Glen Thoughts

Today Troy and I continue our look forward to the rest of the NHL Season. Yesterday we looked at the East, today we will look at the conference that is full of surprises. Early season favourites like Detroit and Vancouver are struggling will basement dwellers Phoenix, Colorado, and Los Angeles are soaring. Will these trends continue? Read on to find out what we think…

CENTRAL DIVISION

Last season this looked to be the top division in the league as they had four playoff teams, and the fifth team was not too far away from sneaking into the eighth place. However as the season has started there are a few teams playing below expectations, and one team who is failing to eclipse theirs as they usually do.

Troy Says:

1. Chicago Blackhawks
This team is laden with young talent and I believe this is the year where they will rise to become the dominant team in the Central division. Take THAT Detroit! This team does have questions in goal though so there are going to have to get that sorted out but fortunately Detroit has similar issues.

2. Detroit Red Wings
This is basically the same team they had year but this season their goaltending has been very disappointing so it goes to show just how much of a difference quality goaltending will make.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets
As Glen has mentioned in one of his recent Team Canada blogs, Rick Nash may be the best scorer with a Canadian Passport but unfortunately I just don’t think he has the necessary support around him to get this team over the hump and into the playoffs.

4. Nashville Predators
This is a team that I don’t get to see much of. They are currently 10th in the conference but they are 8-2-0 in their last ten games so they are definitely hot right now but I think that heat will fade as we move through the season.

5. St. Louis Blues
The Blues appear to have a lot of good young talent but this team needs to get some more experience before they will become an elite team but the good news is that there is some hope.

Glen Says:

1. Detroit Red Wings
I know they are struggling and the Hawks are the sexier pick to win the division right now. However, there is one thing that people are forgetting, they are the Detroit f’n Red Wings. The Central Division has existed for 15 previous seasons and the Red Wings have won the division 12 times, including the past 8 seasons. They are keeping a decent place with the Blackhawks right now with all of their injuries and goaltending troubles. If need be there are a few goalies on the market like Biron, Vokoun, Gigure, and of course Toskala. This is a team that is not above making a deal when they need to.

2. Chicago Blackhawks
Sure I have been critical of their long term future but they still have a damn good team now, bad contracts and all. I see them narrowly loosing out to the Wings in a dog fight for the crown, which should raise the question of playoff seeding like it does every few years.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets
I had them out of the playoffs at the start of the season, but I think that I am reconsidering that now. They have a solid team and Nash has been nothing sort of spectacular. Sure Mason has struggled, but they still have one of the best coaches in the league and should be able to sneak into the playoffs especially as the other teams in their range start to struggle.

4. St. Louis Blues
I had high hopes for them at the start of the year, but they are struggling right now. They were fantastic in the second half of the season last year but I just don’t see that happening again this year.

5. Nashville Predators
It seems like every year this team surpasses expectations and finds a way to be competitive and this season seems to be no expectation. However, the conference is just too tough for them to keep catching lightning in a bottle. I see them being near the basement in April. On the other hand though, they seem to feed on the words of their detractors…

PACIFIC DIVISION

One of the more interesting divisions in the league. Everyone expected the Sharks to be on top, but the rest of the teams have certainly been interesting to watch.

Troy Says:

1. San Jose Sharks
Well it’s the regular season so of course the Sharks will play well. They’ll probably win the President’s Trophy and then lose in the 1st round. During the regular season though Thornton, Marleau and Heatley are going to tear it up huge.

2. Los Angeles Kings
Kopitar has finally begun reaching his potential and the league is starting to take notice and the play of a rejuvenated Ryan Smyth has this team firing on all cylinders so they appear to be for real.

3. Dallas Stars
Turco is one of the best regular season goalies in the league but I just don’t see Dallas getting into the playoffs. The Western Conference is going to be a tight squeeze this year.

4. Anaheim Ducks
Oh how the Mighty have fallen. Haha! Get it? They used to be called the Mighty Ducks! I’m so witty. Only a few years removed from their first Cup the Ducks’ play has been uninspired. They are currently in the bottom of their division but there is some good news as Bobby Ryan looks to be rounding into form finally.

5. Phoenix Coyotes
I fiddled with the idea of putting the Coyotes into the playoffs because how nice of a story that would be but then of course Bettman would take all the credit for it so screw that. The ‘Yotes are playing quite well but I believe they will falter down the stretch and open the door for other teams.

Glen Says:

1. San Jose Sharks
Duh! Next…

2. Dallas Stars
I know people seem to be surprised by this team, but I am not. Turco is playing well, and Morrow is showing just how valuable he is to this team. They were in the Conference Finals when he played and missed the playoffs when he wasn’t. That’s certainly no coincidence. They’ll be playing into the spring.

3. Los Angeles Kings
Move over Chicago and Pittsburgh we have a new darling team! It’s about time that there was some good news in the city of angels. They should be in the playoffs and have potential to be a real darkhorse. I’m not sold on their goaltending just yet though.

4. Phoenix Coyotes
I don’t share my compatriots enthusiasm for them at this stage. They have done very well, and to be honest anything above the basement is a step in the positive direction for this very troubled franchise. I just hope that they turn around by the time they move to Hamilton.

5. Anaheim Ducks
What the hell happened here? Despite the fact that they have arguably the best young line in the NHL, and solid goaltending, they can’t seem to get it done. This is further proof in the power of Chris Pronger. He left St. Louis and they became a joke (while Edmonton went to the finals) he left Edmonton and they haven’t been back to the playoffs since (while Anaheim won the Cup), and now he left Edmonton and the Ducks are a struggling (while Philly is soaring).

NORTHWEST DIVISION

A very, very difficult place to play, yet again. They are home to the feelgood story of the season in Colorado, one of the most consistent franchises in the league in Calgary, and the biggest early season disappointments, in everyone else.

Troy Says:

1. Calgary Flames
Bouwmeester. Hell yeah. He has, and will continue to be a great addition to this team. Kipper has been strong and even though Iginla may not be putting up the points that he can, he still does so many things for this team that doesn’t necessarily show up on the score sheet. Their new head coach Brent Sutter doesn’t take crap so you know the Flames will compete every night which is important because for the one millionth year in a row the Northwest division is once again the toughest division in hockey.

2. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks are once again dealing with injury problems but as long as Luongo doesn’t go down for a long time again this team should make the playoffs with room to spare. It also appears that the Canucks made a great pickup by signing Samuelsson.

3. Colorado Avalanche
Their start has been a huge surprise to most of the hockey world and most pundits seem to believe that they will crash and burn at some point but I’m not so sure. I do believe that they are play above their heads right now but a big reason for their success is goaltending and Anderson is beginning to show that he is for real and if that becomes the case then this team is a real threat.

4. Edmonton Oilers
They say that sometimes the best trades are the one you don’t make so to see how well Penner has been playing this year has been welcome news in the City of Champions. When you include what I thought was one of the best signings in the off season, Khabibulin, I think you can make a case the Edmonton will make some noise. Plus no matter how good or bad they are they’re always knocking on the playoff door.

5. Minnesota Wild
In the off season the Wild got rid of one oft-injured superstar just to get another oft-injured superstar who has yet to really find his way with Minnesota so it appears that it may be a long year for the Wild.

Glen Says:

1. Calgary Flames
My early season prediction to win the Cup is looking good so far. I may have acted a little premature in calling that, but what the hell, I’ll stick with it for now. Iginla is recovering from a slow start and should bring everyone else up to his level soon enough, like he always does (see: Cammalleri, Mike and Huselius, Kristian). Plus Kipper continues to excel, and their defense is starting to gel. Think of how scary this team will be once Dion Phaneuf starts to play as well as we all know he can.

2. Colorado Avalanche
Really, who the hell saw this one coming? Craig Anderson is playing like he wants to take Ryan Miller’s spot as the US Starting goaltender, and he just may. Ryan O’Reilly and Matt Duschene have been having great rookie seasons, and Stastny and Wolski have been leading the offensive charge. Add in a very solid and underrated defense corps and you have a team that really shouldn’t be as surprising as they are. They should cool down as the season rolls on, but we have every reason to expect to see them playing in the spring.

3. Vancouver Canucks
A quick recap of their past few seasons: 2004 won the division, 2006 missed the playoffs, 2007 won the division, 2008 missed the playoffs, 2009 won the division. Any guesses on where they will be in 2010? I said in my preseason preview that they needed to be a good road team as they have a number of road games down the stretch because of the Olympics, sadly they are 4-8 on the road this season.

4. Edmonton Oilers
Dustin Penner is finally proving that he is worth his contract. If only they can get Shawn Horcoff to be worth his. This team always feels like it should be better than it is. I don’t know what they have to do to get there, but this is not working for them.

5. Minnesota Wild
Can you believe that TSN had them ranked higher than Calgary at the start of the year? I almost bought it myself for a while, but then I remembered the Havlat years in Ottawa. Their commitment to offense sound all well and good but just isn’t working right now. A true testament to LeMaire’s ability to get something out of nothing.

So to summarize the predictions:

Troy Says:

1. San Jose Sharks
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Calgary Flames
4. Detroit Red Wings
5. Los Angeles Kings
6. Vancouver Canucks
7. Colorado Avalanche
8. Edmonton Oilers
———————–
9. Columbus Blue Jackets
10. Dallas Stars
11. Nashville Predators
12. Anaheim Ducks
13. Phoenix Coyotes
14. St. Louis Blues
15. Minnesota Wild

Glen Says:

1. San Jose Sharks
2. Detroit Red Wings
3. Calgary Flames
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5. Colorado Avalanche
6. Dallas Stars
7. Los Angeles Kings
8. Columbus Blue Jackets
————————
9. Vancouver Canucks
10. St. Louis Blues
11. Edmonton Oilers
12. Phoenix Coyotes
13. Anaheim Ducks
14. Nashville Predators
15. Minnesota Wild

Check back in a few months when we do a Mid-season Midtacular!! Until then, be sure to check out our Eastern Conference predictions with far more consensus than this one!

Until next time,

G

Tags: Hockey, predictions, Stanley Cup

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 4:06 am and is filed under Hockey and Other Sports, NostroGlenus, Remixes and Collaborations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.