Western Conference Predictions

THE TOP EIGHT

1. Detroit Red Wings
Take the Stanley Cup winners, add one of the most gifted offensive players in the league while subtracting only minor parts from the roster and you get what sounds like a recipe for a successful championship defence. The Red Wings franchise was the class of the NHL last season, dominating the league en route to its fourth Cup in 11 seasons. A virtually intact roster, combined with the addition of former Pittsburgh Penguin and Cup Finals nemesis Marian Hossa, positions the Wings to be the first repeat champions since, well, the Red Wings turned the trick in 1997 and 1998.

2. Dallas Stars
Dallas could very well give Detroit a run for its money in the West. The addition of Sean Avery adds some sandpaper (and style) to the team, while Fabian Brunnstrom enters the season as the NHL’s International Man of Mystery. The Stars are so deep at centre that The Hockey News places future Hall-of-Famer Mike Modano as third on the depth chart in its yearbook.

3. Calgary Flames
No prediction pains me more than this one, but Calgary does appear to be the best team in the Northwest Division. Excellent goaltending and defence are complimented by what should be a decent offence. Jarome Iginla is obviously one of the premier players in the league, while newcomer Mike Cammalleri should provide solid secondary scoring. The Flames are rolling the dice on Todd Bertuzzi, and with the reunion of Big Bert and Mike Keenan the Flames have the potential to be the biggest circus in the NHL.

4. San Jose Sharks
If there was a team award for Biggest Tease, the Sharks would have easily taken it the past few seasons. The roster is a good blend of quality veterans and youth, finesse and sandpaper and offensive and defensive skill. Yet the Sharks are perennial postseason underachievers and will continue to be viewed as such until they at least reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

5. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks will be offensively challenged, although it should help that Teemu Selanne has “made the team” after initially reporting to camp on a tryout contract (sneaky, sneaky Brian Burke!). Obviously the Ducks will be just fine on the backline, thanks to Chris SimonPronger and Grizzly Adams, and in the crease with J.S. Giguere holding down the fort.

6. Chicago Blackhawks
Newsflash: The Hawks are relevant again in Chicago! With season tickets swelling to record levels the pressure is suddenly on the young Blackhawks to meet the expectations of the Windy City faithful. With a youthful core of stars such as Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith, a defence enhanced by the signing of Brian Campbell and the luxury of starting either Christobel Huet or Nikolai Khabibulin between the pipes each night, the Blackhawks should live up to the hype.

7. Vancouver Canucks
Yeah, that's right. I’m picking the Canucks to make the playoffs, going against the conventional wisdom of 99.9% of hockey experts. But screw it, I’m an optimist. The Sedins will each hit 85 points, Steve Bernier will be the next Anson Carter (sans dreadlocks and plus an NHL-contract), Roberto Luongo will finally capture his first Vezina Trophy and a healthy defence will cut the team’s goals against considerably. Yes, if all those things happen the Canucks will finish in 7th in the West.

8. Phoenix Coyotes
The combination of a solid group of youngsters, the addition of playoff-starved Olli Jokinen and the continuing improvement of Wayne Gretzky the Coach will push the Coyotes into the playoffs, where they will continue their proud tradition of postseason futility.

BOOKING THEIR TEE TIMES

9. Columbus Blue Jackets
How long can the playoff drought last? One more year at least. The Blue Jackets should be improved this year, with the addition of skilled forwards R.J. Umberger (remember him Canucks fans?), Kristian Huselius and Fred Penner Raffi Torres. But Columbus fans will have to wait to enjoy their first taste of playoff hockey. Hopefully there are still a few left by then.

10. Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton is a very sexy pick to make the playoffs and challenge for the Northwest Division crown. I don’t buy it. I’m not sold on either Mathieu Garon or Dwayne Roloson as the goalie to lead a team to glory, and I think people are expecting too much from the youth of this club. Remember, the Oilers’ record last year is as good as it is because they made an ultimately futile late season run and were good in the shootout. I know I’m in the minority, but I remain skeptical about this team.

11. Colorado Avalanche
As a Canucks fan I revel in Avalanche misery of the non-Todd-Bertuzzi-inflicted variety. As an NHL fan, however, I can’t help but feel a little saddened at the state of the Avs. Denver has been one of the best hockey markets in the league since they reacquired a franchise in 1995 (let’s ignore the fact that this came at the expense of the Nordiques, which also makes me sad) but the team struggled to fill the Pepsi Center last season and looks to have a rough 08-09 season. While the forward corps remains strong, the defence and goaltending appear so weak that the Avs could be the West’s version of the Tampa Bay Lightning – exciting, offensive and defensively porous.

12. Minnesota Wild
I’m questioning myself for this ranking, because any Jacques Lemaire-coached team always has the potential to be successful. That being said, I feel like the Wild are in for a fall. Call it a hunch. Also, I hate the Wild – though not as much as I hate the Flames and the Avalanche.

13. Nashville Predators
The NHL’s version of the Ottoman Empire (they’re still standing, but the vultures are circling) will stumble through another semi-productive season while icing a mediocre squad. Preds fans will console themselves by watching KHL highlights on YouTube and long for the good ol’ days of Radulovian offensive exploits.
14. St. Louis Blues
Remember when Paul Kariya was one of the league’s best players? I do, but barely. Late-90s superstars Kariya and Keith Tkachuk lead the offence along with Andy MacDonald and Brad Boyes, but they don’t have a great deal of support. The news got worse for the Blues when stud prospect Erik Johnson fought a golf cart and lost. Thus, the biggest preseason story began where the Blues season will end in April – on the golf course.

15. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings will be good again – one day. There is a great deal of hope for the future with young talent such as Anze Kopitar, Patrick O’Sullivan (if he ever signs), Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty. LA is a year or two from being the next Chicago Blackhawks.