team is deep enough to survive- they hope. If Quick goes down though can Bernier pull through?
Minnesota:
Parise and Suter, Parise and Suter- keep saying it until it lulls you into a false sense of security. It may not be false though.
Character guys like Heatley need to be shed. Defense has some question marks.
Nashville:
Never count out a group coached by Barry Trotz. He’s that good. He can make average players play like all-stars in his system.
Hooray we have Weber! Anyone else other than Mrs Underwood?
Phoenix:
Hanzal, so hot right now. He better be because no one knows if Smith can carry the team again. Larsen and Yandle can carry a load too.
When does this saga end? Either a future owner has to fill the holes or this team will spin its tires in the sand just like it’s economic fortunes.
San Jose:
All the tools in the tool box here once again. Things never change but the team never gets lucky either- does luck find them this year?
Joe Thornton should just quit right? The guy is cursed right? 48 games may be the perfect amount to keep him interested.
St. Louis:
Young and strong with all the right wingmen to help keep this team focused and on track- dynamic duo in net too.
Perhaps too much pressure and expectation to live up to now? Does Wade Redden really help?
Vancouver:
Twins are still there and rested. Burrows, Kassian Garrison, Bieksa, Hamhuis and Vandermeer!!! Even if the front is less than desired Schneider and Luongo can keep them in almost any game.
If Kesler and Booth take longer than expected does Gillis have to make a desperation trade with Luongo to make a second line?
Kings
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