Alfie:
The arch-nemesis of most Toronto-born hockey fans loath the former captain of the Ottawa Senators. Now he's moved south of the border to Detroit for one last run at the cup. He's got a good shot with fellow Swedes Hank Zetterberg and Johan "the Mule" Franzen, Kronwall and some others. Oh, and CANADIAN GOLD MEDAL WINNING COACH Mike Babcock and free agent Stephen Weiss. This is a really good looking team on paper and hopefully, for the Leafs, they tank.Columbus(t):
Last year I was curious to see whether Columbus would win a quarter of their games. As you probably know they made a push for the playoffs after acquiring Officer Bobrovsky in a trade who became a Vezina nominee over night and won it too. Now with signing Nathan Horton after getting Marian Gaborik at the deadline and with a young core one year older they're right in the thick of things. You could talk about pressure but they averaged 14,565 (28th in the league) people in attendance last year. John Davidson is at it again, look out!Committee Netminders:
Run Committees have become a popular trend in the NFL and this seems to have carried over to the realm of NHL goalies. With tandems like Vokoun and Fleury, Emery and Mason, Bernier and Optimus Reime, Lindback and Bishop (don't laugh just yet), Schneider and Brodeur, and Florida's committee teams are guaranteeing quality tending in every game. There's even the triple threat of Allen, Halak and Elliott in St.Louis.Coaching Swap:
Arguably the biggest off-season deals were with coaches John Tortorella and Alian Vigneault swapping teams. Hard-nosed Torts has his work cut out for him with really soft Canucks while Vigneault has some hard-nosed Rangers to soften up... and Brad Richards. Both teams are expected to make the playoffs, however, in tough divisions its not an easy road ahead. My bet is the Rangers get it done, and Tortorella's temples finally explode because of the French and Foreigner Factors.Olympics
Lots of players are not just playing for contracts and bonuses for the first half of the season but tickets to Sochi to represent their nation's team. This might also be the last time NHL players will be eligible to play in the Olympics as well. It breaks up the season just like it did in 2010 so the season'll probably get a little compressed in spots. Who do I like to win it? Captain Crosby and friends spoil Russia's home ice advantage.Rookies:
Nathan McKinnon, Alex Barkov, Johnathan Droiun and Seth Jones were all deemed NHL ready prospects and were rightly the top four draft picks in last year's draft. I like Drouin as the player to end up as the best player in-class but McKinnon who's the second NHLer from Coal Harbour, NS, the first being Captain Crosby, will have a big role with the Avs in my opinion and take the Calder. Jones and Barkov simply develop and play in secondary roles the whole season. You can always hope for more though.Divisions:
The new 4-division format is just a small shift that will lead into league expansion in the West. As of right now there are eight teams in the Atlantic (Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Detroit, Buffalo, Florida, Tampa Bay and Ottawa ) and Metropolitan (Columbus, Carolina, New Jersey, NY Isles, NY rangers, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington) divisions and seven in the Pacific (Van-city, LA, San Jose, Anaheim, Edmonton and Phoenix) and Central (Chicago, Winnipeg, St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas, Minnesota, and Colorado) divisions. The top three teams of each division make the playoffs with 2 wild cards to keep the same format and the toughest route to a championship in professional sports. So what will Seattle's team name be and who will be the 32nd city in the NHL?Teemu!
The 43-year-old Finnish Flash is back again! Mostly because golfing isn't his thing. In pursuit of 700 goals (he needs 25 more) it seems obtainable if he stays healthy. Go and get it you ageless wonder.Return of the King:
The hot-dogging, smart-talking, Quebecer is back in the Pepsi Center. Patrick Roy has been selected as the Avs' newest head coach. I can't wait for that thick accent to grace press conferences once again. Let the francophone auto-tune sound bites begin! Seriously, he's been coaching his kid, Ollie, all the way to the QMJHL with the Ramparts and now has a great young group of players including number one pick Nathan McKinnon to build around and I'm excited to see them play under a really passionate guy with big game experience. I doubt it'll be as bad as the Gretzky experiment in Phoenix. Roy pulls Colorado out of the basement and into the playoffs.Now, some predictions. I'm here typing to have fun make a couple jokes and spread my love of hockey and get the rumour Mill turning. I'm not an analyst, never will be, so please, NHL players, associates and know-it-alls, take this with a grain of salt.
Hart Trophy
Every year it seems like Alex Ovechkin is a nominee and he seems to always win. He puts the team on his back every year and won't give up. Losing at the Olympics will only make him hungrier earning him MVP honours.Rocket Richard Award
This is a left field shot but I think Bobby Ryan loves the new scene in Ottawa and does some serious damage. Finally living up to being drafted behind Crosby. Especially after being snubbed in ESPNs top 100 forwards. He registers 65 goals and 22 assists!Art Ross Trophy
I've thought about saying a player who rests over the Olympics and makes use of the time off gets the most points. That'd be a very tall order but Ryan Getzlaf or Joe Thornton could manage the feat if they don't get an invite to Sochi. However, I think Sidney Crosby steps up some more and facilitates a stellar powerplay and gets over 110 points.Bill Masterson Award
I think Johnathan Toews is the definition of dedicated player who demonstrates great perseverance and sportsmanship. If he hasn't won one already he should this year.Norris Trophy
Now that he's surrounded with some skilled and experienced players Mark Streit makes the Flyers forget about Chris Pronger by shutting down divisional powerhouses and getting 45+ points and quarterbacking the #1 powerplay.Vezina Trophy
Boston is a very good team that wins a lot of close games when they're hot. Tukka Rask is an unreal goalie and helps the Bruins win a lot of those 2-1 games and rightly gets the Vezina. Rinne is on the other side of 1-0 loses for another season in Nashville.Frank J. Selke Trophy
Patrice Bergeron is the utility player for Boston and racks up 60+ points and is +28 or higher on the season. Quite simply, he helps Rask, Rask helps him. John Toews and Alex Steen are the other nominees.Calder Trophy
The Calder comes to Cole Harbour as Nate McKinnon pulls an Ovie and leads his team to the playoffs and leads all rookies in points and game winners. Its the only thing he does that Crosby doesn't while in the NHL.Ted Lindsay Award
NHLPA selected this is probably the biggest award as a player because its the players that nominate the winner. Everybody respects all around game and I think Steven Stamkos will put all the pieces together and have a season to remember breaking the 60 goal mark for the second time in his career.Jack Adams Award
Could I say Patrick Roy? No, Ken Hitchcock gets the Blues the cup if they have a paved road to the finals! Remember, you heard it here first!GM of the Year (soon to be the Holland)
I'll tell you it won't be Dave Nonis or Bryan Burke. Kings' GM Dean Lombardi makes a solid mid-season trade and then a ball-breaker at the deadline - Phil "the Thrill" Kessel for Mike Richards? Speculating at its finest. But at the end of the day, one guy has a trophy on his mantle and no one else cares.Lady Byng Trophy
Patrick Kane has been out of the news this off-season and his conduct carries over into the season. He plays at a point per game pace and visits the sin-bin less than 10 times.NHL Foundation Award
Hank Zetterberg did it last year so maybe another player from a crime-bitten city will get it. Vincent Lecavalier doesn't do much on the ice but helps the community of Philadelphia. I don't read the news FYI.King Clancy Trophy
This is a humanitarian award and I always pick the injured guy to do something so no child goes through the same thing as him. Marc Staal, after coming close to losing your eye make sure it won't happen to anybody else with worldwide visor campaigns.Messier Leadership Award
The face of the Coyotes, Mr. Glendale, Shane Doan. Give him something before he hangs up his skates.William Jennings Award
Jaro Halak and Brian Elliott shut it down the whole season having the fewest light checks on the season.There are always four rounds in the playoffs but I don't know whether there are divisional playoffs or if teams will be grouped as a conference. Anyways all I know is how it ends.
The St. Louis Blues VS The Boston Bruins
Stanley Cup: St. Louis in a hard fought 7
Conn Smyth: David Backes finds his inner Dustin Brown.
...Just kidding 'Hawks repeat as champs. Kaner wins the Conn Smythe again and the dynasty goes on.
Tis the season, have a great one hockey fanatics!
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