2007-2008 NHL Predictions
The NHL season has already started, but I guess it's not too late to post my annual hockey predictions. I was pretty close on the Western Conference last year, only so-so on the Eastern Conference.
This year, the top six teams in each conference seem pretty obvious to me. After that, it's a mad crush for those last two playoff spots in each conference.
Western Conference
1. Detroit Red Wings
I'm still waiting for the year where they crash and burn. This isn't the year. They have too much talent at all positions, they're well coached, and as long as he stays healthy, Hasek is a freak in net. And if even one of their younger guys breaks out - maybe a Hudler, Flippula, or Kronwall - I wouldn't be surprised to see them win it all.
2. Anaheim Ducks
I'm sure they'll have a Stanley Cup hangover. But it just goes to show you how stacked they were last year - they can lose their best forward and best defenseman to retirement and they're STILL crazy good. It makes me happy to see the Ducks lose. Unfortunately, I won't be happy enough this year.
3. Colorado Avalanche
I was hoping they'd stay down for a few years. You know, go through one of those rebuilding phases where they stink for a while? Not happening. They've rebuilt on the fly, I love the young forwards, and Ryan Smyth just looked AWESOME in preseason. As long as Budaj doesn't turn into Jose Theodore in net, I see the Avs winning their division.
4. Vancouver Canucks
If you had told me that Roberto Luongo would single-handedly carry Vancouver to victory, I would've had you committed. I still think the Canucks don't have enough offense, but Luongo made me a believer.
5. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are the fashionable pick to win the Conference. And no doubt they'll be good - they have elite talent at forward and goal, and they have a ton of young kids who're stepping up and making plays. Wouldn't surprise me to see them win the Cup. But I just get the feeling that they're one Nabokov injury away from disaster - neither of their backups impress me. And their only off-season improvement was signing Jeremy Roenick. Nuff said.
6. Minnesota Wild
They're going to play stifling (read: BORING AS ALL HECK) defense. Watching paint not dry has more heart-stopping thrills than Wild hockey. But if Demitra and Gaborik stay healthy, with that defense and goaltending, they're a lock for the playoffs. Maybe even the division.
7. Calgary Flames
Does new coach Mike Keenan help or hurt? If it's old-school Philly/Chicago/NY Keenan, he helps - the team has the goaltending and talent to win their division. If it's new-school St Louis/Vancouver/Boston/Florida Keenan, the team is going to crash and burn their way out of the playoffs. Either way, it'll be interesting.
8. Dallas Stars
Everyone - and I mean EVERYONE - is writing off the Stars. They're too old, they didn't do enough during the off-season, etc etc. Sorry, I don't buy it. They have great coaching, an under-rated goaltender, a terrific defense corps. Sure, their forwards look meh, but I'm still afraid of the Stars.
9. Los Angeles Kings
Oh, Eugene's favorite team. They've got great young scoring talent up front and a great mobile defense corps. Can the goaltending of young Bernier hold up? I think it will for most of the year... then Bernier will flame out at the end and the Kings will miss the playoffs again. Hope I'm wrong, but every time I predict the Kings will self-destruct, I always end up being right.
10. Edmonton Oilers
It's kinda fashionable to predict that the Oilers will stink, based on how they fell apart at the end of last season due to injuries. Well, they're healthier this year, I'm a big fan of their pick-ups of Pitkanen and Garon, and I still like their young forwards. They won't make the playoffs, but they won't be as bad as people seem to believe.
11. Chicago Blackhawks
Great young defense corps and a stellar goaltender - but they're really young and injury-prone up front. They'll be better this year, better next year, but not there yet.
12. St. Louis Blues
It's kinda fashionable to predict that the Blues will make the playoffs, based on how well they played at the end of last season. Sorry - I'm not buying it. They don't have enough offense, they don't have enough defense, and they don't have enough goaltending. They've got some good young players and a great coach, but they're not a playoff team yet.
13. Nashville Predators
You gotta feel bad for Nashville. They've had some great teams in the past few years, but this year, they're in a no-win situation. When the owner starts chipping away at the team's talent because he wants to lower the payroll before selling the team? Everyone on that team knows that they're only around because they don't cost much. Discount employees are no way to build a winning team.
14. Phoenix Coyotes
The Yotes are pretty bad, but maybe one of their star players will break out. They still have a rock solid defense corps, and I like the goaltenders. I hate to see Gretzky like this.
15. Columbus Blue Jackets
The common complaint about the Blue Jackets is that they've been consistently bad, but not horrible, so they haven't gotten to draft the best players. Well, worry no more. The Blue Jackets will be atrocious this year. They have great coaching, but they've got too many holes at all other positions.
Eastern Conference
1. New York Rangers
Getting either Drury or Gomez would've been awesome. The Rangers got BOTH. The only thing stopping them from walking away with the East is that they don't have a stand-out defenseman. But man, those top 6 forwards in New York? Scary good.
2. Ottawa Senators
Ton of talent, and both Spezza and Heatley are playing for new contracts. If I was looking at a $30 million dollar plus payday? I'd have a great season. The Sens will have a great season... but I'm still bent that they couldn't knock off the Ducks in the finals.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Too talented to be down for too long. Staal should bounce back now, unless he's done in by the EA Sports cover curse. Plenty of talent up front should let them take the division.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
They'll be great, maybe the second best team in the conference, but they won't catch the Rangers. Crosby and Malkin will put up sick numbers, and if the rest of the team gels, a deep playoff run is a real possibility.
5. New Jersey Devils
Why won't this boring team just go away? And yet they never do. They get stellar goaltending, they play their boring trap defense, they squeeze enough goals out of Elias, and they win a ton of games. No reason to believe it'll stop this year. Devils hockey. It's BO-ring.
6. Buffalo Sabres
Their window has shut - last year was their best chance and they wasted it. They lost their two best forwards to free agency, and now they're hoping that guys like Connolly can step up and replace them. C'mon, Connolly? To replace Briere and Drury? Sorry, you guys are reaching - the Sabres will take a step back.
7. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning have their big three... and not much else. Sure looks like they're spinning their wheels and going nowhere. They should bite the bullet and trade one of them to give them the flexibility to add some other parts. But they won't, their goaltending will be suspect, and the Lightning will waste another year.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
They were so close to making the playoffs last year. Adding Toskala in net could be enough, but adding Jason Blake and his crazy non-stop motor should push them in. But they're not seriously going to play Blake alongside Sundin, are they? Those two play two diametrically opposite styles of hockey. They'll score goals, but not with each other.
9. Florida Panthers
I love the pick-up of Vokoun, and they have some great pieces. But unless one of their kids really picks it up, they won't have enough to make the playoffs. After all the years of pure suckage, it'd be nice to see something good happen for that team, though.
10. Atlanta Thrashers
I don't get why Atlanta isn't better. By all logic, they have a great coach, two dynamic offensive weapons, a great defenseman, and great goaltending. So why do they play so poorly? I'd love to push this team into the playoffs again, but they just don't seem to show me anything.
11. New York Islanders
Bad - no Smyth, no Blake. Good - no Yashin. It's a wash. They haven't improved while other teams have. Still, Ted Nolan might be the best coach in the league - maybe he squeezes blood out of a turnip like he did last year.
12. Washington Capitals
Man, I want this team to be good. I want to see Ovechkin tearing it up in the playoffs. Alas, they're still a few players away.
13. Philadelphia Flyers
I love the pick-ups of Briere and Timmonen, but they're not enough to turn around the Flyers in one year. They'll be better, but seeing as how bad they started, that's not saying much.
14. Montreal Canadiens
Brisebois? No seriously. BREEZE-BY? You know you have trouble signing free agents when the only ones you can get are the ones that no one else will touch with ten foot poles. Koivu can't do it alone.
15. Boston Bruins
I see nothing to get excited about here. Unless they manage to get that number one overall pick and draft Tavares next year... and then a few years later, trade him away for peanuts like they did with Joe Thornton.
This year, the top six teams in each conference seem pretty obvious to me. After that, it's a mad crush for those last two playoff spots in each conference.
Western Conference
1. Detroit Red Wings
I'm still waiting for the year where they crash and burn. This isn't the year. They have too much talent at all positions, they're well coached, and as long as he stays healthy, Hasek is a freak in net. And if even one of their younger guys breaks out - maybe a Hudler, Flippula, or Kronwall - I wouldn't be surprised to see them win it all.
2. Anaheim Ducks
I'm sure they'll have a Stanley Cup hangover. But it just goes to show you how stacked they were last year - they can lose their best forward and best defenseman to retirement and they're STILL crazy good. It makes me happy to see the Ducks lose. Unfortunately, I won't be happy enough this year.
3. Colorado Avalanche
I was hoping they'd stay down for a few years. You know, go through one of those rebuilding phases where they stink for a while? Not happening. They've rebuilt on the fly, I love the young forwards, and Ryan Smyth just looked AWESOME in preseason. As long as Budaj doesn't turn into Jose Theodore in net, I see the Avs winning their division.
4. Vancouver Canucks
If you had told me that Roberto Luongo would single-handedly carry Vancouver to victory, I would've had you committed. I still think the Canucks don't have enough offense, but Luongo made me a believer.
5. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are the fashionable pick to win the Conference. And no doubt they'll be good - they have elite talent at forward and goal, and they have a ton of young kids who're stepping up and making plays. Wouldn't surprise me to see them win the Cup. But I just get the feeling that they're one Nabokov injury away from disaster - neither of their backups impress me. And their only off-season improvement was signing Jeremy Roenick. Nuff said.
6. Minnesota Wild
They're going to play stifling (read: BORING AS ALL HECK) defense. Watching paint not dry has more heart-stopping thrills than Wild hockey. But if Demitra and Gaborik stay healthy, with that defense and goaltending, they're a lock for the playoffs. Maybe even the division.
7. Calgary Flames
Does new coach Mike Keenan help or hurt? If it's old-school Philly/Chicago/NY Keenan, he helps - the team has the goaltending and talent to win their division. If it's new-school St Louis/Vancouver/Boston/Florida Keenan, the team is going to crash and burn their way out of the playoffs. Either way, it'll be interesting.
8. Dallas Stars
Everyone - and I mean EVERYONE - is writing off the Stars. They're too old, they didn't do enough during the off-season, etc etc. Sorry, I don't buy it. They have great coaching, an under-rated goaltender, a terrific defense corps. Sure, their forwards look meh, but I'm still afraid of the Stars.
9. Los Angeles Kings
Oh, Eugene's favorite team. They've got great young scoring talent up front and a great mobile defense corps. Can the goaltending of young Bernier hold up? I think it will for most of the year... then Bernier will flame out at the end and the Kings will miss the playoffs again. Hope I'm wrong, but every time I predict the Kings will self-destruct, I always end up being right.
10. Edmonton Oilers
It's kinda fashionable to predict that the Oilers will stink, based on how they fell apart at the end of last season due to injuries. Well, they're healthier this year, I'm a big fan of their pick-ups of Pitkanen and Garon, and I still like their young forwards. They won't make the playoffs, but they won't be as bad as people seem to believe.
11. Chicago Blackhawks
Great young defense corps and a stellar goaltender - but they're really young and injury-prone up front. They'll be better this year, better next year, but not there yet.
12. St. Louis Blues
It's kinda fashionable to predict that the Blues will make the playoffs, based on how well they played at the end of last season. Sorry - I'm not buying it. They don't have enough offense, they don't have enough defense, and they don't have enough goaltending. They've got some good young players and a great coach, but they're not a playoff team yet.
13. Nashville Predators
You gotta feel bad for Nashville. They've had some great teams in the past few years, but this year, they're in a no-win situation. When the owner starts chipping away at the team's talent because he wants to lower the payroll before selling the team? Everyone on that team knows that they're only around because they don't cost much. Discount employees are no way to build a winning team.
14. Phoenix Coyotes
The Yotes are pretty bad, but maybe one of their star players will break out. They still have a rock solid defense corps, and I like the goaltenders. I hate to see Gretzky like this.
15. Columbus Blue Jackets
The common complaint about the Blue Jackets is that they've been consistently bad, but not horrible, so they haven't gotten to draft the best players. Well, worry no more. The Blue Jackets will be atrocious this year. They have great coaching, but they've got too many holes at all other positions.
Eastern Conference
1. New York Rangers
Getting either Drury or Gomez would've been awesome. The Rangers got BOTH. The only thing stopping them from walking away with the East is that they don't have a stand-out defenseman. But man, those top 6 forwards in New York? Scary good.
2. Ottawa Senators
Ton of talent, and both Spezza and Heatley are playing for new contracts. If I was looking at a $30 million dollar plus payday? I'd have a great season. The Sens will have a great season... but I'm still bent that they couldn't knock off the Ducks in the finals.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Too talented to be down for too long. Staal should bounce back now, unless he's done in by the EA Sports cover curse. Plenty of talent up front should let them take the division.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
They'll be great, maybe the second best team in the conference, but they won't catch the Rangers. Crosby and Malkin will put up sick numbers, and if the rest of the team gels, a deep playoff run is a real possibility.
5. New Jersey Devils
Why won't this boring team just go away? And yet they never do. They get stellar goaltending, they play their boring trap defense, they squeeze enough goals out of Elias, and they win a ton of games. No reason to believe it'll stop this year. Devils hockey. It's BO-ring.
6. Buffalo Sabres
Their window has shut - last year was their best chance and they wasted it. They lost their two best forwards to free agency, and now they're hoping that guys like Connolly can step up and replace them. C'mon, Connolly? To replace Briere and Drury? Sorry, you guys are reaching - the Sabres will take a step back.
7. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning have their big three... and not much else. Sure looks like they're spinning their wheels and going nowhere. They should bite the bullet and trade one of them to give them the flexibility to add some other parts. But they won't, their goaltending will be suspect, and the Lightning will waste another year.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
They were so close to making the playoffs last year. Adding Toskala in net could be enough, but adding Jason Blake and his crazy non-stop motor should push them in. But they're not seriously going to play Blake alongside Sundin, are they? Those two play two diametrically opposite styles of hockey. They'll score goals, but not with each other.
9. Florida Panthers
I love the pick-up of Vokoun, and they have some great pieces. But unless one of their kids really picks it up, they won't have enough to make the playoffs. After all the years of pure suckage, it'd be nice to see something good happen for that team, though.
10. Atlanta Thrashers
I don't get why Atlanta isn't better. By all logic, they have a great coach, two dynamic offensive weapons, a great defenseman, and great goaltending. So why do they play so poorly? I'd love to push this team into the playoffs again, but they just don't seem to show me anything.
11. New York Islanders
Bad - no Smyth, no Blake. Good - no Yashin. It's a wash. They haven't improved while other teams have. Still, Ted Nolan might be the best coach in the league - maybe he squeezes blood out of a turnip like he did last year.
12. Washington Capitals
Man, I want this team to be good. I want to see Ovechkin tearing it up in the playoffs. Alas, they're still a few players away.
13. Philadelphia Flyers
I love the pick-ups of Briere and Timmonen, but they're not enough to turn around the Flyers in one year. They'll be better, but seeing as how bad they started, that's not saying much.
14. Montreal Canadiens
Brisebois? No seriously. BREEZE-BY? You know you have trouble signing free agents when the only ones you can get are the ones that no one else will touch with ten foot poles. Koivu can't do it alone.
15. Boston Bruins
I see nothing to get excited about here. Unless they manage to get that number one overall pick and draft Tavares next year... and then a few years later, trade him away for peanuts like they did with Joe Thornton.
posted by Eugene at 9:08 PM
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