That time of year is finally here once again. Yes the 2011-12 NHL season is ready to get underway at the end of this week. And here and now on this very sports blog we will take a look division by division in the NHL and get you ready for the new season. We kick things off with the Western Conference and the Central Division.
First with the central are the winners and losers in the offseason. Winners so far are the Blues, for signing Arrnott and Langenbruner, the Predators signed Nick Bergfors from florida, and Cheecho siging with the Blues. Other than that it was all resignings in the division. Looking at this Division as it stands right now I can see it going to either the Wings Hawks or Predators, all three of whom will make the playoffs. Sorry but for St. Louis and Columbus I think there are still too many holes to compete in this division. The Blues are just too weak on offense and the Jackets don't have enough offensive support for Rick Nash. Division standings look like this:
1. Detroit*
2. Chicago*
3. Nashville*
4. St. Louis
5. Columbus
Now we move on to the Northwest Division. The Canucks were the only team from the division to make the post season and went all the way to the cup finals before losing to Boston. They did enough to recharge their lineup and will be back in the playoffs. The Oilers, who were the worst team in the NHL are in rebulding mode but looks like they have something solid in place in Oil country but sadly it won't be enough for a playoff birth as they will be in last again. Colorado is another club in rebuild but I will give credit where it's due for solidifing their goaltending picking up JS Gigure. But it won't be enought the Avs will be near the bottom again. The Flame were quite in the offseason and will make noise but not enough for the playoffs. The Minnesota Wild have made a few big moves this offseason in picking up Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi will add much needed scoring punch. The only question mark I still have with the Wild is in net but I think they have enough to make the playoffs this season. Here is how I see the division:
1. Vancouver*
2. Minnesota*
3. Calgary
4. Colorado
5. Edmonton
Finally in the West we look at the Pacific and start with the Dallas Stars. Dallas was quiet in the offseason again but look like they will try and make some noise in the division. Goaltending is a bit of a question with Raycroft, who hasn't been the same since his calder trophy winning season and Lehtonen has been so so the past few years. But being this is one of the toughest divisions in hockey Dallas has a fight on its hands. next is the Los Angeles Kings who like the Stars were quiet this offseason. LA Made the playoffs for the 2nd straight year and were bounced in the 1st round. With Dustin Brown leading the offensive charge the Kings will be in good contention for the playoffs but I don't think have enough. Now on to the Phoenix Coyotes a team who has surprised a lot of people in the NHL by making the playoffs the past few seasons. Not much has changed for the Coyotes since last year except the addition of Raffi Torres so the Coyotes will once again play in the playoffs. Now for the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks saw a few changes to their club since last season but are still loaded enough to not only make the playoffs but be a serious threat for the division title. Now for last years winners of this division the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks will once again walk away with a division crown with the man reason being no player movement as the Canucks were quiet in the offseason and kept the core in tact for another strong playoff run. Here is how I see the division:
1. Vancouver
2. Anaheim
3. Phoenix
4. Los Angles
5. Dallas
Now that the West is taken care of lets move over to the East and start with the southeast division and a totally revamped Florida Panthers. The Panthers needed to do something big this offseason for 2 reasons 1) they were the worst team in the East last year and 2) they needed to reach the Salary Cap floor. So what do they do? They go sign a whole host of new players including: Sean Bergenheim, Brian Campbel, Marcel Goc, Kris Versteeg and Scottie Upshall just to name a few. Now on paper the panthers look like a very solid hockey club who is playoff contenders but it depends on if it translates well to the ice. i say if not making the playoffs it will be damn close for the Panthers. Now on to the Winnipeg Jets who just relocated from Atlanta as the Thrashers. The Jets didi make some noise picking up Blake Wheeler from Boston but that's about it. The Jets sad to say it I think will miss the playoffs on the fact that they have talent yes but not enough to REALLY contend in the east. Next up is the Carolina Hurricanes who will be very strong contenders this year for the playoffs. A big reason will be Calder Trophy winner Jeff Skinner. Skinner had a monster year last year coming out of nowhere and will have another big year this year helping the Canes Make the playoffs. Next is the Tampa Bay Lightning another club bound for the playoffs. Last Year the Bolts came within a game of playing for the cup. This summer they sured up the blue line with Bruno Gervis and Eric Brewer. They still have St. Louis Stamkos and Lecavelier as their three biggest guns and there is no stopping this team. Last is the division winners the Washington Capitals. The biggest problem here is the Caps getting it done in the playoffs as they really are the Sharks of the East. Now Washington did bolster the blueline with Roman Hamrlik joining the club, which will be a big help. And Yes the Caps will make the playoffs. Here is how I see this division going this year:
1. Tampa Bay*
2. Washington*
3. Carolina*
4. Florida
5. Winnipeg
Now for the Northeast Division and the division winner from last year and also Stanley Cup Champions is the Boston Bruins. Boston is the defending champs and will is a lock for the post season the reason being there were almost no changes to the lineup save a few minor moves. Next is the Montreal Canadiens who had a good run in the playoffs last year before falling to Boston. The Habs added some much needed scoring punch with the signing of Erik Cole their biggest pickup. The Habs will be a playoff team of course but will they go far is the big question. Next up is the Buffalo Sabres who were huge players in the offseason with the signings of Christian Ehrhoff, Ville Leino, and Robyn Regehr will bring back some much needed stability and spark to the club. Plus getting Derek Roy back and healthy will be a big key. Buffalo goes deep in the playoffs. Now on to the Toronto Maple Leafs who sad to say will not be making the playoffs this year. Yes they have solid goaltending with James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson and of course team captain Dion Phaneuf but its not enough. Finally we have the Ottawa Senators who much like the Leafs have a lot of holes and will miss the playoffs. Here is how the division will look:
1. Boston*
2. Buffalo*
3. Montreal*
4. Toronto
5. Ottawa
Last we look at the Atlantic Division and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens were quite this offseason making no noise in free agency. They will get back Geno Malkin to start the year but will still be without the services of Sidney Crosby who is on injured reserve with concussion problems steming from the injury suffered in January. As good as the Pens are Crosby really carries this team and without Sid in the lineup for any length of time the team struggles and will actually miss the playoffs. Now for the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers made big noise this summer trading Jeff Carter and Mike Richards in separate deals and signing both Jaromir Jagr and Ilya Bryzgalov. Signing Bryzgalov was huge because it finally gives the Flyers a #1 goalie. But signing Jagr is a huge risk since he is 39 and hasn't played in the NHL in a few years. The Flyers are good enough though to still make the playoffs. Now for the New York Rangers who had noise all over the place this year. The team saw Chris Drury retire, cut Sean Avery and gave a huge contract to Brad Richards. Throw those elements in with what the Rangers already have I can see them making the post season. Now for the New Jersey Devils who just named Zach Parise team captain. As far as signings go they did nothing this year for new coach Peter DeBoris. Devils make it fun but I have them out but not by much. Finally the New York Islanders. I will go into a full Islanders preview later this week but for here I see them missing the playoffs. Here is how I see the Atlantic:
1. Flyers*
2. Rangers*
3 Devils
4. Islanders
5. Penguins
(* means playoff team)
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