Eastern Conference Predictions

THE TOP EIGHT

1. Philadelphia Flyers

Last year’s runner-up in the Battle of Pennsylvania looks good to take the conference this year. Marty Biron has established himself as a bona fide number one goalie - even if he does receive some fairly intense heckling from some fans. A talented forward corps includes studs such as Daniel Briere, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. A healthy Simon Gagne and continued solid goaltending from Biron will push the Flyers to the top of the East.

2. Montreal Canadiens

It is the Canadiens 100^th Anniversary and the franchise is keen to cap it off by adding to it its amazing 24 Stanley Cup victories. The Habs brought in Alex Tanguay and lost Michael Ryder, which represents an upgrade. Big questions heading into the season include whether the enigmatic Alex Kovalev can replicate his impressive 07-08 campaign and if 21 year-old sophomore Carey Price can be a consistent starting goalie for a full season.

3. Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin and a decent supporting cast are enough to ensure that the Caps will take what is without a doubt the worst division in hockey – yet paradoxically one that has produced two of the last four Stanley Cup champions. Jose Theodore proved last season that he is just decent enough to drag a slightly above-average team into the playoffs and perhaps even to the second round.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

Sure they lost Marian Hossa to Detroit, and seemingly half of their roster to the Tampa Bay Ex-Pens, but this is still an excellent group of players that are all on the upswing of their careers. Barring injury, Sid the Kid should duke it out with Ovechkin for the Art Ross, while Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and newcomer Miroslav Satan will provide excellent secondary scoring. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pens finish second to the Flyers for points - too bad the NHL's screwy division-seeding arrangement, AKA throwing the Southeast Division a frickin' bone, will deny them the second seed in the conference.

5. New Jersey Devils

Marty Brodeur will be his usual excellent self, and the addition of Brian Rolston will add punch to a forward group that includes some pretty solid offensive players.

6. Buffalo Sabres

I think that Buffalo is due to bounce back. While the Sabres struggled last season to cope with the loss of Chris Drury and Briere, they still possess a great deal of firepower upfront including Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek and Maxim Afinogenov. Ryan Miller is among the game’s best stoppers and the defense is solid if unspectacular. Remember, this is the team that won the President’s Trophy two seasons ago.

7. New York Rangers

A pretty solid offense - albeit sans Jaromir Jagr, who is now plying his trade in the brand new Kontinental Hockey League - combined with a defensive upgrade in Wade Redden and one of the league’s best keepers in Henrik Lundqvist should ensure that the Blueshirts make it back to the playoffs in 2008-09.

8. Boston Bruins

A healthy Patrice Bergeron will help solidify a decent group of forwards, which includes new acquisition/reclamation-project Michael Ryder. Goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask, AKA "the blue chip prospect the Leafs traded for Andrew Raycroft," looks to start in the AHL while Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez will duke it out for the starting job.

BOOKING THEIR TEE TIMES

9. Ottawa Senators

Yes, I am picking Ottawa to miss the playoffs. Sure they have arguably the best and most impressively YouTubed line in hockey, but they lost Wade Redden on the blue line and the tandem of Martin Gerber and Alex Auld between the pipes isn’t scaring anyone. Except maybe Sens fans. On the upside, when the Sens miss the playoffs, there will be no repetition of the most embarrassing pre-game intro in Stanley Cup playoff history.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning

If this was a list of most entertaining teams, the Lightning

would be battling the Penguins and Caps for top spot. Given the Bolts’ patchwork defense and questionable goaltending, they will be relying on a potentially lethal offense to win them games. Fans may need to check that Pittsburgh/Tampa Bay box score twice to realize that it’s not for a Steelers/Buccaneers game - don’t be shocked to see Tampa put up a touchdown on the scoreboard on a few occasions this year. One of many intriguing storylines in the TB soap opera that is the upcoming season involves coach-turned-broadcaster-turned-coach Barry “The Mullet” Melrose. Given the offensive orientation of his squad one can only assume that Melrose will apply the standard mullet-logic: business at the front, party at the back.

11. Carolina Hurricanes

Decent, but not good enough. How will Eric Staal respond to his new mega-contract? If he can recapture his 100-point form of a few years ago then this team might be good enough to scrape into the playoffs. I don’t see that happening.

12. Florida Panthers

Seven years out of the playoffs and counting – sorry Florida, you’re gonna have to keep waiting. The additions of Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton will help solidify the d-line, but the subsequent loss of Olli Jokinen leaves the offence pretty thin beyond the top line. As good as Tomas Vokoun is, you can’t help but wonder how this team would look with Roberto Luongo between the pipes. If Canucks fans want an idea of how their team would be without Luongo, the Panthers probably give a pretty fair indication.

13. New York Islanders

The Islanders should sign Anson Carter and continue to continue the trend of relying on ex-Oilers whose prime was 5-10 years ago for the bulk of the offense. A top line of Mike Comrie, Doug Weight and Bill Guerin doesn’t sound quite as imposing as it would have in 1999 or 2000.

14. Toronto Maple Leafs

A lot of things will need to go right for the Leafs to have a sniff of the playoffs. It’s not impossible, but it’s hard to imagine the Buds cobbling together a respectable season. Fans will have to find a new whipping boy now that Andrew Raycroft and his ’stache have moved on to Colorado.

15. Atlanta Thrashers

Can you name one forward on this team not named Ilya Kovalchuk? How about any of the defencemen? If not, you’re probably in the majority of hockey fans. It will be another long season for Thrashers fans.

Coming soon: Western Conference predictions