Western Conference Predictions

[tiger tiger]

As the NHL season approaches, I thought I'd throw out how the teams are going to do this year.

1. Detroit - 3 solid scoring lines, and Lidstrom is back
2. Vancouver - nice additions on d, and Sedins, Kesler poised for good years
3. SJ - Loss of Nabokov hurts, but Nittymaki stops some of the bleeding. Niemi? Big contracts cost the team in depth.
4. Phoenix - Well coached. Last year was no fluke.
5. Chicago - core is still intact, but just not as deep anymore
6. LA - young and rising. Look for LA to add more pieces during the year
7. Colorado - young and well coached team. Have Mueller for a full season.
8. St. Louis - Halak's the saviour for the Blues for several games.

9. Nashville - Great D, can't score.
10. Calgary - All the money in the world can't buy chemistry. Ask the NYR.
11. Minnesota - Koivu has to do it all himself.
12. Anaheim - Need Ryan and Selanne to re-sign. Hopefully, Kariya too.
13. Dallas - Young players need to be signed. Vets all gone.
14. Columbus - Poor Rick Nash. All the skill in the world and nobody to play with. D is suspect too.
15. Edm - Rebuilding. Young players will get lots of ice time to learn. But D and goaltending a huge problem. Khabibulin could be going to jail for DUI, Souray wants out, Horcroff is overpaid.

your thoughts?

[key2win]

I hope Anaheim makes a few moves to get back to where they were a few seasons ago.

[ranbethscards]

Love our Red Wings...but am a Blackhawk at heart....

Come on 'hawks!....I want a repeat!!!!

[thesnake87]

1. Detroit - 3 superb scoring lines, Hudler is back, Modano is here, and Howard will not pull a Steve Mason
2. Phoenix - Win their division, make it to at least 2nd round. Give Wings a run for 1st in the West throughout season, stay in Phoenix for years to come
3. Vancouver - Luongo isn't world class anymore
4. San Jose - struggles at first then rolls into the playoffs, Nittyamaki has a great year
5. LA - Quick finally gets 40 wins, Kopitar in running for scoring title
6. Colorado - Anderson stands on his head again, nuff said
7. Chicago - Solid D, young team, but loss of core players hurts their chances
8. St. Louis - Halak has a Brodeur like year with a team that lacks, but they creep in and make the playoffs

9. Nashville - Loss of Hamhius hurts, Arnott gone, lack scoring, decent D still and Rhinne has a solid year, miss cut by a couple points
10. Minnesota - Koivu gets in the running for MVP, but not enough. Need better D
11. Dallas - Lehtonen has a decent year in net, but gets injured and hurts team's chances
12. Anaheim - No D, Hiller sturggles, lack scoring, another early summer
13. Calgary - is Sutterville... Kipper wants out after the season
14. Columbus - Nash struggles, Mason struggles, no D
15. Edmonton - moves to Hamilton after the season... new GM?


Even though I'm a Wings fan... I actually wanted the Coyotes to win last year. I have been following them and think they will have a Cup run in the coming years.

[tiger tiger]

Selanne's coming back and possibly bringing Kariya too. Still weak on d, and no real checking line.

[thesnake87]

Dallas might be more competitive... but Minnesota will for sure not make the playoffs unless Backstrom doesn't get injured again. The 8-12 I have listed are gonna have a close race to make the playoffs I think.

[tiger tiger]

I'm not sure about Dallas. Lehtonen has chronic groin problems. Probably b/c he doesn't really train during the off-season, so he injures it every year at camp or the beginning of the season.

They just lost Modano and Turco, pretty much the heart and soul of the team. Morrow is still there, but it must feel really different. Lehtinen may not be back either. they've yet to sign Neal, Niskanen, and Grossman (RFAs) too.

Ownership is looking to sell b/c of money problems. There's rumors that the NHL may have to intervene and pay salary by the start of the season if a new owner isn't found. That's got to hurt the morale going into the season.

[dlong1]

The Wings did good to get Modano, but will he perform or be a bust for them? I like their chances to go all the way to another cup win.

Love our Red Wings...but am a Blackhawk at heart....

Come on 'hawks!....I want a repeat!!!!

I heard Randy is looking to move to Chicago before we run him out of this state, lol.

Dan

[tiger tiger]

I think Modano is going to do fine. He will play on the 3rd line with Hudler and Cleary. Babcock has 4 solid lines so Modano won't be tired come playoff time.

[thesnake87]

I think Modano will be on cloud 9 with the line up he has. He hasn't had a line up this good since he won the Cup is 99. And yet, I don't even think the line up then was as good as Detroit is. I think Modano will not only love it, but Detroit has a way in which everyone has great chemistry no matter who they are with. There's no doubt Modano will fit right in. And think of it... he's just a 3rd line center. Yeah, he isn't what he was, but with the centers Detroit has, it shows that they are a very, very talented team.

[tiger tiger]

geez...Detroit adds Salei too. Definately solidifying the team with experienced vets at reasonable rates.

[Leafsfan1967]

This is gonna be a break out year for the LA Kings. Look for them to be at, or near the top of the west division, and most likely a solid playoff run.