There are two significant changes headed into the season that I'd like to blog about before getting into the actual teams. The first is that the aforementioned Versus/NBC Sports network and NBC are the exclusive rights holders of the NHL in the United States for the next decade. So, if you're still having trouble finding Versus on your cable/satellite provider and you're a NHL fan, find it soon and keep it there. NBC also now has 10 exclusive games over the course of a season, including a Black Friday telecast and the now holy grail of the regular season, the Winter Classic, which this year will feature the Philadelphia Flyers taking on the New York Rangers at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on January 2, as January 1 falls on a Sunday and the NHL didn't want to compete against the NFL as far as ratings attention goes.
The second change is that there is no longer a team in Atlanta, as the team once known as the Thrashers now play in a former/new NHL city in Winnipeg, and its about time. The team is now known as the Jets, which was the name of the former Coyotes in Winnipeg. Now, as Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the league should figure out, never put a team in the south again. Especially in Atlanta, where hockey has failed twice now. It failed in the '70s and it has failed again. I feel bad for the true fans in Atlanta, but now root for your team in Winnipeg, as the previous owner was a bum, but the team still has the same players. Granted, Winnipeg is still in the Southeastern division which makes zero sense, but scheduling and shuffling of teams would've been way too difficult. So, for this season, Winnipeg still has to travel to Miami to play the Panthers four times and vice versa. But, its the way it is for now. Next year, it should be different.
Now, as I actually get into the preview, I'll only be writing three paragraphs, one of the teams which should make it in the east, one of some teams that you traditionally think of as playoff teams but will fail, and the last will be of some surprising teams. Bryan wrote three paragraphs, basically giving you a slight preview of each division. At the end of each conference preview, we'll give you our playoff teams along with division winners as noted by asterisk and a Stanley Cup Final match up. Now, on to the preview!
Eastern Conference
The East is filled with traditional powerhouses such as the Rangers, Flyers, Penguins, Capitals, Lightning, Bruins, and Canadiens. Granted the Lightning have only been relevant for the past decade, but they've been pretty good in that decade. All of these teams should have a relatively easy road to the playoffs, as all these teams have solid goaltending and great offenses. As an example, the Capitals have arguably the biggest superstar in the league in Alex Ovechkin, and while his point total has been going down a little bit, he's still an offensive horse. Then the Flyers have some budding superstars in James Van Riemsdyk and Claude Giroux to play with an experienced player like Jaromir Jagr who wanted one last chance at a cup. The only teams out of these seven which I see as having potential hurdles to making it back to the playoffs would be the Lightning if Dwayne Roloson, their 41 year old goalie breaks down, as they don't really have a reliable backup. The Canadiens, as they have three good players, but not truly great. And the Bruins, as they may have a Stanley Cup hangover, but they should still be ok.
Now, for some of the teams which you think of as being normally good, and could really stink it up. The first team that comes to mind is the New Jersey Devils, as this team is continually getting older, and they had a dreadful start to last season before turning the jets on in the second half and making a run at the playoffs which eventually failed. Then, some people may remember the Carolina Hurricanes, who won the Stanley Cup in 2006 under now Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette, they haven't made the playoffs since 2009, and they look to be on the outside again, as they have a fairly thin defense.
Finally, there are two teams which I think could surprise, in the New York Islanders, who have a very good goalie in Evgeni Nabokov who finally agreed to play for them this season, after refusing to report to Long Island last season. Nabokov is still a solid goalie, even at the age of 35, and the Isles have some good young talent around him in John Tavares, who has the capability of scoring 50 goals in a season, as well as Nino Niederreiter, who also has the same capability. The other team would be the Toronto Maple Leafs, who, under the direction of genius general manager Brian Burke have been rebuilding and look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. I think this team has the talent to do it, and they should be able to.
Playoff teams:
1. Washington Capitals*
2. Pittsburgh Penguins*
3. Buffalo Sabres*
4. New York Rangers*
5. Philadelphia Flyers*
6. Boston Bruins
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
8. New York Islanders
Stanley Cup Final: Pittsburgh vs. Detroit Red Wings
Western Conference
Central Division
This division is on of the best in hockey talent wise. All 5 of these teams could win the division cause thats how good these teams are. In reality tho only 3 possibly 4 have a chance of making it since they play each other so many times in the year. Detroit and Chicago are def the front runners. I say watch out for St. Louis though. They are going to surprise people this year. Nashville and Columbus will bring up the rear of the division and battle for one of the last playoff spots.
Northwest Division
Vancouver is the top of the division I wouldn't expect anything less unless bearing injuries. Minnesota, Colorado, and Edmonton are the middle of the pack in this division and can go in any order with all the youth they have on their teams.
Calgary has a lot of the same players as last year and need to shake things up to make their team better and didn't do that.
Pacific Division
L.A. is the front runner with all the great moves this off-season not even close with any other team. San Jose and Anaheim are your middle of the pack and San Jose will have something to prove this year cause they want to get over the hump of the western conference finals this year. Phoenix and Dallas still have some work to do I think and their are some players who want out of Phoenix which is not a good thing for chemistry for the team.
Playoff Rankings
1. L.A. Kings*
2 Vancouver Canucks*
3 Detroit Red Wings*
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5.San Jose Sharks
6. Colorado Avalanche
7. St. Louis Blues
8. Anaheim Ducks
-------------------------------------
9. Nashville Predators
10 Minnesota Wild
11. Edmonton Oilers
12. Dallas Stars
13. Columbus Blue Jackets
14.Phoenix Coyotes
15. Calgary Flames
Stanley Cup Final: Detroit vs. Buffalo Sabres
Hope you all enjoyed and have fun watching another exciting season of hockey!
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