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Starting at the bottom, I'll be working my way up the league every weekday to give you bastards something to read at the office.
1. San Jose Sharks 30 points
+ Sharks can outscore everyone and has a good defensive standing too.
- The Sharks are playoff failures until they prove otherwise.
San Jose knows it needs to win a Cup soon, the team's stars are coming towards the end of their prime years. The addition of Heatley makes a star studded offence even more dangerous, and a Heatley/Thornton combination backed up by the offensive power of Patrick Marleau, Devin Setoguchi and Dan Boyle is difficult to top. So the Sharks will likely outscore their opposition, but they won't concede many either. Nabokov is a top goalie, in the regular season he is amongst the best, but in recent years he too has slipped off in the post season. Regardless, San Jose on paper are better than everyone and should have the #1 seed wrapped up with games to play.
wr50l predicts: regular season dominance. But the Sharks still don't go deep in post season play whilst lead by Thornton.
2. Detroit Red Wings 27 points
+ Detroit are winners, from 1st line to front office they know what it takes to achieve dreams.
- Had two consecutive superb years, the odds suggest they will stumble this year.
The Red Wings are the NHL's only active dynasty. They are natural contenders every year but after two successive Stanley Cup Final appearances they will fall off some this year. The Red Wings had no choice but to let Marian Hossa walk away, they will find someone to plug the hole like all great teams do, and Johan Franzen if he stays healthy is a 40 goal scorer this season. However, the Red Wings are a weaker team up front this year than last. Wings defence is led by the never fazed Nik Lidstrom, and he is backed up by very good players. the only "weak spot" (and it is as a weak spot they are well aware of) is in net. Osgood deserves plaudits for his winning legacy, but he is no great goalie.
wr50l predicts: a candidate for an early round playoff exit this year.
3. Vancouver Canucks 26 points
+ One of the few teams who can absorb 50 shots from their opponent and win games.
- Similar team who may end up under achieving again.
Vancouver remains as a very similar team to last year. The Canucks are always tough and defensively sound. If you were to engineer the perfect goalie for this era it would be Roberto Luongo, huge, butterfly style, great speed and amazing reflexes. Vancouver backs up Bobby with ever physical defensive pairings who add little on offence but are reliable in their fundamentals. The x-factor in this group though is Mathieu Schneider. Schneider is a member of the rare power play quarterbacks club and his signing could turn out to be very effective. Vancouver resigned the Sedin twins in the off season. The Sedins are great players and their chemistry is unbelievable, but one has to wonder if Vancouver would've been better off going in a new direction, looking for a fresh spark.
wr50l predicts: safe passage into the 2nd round of the playoffs, but the Canucks will have to shake off their recent history of mediocre play come crunch time.
4. Calgary Flames 26 points
+ Probably the best defence in the league, with a top five goalie.
- Questionable offensive/defensive balance. Minus near 40 goal scorer Michael Cammalleri.
The Flames will base their success on a stout defence. The addition of Jay Bouwmeester to a group already including Phaneuf, Regehr and Sarich gives Calgary a four strong group that all teams envy. Going forward the Flames will lean on Jarome Iginla yet again, and Iginla alone should have a slightly better statistical year. It is also important that Olli Jokinen improves in his first full season in Calgary. Regardless of these two, Cammalleri's 39 goals has not been replaced and the Flames will struggle a lot to win any games in which they do not hold the lead.
wr50l predicts: Kiprusoff is well capable of stealing a game or two as Calgary try to go deep into the playoffs.
5. Chicago Blackhawks 24 points
+ Hawks have more than a puncher's chance against much more experienced teams, they fear no one.
- Kane, Toews and Hossa will be back next year, many other important players might not be.
The current Hawks team have a short window of opportunity. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews' junior contracts are running out and soon these two will be among Chicago's highest paid players. This means that two of the teams three highest paid players will probably not be in Chicago next season - Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet. Campbell is a key cog in the team, Huet on the other hand, may be what's holding them back. Chicago brings skill, youthful enthusiasm and toughness to the ice, but they will need to see much more from their goalie if they are to oust the big four teams on their way to the Cup.
wr50l predicts: marginally worse than the top four on paper, nevertheless Chicago have a fair chance of making a run.
6. Anaheim Ducks 22 points
+ Has a trio of elite young players to build around.
- An entirely different team who may lack the aura of physical domination and veteran attitude which made them so strong for many seasons.
Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan. These three names will be heard time and time again for many years for all the right reasons. These young forwards are the new face of a team which has shed many of it's most reliable veterans; with Chris Pronger, Sammy Pahlsson, Travis Moen, Francois Beauchemin and Rob Niedermayer gone, Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne likely in their last year. The Ducks did add Saku Koivu, Ryan Whitney and Joffrey Lupul in their place.
wr50l predicts: Anaheim are a team with a new identity, but they will remain consistent winners.
7. Edmonton Oilers 21 points
+ No clear weaknesses.
- Good enough to make the playoffs but must prove that they can make a deep run.
The Oilers are a tough team to predict, they have struggled to make a run at the playoffs since their defeat in the Final a few years ago. Edmonton ticks all the boxes. A superstar player; Ales Hemsky. Young talented and hungry players; Andrew Cogliano, Sam Gagner. A strong veteran presence; Ethan Moreau, Fernando Pisani, Steve Staios. A deadly powerplay led by Lubomir Visnovsky and Sheldon Souray on the blueline. And a dependable veteran goaltender; Nikolai Khabibulin. Edmonton has all the pieces in place and should be considered a strong underdog in the playoffs.
wr50l predicts: working hard all season, the Oilers earn an unheralded playoff spot and have a chance of causing an upset in the 1st round.
8. St Louis Blues 21 points
+ St Louis' top players are expected to get better and better.
- Very little done to address the weakness which plagued the Blues in the playoffs.
St Louis is one of several NHL teams with a glut of potential superstars. Oshie, Crombeen, Berglund, Perron, Johnson all project to be future top grade players. Veterans Keith Tkachuk, Andy McDonald, Brad Boyes and the returning Paul Kariya round out a very talented group of forwards. Last season the Blues made the playoffs but looked anemic as their power play collapsed without a puck moving defenceman - this season they will look particularly for Eric Johnson to improve in this area, however they have not improved enough in this area in the short term. The Blues are a good team and with good management will have a long window of opportunity in the coming years, but this season should be looked at as a year of development.
wr50l predicts: playoff berth, but likely to be bounced out early once again.
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9. Columbus Blue Jackets 20 points
+ Columbus has enough cap room to make a huge move at the trade deadline.
- Lacks the power play presence on the back end.
With Rick Nash locked up on a long-term contract, Columbus has guaranteed the face and future of their franchise. Nash brings bulk and skill on a parallel with the league's best and his ability alone is enough to propel Columbus far. Young Russian Nikita Filatov looks likely to play a large role in the BJ's season. Filatov bounced between NHL and AHL last year and at just 19 years of age looks likely to see a more consistent spot on the NHL team - where he will dazzle many. Columbus' biggest fault is their defence, they have a tough, physical low-rent defence but lack either a defensive or offensive supremo back there.
wr50l predicts: A couple of points short of the playoffs.
10. Minnesota Wild 19 points
+ Tough veteran team, no longer cast under the constant shadow of Gaborik's glass body.
- Questionable scoring power.
The Wild have moved on from the oft injured Marian Gaborik and are looking at Martin Havlat to be their top goal scorer. Whilst the team's most mercurial player has departed the same defensive reliability still exists. The Wild certainly lacks scoring power and will struggle but their defensive abilities will keep them on contention. Their forwards have built a reputattion as great two way players, their defencemen are by no means pushovers and Niklas Backstrom is an elite goaltender, all together the Wild can make a great forward's night a very forgettable one.
wr50l predicts: defensive wins and plenty of overtime games will keep the Wild in contention to the final week or two, but they will fall behind in the last stretch.
11. Dallas Stars 19 points
+ Backbone of veterans who've been there and done that.
- Injury concerns.
The Stars have a experienced players throughout their roster and know from experience that their players can produce. There is no finer example of this than Brad Richards, who has scored 62 points in 63 playoff games. But Brad Richards' injury history is also a large concern. Earning $7.8m per year, the Stars need their top scoring centre to play regularly and well. In defence Dallas have tough reliable players and should have no concerns about the play of Marty Turco.
wr50l predicts: right in the playoff mix, Dallas will not miss the playoffs by any more than half a dozen points.
12. Los Angeles Kings 18 points
+ Young, stacked with potential, with an ambitious front office.
- No reliable goal tender. Concerns over whether the Kings will ever take that elusive next step.
The Kings undoubtedly have young skillful players with young defencemen Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson, power forward and captain Dustin Brown, faceoff expert Jarrett Stoll and an inconsistent yet dangerous Alexander Frolov all in addition to the true superstar Anze Kopitar. The trade for veteran Ryan Smyth and signing of Rob Scuderi adds a little more grit and experience to this young core. Scuderi in particular along with Sean O'Donnell must be expected to remain composed throughout the season as the young Doughty and Jack Johnson attempt to find their defensive bearings in the world's fastest hockey league. Los Angeles' biggest concern, far worse than youthful inexperience is their lack of a #1 goalie or even a good pairing that can be replied upon throughout the season.
wr50l predicts: this young team takes one step closer to the playoffs but just misses out.
13. Nashville Predators 18 points
14. Phoenix Coyotes 12 points
15. Colorado Avalanche 7 points
Western Conference
1. San Jose Sharks 30 points+ Sharks can outscore everyone and has a good defensive standing too.
- The Sharks are playoff failures until they prove otherwise.
San Jose knows it needs to win a Cup soon, the team's stars are coming towards the end of their prime years. The addition of Heatley makes a star studded offence even more dangerous, and a Heatley/Thornton combination backed up by the offensive power of Patrick Marleau, Devin Setoguchi and Dan Boyle is difficult to top. So the Sharks will likely outscore their opposition, but they won't concede many either. Nabokov is a top goalie, in the regular season he is amongst the best, but in recent years he too has slipped off in the post season. Regardless, San Jose on paper are better than everyone and should have the #1 seed wrapped up with games to play.
wr50l predicts: regular season dominance. But the Sharks still don't go deep in post season play whilst lead by Thornton.
2. Detroit Red Wings 27 points+ Detroit are winners, from 1st line to front office they know what it takes to achieve dreams.
- Had two consecutive superb years, the odds suggest they will stumble this year.
The Red Wings are the NHL's only active dynasty. They are natural contenders every year but after two successive Stanley Cup Final appearances they will fall off some this year. The Red Wings had no choice but to let Marian Hossa walk away, they will find someone to plug the hole like all great teams do, and Johan Franzen if he stays healthy is a 40 goal scorer this season. However, the Red Wings are a weaker team up front this year than last. Wings defence is led by the never fazed Nik Lidstrom, and he is backed up by very good players. the only "weak spot" (and it is as a weak spot they are well aware of) is in net. Osgood deserves plaudits for his winning legacy, but he is no great goalie.
wr50l predicts: a candidate for an early round playoff exit this year.
3. Vancouver Canucks 26 points+ One of the few teams who can absorb 50 shots from their opponent and win games.
- Similar team who may end up under achieving again.
Vancouver remains as a very similar team to last year. The Canucks are always tough and defensively sound. If you were to engineer the perfect goalie for this era it would be Roberto Luongo, huge, butterfly style, great speed and amazing reflexes. Vancouver backs up Bobby with ever physical defensive pairings who add little on offence but are reliable in their fundamentals. The x-factor in this group though is Mathieu Schneider. Schneider is a member of the rare power play quarterbacks club and his signing could turn out to be very effective. Vancouver resigned the Sedin twins in the off season. The Sedins are great players and their chemistry is unbelievable, but one has to wonder if Vancouver would've been better off going in a new direction, looking for a fresh spark.
wr50l predicts: safe passage into the 2nd round of the playoffs, but the Canucks will have to shake off their recent history of mediocre play come crunch time.
4. Calgary Flames 26 points+ Probably the best defence in the league, with a top five goalie.
- Questionable offensive/defensive balance. Minus near 40 goal scorer Michael Cammalleri.
The Flames will base their success on a stout defence. The addition of Jay Bouwmeester to a group already including Phaneuf, Regehr and Sarich gives Calgary a four strong group that all teams envy. Going forward the Flames will lean on Jarome Iginla yet again, and Iginla alone should have a slightly better statistical year. It is also important that Olli Jokinen improves in his first full season in Calgary. Regardless of these two, Cammalleri's 39 goals has not been replaced and the Flames will struggle a lot to win any games in which they do not hold the lead.
wr50l predicts: Kiprusoff is well capable of stealing a game or two as Calgary try to go deep into the playoffs.
5. Chicago Blackhawks 24 points+ Hawks have more than a puncher's chance against much more experienced teams, they fear no one.
- Kane, Toews and Hossa will be back next year, many other important players might not be.
The current Hawks team have a short window of opportunity. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews' junior contracts are running out and soon these two will be among Chicago's highest paid players. This means that two of the teams three highest paid players will probably not be in Chicago next season - Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet. Campbell is a key cog in the team, Huet on the other hand, may be what's holding them back. Chicago brings skill, youthful enthusiasm and toughness to the ice, but they will need to see much more from their goalie if they are to oust the big four teams on their way to the Cup.
wr50l predicts: marginally worse than the top four on paper, nevertheless Chicago have a fair chance of making a run.
6. Anaheim Ducks 22 points+ Has a trio of elite young players to build around.
- An entirely different team who may lack the aura of physical domination and veteran attitude which made them so strong for many seasons.
Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan. These three names will be heard time and time again for many years for all the right reasons. These young forwards are the new face of a team which has shed many of it's most reliable veterans; with Chris Pronger, Sammy Pahlsson, Travis Moen, Francois Beauchemin and Rob Niedermayer gone, Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne likely in their last year. The Ducks did add Saku Koivu, Ryan Whitney and Joffrey Lupul in their place.
wr50l predicts: Anaheim are a team with a new identity, but they will remain consistent winners.
7. Edmonton Oilers 21 points+ No clear weaknesses.
- Good enough to make the playoffs but must prove that they can make a deep run.
The Oilers are a tough team to predict, they have struggled to make a run at the playoffs since their defeat in the Final a few years ago. Edmonton ticks all the boxes. A superstar player; Ales Hemsky. Young talented and hungry players; Andrew Cogliano, Sam Gagner. A strong veteran presence; Ethan Moreau, Fernando Pisani, Steve Staios. A deadly powerplay led by Lubomir Visnovsky and Sheldon Souray on the blueline. And a dependable veteran goaltender; Nikolai Khabibulin. Edmonton has all the pieces in place and should be considered a strong underdog in the playoffs.
wr50l predicts: working hard all season, the Oilers earn an unheralded playoff spot and have a chance of causing an upset in the 1st round.
8. St Louis Blues 21 points+ St Louis' top players are expected to get better and better.
- Very little done to address the weakness which plagued the Blues in the playoffs.
St Louis is one of several NHL teams with a glut of potential superstars. Oshie, Crombeen, Berglund, Perron, Johnson all project to be future top grade players. Veterans Keith Tkachuk, Andy McDonald, Brad Boyes and the returning Paul Kariya round out a very talented group of forwards. Last season the Blues made the playoffs but looked anemic as their power play collapsed without a puck moving defenceman - this season they will look particularly for Eric Johnson to improve in this area, however they have not improved enough in this area in the short term. The Blues are a good team and with good management will have a long window of opportunity in the coming years, but this season should be looked at as a year of development.
wr50l predicts: playoff berth, but likely to be bounced out early once again.
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9. Columbus Blue Jackets 20 points+ Columbus has enough cap room to make a huge move at the trade deadline.
- Lacks the power play presence on the back end.
With Rick Nash locked up on a long-term contract, Columbus has guaranteed the face and future of their franchise. Nash brings bulk and skill on a parallel with the league's best and his ability alone is enough to propel Columbus far. Young Russian Nikita Filatov looks likely to play a large role in the BJ's season. Filatov bounced between NHL and AHL last year and at just 19 years of age looks likely to see a more consistent spot on the NHL team - where he will dazzle many. Columbus' biggest fault is their defence, they have a tough, physical low-rent defence but lack either a defensive or offensive supremo back there.
wr50l predicts: A couple of points short of the playoffs.
10. Minnesota Wild 19 points+ Tough veteran team, no longer cast under the constant shadow of Gaborik's glass body.
- Questionable scoring power.
The Wild have moved on from the oft injured Marian Gaborik and are looking at Martin Havlat to be their top goal scorer. Whilst the team's most mercurial player has departed the same defensive reliability still exists. The Wild certainly lacks scoring power and will struggle but their defensive abilities will keep them on contention. Their forwards have built a reputattion as great two way players, their defencemen are by no means pushovers and Niklas Backstrom is an elite goaltender, all together the Wild can make a great forward's night a very forgettable one.
wr50l predicts: defensive wins and plenty of overtime games will keep the Wild in contention to the final week or two, but they will fall behind in the last stretch.
11. Dallas Stars 19 points+ Backbone of veterans who've been there and done that.
- Injury concerns.
The Stars have a experienced players throughout their roster and know from experience that their players can produce. There is no finer example of this than Brad Richards, who has scored 62 points in 63 playoff games. But Brad Richards' injury history is also a large concern. Earning $7.8m per year, the Stars need their top scoring centre to play regularly and well. In defence Dallas have tough reliable players and should have no concerns about the play of Marty Turco.
wr50l predicts: right in the playoff mix, Dallas will not miss the playoffs by any more than half a dozen points.
12. Los Angeles Kings 18 points+ Young, stacked with potential, with an ambitious front office.
- No reliable goal tender. Concerns over whether the Kings will ever take that elusive next step.
The Kings undoubtedly have young skillful players with young defencemen Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson, power forward and captain Dustin Brown, faceoff expert Jarrett Stoll and an inconsistent yet dangerous Alexander Frolov all in addition to the true superstar Anze Kopitar. The trade for veteran Ryan Smyth and signing of Rob Scuderi adds a little more grit and experience to this young core. Scuderi in particular along with Sean O'Donnell must be expected to remain composed throughout the season as the young Doughty and Jack Johnson attempt to find their defensive bearings in the world's fastest hockey league. Los Angeles' biggest concern, far worse than youthful inexperience is their lack of a #1 goalie or even a good pairing that can be replied upon throughout the season.
wr50l predicts: this young team takes one step closer to the playoffs but just misses out.
13. Nashville Predators 18 points
+ Tough, reliable veteran team that won't disappear in a playoff push.
- Regular injury problems with their star players.
Nashville undoubtedly has the benefit of experience spread throughout their forward group. Jason Arnott, Steve Sullivan and Martin Erat, three of the top five paid forwards on the this team, players whom Nashville consider their top scorers, are far too often injured. The trio have played less than 72 games in 24 of their combined 39 seasons. Nashville will almost inevitably find themselves searching for scoring from their non-star players for a significant part of the season. Working in Nashville's favour however is an incredibly physical defence led by Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Dan Hamhuis which provides a very solid back end to protect their respectable goaltending group.
wr50l predicts: after five seasons of consecutive playoff hockey prior to last season, the Predators will fight for a post season spot but fall short for a second consecutive year.
- Regular injury problems with their star players.
Nashville undoubtedly has the benefit of experience spread throughout their forward group. Jason Arnott, Steve Sullivan and Martin Erat, three of the top five paid forwards on the this team, players whom Nashville consider their top scorers, are far too often injured. The trio have played less than 72 games in 24 of their combined 39 seasons. Nashville will almost inevitably find themselves searching for scoring from their non-star players for a significant part of the season. Working in Nashville's favour however is an incredibly physical defence led by Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Dan Hamhuis which provides a very solid back end to protect their respectable goaltending group.
wr50l predicts: after five seasons of consecutive playoff hockey prior to last season, the Predators will fight for a post season spot but fall short for a second consecutive year.
14. Phoenix Coyotes 12 points
+ Bryzgalov, Doan, Jovanovski.
- Not a deep enough talent pool and not enough money to improve this.
Phoenix has a good goalie, a reasonable defence and a great captain. But they lack the top level players to make an impact on the league. The Coyotes seem to be a team which lacks ambition and even the Great One cannot help this team.
wr50l predicts: going nowhere, bottom of the Pacific. A dead team in a dead city that desperately needs a fresh start.
- Not a deep enough talent pool and not enough money to improve this.
Phoenix has a good goalie, a reasonable defence and a great captain. But they lack the top level players to make an impact on the league. The Coyotes seem to be a team which lacks ambition and even the Great One cannot help this team.
wr50l predicts: going nowhere, bottom of the Pacific. A dead team in a dead city that desperately needs a fresh start.
15. Colorado Avalanche 7 points
+ A few veterans such as Milan Hejduk who they may be able to trade to a contending team for some draft picks come deadline time.
- Colorado totally lacks star power.
The Avs are the worst team in the league and should consider themselves to be in complete rebuild mode. Any hopes of the playoffs should be dashed with the quickness as they realise they are inferior to most teams in most areas. Despite adding goalie Craig Anderson from Florida, they are still pretty mundane on the back end. On the plus side, Avs fans should get ample opportunity to see Matt Duchene as there is really no reason to hold him back.
wr50l predicts: worst team in the NHL by a margin.
- Colorado totally lacks star power.
The Avs are the worst team in the league and should consider themselves to be in complete rebuild mode. Any hopes of the playoffs should be dashed with the quickness as they realise they are inferior to most teams in most areas. Despite adding goalie Craig Anderson from Florida, they are still pretty mundane on the back end. On the plus side, Avs fans should get ample opportunity to see Matt Duchene as there is really no reason to hold him back.
wr50l predicts: worst team in the NHL by a margin.
1. Boston Bruins 28 points
2. Pittsburgh Penguins 27 points
3. Philadelphia Flyers 27 points
4. Washington Capitals 26 points
5. New Jersey Devils 25 points
6. Carolina Hurricanes 24 points
7. Montreal Canadiens 20 points
8. New York Rangers 19 points
9. Buffalo Sabres 18 points
10. Ottawa Senators 18 points
11. Toronto Maple Leafs 17 points
12. Tampa Bay Lightning 16 points
13. Florida Panthers 13 points
14. Atlanta Thrashers 12 points
15. New York Islanders 8 points
at the Avs free fall.
at the canadian homers
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