(South)West Coast = Best Coast:
Dallas Stars on the Rise:
I started really following hockey the year Dallas won the cup at the turn of the century. The roster hasn't been in form to a long time to make a push, until now. Grabbing Ales Hemsky and Jason Spezza the Stars have a very good second line to follow up the 4th and 5th leading scorers of last year. There's a lot of depth on the roster now with a lot of players who have made it to the big dance and a couple who actually have their name on the cup. It's a brilliant mix of young talent and veterans who aren't just old but actually show up for the playoffs. This will be a team to watch every night.
Kings of the Rink:
Every time I look at this roster I'm amazed that this is even possible. I'm probably the biggest Jeff Carter fan in the world because he just scores goals like nobody's business. Then you have Marian Gaborik, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Mike Richards, Justin "Mr. Game 7" Williams, and Johnathan Quick backing them up? It's almost unfair. With kids on the rise, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson, the Kings probably won't even need to dip into free agency to keep winning for the next few years. Like always, they'll save themselves for the playoffs and limp in. They know the playoffs are a whole new season and after breaking the hearts of every Sharks fan the sky's the limit.
Fresh Snow:
Up in the snowy mountains of Denver, Colorado, Patrick Roy and his pack of young snipers (and Daniel Briere, 36) are preparing for another run at the pennant. Losing Stastny was a big blow, but there's so much potential in this roster (17 players who are 27 or younger) his name could be forgotten by December. I'm excited to see who will step up and fill the void Stastny left and if Varlamov can perform like last year. And deep down, like everybody else outside of Pittsburgh, I want MacKinnon to have more points than Crosby at the end of the season and a better beard in the playoffs.
Kesler in Disneyland:
After three average seasons in Vancouver, one where he only played 17 games, Ryan Kesler needed a change in scenery. Enter the one-line team of Anaheim. The Ducks managed to get to the 2nd round of the playoffs with arguably two forwards and a brilliant goaltending committee. Now the Ducks have a fortified second-line centre, and Kesler gets an upgrade from the Sedin sisters on the powerplay. If Kesler stays healthy and learns how to play with his new teammates in the Boudreau system he could eclipse 70 points again. Now 30, Kesler is looking to win now and he might be going to Disneyland in both senses of the word.
Van-City Rebuild:
I don't know what to think of what this new GM is doing in Vancouver, dropping Luongo for Miller, who is just a year younger. I don't think either goalie will be in the playoffs this year, or even next year. I'll get to Lou soon, but the Canucks have to start building from the ground up after a few bizarre trades in the Gillis era. The Sedins will be anchor the team offensively and maybe they'll have a surprise or two from their young stars and Nick Bonino. Expectations are not what they were four years ago and being in the toughest division in the NHL the Canucks will be bottom feeders. Come January don't be surprised if you start hearing whispers of McDavid.
Oil Slick:
Every year since Taylor Hall went first overall, I've been saying this is the year for Edmonton. Now I'm all in on this team. Why? Because Mac-T is in the GM's box! Tradition in a city such as Edmonton has a lot of value and having been a player and coach prior to this Craig MacTavish will do great things for this team. My bold prediction will be he'll do the same thing he did when Edmonton went to the cup finals in '06 and grab some legendary player (that year it was Chris Pronger). Hall, Eberle, RNH, are all great players and hopefully the bottom six can follow their lead and get Edmonton into the playoffs as a wildcard.
The Curse of Brian Burke:
Brian Burke's teunre in Toronto is comparable to a mechanic fixing a muffler on a car, then leaving it in the ditch. Now in Calgary, Burke is riding the players he picked up from his past jobs. Joe Colborne and Jonas Hiller are back with Burke and I refuse to believe that these are good moves. Flames fans will know its over when he signs Colton Orr. I am very biased when talking about Burke, I hope he continues to lose. However, with players due for a break out year (Mikael Backlund especially) Calgary will be on the outside looking unless something goes awry. With Burke in the box though, that's not going to happen.
Open Doors:
After the collapse the San Jose Sharks had in the playoffs last year, I thought changes would happen. They didn't though. I don't know if this is because the Sharks think they ran into bad luck, not poor play, and the team will redeem themselves this season. Honestly, the guard needs to change: Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau were great players. With Pavelski and Couture on the rise to stardom followed closely by the hands of Tomas Hertl, the Sharks can afford to dump their aging players and clear some cap space to fill some holes. The Sharks have never done well in the playoffs and it pains me to say this but I don't think Joe Thornton will ever make it there, dump the old bones, Wilson.
The Average East:
The Streak:
For 23 years the Detroit Red Wings have been in the playoffs. Will it continue? Maybe, anything can happen in the East. The number of bubble teams is very high and Detroit isn't a lock for the top 3 just like last year. I'd take Zetterberg and Datsyuk before Thornton and Marleau any day but I question everything else on the team. Ken Holland has done a really good job for the past two decades and Mike Babcock is a great coach, all in all though, Detroit is a middle of the pack team talent-wise and their chance to get into the playoffs is slim. They'll be ahead of Buffalo and Ottawa at the end of the season.
The Lowly Lowly Leafs:
I beleaf it can happen this year. With the Raptors getting to the playoffs last year, the city has to be hungry for more playoffs. I've been following the moves the Leafs have made over the summer and I like the sounds of them. I figure with Kessel, JVR and Bozak working together for a full season they'll all have at least 60 points a piece. Matchy-matchers Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly need to step up big for the team. The only thing that won't change is Johnathan Bernier putting the team on his back night in and night out. Clarkson better have more than 11 points or he'll be wearing a Marlies jersey in 2016. No collapse this year, Leafs are playoff bound!
The Dichotomy in Florida:
Down south Tampa Bay has gotten a lot better and Florida is just aiming to get to the cap floor. With a healthy Steven Stamkos and two Calder nominees from last year and Ben Bishop this team is entering a golden age. I don't know if Drouin will make the squad this year but I wouldn't rush him even if he says he's ready. Now, let's talk about the bad stuff, the Panthers have overpaid a lot of players. I don't know if there's a plan in motion but signing Stanley Cup Champions like Dave Bolland and Shawn Thornton aren't going to turn a team around. As a Leafs fan, if they tank I will cheer, and I expect to cheer a lot.
BLOvechkin:
Adam Oates had the opportunity to turn Alex Ovechkin's career around, and did, but still got fired. Now Barry Trotz has been given the reigns to the enigma that is Alex Ovechkin and his scoring touch. If Trotz can get JP Dumont 70+ points consistently Ovechkin can get back to triple digits. Whether the team wins or not is a completely different question because Nashville wasn't under Trotz. Ovechkin has hit 50+ goals only once in the past 4 years and entering his tenth season in the NHL this could be a sign of things to come, which is a shame for one of sports' most exciting players in the Aughts.
The Tavares Complex:
John Tavares has quietly become a force to be reckoned with on the Island. After the Islanders stepped up their game in the off season with big moves and signings John Tavares has a very excellent cast around him, and I think he'll enjoy playing with the new recruits. Leaf fan talking here, Grabo and Kulemin are very good two-way forwards for an Eastern conference team, if they play well the Islanders will be in the playoffs. The other X-factor is Jaro Halak who made his name in the playoffs and will probably steal a handful of games for the Isles too. Tavares will make magic out of nothing for another year and hopefully will be rewarded with some hardware finally.
Penguins can Swim, But Can They Learn to Fly again?
With Jim Rutherford sitting in Ray Shero's old chair, take it as a sign winning in the regular season isn't enough for Mario and co. When you have a roster that has two marquee names cup runs are expected every year. Sidney Crosby pulled his weight winning the Art Ross as the only player to hit triple digits in points. Malkin is also a point a game player and the two combined talents allows Chris Kunitz to be a scoring threat every game. But that isn't enough anymore. The back end and bottom half of the forwards needs a shake-up and that's what Rutherford will do, just like he managed in Carolina. The Pens are very much playoff contender on paper but whether Bylsma is still the man for the job is another question.
Jaromir Milestones:
Behold! The only reason to watch a Devils game! Jagr is a legend all his own and this season will be another season where he can eclipse some pretty historical milestones. He needs thirteen goals to pass Phil Esposito (717) for fifth all-time. He's currently tied with Steve Yzerman for sixth all-time in points (1755) and if he manages to put up 44 this season he can surpass former teammate Ron Francis for fourth! That'd be huge, and if anyone can do it's Jaromir Jagr. If he brings back the mullet it'll happen 100%. He won't end his career hoisting the cup but he's a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Trophies:
The Hart:
Crosby had a redemption year last year after suffering from post-concussion syndrome and if the pattern holds true Steven Stamkos will bounce back from his broken leg to win the Hart. He puts the puck in the net and that's how you win games and he'll help the Lightning win a bunch.
The Norris:
Mike Green. There are a lot of talented d-men in the league that each have their own special talent. I always look for a player on a winning team that wins the close games where defense, not goaltending, is the winning factor. I think with Trotz behind the bench Green can blossom as a powerplay quarterback and put up number similar to Shea Weber.
The Vezina:
I didn't talk about this team above but I think Columbus is going to come out blazing this year and they will be a team that leans on Sergei Bobrovsky to win them at least 10 games on his own this season. Rask and Quick will be the other nominees.
The Frank Selke:
There is no other choice than Anze Kopitar. The guy is a human multi-tool. Any scenario he'll win the draw and get the job done. The guy only has so many fingers, let him win something he can put on his mantle.
The Byng:
Ryan O'Reilly won it last year, that really surprised me. Anyways I still think the soft-handed and soft-hearted Patrick Kane can get it and prevent the very unlikely repeat.
The Calder: This is a very interesting award because I don't even know which draft picks are going to be starting in the NHL. Ekblad seems like a lock on defense but I don't see he him breaking out. Calgary has put out some talented young guns and I think Sam Bennett can be another Sean Monahan and surprise some people. If he's eligible for it Jonathan Drouin will give Bennett a run for his money.
The Ted Lindsay: The NHLPA does the voting here so its a peer-on-peer assessment. I'd argue it's much more prestigious than the Hart. John Tavares has the potential for a great season and he'll be classified as a franchise player after this season.
The Art Ross: Alex Ovechkin returns to form going from Blow to OH!! No slumping and a lot of rebound assists.
The Richard: Obviously Steven Stamkos: registers ten more goals than second place.
The GM of the Year: Lots of teams made some off season moves to beef up their team for the long season but only two stood out to me as legit power moves. Those were Garth Snow and Steve Yzerman. I have the Lightning winning their division but I think getting the Isles back in the playoffs will give Snow a trophy.
Jack Adams:
Division Champs:
Metropolitan Division Top 3
1. Boston Bruins
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
Atlantic Division Top 3
1. Washington Capitals
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
East Wildcards:
The Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders
Pacific Division Top 3
1. Anaheim Ducks
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Los Angeles Kings
1. Dallas Stars
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Colorado Avalanche
West Wildcards:
Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues
Keep your stick on the ice,
Shraham
Prince of Wales Trophy: Boston Bruins
Clarence S. Campbell Trophy: Dallas Stars
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars Seguin goes 2-0 for his career in the Stanley Cup finals. Leaf fans lament trading him for Kessel all summer.
That's it everybody, I hope you enjoy the hockey season as much as I do. Sorry I started with a bunch of links then it sorted of died off. It's just to hot to care though.Keep your stick on the ice,
Shraham
