Posts: 21362
-
Karma: 5,142
Reposted from the hockey cult, my current predictions for this season:
For all the teams that matter... that is, the ones I think will ultimately make the postseason. Here it is, subject to change owing to trades or signings.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
----------
NORTHEAST DIVISION
-----
BOSTON BRUINS
-----
Samsonov Thornton Murray
Axelsson Zhamnov Fitzgerald
Isbister Bergeron McEachern
Hilbert Scatchard Orr
Leetch Gill
Boynton Girard
Slegr Stuart
Raycroft
Toivonen
Up front they're a powerhouse... that top line is one of the best in the league, and the depth at center is ridiculous. But the defense is old and slow for the most part, and the goaltending is suspect at best. They might take the division and place 3rd... but I doubt it. Bet on 5th.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
-----
Ryder Koivu Kovalev
Hossa Ribeiro Zednik
Begin Bonk Bulis
4th line people.
Markov Souray
Rivet Dandenault
Komisarek Bouillon
Theodore
Huet
You know this is going to be one hell of speedy team. If Ribeiro keeps on the path he's been on, he'll be amazing this year. Theodore should be able to pick up the form he's capable of, I think, and overall this team hasn't been disrupted so they're a pretty solid unit. I think they can make 7th in the east despite not having as much depth as they might like.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
-----
Tucker Sundin O'Neill
Antropov Allison Ponikarovsky
Kilger Lindros Domi
plus line 4 which stajan should be on.
Kaberle Berg
McCabe Coliacovo
Khavanov Pilar
Belfour
Aubin
That's really pretty weak... and their defense, though it's deep, doesn't make up for it simply because they don't have a really standout pair. Neither does their goaltending. I'd bet on a 6th place finish in the conference.
OTTAWA SENATORS
-----
You capital city kids can do this better than me.
Havlat Heatley Alfredsson
Schaefer Spezza Vermette
Varada Fisher Neil
... Somebody.
Chara Redden
Phillips Pohtier
Volchenkov ... and I'm out of D-men.
Your website sucks for rosters. It's ridiculous. Give me a better one, guys. That said, Ottawa is scarily good with Heatley, and their PP will be one of the best in the east if not the league. They take the division, more than likely. I'll put them 2nd in the east.
ATLANTIC DIVISION
-----
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
-----
Elias Gomez Langenbrunner
Friesen Kozlov Mogilny
Pandolfo Madden Brylin
Oliwa Rasmussen Bicek
Stevens White
McGillis Rafalski
Martin Malakhov
Brodeur
... er, backup doesn't even matter.
The thing about the Devils is, you know they'll be good defensively. With Brodeur in nets they won't let many in, and even in the new, faster NHL Stevens is a menacing presence. With Mcgillis and Malakhov, they can put 3 solid though not outstanding pairings out. But what's really impressive is Their depth up front... those top 2 lines are menacing; when Gomez is going they'll put a lot of pucks in the net. The 2nd line would be a good FIRST line. With madden they have maybe the best defensive 3rd line in the east. Unless Philly does something impressive, the Devils are the eastern conference's #1 team this year on Brodeur's shoulders.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
-----
Palffy Lemieux Morozov
Leclair Crosby Recchi
Fata Kraft Koltsov
Pirjeta Roy Malone
Gonchar Tarnstrom
Jackman Melichar
Poapst Orpik
Thibault
Fleury
Biggest. Offseason. Turnaround. Ever. And don't get the wrong idea when they get off to a slow start... they need to get things sorted out. But those top 2 lines are perfectly suited to the new NHL rules. Will depth be a problem, especially on defense? Yes. And if Lemieux doesn't stay healthy their chances of making the playoffs are pretty much dead. But if this team plays a run and gun style they should put a lot of points up, and they're very strong in goal. I'm making this a dark horse pick for 8th in the east.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
-----
Gagne Forsberg Primeau
Knuble Handzus Kapanen
Brashear Richards Radivojavic
Turner Stevenson and someone.
Hatcher Therien
Johnsson Desjardins
Rathje Pitkanen
Seidenberg
Esche
Niittymmak i
This lineup of defense is ridiculous, and the first line is frightening. With Forsberg the flyers look like a powerhouse, they have all the speed they need throughout the team and they're still HUGE size-wise. But their goaltending doesn't stack up to New Jersey's and as a result I don't think they can take the division. I'd put them solidly in 4th.
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
-----
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
-----
Modin Richards St. Louis
Fedotenko Lecavalier Afanasenkov
Dingman Prospal Taylor
Andreychuk Cibak DiMaio
Kubina Boyle
Sydor Pratt
Sarich... out of D men.
Burke
Grahame
The top team in the east last year won't repeat, but they will take the southeast... not that that's saying much. They have a great top line whether Lecavalier is on it or not, and a top flite power play. Even after losing The Bulin wall, they have a solid goaltending tandem, and the defense, while not outstanding, is solid. They'll take their 3rd spot for the division win barring another miracle.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
----------
PACIFIC DIVISION
-----
LOS ANGELES KINGS
-----
Demitra Roenick Frolov
Robitaille Conroy Klatt
Belanger Cammalleri Bure
Armstrong Avery Cowan
Norstrom Visnovsky
Dempsey Miller
Corvo Gleason
Garon
LaBarbera
With Demitra, the Kings are once again well prepared to take a run at a playoff spot... and this year I think they've got the strength up front to pull it off. The most important thing is staying HEALTHY, something they've failed to do the last few seasons, but they have some real iron men going for them now, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Granted, that defensive lineup is a little suspect. And yes, they could sure use a goalie. But I think they can manage anyway, and place as high as 7th this season.
DALLAS STARS
-----
Lehtinen Modano Guerin
Morrow Arnott Kapanen
Ott Barnes Kapanen
... 4th line.
Zubov Skoula
Robidas Boucher
Klemm Daley
Turco
Hedberg
They have depth, they have speed, they have goaltending. But the defense is much weaker than it was 2 seasons ago without Sydor or Hatcher, and though Turco in nets is obviously a big bonus the goals against, in the west, is going to be a factor. Still, I'd put money on them taking the pacific division and finishing in third.
NORTHWEST DIVISION
-----
CALGARY FLAMES
-----
Amonte Reinprecht Iginla
Nilson Langkow Donovan
Simon Yelle McCarty
4th line involving Kobasew.
Hamrlik Leopold
Regehr Warrener
Montador Ference
Kiprusoff
Sauve
Calgary has an extremely strong defensive core and will have some great PP quarterbacks this season, but I'm not sure they'll put enough pucks in the net to be as good as they could be. The problem is their weakness at the center position, it's BRUTAL. But any team with Kiprusoff is automatically a good bet for a playoff spot, and Iginla is still there... so I'll stick them in at 8th.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
-----
Tanguay Sakic Hejduk
Brunette Turgeon Laperriere
Konowalchuk Hahl Hinote
May Mclean Svatos
Blake Liles
Boughner Brisebois
Leschyshyn Skrastins
Aebischer
... There are no other goalies on their roster. Great. Salo?
The best first line in the NHL 2 years ago is back, and yes, it will be great. But without Forsberg the Avs are a shadow of the team they were, and Aebischer still has to prove that he wasn't a fluke. Add to that the fact that their defense isn't up to par with some of their competition and their forward depth after the first line could cause problems if Turgeon doesn't shape up, and the Avs aren't as solid as we're used to... but they're still a great, great team, they'll score a LOT of points and if the goaltending holds up they'll put up a good record... unfortunately, this is the toughest division in the NHL... and this is not their year. They'll finish 4th.
EDMONTON OILERS
-----
Smyth Peca Hemsky
Moreau Reasoner Dvorak
Torres Horcoff Laraque
4th line.
Pronger Smith
Staios Semenov
Ulanov Bergeron
Cross
Conklin
Markkanen
The Oilers are quick as anything, and with Pronger they have a great first pairing and a solid defensive lineup overall. I actually don't mind Conklin in nets but acquiring a proven tender at the deadline, or sooner, couldn't hurt. They have size, they have speed, and if their forwards come through they could threaten to hit the top 5. As it is, though, I'll put them in 6th. The Oilers always seem to overperform.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
-----
Naslund Morrison Bertuzzi
D Sedin H Sedin Cooke
King Linden Carter
Roy Kesler Park
Jovanovski Allen
Ohlund Salo
McCarthy Baumgartner
Cloutier
Auld
One of the most exciting teams in the league and with what I'd call the single best 1st line over the last 3 years, the Canucks not only have depth at offense and 2 top-flite defensive pairings, but they are used to the setup they've got going. The team strategy is in place, it's proven, and the nucks will be ready to go right from the start with little to no adjustment period even after a year off. This team has been built over years and they're comfortable with each other, and with the Sedins getting progressively better and giving them 2 strong power play units with Carter (a STEAL at $1 mil/yr), they're a cup contender... but only if Dan Cloutier can manage to string together a playoff performance. He's fine for the regular season, though, and the Canucks will take the northeast this time around. They'll place 2nd.
CENTRAL DIVISION
-----
ST. LOUIS BLUES
-----
Tkachuk Weight Drake
McAmmond Sillinger Cajanek
Sejna Johnson Boguniecki
4th line.
Macinnis Jackman
Brewer Weinrich
Salvador Backman
Lalime
Divis
St. Louis enters the 05-06 season without their Captain and their leading scorer every year for... well, a while now. They're not as deep as they once were up front, and the size on D has diminished, but with Lalime and Brewer in their own zone they'll still be alright. The real question comes on the right wing: can Drake play up to the standards of his linemates, can Cajanek fulfill his potential (he's waaaaay better than most of you think) and can eric whateverthehellhisnameis get back to the form that had him scoring goals like an all star? The last one, I doubt. The other two, well, we'll see. As they are, and with a pretty good goaltender backing them up, I think the Blues will take the 5th spot in the west.
DETROIT RED WINGS
-----
Shanahan Yzerman Lang
Zetterberg Datsyuk Hudler
Holmstrom Draper Maltby
Bootland Mowers Williams
Schneider Lidstrom
Fischer Chelios
Lilja Delmore
Osgood
Legace
The Red Wings with Osgood... ah, it reminds me of the good old days... Coffey, Cicarelli, and the Empire of Larionov, Kozlov, Fedorov, Fetisov and Konstantinov. Before you look askance at the goaltending situation, remember 2 things: 1-Osgood had his best years in Detroit and won them a couple of cups in the late 90s. 2-Legace would be a good STARTING GOALTENDER for just about any team. Yzerman and Chelios might be old, but the former is a lock for team Canada this fall and the latter is in better shape than 90% of the league. The depth up front is amazing and variable... you have snipers on the top line including Lang, a contender for scoring champ, and the youth and speed of datsyuk on the second line. The third is very probably the best defensive 3rd line in the league, and draper can score (though he won't live up to the standard he set last season). Their PP is always above 20% up at the top of the league and Draper and Maltby are the best PK tandem on earth. Because of all this, and because of experience, Detroit is my pick to take the west this year and finish 1st.
~~Phunkin Phatt Phreerider~~
"Most guys know that women dig guys with money. Would Donald Trump be fucking models if he wasn't rich? That question is rhetorical. Now I don't even believe this is wrong, I think it is just nature. But I also think women who are this way (and it is almost all of you) should be honest and admit that they are basically whores, and stop saying bad things about the so-called "actual whores" who are just trying to earn an honest living."
