NHL Preview/predictions

Ahhh...yes the crispness of fall is in the air, you can feel the coldness of winter coming along and in some parts you could actually play outdoors soon. This can only mean the return of the TRUE winter sport, hockey. (Sorry, I just cannot stand basketball, a sport for weak men.)
In this preview, I will go through each division and predict where each team will land and give a short sentence about each team.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Pittsburgh Penguins
Although they had lost in seven games to the red hot Montreal Canadiens, they clearly are still the team to beat, especially with new better defenseman.

2. New Jersey Devils
As with the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning, as long as the New Jersey Devils have Martin Brodeur healthy, they'll be fine and be in the playoffs.

3. Philadelphia Flyers
A team consistently making the playoffs, and with some risky acquistions, they hope to go back to the Final, and win this time.

4. New York Rangers
Without a true number one center, it will be a carousel to see who can get the right chemistry with their other linemates.

5. New York Islanders
One of the game's worst teams, and I expect that trend to continue this year.

Northeast Division

1. Buffalo Sabres
Ryan Miller, arguably the game's best goalie should continue to perform well, while the offense is still without a superstar, they perform well as a team, with another season of 10 players over 10 goals.

2. Boston Bruins
Marc Savard needs to return from concussion based symptoms for the Bruins to have a lot of scoring, as they cannot rely on young Tukka Rask.

3.Montreal Canadiens
Although Jaroslav Halak is gone, they still have a good goalie with Carey Price and will just enough to sneak into the playoffs once again.

4.Ottawa Senators
The Senators added a premier defenseman with Sergei Gonchar, and will need to rely on young Brian Elliott in goal to get to the playoffs.

5.Toronto Maple Leafs
The rebuilding continues in Toronto where the Leafs miss the playoffs once again.

Southeast Division

1. Washington Capitals
I'd like a good reason for anyone to pick against the best regular season team in the game.

2.Atlanta Thrashers
Picked up some good pieces from Chicago in a salary cap deal, and they hope nearly a complete overhaul will do that.

3.Tampa Bay Lightning
Steven Stamkos should continue to improve in his second year, and the Lightning have more scoring around him with the acquisition of Simon Gagne.

4. Carolina Hurricanes
The 'Canes finished strong last season, coming up with 45 points after mid-January. The 'Canes look to carry over that success into this season, but will fall just short.

5. Florida Panthers
The Panthers are looking for veteran Tomas Vokoun to carry them into the playoffs for the first time in a decade, but it will not happen.

Western Conference

Central Division

1. Detroit Red Wings
Veteran team which always is good and will continue to perform well. Will need to have Jimmy Howard not to have a sophomore slump this season either.

2.Chicago Blackhawks
While the team purged nine players from their Stanley Cup team, they still have their version of the Yankees "core 4" with Jonathon Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, and Duncan Keith, so they'll still be in the playoffs easily.

3.Nashville Predators
While the Preds rarely have anyone of note, coach Barry Trotz always seems to get the most out of his players and get them into the playoffs, which will happen again this year.

4. St. Louis Blues
The Blues hope Jaroslav Halak will continue his winning ways from the playoffs and get them into the playoffs for the second time in three years, I think he'll just miss them.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets
Rick Nash is the team, and although he is nearly impossible to stop, the Jackets will not get into the playoffs yet again.

Northwest Division

1. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have arguably the 3 best players in the game, with the Sedin twins and Roberto Luongo, one of the best goalies in the league.

2. Colorado Avalanche
The Avs surprised everyone last season by getting into the playoffs with an incredibly young team, they hope that success will continue this season.

3.Calgary Flames
Jarome Iginla is still a premier goal scorer, but does not have too much around him, much like Adrian Gonzalez in San Diego with the Padres. That will not make them a playoff team.

4. Minnesota Wild
The Wild need more offense and for them not to give up more offense than last year for them to get into the playoffs, and I think they will not accomplish that at all.

5.Edmonton Oilers
Worst team in the NHL last year will continue to be one of the worst, as they don't really have too many pieces in the puzzle quite yet.

Pacific Division
1.San Jose Sharks
San Jose will continue to be much like the Capitals, that is, great regular season team, not so great postseason team.

2. Los Angeles Kings
Very young team with salary cap space is a recipe for success, gets them to the Western Conference Finals.

3. Anaheim Ducks
Another team which always seems to do well, and they got the offense to outscore anyone, the question is can the defense keep shots away from Jonas Hiller?

4. Phoenix Coyotes
The surprise team of last season, and they looked good, but I think it was more of a one year wonder than anything, they don't really have a lot on the team.

5. Dallas Stars
Loaded with young talent, which I don't think will come together until next year or even two years from now.

Predictions: Eastern Conference winners: Pittsburgh Penguins meet the Los Angeles Kings, with Pittsburgh winning in 6.