As a Canadian we have to say yes to this question but hear me out. As the picture shows Lidstrom and the Red Wings with the Stanley Cup, I think they are going back to back. Getting Hossa to reject a 9 yr deal with the Oilers to sign with the Cup champs is amazing. I know anything can happen especially with injuries and the Red Wings win the opener to the Leafs of all people but they will repeat (too stacked not to). Not only do they have Lidstrom, Zetterberg and Datysuk but Franzen and Hossa are great too. Yes Osgood is good enough to win another Stanley Cup. It’s over before it starts.
Let’s get to my other predictions:
Up and comers:
Here are the 6 teams to watch for this year…all these teams seem ready to make noise and earn respect in the league.
West - Chicago, Edmonton, and Phoenix.
Chicago and Edmonton in my books are making the playoffs. The young guns on these teams are talented and have a year under their belts. I was going to select Columbus because of Pascal LeClaire but Nash for some reason chokes most years.
Chicago looks like they are going to be great with the additions of B.Campbell and C.Huet this original six team has high hopes and they should. J.Toews and P.Kane are still the offensive studs on this team and will produce more points than last year.
Phoenix is finally doing something. The big news is the arrival of Olli Jokinen helps so much. The one name many people don’t know but will by the end of the season is rookie Kyle Turris. Goaltending will be strong with Ilya Bryzgalov (Anaheim wishes he was still around to back up Giguere or could have traded him to whomever).
Edmonton is a top notch team. They should win the Northwest division. The young guns of Gagne and Cogliano will step it up even more. Adding Visnovsky on the blue line with a healthy Souray will help on nights they need help in the scoring department. Their goaltending is fine and will be solid.
East – Carolina, Buffalo, and Ottawa.
Buffalo is loaded with talent. Their top line of Vanek, D.Roy and Pominville is deadly. And don’t forget about Tim Connolly who played great in the playoffs 2 years ago. This team has 3 good lines and will compete as long as Ryan Miller plays like he can. The Sabres are going to be in the playoffs.
Carolina is a team to take notice off. Led by E.Staal and R.Whitney they will surprise people. I believe Cam Ward will return to his solid play and carry
this team on some nights. Okay I am not sure they will be a lock for the playoffs but in weak Southeast division anything is possible.
What kind of big prediction is Ottawa? I know, it’s not a super reach but they way they ended last year they didn’t deserve to be in the playoffs. I believe when healthy this team has the best line in hockey hands down (Heatley, Spezza, and Alfredsson). Gerber will be great this season because if he isn’t he’s career is over (like Emery) and the city will run him out of town.
Contenders:
East – Montreal, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, and Ottawa.
Montreal is going to go as far as Carry Price will take them.
Philadelphia this team has 3 solid lines and a good goalie and they know how to work and fight to win.
Pittsburgh is not going to slump like many, many Stanley Cup runner-ups.
Washington will be better than last year because Backstrom and Semin will have great years playing with Ovechkin. Theodore is the only question mark for this team.
Ottawa is ready to show up.
West – Detroit, San Jose, Anaheim, Edmonton, and Chicago.
Detroit is the hands down favourite and why wouldn’t they be?
San Jose is stacked and will push Detroit for the President’s trophy.
Anaheim has the experience, the youth and the goaltending to contend again.
Edmonton might be the one that is the least favourite on this list because of Garon and Roloson. If you make the playoffs you never know what can happen.
Chicago might be too young but those youngsters are studs now. Sharp will help and if Havlat is healthy most of the year they got a good shot at being a real contender.
Question Marks:
?Where will Mats Sundin end up? Your guess is as good as mine. I don’t think he’s going to Vancouver (I wish) because if he didn’t sign by now for the money he’s not going to. If Montreal or Ottawa get him that could change things. He’s a consistent 75-80 pt player with bad wing men, imagine if he had good wingers! Will he come back soon, not until near the trading dead line, or stay retired? I don’t think he even knows.
?What Calgary Flames team will show up? Adding Cammalleri and Bertuzzi is definitely better than having Tanguay and Huselius. The guy who no one is talking about that will be a blessing is Rene Bourque. Why this team is a question mark is Kiprusoff. The bottom line is his stats have declined for 2 years maybe he was really great in the cup final run and that was it?
?Will the Canucks make the playoffs? Vancouver fans sure hope so. And management really hopes so because they need to keep Luongo happy and in their uniform to a long term contract. If some of their youth (Raymond, Elder, Hansen, Bernier, Kesler) finally consistently produce then they got a good shot at it.
?What will the LA Kings do? Will they struggle again or will these young kids finally generate the potential they have? Kopitar, Frolov, D.Brown, O’Sullivan and J.Johnson are young and need to step up.
?When will the Blue Jackets stop being BLUE? They got the talent and the goaltending the time is now! Too many ‘what if’s’ for my liking.
?Will the Flyers take the next step to the Cup final? Why can’t they…these guys learned a lot last year and have all the keys to do that but will they?
Hardware winners
Presidents’ Trophy: Hands down it’s Detroit but they will have to earn it because no one will lie down and let them take it.
Hart Trophy winner? Sidney Crosby is going to win it for the 2nd time in 3 years. I know I am not going out on a limb here but he’s the new Gretzky but is Ovechkin the next Lemieux?
Norris Trophy winner? Lidstrom is the best and will continue to prove he is the greatest defenseman of all time. He will win his 7th Norris Trophy.
Vezina Trophy winner? Brodeur should win it but it could be Lundqvist. The ballot will be Luongo, Lundqvist, and Brodeur.
Rookie of the Year? The ballot will consist of Stamkos, Turris and possibly Giroux (Philly if he is able to crack that stacked line-up). I am going with Turris in Phoenix.
The top five in scoring will be:
1. Crosby 121 pts
2. Ovechkin 114 pts
3. Heatley 105 pts
4. Zetterberg 102 pts
5. Ignila 98 pts
Of course I could be wrong but I doubt it.
6 comments:
Umm, no. Vancouver will take the division. Detriot will win the west, but I think a certain steamrolling penguin might pull it off this year.
When is the last time a Stanley Cup finalist came back the next year and won the cup? Never or a long time.
As much as I like Pittsburgh I don't think so.
Good thoughts though.
Watch out for those leafs. They're some kinda something.
I don't think the Leafs will make the playoffs. Sorry.
You have Edmonton and Chicago as contenders, but leave out Dallas, who went to the conference finals last year and have improved since then?
I'm going to assume that's an oversight.....
Looks like these didn't come out so well! :(
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