2008-09 NHL Preseason

[CanadianChris 0]

With training camps starting to open next week, this seems like a good time to discuss the upcoming season, which will open for the first time ever in Europe. As always, everyone is invited to preview the season from their perspective by answering these twenty questions:

 

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy?

 

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy?

 

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy?

 

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy?

 

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy?

 

6. What team had the best offseason?

 

7. What team had the worst offseason?

 

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year?

 

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment?

 

10. What was the best offseason move?

 

11. What was the worst offseason move?

 

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year?

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year?

 

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team?

 

15. Who will be the division winners?

 

16. Eastern Conference Final:

 

17. Western Conference Final:

 

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner):

 

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy?

 

20. Make one bold prediction.

[Guest]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy? Sidney Crosby

 

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy? Marty Turco

 

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy? Drew Doughty

 

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy? Sidney Crosby

 

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy? Alexander Ovechkin

 

6. What team had the best offseason? Tampa Bay

 

7. What team had the worst offseason? Los Angeles still doesn't have their RFA's signed. What do you think?

 

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year? Chicago should launch into the playoffs...

 

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment? Anaheim

 

10. What was the best offseason move? Hossa signing with Detroit

11. What was the worst offseason move? Sundin dragging this shit on forever

 

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year? Chicago, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Edmonton

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year? Ottawa, Nashville, Minnesota, Anaheim

 

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team? Ovechkin, Crosby, Hossa, Lidstrom, Pronger, Luongo

 

15. Who will be the division winners? Pittsburgh, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Calgary, Dallas

 

16. Eastern Conference Final: Tampa Bay vs. Montreal

 

17. Western Conference Final: Dallas vs. Detroit

 

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner): Tampa Bay vs. Detroit, Detroit wins

 

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Marian Hossa

 

20. Make one bold prediction. Tampa makes the Final, obv.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy?

Alex Ovechkin

 

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy?

Henrik Lundqvist

 

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy?

That Boogosian guy.

 

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy?

Joe Thorton

 

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy?

Alex Ovechkin

 

6. What team had the best offseason?

Tampa Bay

 

7. What team had the worst offseason?

Anaheim

 

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year?

Tampa Bay

 

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment?

Vancouver

 

10. What was the best offseason move?

Kolzig to Tampa Bay

 

11. What was the worst offseason move?

Ron Wilson fired from San Jose

 

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year?

Chicago, Buffalo, Phoenix, Carolina

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year?

Colorado, Boston, Nashville, Washington

 

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team?

Thorton, Inginla, Ovechkin, Lidstrom, Phaneuf, Ryan Miller

 

 

15. Who will be the division winners?

Anaheim, Detroit, Calgary

New York Rangers, Carolina, Montreal

 

16. Eastern Conference Final:

Montreal vs New York Rangers

 

17. Western Conference Final:

Detroit vs San Jose

 

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner):

Detroit (winner) vs Montreal

 

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Nicklas Lidstrom

 

20. Make one bold prediction.

ESPN and the NHL sign a TV contract for next season.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy?

Jarome Iginla

 

 

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy?

Henrik Lundqvist

 

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy?

Bobby Sanguinetti (I have no idea on this one, so I went with a homer pick, sue me. At least Lundqvist was logical and homerisitc)

 

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy?

Ovechkin

 

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy?

Ovechkin

 

6. What team had the best offseason?

Tampa Bay

 

7. What team had the worst offseason?

New Jersey (they signed Brian Rolston to a 4 year 20 million dollar deal. He's 35! He didn't even play well last season)

 

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year?

Chicago

 

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment?

Detroit

 

10. What was the best offseason move?

Huet to the Blackhawks

 

11. What was the worst offseason move?

The aforementioned Rolston deal.

 

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year?

Tampa, Carolina, Chicago, Edmonton

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year?

New Jersey, Ottawa, Nashville, Colorado,

 

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team?

Ovechkin, Crosby, Iginla, Chara, Phaneuf, Lundqvist

 

15. Who will be the division winners?

New York, Montreal, Washington, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas

 

16. Eastern Conference Final:

New York vs Montreal

 

17. Western Conference Final:

Dallas vs Calgary

 

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner):

Montreal over Dallas

 

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Carey Price

 

20. Make one bold prediction.

Detroit enters the playoffs as the 4th seed because Chicago wins the Central.

[the max 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy? I'm going out on a bit of a limb here, Nik Lidstrom.

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy? Marty Brodeur.

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy? Kyle Okposo. (I bet Bogosian doesn't even see top-4 minutes even in that cesspool)

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy? Ovenchicken. That team in Warshington is going to fuck people up.

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy? Ovenchicken. 64.

6. What team had the best offseason? Tampa by default, I guess. They addressed their goaltending issues and seem to be of the mindset of "We'll just throw as many shitty forwards as we can against a wall and see who sticks!" Nobody else really made that big of a signing. Hossa was a good signing, but Detroit has been quiet this offseason otherwise and didn't really need to add him.

7. What team had the worst offseason? Vancouver. They've addressed none of their needs and seem hellbent on waiting for Mats Zzzzundin to make whatever announcement he's going to make. They needed to address their offense and they haven't.

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year? St. Louis. They just need to remember that the season continues past january.

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment? San Jose. First year coach, Marleau on his way out, same players who blew it last year...I don't like San Jose.

10. What was the best offseason move? I guess Hossa. Lots of guys signed for waaay too much money.

11. What was the worst offseason move? Either the Finger, Redden or Campbell contracts.

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year? (FTR UndertakerHart, Warshington made the playoffs last year) Chicago, St. Louis, Phoenix, Florida.

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year? (FTR UndertakerHart, Carolina did not make the playoffs last year) Nashville, Colorado, Calgary, Ottawa.

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team? Ovenchicken, Crosby, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Chara, Brodeur.

15. Who will be the division winners? Dallas, Minnesota, Detroit. Pittsburgh, Montreal, Warshington.

16. Eastern Conference Final: Penguins v. Warshington.

17. Western Conference Final: Dallas v. Detroit.

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner): Warshington v. Dallas (winner)

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Brendan Morrow.

20. Make one bold prediction. Michael Ryder: 40 goals.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

I must have dyslexia or something. I'll fix it.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy? Alexander Ovechkin

 

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy? Evgeni Nabokov

 

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy? Steven Stamkos

 

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy? Alexander Ovechkin

 

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy? Alexander Ovechkin

 

6. What team had the best offseason? Tampa Bay

 

7. What team had the worst offseason? Vancouver

 

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year? Tampa Bay

 

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment? Calgary Flames. Will probably again squeak in to playoffs and again go out in the first round

 

10. What was the best offseason move? Homerism aside, hard to argue against Detroit landing Hossa

 

11. What was the worst offseason move? Toronto handing Jeff Finger a ridiculous cotract

 

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year? Oilers, Coyotes, Lightning

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year? Sens, Predators, Avs

 

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team? Zetterberg, Ovechkin, Iginla, Lidstrom, Chara, Nabokov

 

15. Who will be the division winners? Habs, Pens, Caps. Oilers, Wings, Dallas

 

16. Eastern Conference Final: Montreal vs. Pittsburgh

 

17. Western Conference Final: Dallas vs. Detroit

 

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner): Detroit over Montreal in six

 

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Marian Hossa

 

20. Make one bold prediction: Sundin comes back mid-year and takes a minimum contract with Detroit for a chance at the Cup.

 

[CanadianChris 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy?

Sidney Crosby

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy?

Henrik Lundqvist

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy?

Drew Doughty

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy?

Sidney Crosby

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy?

Alex Ovechkin

6. What team had the best offseason?

Tampa Bay

7. What team had the worst offseason?

Vancouver, by a wide margin.

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year?

Tampa Bay, but only because they were closer to the bottom than Chicago.

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment?

Ottawa

10. What was the best offseason move?

Red Wings sign Marian Hossa to a one-year deal.

11. What was the worst offseason move?

Rangers signing a past-his-prime Wade Redden for megabucks.

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year?

Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Chicago, Phoenix

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year?

Philadelphia, Ottawa, Nashville, Calgary

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team?

Crosby, Ovechkin, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Chara, Lundqvist

15. Who will be the division winners?

Pittsburgh, Montreal, Washington, Detroit, Minnesota, Dallas

16. Eastern Conference Final:

Pittsburgh over Montreal

17. Western Conference Final:

Detroit over Minnesota

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner):

Detroit over Pittsburgh

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Henrik Zetterberg

20. Make one bold prediction.

Chicago will win at least one playoff series.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy? Jarome Iginla. I expect him to give a huge boost to Bertuzzi, who I think most(not all) Flames fans are going to welcome.

 

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy? Henrik Lundqvist.

 

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy? Steve Stamkos.

 

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy? Iginla. Somewhere in the neighbourhood of 55-60-115.

 

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy? Alex O will sneak by Jarome here.

 

6. What team had the best offseason? Tampa seems the most obvious answer. But adding Hossa while defending the Cup and not really losing anything? This one's Detroit.

 

7. What team had the worst offseason? Vancouver. Easily.

 

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year? I think Edmonton. They were long eliminated by the time the snow started to melt, but a red-hot finish and the adding of grossly underrated Visnovsky gives them a big edge in the Northwest with Vancouver and Colorado on the way down.

 

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment? Toronto, but it's progress. Most Leaf fans I know are cautiously optimistic. Ottawa seems like it could be an answer, but I think Emery was hands-down the biggest reason for their troubles last season.

 

10. What was the best offseason move? Phoenix's trade for Jokinen. Michael Ryder is close (See answer 20).

 

11. What was the worst offseason move? All things affiliated with Sundin.

 

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year? Tampa, Edmonton, Chicago, Phoenix.

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year? New Jersey, San Jose, Colorado, Nashville.

 

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team? Iginla, Crosby, Ovechkin, Lidstrom, Chara, Lundqvist.

 

15. Who will be the division winners? Montreal, Pittsburgh, Washington, Detroit, Dallas, Minnesota.

 

16. Eastern Conference Final: Edit: What the hell, I'll say Montreal over Boston. I originally said Pittsburgh, but #17 should give you indication as to why I changed it to Boston.

 

17. Western Conference Final: Detroit over Chicago.

 

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner): Montreal over Detroit. Yeah, it's homer time.

 

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Carey Price.

 

20. Make one bold prediction. Michael Ryder and Todd Bertuzzi each finish with more than 60 points.

[Guest דניא&#15]

"Zetterberg Is God" says the Hawks miss the playoffs again. Unless they wind up fielding a team with the injured reserve like they did in January, they'll finish in eighth place, at the very least. You're high. Shut up.

 

Hart Trophy: Lidstrom

Vezina: Lundqvist

Calder: Stamkos

Ross: Ovechkin

Richard: Crosby

Best offseason: Chicago. Added Campbell, Huet, practically unprecedented marketing presence

Worst offseason: Vancouver. That thing ended.

Most improved: Tampa Bay

Biggest disappointment: Dallas

Best offseason move: Hossa

Worst offseason move: I don't know

Who's in: Chicago, St. Louis, Buffalo, Carolina

Who's out: Dallas, Nashville, Ottawa, Boston

All-NHL first team: don't feel like it right now!

Divisions: Anaheim, Calgary, Detroit, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Washington

Eastern Conference Final: Caps beat Pens

Western Conference Final: Wings beat Hawks

Stanley Cup Final (and winner): Caps beat Wings

Conn Smythe: Backstrom

Bold prediction: The record for penalty minutes assessed in a game is broken in a Flyers/Isles brawl.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

"Zetterberg Is God" says the Hawks miss the playoffs again. Unless they wind up fielding a team with the injured reserve like they did in January, they'll finish in eighth place, at the very least. You're high. Shut up.

 

I will not be surprised if the Hawks do make it but I think they will barely miss. Campbell to me is a little overated as his play in the playoffs last year was not all that great, and he now has tremendous expectations on him. Huet had a good post-season but the Habs had more confidence in an unproven Carey Price. Toews and Kane are no doubt rising stars but that means that teams are going to focus on them more and I don't know if Chicago has the depth after them. Byfuglien and Sharp could have had fluke years for all we know. I'm not counting them out at all but the West is tough and those final two spots are going to be a battle.

[Guest דניא&#15]

They do have the depth. There's a wealth of guys who are slated to step up, like Jack Skille, Dave Bolland, a full year of Andrew Ladd, minus dead weight like Rene Bourque and Tuomo Ruutu. Again, this is a better team than last year, and they only missed the cut last year because there were about nine players injured at once, not the least of whom being Jonathan Toews. All winter and offseason, the line was that they're one star defenseman and goaltender from contention. Check and check. No excuses whatsoever for this team to miss again.

 

EDIT: Oh, Nathan Davis and Bryan Bickell have been fairly heralded. Akim Aliu and that Beach kid seem like real wildcards because their character is so shitty, but if someone gets their heads on straight, they're with Burish on a mean 4th line.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

I think it'll come down to Chicago and Calgary for the last spot and Calgary the last few years always finds a way to fluke out and make it so I think it'll be them. Obviously the Hawks are improved (and I'd much rather see them make it than Phoenix or Calgary) but Jokinen's skill and desire to finally make the playoffs is going to help the Coyotes do just that in the seventh spot. The top six (other than Colorado and Edmonton) really shouldn't change all that much from the year before.

[the max 0]

Brian Campbell is only a star defenseman because he's now paid like one. Don't let the fancy spin moves and offensive prowess fool you. P.J. Axelsson turned him around on separate occasions. Campbell can't play defense. Chicago's going to pay him $57,142,856 over the next eight years to contribute on offense and have absolutely no physical presence in the defensive zone.

[hitman82 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy? Ovechkin

 

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy? Nabokov

 

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy? Stamkos

 

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy? Crosby

 

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy? Ovechkin

 

6. What team had the best offseason? Chicago

 

7. What team had the worst offseason? Atlanta

 

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year? Tampa

 

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment? New Jersey

 

10. What was the best offseason move? Jokinen to Phoenix

 

11. What was the worst offseason move? Jeff Finger

 

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year? Edmonton

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year? New Jersey

 

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team? Crosby/Ovechkin/Malkin/Lidstrom/Campbell/Nabokov

 

15. Who will be the division winners? Detroit/Edmonton/San Jose/Montreal/Washington/Philadelphia

 

16. Eastern Conference Final: Philadelphia

 

17. Western Conference Final: San Jose

 

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner): San Jose

 

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Nabokov

 

20. Make one bold prediction. Jason Blake will lead to the Maple Leafs in scoring.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year? Edmonton

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year? New Jersey

 

You're allowed more than one, you know.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Edmonton and New Jersey will switch conferences. I tell you, Gary Bettman's a genius.

[Guest Brady's Torn ACL]

That too, but I also wanted to know how the Hawks had the best offseason and still won't be able to surpass perennial first round assrape recipient, the mighty mighty Nashville Predators. I know they lost Robert Lang for nothing (Toronto's second-rounder, so that should be good down the road), but he's like 38 years old; he's not gonna get a whole hell of a lot better.

[Red Baron 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy? Roberto Luongo

 

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy? Roberto Luongo

 

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy? Steven Stamkos

 

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy? Alexander Ovechkin

 

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy? Alexander Ovechkin

 

6. What team had the best offseason? Chicago

 

7. What team had the worst offseason? Vancouver

 

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year? Tampa Bay

 

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment? Pittsburgh

 

10. What was the best offseason move? Tampa getting Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts from Pittsburgh

 

11. What was the worst offseason move? Steve Bernier and Pavol Demitra to Vancouver

 

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year? Chicago, Tampa

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year? Ottawa, Nashville

 

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team? Ovechkin, Crosby, Savard, Lidstrom, Chara, Luongo

 

15. Who will be the division winners? Montreal, New Jersey, Tampa, Calgary, San Jose, Detroit

 

16. Eastern Conference Final: Montreal vs Boston

 

17. Western Conference Final: Detroit vs Calgary

 

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner): Detroit vs Montreal

 

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Chris Osgood

 

20. Make one bold prediction. Make it number 25 this year for the bleu blanc et rouge

 

[Red Baron 0]

I know its preseason, but 8-3 is still 8-3, especially losing to Boston.

[the max 0]

And I know it's preseason but:

 

Bergeron: 1-3-4

Sobotka: 2-2-4

Sturm: 2-2-4

 

And likely yourrrrr top six for the Boston Bruins on opening night:

 

Lucic-Savard-Ryder

Sturm-Bergeron-Kessel

 

That leaves a clusterfuck of Kobasew, Axelsson, Sobotka, Schaefer, Krejci, Yelle, Thornton, Nokelainen fighting it out for six spots.

[Red Baron 0]

Well the Blues suffered a big loss this season. Erik Johnson is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL

[the max 0]

He tore two ligaments in his knee getting out of a golf cart.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

He tore two ligaments in his knee getting out of a golf cart.

 

I really wish I hadn't learned that before Monkey Man and I played golf both days this weekend. We needlessly tiptoed out of that cart 36 times.

[Guest C*Z*E*C*H]

Sounds like Denis Savard has deemed Jesse Boulerice completely worthless. This disappointed me, as I was really pulling for Boulerice. We need a guy like that. I read that Pascal Pelletier seems promising, Brian Campbell is great on the power play but doesn't show much physicality, and Cam Barker is a bust. Can't win 'em all, I guess.

 

[Fartsauce 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy? Malkin

 

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy? Nabokov who stands on his head for a struggling Sharks team that barely makes the playoffs.

 

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy? Steven Stamkos

 

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy? Crosboy

 

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy? Alexander Ovechkin

 

6. What team had the best offseason? Detroit. They narrowly won the Hossa sweepstakes over my Oilers so gotta go there.

 

7. What team had the worst offseason? Toronto. Yes they are rebuilding but the contact given to Jeff Finger is the reason they go here.

 

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year? Chicago

 

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment? San Jose

 

10. What was the best offseason move? Hossa to Detroit

 

11. What was the worst offseason move? Jeff Finger to Toronto

 

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year? Chicago, Edmonton, Florida

 

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year? Colorado

 

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team? Ovechkin, Crosby, Savard, Lidstrom, Mike Green, Nabokov

 

15. Who will be the division winners? Montreal, New York Rangers, Carolina, Minnesota, Dallas, Detroit

 

16. Eastern Conference Final: New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens

 

17. Western Conference Final: Detroit vs Dallas again

 

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner): Detroit vs New York Rangers. Detroit wins in 6.

 

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Hank Zetterberg.

 

20. Make one bold prediction. Chicago goes on a bit of a tear this year, losing a very close and emotional series to Detroit in 7 games in the 2nd round.

 

 

[Nightwing 0]

1. Who will win the Hart Trophy? Nick Lidstrom. He's going to get at least one before his career ends, and this really feels like his year.

2. Who will win the Vezina Trophy? Henrik Lundqvist. He probably should have won it this year...

3. Who will win the Calder Trophy? Steven Stamkos. Mostly as a result of the Offensive Heaven he's going to be in in Tampa.

4. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy? Alexander Ovechkin, though I think Datsyuk will make a run on him this year with Hossa in the lineup.

5. Who will win the Richard Trophy? Ovechkin again.

6. What team had the best offseason? Chicago Blackhawks. They added crucial pieces and restored faith in their fanbase that they are actually here to win and not just collect money.

7. What team had the worst offseason? Vancouver Canucks. The nose-dive continues.

8. Which team will be the most improved over last year? Chicago Blackhawks. They're a much more complete team than they were before.

9. Which team will be the biggest disappointment? Anaheim Ducks. People talk about Detroit being old, but Anaheim is ossifying quicker and quicker. They beat out Minnesota, who looks like its about to crumble at any second.

10. What was the best offseason move? Hossa to Detroit. There really isn't anything that beats it.

11. What was the worst offseason move? Jeff Finger to Toronto. While others might be simply overpaid, this is just baffling.

12. Who will make the playoffs that didn't last year? Chicago, Edmonton, and my BOLD PREDICTION. The last order in the east will shift a bit, but I think it'll stay the same.

13. Who will not make the playoffs that did last year? Colorado, Nashville, and Minnesota.

14. Who would make your All-NHL first team? Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Sidney Crosby, Nicklas Lidstrom, Zdeno Chara, Roberto Luongo

15. Who will be the division winners? Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadiens

16. Eastern Conference Final: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Canadiens Win, 4-3)

17. Western Conference Final: Detroit Red Wings vs. Dallas Stars (Red Wings Win, 4-2)

18. Stanley Cup Final (and winner): Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens (Red Wings Win, 4-2)

19. Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Pavel Datsyuk. I feel like this is going to be a career year for him.

20. Make one bold prediction. The Columbus Blue Jackets, on the back of Rick Nash, actually manage to make the playoffs. They make it to the second round before being eliminated by the Red Wings.

[Guest C*Z*E*C*H]

I can see Nash--and possibly more importantly Pascal Leclaire--taking the Jackets to a hard-earned 8 seed, making it in on a tiebreaker over I dunno Edmonton or Nashville, but that means they'll get wiped out by Detroit in the first round. Good prediction. I like it. They're the last of the last wave of expansions to make the playoffs, so going by Nashville and Atlanta's respective timetables, they're pretty much on schedule to get in this year. It's weird: the Jackets don't seem like a complete mess, you'd think they'd have found their way in by now.

[Nightwing 0]

I'm predicting Anaheim to be the 8th seed. Their team is just looking less and less appealing. I think that the West is getting a bit top-heavy with a big rift between the tops and the lows, and you might see them as high as 6th (Where I have them in my prediction), depending on where Edmonton lands. But Minnesota is going to implode this year (They've done nothing but lose people), Colorado doesn't have the defense to support their goalies, and Nashville is just a sad case of bad luck.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Good calls on Anaheim and Minnesota. I didn't think of Anaheim as an aging team (My first association of Anaheim is guys like Perry and Getlaf) but once I really looked at the roster, they're getting old....to that end, however, Schnieder's gone to Atlanta, but I didn't see for whom.

 

From what I'm hearing out of Minnesota, (as if they weren't going to be shaky enough offensively losing Rolston and Demitra), Gaborik's fairly unhappy as well. He's arguably the best player in the league when healthy.