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HWB NHL All Star Game Mock Draft

Jan 28

Posted by EB in Round Table | 2 Comments

Tune in to Versus tonight at 8:00 p.m. for the All Star Game Fantasy Draft.

One of the new features of this year’s NHL All-Star Game is the All-Star Fantasy Draft where each captain, and their two alternate captains, choose their own team Fantasy Hockey-style from the pool of selected All-Stars. The members of Hockey World Blog decided to get in on the fun and see what might be going through the heads of each captain as they make their selections. Eddie and EB worked together to choose for Team Staal while Matt and Chris took on Team Lidstrom in Hockey World Blog’s All-Star Game Mock Draft. Check out the final results of the draft below including some insight into strategy going into the draft, notes about key selections and problems that each team encountered while making their selections.

*The rules for the All-Star Draft indicate that the first choice will be determined through a coin toss. Our toss gave first pick to Team Staal. Also, the rules mandate that all goalies must be chosen by the end of Round 10 and all defenseman must be chosen by the end of Round 15.

NHL All-Star Game Mock Draft Results

Round Team Staal Position Team Lidstrom Position
- Eric Staal F Nicklas Lidstrom D
- Ryan Kesler F Martin St. Louis F
- Mike Green D Patrick Kane F
1 Cam Ward G Steven Stamkos F
2 Daniel Sedin F Henrik Sedin F
3 Alexander Ovechkin F Tim Thomas G
4 Jonas Hiller G Brad Richards F
5 Dustin Byfuglien D Kris Letang D
6 Rick Nash F Corey Perry F
7 Jonathan Toews F Marc-Andre Fleury G
8 Duncan Keith D Anze Kopitar F
9 Carey Price G Zdeno Chara D
10 Keith Yandle D Henrik Lundqvist G
11 Danny Briere F Shea Weber D
12 Louie Eriksson F Patrick Sharp F
13 Brent Burns D Dan Boyle D
14 Claude Giroux F Matt Duchene F
15 Marc Staal D Erik Karlsson D
16 Jeff Skinner F Phil Kessel F
17 Martin Havlat F Paul Statsny F
18 David Backes F Patrik Elias F

Team Lidstrom: Since the All-Star Game is usually more about offense, we wanted to get as much offense as possible right out of the gate. We determined that Stamkos was not only the best goal scorer available, but he is also a linemate of Martin St. Louis, who we also have on our team as an alternate captain. That pick was  a no-brainer. When Team Staal selected Daniel Sedin in the second round, we immediately countered and took Henrik Sedin in order to keep Team Staal from having both Sedin Twins. After that, in terms of offense, our selections really became a matter of selecting the best available talent in between selecting goalies and defenseman.

On defense we tried to add offensive-defenseman to the mix  since, again, the All-Star Game is a very offensive event, which is why we grabbed Kris Letang high up. He should make a great compliment to Lidstrom. We also think we have at least one point locked at the Skills Competition in the Hardest Shot event with both Shea Weber and Zdeno Chara on Team Lidstrom.

Selecting goaltenders was mostly a matter of taking the best available. Thomas leads the league in most goalie stats and was another no-brainer, and we lucked out getting Fleury as well. Lundqvist wasn’t so much our choice as the only goalie left when Round 10 came by, but he is a great player and a fellow Swede so we wouldn’t be surprised if Lidstrom picks Lundqvist himself.

Team Staal: For our strategy, we wanted to focus on goal scoring as well. Even though we selected Cam Ward with our first selection, it was only natural seeing he is a member of the Hurricanes and he’s the goalie Staal could trust. After Ward, we tried to prevent Team Lidstrom from having both Sedin twins so we chose the better twin statistically (Daniel) before Lidstrom can grab him. With the Ovechkin selection, we wanted the best player available on the board, and there wasn’t a player worth thinking about besides Ovechkin.

With Tim Thomas going after Ovechkin, we wanted to force Team Lidstrom in selecting the weaker goalies with their goaltender selection. Jonas Hiller leads the league in victories with 25, so he knows how to play with a lead and keep his team in the contest. With our defensive selections (Byfuglien, Keith, and Yandle) before the 10th round, we wanted offensive-thinking defensemen who has the ability to score and move the puck. If our team should have a power play, look for Toews to get a lot of looks as seven of his 17 goals this season has come with the man-advantage.

The selections which Team Lidstrom forced our hand and made us change our strategy was their picks of Perry and Chara. We were undecided between Nash and Perry, and we took Nash because of his size and ability to bang inside the slot to capitalize on rebounds. Once Chara was off the board, we went with Yandle because believe it or not he is the leading scorer among defensemen with 44 pts. In addition to Yandle, we believe our steals were Carey Price (forcing them to take Henrik Lundqvist), Brent Burns, and Marc Staal.

NHL Midseason Awards: Norris and Jack Adams

Jan 12

Posted by Eddie in Round Table | 2 Comments

With the midway point of the NHL season here, we decided to award the top NHL awards to players and coaches if the season were to end at the 41-game mark. Today we feature the Norris Trophy for Best Defenseman and the Jack Adams Award for Most Outstanding Coach.

With a +23 rating, Anaheim defenseman Toni Lydman is second in the league in +/- among defensemen.

Norris Trophy

EB – To be a top defender requires a well balance of offensive capability andof course defensive dominance. Defense though is not simply a +/- rating, but also doing the dirty work needed, such as blocking shots, to keep the puck out of your own net. I have to recommend Anaheim Duck’s defenseman Toni Lydman. Lydman is having a career high of +23 rating. Factor in over 20 minutes of play each night, 17 points, only one of them from the power-play, and 106 blocked shots, Lydman is doing what it takes to give his team a chance to win every night.

Chris – My nomination for this award goes to Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Letang has really stepped up his game this season and is getting the job done at both ends of the ice. Not only does he have 36 points so far on the season,  already beating his previous career-best of 33, but he also sports a healthy plus-21, which is good for third best in the NHL for defenseman. But what’s really amazing is that only one-third of his points have come on the power play, which means Letang is doing a lot of damage during 5-on-5 play. Letang is a big reason for Pittsburgh’s success and is well on his way to a career year. If he can keep up this pace, Letang could be a serious contender for the Norris next summer.

Eddie- It honestly took me a while to decide who should win this award. Letang is solid, Lydman is good, and Detroit Red Wings fans don’t call him Nick Norris for nothing. Nick Lidstrom is my pick for the Norris because at the age of 40, he’s playing better than ever. He tallied his first-career hat trick this season, as well as having a career-best 11-game point streak. He’s one Norris Trophy short of tying Doug Harvey for second-most all-time. Only legend Bobby Orr has had more. Many Red Wings fans think this might be his last season, but with the way he’s playing he could easily play another two seasons.

Matt- At the midway point, Nicklas Lidstrom is the Norris Trophy winner. At 40 years old, Lidstrom is proving night in andnight out that he’s still got it. Currently, he’s tied with Dustin Byfuglien for the league lead among defensemen with 41 points. Lately, he’s been showing his offensive skills as well as defensive. But regardless of how well the other defenseman in the league may be playing, there’s no other player I would want leading my defensive corps besides Nick Lidstrom.

Jack Adams Award

EB – Dan Bylsma of the Pittsburgh Penguins wins hand down. The team rode a 12 game winning streak at one point in time, and has an overall record of 26-12-4 in a tough Atlantic division. The team recently followed in HBO’s 24/7 Penguins/Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic, shedded light into the coaching style of Bylsma. A poised, positive coach with a determination to not only win every game, but treating his players with respect.

Chris -When the season started, everyone believed the Lightning would be better after some of the additions made to the team, but I’m not sure anyone thought the team would be 2nd in the East at the halfway point of the season, which is why my vote goes to Guy Boucher. The Lightning have the fourth best power play in the NHL and the eighth best penalty kill despite having lackluster defense and sub par goaltending. Go ahead, take a look at Dan Ellis’s numbers, especially his fantastic 3.02 goals against average. Regardless, Boucher has this team winning games and staying competitive in a division normally dominated by the Washington Capitals.

Eddie- One of the teams usand many other hockey publications predicted to finish down the Western standings and out of the playoff race was Dallas. But at this point in the season, they have a 25-13-5 record and are leading the Pacific division. Without long time Stars Mike Modano and Marty Turco, they chose not to rebuild but rather change on the fly and reload. Marc Crawford is my pick for the Jack Adams Award. They currently ride a seven-game road winning streak and they have 13 road wins. The only teams with more wins away from home ice are the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.

Matt- It’s hard to argue with what Chris has stated, and even harder to argue with what Boucher has done in Tampa Bay. He doesn’t have the absolute best talent to fill the ice, but he is getting the most of what he does have. It becomes even more ridiculous when you see that the Lightning have fewer goals for than goals against. Boucher is getting the job done, something that hasn’t been done in Tampa Bay since 2004 with John Tortorella.

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NHL Midseason Awards: Hart and Calder

Jan 11

Posted by Eddie in Round Table | 2 Comments

With the midway point of the NHL season here, we decided to award the top NHL awards to players and coaches if the season were to end at the 41-game mark. Today we feature the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP and the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year. Check back Wednesday when we reveal our selections for the Jack Adams and Norris tophies.

Hart Trophy

EB – Sid the Kid is by far the best player in the NHL right now. His ability to blend in and find open ice when needed mixed with his drive and determination, has been nothing but a success story this season. Currently the top point getter in the NHL with a good margin, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins will be the winner of the Hart Trophy this year.

Chris – When I think of the Hart Trophy, I think of the guy whose team would be nowhere near where they are without his efforts night in and night out. Love him or hate him, Sidney Crosby is that guy. With 32 goals on the season, Crosby accounts for nearly a quarter of all of the goals the Penguins have scored this year. He is one of the most lethal players in the NHL and he does so with little help on his wings. At least the Sedin twins have each other to pass the puck around. In terms of the player most valuable to his team, Sidney Crosby is that player.

Eddie- Right now at this point of the season, there’s no other player that has been most valuable to his team than Sidney Crosby. The way he led his team on the ice throughout his point streak and the Penguins long winning streak last month was pretty amazing to watch. Sure, he may be a pest to opposing players and fans. That’s what great players do. They find way to physically, mentally, and emotionally get into the heads of the opponent. But if he was on our hometown team we would love him just like the fans in Pittsburgh do.

Matt – I think it’s easy to say that Sidney Crosby is the player most valuable to his team so far this season. He already has 32 goals and 34 assists for 66 points at the midway point of the season. Without a doubt, the Penguins would not be the same without Crosby leading the team. No other single player has made that big of an impact for their team this season, and that’s why Crosby gets the Hart.

Rookie forward Jeff Skinner has garnered serious contention for rookie of the year.

Calder Trophy

EB – The San Jose Sharks are a deep roster team with veterans such as Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton. It is a surprise to think though that the team’s top goal scorer is rookie Logan Couture. Couture has 27 points in 41 games played with 6 of them playing a pivotal player on the power-play. The second half is always the toughest with rookies, but expect Couture to continue his pace to reach the mid 50 point mark.

Chris – After winning the Stanley Cup last summer, the Chicago Blackhawks were forced to shed a lot of salary and a lot of key talent in order to become cap compliant and retain the services of their core group of skilled young stars. This also meant that Chicago didn’t have much money to spent on replacement parts, meaning that several rookies would get a shot with the big club. Bryan Bickell has been one such talent. Bickell currently sits 2nd overall in rookie scoring despite receiving less ice time on average per game than some of the other rookie scoring leaders. Bickell has 11 goals and 12 assists with a plus-8 rating and has been a steady contributor for the Blackhawks this year when they needed their young talent to step up to the plate and show that they belong in the NHL. Bickell has done just that this season.

Eddie- There are plenty of solid rookies in the league this year. It was hard to pick one specific player because how much a rookie produces depends on the team around him. You have the three rookies in Edmonton that are trying to revive a bad team. Those guys as a collection are solid and will be good for years to come, but don’t expect them to be a finalist unless one makes a surge in the second half. My Calder pick is someone I never heard of at the beginning of the season. He, like Jimmy Howard last season, stepped in goal for a good team and did nothing but make them better. Philadelphia’s Sergei Bobrovsky has a 15-6-3 record, with a 2.57 GAA and a .915 save percentage. He played so well for the Flyers, when Michael Leighton returned from injury, they chose the rookie over the goalie who led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals last season.

Matt- My Calder Trophy vote at the midway point of the season goes to Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes. At only 18 years of age, the kid is making a pretty big impact for the Carolina Hurricanes. At times this season, he’s even seen playing time alongside Eric Staal. The fact is, while playing for a team that was projected to be mediocre this season, young Jeff Skinner is helping them battle for a playoff spot in the East.

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NHL Midseason Awards: Vezina

Jan 9

Posted by Eddie in Round Table | No Comments

With the midway point of the NHL season here, we decided to award the top NHL awards to players and coaches if the season were to end at the 41-game mark. Today we feature the Vezina Trophy for Top Goaltender. Check back Tuesday when we reveal our selections for the Hart and Calder Trophies.

Tim Thomas already has one Vezina Trophy to his name. The stats this season prove he's on his way to another.

Vezina Trophy

EB – Although I pride myself in being different, I too have to agree the Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas is indeed the top goaltender in the NHL. After having hip surgery in the off-season to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, Thomas did not have the luxury to prepare for the current season. One would think it would be a shaky start, but 7 wins in a row on 7 starts, is simply amazing. Factor in 3 of them being shutouts… wow. His dominance has continued, making Boston a threat come playoff time.

Chris – It’s hard not to notice a goaltenders whose goals against average is below 2.00, yet Tim Thomas, with 27 starts for the Bruins this season, sports an incredibly impressive 1.80 goals against average thus far. Thomas is on pace to put up the best numbers of his career despite being 36 years of age. If Thomas stays on pace, there is no competition for the Vezina. The trophy belongs to Thomas.

Eddie- It looks like everyone is going with Tim Thomas. Statistically, he’s the baddest and best backstopper in the league. But for the sake of a round table debate (It wouldn’t be a debate if everyone agreed on the same thing), the person who I think could be a finalist for the Vezina is Detroit’s Jimmy Howard. He currently leads the league in victories with 21. The last goalie to lead the league in victories and win the Vezina the same season was Martin Brodeur in 2006-07. What could keep him out of being a finalist is his high GAA (2.74) and save percentage (.907). He is in his second season full-time in the league, so it could be possible for coach Mike Babcock to slow Howard’s starts and minutes later on in the season to give him proper rest heading into the playoffs. In a city where Red Wings goalie is the second most criticized position in sports (Detroit Lions quarterback is first), Howard has done nothing but win fans over and will prove to be solid in the cage for the Red Wings in years to come.

Matt- My vote for the mid-season Vezina goes to Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins. Thomas, who lost his starting role last year to the young Tuukka Rask, has rebounded and had an incredible start to the 2010-11 season. Because of his outstanding play, the Bruins are leading the Northeast division, and have the fewest goals against in the NHL. In addition, Thomas is currently atop the NHL in both goals against average, save percentage, and is tied for the league lead with five shutouts. At the midway point this season, there’s no doubt about it, Tim Thomas is the Vezina Award winner.

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2010 Year In Review: Favorite Moments

Dec 31

Posted by Eddie in Round Table | No Comments

With the year coming to a close, the members of Hockey World Blog decided to reflect on the exciting events of 2010. There have been many goals, saves, checks and fights that have occurred in rinks all over the world, but few moments stand out from the past year like those discussed below. Take a look at what each of us decided was our favorite moment relating to hockey over the course of the past year.

The 2010 NCAA National Championship game between Wisconsin and Boston College was one of our favorite moments of 2010.

Eddie- Hockey Gets Super Sized

I’ve enjoyed plenty of great things over the course of my hockey life. From watching the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup, Team USA winning two silver medals in my lifetime, and to winning various championships in my youth hockey days, a lot of good things have happened to me over the course of my short life. But 2010 was one that will be pretty hard to top as I’ve had the chance to watch four hockey games amongst the largest crowds ever to watch a game.

It began in February where I took a road trip to Madison, Wisconsin, for the Camp Randall Classic. While I am not a big fan of the University of Michigan, I wanted to see the maize and blue win simply because I was with a group of Michigan fans in a visiting teams stadium and didn’t want to feel the wrath of being in opponents apparel in another city.  It was a great trip because I got to attend without much rooting interest and I was able to take in more of the experience in and around a good college town.

Fast forward two months to Ford Field where the Frozen Four was held. While a lot of hockey snobs bashed the event because of the massive size of Ford Field and the lack of attendance, I enjoyed the event. I had the opportunity to watch all four teams during the course of the NCAA tournament and had the chance to watch Wisconsin and Miami in person during the regular season. It was Boston College who came out winning the championship at the end. The only clunker of the Frozen Four was the lopsided scores of all four games.

And as recently as three weeks ago, I was at the biggest event of them all: The Big Chill. Another game that turned out to be a dud because of the 5-0 score. I don’t think we will ever see non-traditional hockey events again on the scale we saw in 2010 (I can’t forget about the Winter Classic at Fenway and the USA-Germany World Championship game either), which is why this was my favorite hockey moment in 2010.

Chris- Olympic Pride

While Team USA ultimately earned the silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver after falling to Canada in overtime, their incredible run to the gold medal game is by far my favorite moment of 2010 for several reasons. Before the Olympics started, most hockey fans would have given the medals, in no particular order, to Russia, Sweden and Canada. Team USA was hardly a blip on the radar, but they played an aggressive, tough style of hockey and never gave up fighting. How they played and fought during those games against teams that were arguably more skilled offensively really seemed to embody the American spirit, especially during harsh economic times when millions of people were having to enlist that fighting spirit themselves in order to keep a roof over their family and make sure they have enough to get them through the day.

I was fortunate enough to be able to listen to several of the games on the radio while I was at work. All of my coworkers know I’m a huge hockey fan, but what surprised me was how many of them because interested in the progress of Team USA. They constantly asked for updates on the score and who had the goals and generally how we were performing. People who generally don’t care about hockey were captivated by the fighting effort of Team USA. When USA ultimately fell to Canada in overtime of the gold medal game, you couldn’t help but be proud of USA’s accomplishments in Vancouver. As cliche as it is, those guys came into the Winter Olympics as the underdogs with less genuine skill and less All-Star talent on their roster than teams like Russia and Canada, but they rallied and worked hard the entire way. If that doesn’t embody the American spirit than I don’t know what does.

Matt- Lightning Strikes Tampa

It seems that every season now, people just assume its going to be a battle between Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby for the Hart Trophy, among other season ending awards. They’re both prolific scorers, and surely deserve to be considered every year. However, my favorite moment of 2010 has been the emergence of Steven Stamkos.

Last season, Stamkos scored 51 goals to tie for the league lead, and picked up 95 points, which lead all Tampa Bay players. This season, his red hot streak continues as he’s currently on pace for more than 60 goals. In his short time with the Lightning, he has quickly become the new and young face of the franchise. It’s easy to say that the Lightning wouldn’t be in the position they are today if it weren’t for Stamkos.

EB – 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Every playoffs has it’s ooh’s and aah’s,  but this one was a goody.

Who ever would have predicted the Montreal Canadiens upsetting the Washington Capitals in the first round? The Caps were up 3 – 1 in the series, the series in their grasp, only to be outdone by an amazing back-against-the-wall comeback. I guess Alex Ovechkin’s chin music towards Canadiens’ goaltender Jaroslav Halak did not have the effect Ovie was looking for.

What about the Canadiens upsetting the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round? I don’t recall too many 8th seeds taking down the number 1 and 4 seed in the playoffs. The Canadiens as a whole were one big Cinderella Story indeed.

A semi-nail biter between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Detroit Red Wings. The teams faced one another in the first round going toe to toe. The game was eventually decided in game seven. One would expect it to be yet another close battle, however the Wings pulled it out with a 6 – 1 pounding in Phoenix.

Speaking of Cinderella stories, what about the Philadelphia Flyers? The team edged there way into the playoffs, took the New Jersey Devils in 5, the Boston Bruins in 7 and the Montreal Canadiens in 5. They eventually lost in the Cup finals, but at least they did it with class got that far.

And lastly, the Chicago Blackhawks. Chrissy Pronger’s puck stealing antics and the Philadelphia Flyers were no scare for the Blackhawks riding their gravy train. Defeating the Nashville Predators in 6, the expected Cup contenders Vancouver Canucks in 6, sweeping the San Jose Sharks, finally finishing Philly in 6 with an incredible game winning goal from Patrick Kane. Is it in? Why is he jumping? Are we supposed to cheer? This silence is eerie. The Cup returned to Chicago, last sighting was in 1961, 49 years ago.

Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: HWB Picks the Winners

Oct 1

Posted by Matt in Round Table, Season Previews | 1 Comment

Throughout the month of September, the members of Hockey World Blog deconstructed the offenses, defenses, goaltending and off-season acquisitions of all 30 NHL teams as they finalize their rosters and prepare for the 2010-11 season. Now we offer our predictions for who will lead the league by seasons end. Who will come out on top in each division? And ultimately, which team will be left standing long enough to hoist the Stanley Cup in June? Here’s what we think:

Chris

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic:Pittsburgh and Philadelphia should certainly challenge for tops in the division, but New Jersey has the offense and goaltending to thwart them and claim the top spot again this season.
  • Northeast:The offseason addition of puck-moving defenseman Sergei Gonchar could be just what the Ottawa Senators need to put them on top of the division. A healthy season from Jason Spezza couldn’t hurt either.
  • Southeast: Tampa Bay should make some progress this season, but the division still belongs to the Capitals without a doubt.

Who could win the Cup:Look for the New Jersey Devils to impress this season. Ilya Kovalchuk is one of the best goal scorers in the game today. Put his talent on a team that already sports Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and Jamie Langenbrunner and you have one heck of an offense. Add in the fact that Martin Brodeur is still one of the best goaltenders in the game today and you have a team that could very easily find themselves playing for the Stanley Cup in June.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: Chicago won’t be as bad as half the fans think nor as good as the other half think. They will push for the top spot, but in the end the depth of the Detroit Red Wings will win out.
  • Northwest:Vancouver appears to have gotten better in the offseason – especially on their blue line. Is that even possible? Vancouver wins hands down.
  • Pacific: This is a stacked division with San Jose, Phoenix and Los Angeles all in heavy contention. Anaheim may not be far off either, but the team to beat in the Pacific Division is still the Sharks.

Who could win the Cup: The Detroit Red Wings look good. Real good. Datsyuk and Zetterberg play their best when they skate together on the top line and the additions of Mike Modano and Jiri Hudler make Detroit one of the deepest teams in the NHL in terms of offense. If Franzen can stay healthy and chip in 30 or more goals like he is capable of doing, the Wings will be tough to stop. Add in the fact that they still have one of the premier defenseman in Nick Lidstrom patrolling the blue line along with Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart and you have a very scary team.

Chris’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Vancouver Canucks

It would be very simple to throw the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks or Detroit Red Wings on that line, but the Canucks managed to improve their blue line in the offseason, add some grit and offensive depth and still employ one of the best forward tandems in the league with brothers Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Oh, they also have Roberto Luongo in net. This is a highly skilled team that is very hungry for a chance to hoist the Cup. This could easily be their year to take it home.

Eddie

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: This is still Pittsburgh’s division. With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Makin well rested after a short post season, the Penguins will be ready to make another long playoff run in their new arena. Look for New Jersey to contend for the division title all the way up until the final week of the regular season.
  • Northeast: As much as I love Boston in the division, I’m going to go off the beaten path and say Buffalo will win the division. They lost a couple key defensemen in free agency, but I believe Ryan Miller will carry this team to a division title.
  • Southeast: I’d be silly to pick against Washington. The Capitals are the only serious contender in the division. They better enjoy it while it lasts because Steve Yzerman is going to make Tampa Bay into a contender in the future.

Who could win the Cup: This is Washington’s year to win it. Washington got a lesson in not taking anything for granted when they were upset by Montreal. If Alex Ovechkin wants to shed the title of “Best player to never win a title”, he needs to make it happen this year because teams like New Jersey, Boston, and Pittsburgh are just as close to a title.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: Chicago had their fun last year when they ended Detroit’s streak of owning the division. This time around, Detroit got better and Chicago lost a lot of key players. Look for the Red Wings to regain the top spot in the division.
  • Northwest: Last year I picked Calgary and they let me down. This year the clear favorite is Vancouver. They now have what it takes to make a serious playoff run, and they benefit from the rest of the division being weaker than past seasons.
  • Pacific: Can the young Kings overtake the powerhouse Sharks? Probably not this season. San Jose has too much firepower and they didn’t take too much of a hit when Evgeni Nabakov left and added Antero Nittymaki. Hopefully San Jose won’t miss retired defenseman Rob Blake if they start to struggle on the blue line.

Who could win the Cup: So many options, but I can only pick one team. Detroit’s well rested after a short playoff run. It looks like they may have one more season left in the veterans before Ken Holland has to start rebuilding. San Jose was close last season, and they are looking to get into the finals. Vancouver is perhaps the best shot for Canada to win the Stanley Cup. As much as I want to take the Canucks, I think the Red Wings will overtake them in the conference finals.

Eddie’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Washington Capitals

In a Detroit-Washington final, I think the Capitals will hoist the Cup. In a rematch of 1998, Washington has more consistent scoring. What we saw with Detroit last season, when the key stars went into a slump goals were hard to come by with the secondary sources of offense. What could help Detroit is if Jimmy Howard can avoid the sophomore slump and play as solid in goal as he did last season.

Matt

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: The Devils, Flyers and Penguins will all make a run for it, but Pittsburgh has the talent to outlast and win the division.
  • Northeast: Adding Tyler Seguin and Nathan Horton make the Bruins my top pick to win their division
  • Southeast: Washington runs away with another division title

Who could win the Cup: Philadelphia and Montreal proved last season that you don’t need to be a top seed to succeed in the playoffs. This season, I expect the New Jersey Devils to make a strong run behind the play of Martin Brodeur.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: Chicago lost a tremendous amount of key players due to salary cap constraints, so look for Detroit to take over in the Central Division once again.
  • Northwest: The Sedin twins will help Vancouver run away in the Northwest Division once again.
  • Pacific: Losing Evgeni Nabakov won’t shake things up too much for the Sharks. Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton help San Jose outlast Phoenix and L.A. to win the Pacific.

Who could win the Cup: After a number of frustrating playoff losses, the Canucks are ready to battle hard and make a deep run into the playoffs. Don’t expect San Jose or Detroit to ruin their fun either.

Matt’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Vancouver Canucks

Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo lead their respective teams to the finals after displaying excellence in first three rounds of the playoffs. Despite having great scoring up front with Parise, Kovalchuk, and Zajac, the Sedin twins will remain unstoppable and capture their first Stanley Cup.

Eric

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: Sure the New Jersey Devils or the Pittsburgh Penguins are the favorite, but a healthy Marian Gaborik leading a deep roster team and Henrik Lundqvist manning the pipes, they very well could be the team to beat. The Achilles heel though, head coach John Tortorella.
  • Northeast: Let’s Go Buffalo! Not just a catchy chant but one that should be said loud and clear. My man Ryan Miller of Michigan State is the backbone of the team and capable of stealing any game. A non flashy offense and a stick to the basics defense make up the Sabres, a team no one notices until it is too late.
  • Southeast: I could list some reasons why the Washington Capitals are the team to beat in the Southeast, however if you need me to tell you why, you just go get yourself some more of Ovechkin, Semin and Backstrom on the tube and you will know for yourself.

Who could win the Cup: The New Jersey Devils. Net minder Martin Brodeur does not have many more years left and he definitely wants another ring. The fiasco is finally over and Ilya Kovalchuk is a Devil for life and now has the task of proving his worth. Throw into the mix the remainder of the team and you my friend have a very competitive and talented group of guys, just waiting to hoist the Cup.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: The old veteran Detroit Red Wings have some fresh spark with hometown boy Mike Modano, the return of happy Jiri Hudler, and most importantly, a rested team. Injuries are always a risk factor for the Wings, but with head coach Mike Babcock paying close attention by mixing some lines of young and old, the only real worry the Wings have is the second year curse from goaltender Jimmy Howard.
  • Northwest: Although I am not a particular fan of the Vancouver Canucks, the team has the tools to take it all. The Sedin twins Henrik and Daniel seem to be in their prime, Roberto Luongo is a solid a goalie as any other, and the rest of the team is just pure stacked.
  • Pacific: Need it be said? The Phoenix Coyotes all the way. The Phoenix Coyotes last season had nothing to lose, this season they have something to prove. They made a few subtle changes in the off season to improve their depth and experience, but not to negatively impact the team’s chemistry.

Who could win the Cup: The Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are the West’s version of the Washington Capitals but only with a better goalie and the ability to not choke come playoffs. With 8 players who it the 40+ point mark last season, it is only expected of them to do better this year.

Eric’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Phoenix Coyotes

I am a firm believer that the West is better than the East. As to which team really does go to the Stanley Cup finals really does come down to match-ups. The Coyotes however have the ability to play against many different looking teams, and not only play against them, but win against them. In any 7 game series, I would put my money on Phoenix.

Players and fans alike embrace superstition rituals

May 18

Posted by Chris in Round Table | 1 Comment

Kris Draper grows a thick and luxurious playoff beard

Kris Draper grows a thick and luxurious playoff beard

During the telecast of Game 7 of the Montreal vs Pittsburgh  series on Versus, the announcers commented on the fact that Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin was again wearing his lucky tie. In fact, the announce team went through and showed pictures of Martin wearing the tie at several games – all of which, including the 5-2 series-clinching-victory, the Canadiens won. The announce crew also featured several other players who performed pregame rituals and went on to play fantastic games that helped propel Montreal into the Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s no surprise that hockey players are superstitious people. Look around the locker room at playoff time and see all of the fuzzy beards that the athletes are sporting. Growing beards has long been a hockey tradition once playoff time rolls around. Younger players that can’t grow beards have embraced other superstitions. Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks has embraced growing out a hockey mullet instead of a beard. And then there is the ever-present curse of touching the trophy presented to the winners of each conference before heading to the Stanley Cup Finals. There is a definite stigma attached to touching these pieces of hardware and most players (unless you play for the Penguins evidently) will avoid touching their respective trophies (Clarence Campbell Bowl in the West or the Prince of Wales Trophy in the East).

In the spirit of superstitions, I asked the members of HWB what kinds of superstitions they carry into the NHL playoffs in order to help give their team a competitive advantage. Here’s what they said:

Chris – Being probably the only Hockey World Blogger that can successfully grow a beard, I undertake this superstition dutifully. As a Wings fan, I grow my beard to rival that of Zetterberg or Bertuzzi and keep the razor in the drawer until the Wings have made their way onto the golf courses. However, this year circumstances caused me to change my usual routine a bit. In fact, allowing my beard to grow didn’t seem to be working much during the Phoenix series as the two teams went back and forth for most of the series. On the day of Game 7, I was forced to trim my beard in order to look presentable for an award ceremony. The Wings went on to win that night by a score of 6-1. Thinking nothing of it, I went back to growing out my beard for the San Jose series. Unfortunately, it occurred to me too little too late that shaving my beard might have been the key to success. For Game 4 of the series, I again trimmed my beard before the Wings trounced the Sharks 7-1. However, when I trimmed again for Game 5 it was already too late and Sharks took the series from the Wings.

I’m also one of those guys that will not watch a game if the team seems to do better when the television is on a different channel. If I flip away during a commercial break and come back to see that the Wings have scored, I’ll flip right back to the channel I was watching and peek in again later to see what’s happening. Needless to say, none of those things worked this year for the Wings. But that won’t sway my dedication and I’ll be back at it again next season!

Matt - My playoff superstitions have definitely evolved as I have grown older. As a young lad, I remember getting my first Red Wings hockey puck. This puck sat on my shelf all season, but come playoff time, it was lucky puck and went with me everywhere during games, no matter where I happened to be. My puck and I battled through a couple painful losses to New Jersey and Colorado, but we were both together when the Wings won the cup in back to back years in the late 90′s. After a few more crushing playoff losses, I finally retired the puck.

The past few seasons, location has been a big player in my superstitions. While I was away from home for an internship two years ago, the Red Wings excelled in the playoffs and brought home another Stanley Cup. However, last year, I graduated college and was back at home to watch a crushing defeat to the Penguins in game 7. This year has been similar. While in my current home in Indianapolis, the Wings manged to break through to round two. However, during game 5, I was in the same basement where I watched the Wings lose a year ago, and they followed it up with another loss. I can safely say that I can never go home for a playoff game again.

EB – As Chris so nicely mentioned, a traditional playoff beard is out for me, so I must look elsewhere for my superstitions. Perhaps not changing my underwear? No no, I think Eddie falls under that category (on the brightside, he does at least interchange between inside and outside). For me, it is all about the apparel. For the Red Wings I wear my #17 Doug Brown jersey. Why you may ask? Growing up playing hockey #17 was the number I wore because of my birthday being in the 17th. (Since then it has changed however because someone else took it… darn Matt!) And Brown is my last name. So combined, my name and number on the Wings jersey just feels lucky.

Similar to Chris, I also am subject to TV station superstitions. I absolutely hate NBC, also known as the Sidney Crosby Fan Club Channel. I dislike it so much, if my team is doing bad, I flip off the TV and swap to the good ‘ol radio. Yep, the radio people. Listening to the game on the radio is also great as almost every play anything could happen at any moment because you have a general idea of what is happening, but you cannot see the play fully develop as if you were watching it. Those with heart conditions, pregnant or under five feet tall should consult their doctor before listening to a playoff hockey game on the radio.

I am also somewhat subject to Versus. I am a lucky person who has the ability to watch Canada’s broadcast on CBC. Although Versus does have a much better video feed as it is in HD, CBC has a game like atmosphere with more sound coming from the sound of the game and not that of the announcers. Plus CBC tends to show more of the scrums after the play instead of the over played highlight reel from previous games of key players, like their NBC, usually Crosby.

That’s about it for me. Maybe the occasional specific beer selection, but that’s about it.

Eddie - Everyone has their own separate playoff superstitions and rituals. I’m probably the most unique in that I change it up on a year-by-year basis. I cannot grow a beard for several reasons including it doesnt grow evenly on my face and because it itches my face after a week or so. I really started doing something seriously in 2007, when I thought the Red Wings had a serious chance to return to the Stanley Cup finals. I was home for Spring Break that season during my senior year of college when I came across an old hat. It was the “Locker Room” edition hat of the Winged Wheelers 1997 Stanley Cup championship. For the die-hard fans, it was the black hat with brown suede as the brim. I wore it for every game I was able to watch on television during that long playoff run before losing to Anaheim in the conference finals.

For the 2008 playoff run, I was unfortunately on an internship where I traveled across the country. I didn’t get to see many games, but for the games I was able to see on television I wore a Red Wings hoodie I packed so that I would represent my hometown where ever I would be. It was my hotel room in Aspen, Colo. where I watched Chris Osgood make a diving save when time ran out to clinch the title. For the last two seasons (depending where I was watching the game) I would wear either my Red Wings practice jersey or hoodie along with a Pavel Datsyuk a friend got me for Christmas. If I was at a restaurant where I’d be consuming messy food, I would take off the jersey because I am not the cleanest eater in the world.

Holiday Wishlist

Nov 27

Posted by EB in Round Table | 7 Comments

Stuffing, cranberry sauce, hot turkey, Thanksgiving is over…well maybe not leftovers. Black Friday is upon us and so begins holiday shopping. This year check out online stores for all your hockey fan shopping needs and avoid the hassle of spending a long day in lines with grumpy shoppers. Here are a few things worth taking a look at this holiday season:

Chris:

Hockey Tickets!

What would any hockey fan love more than tickets to see their favorite NHL team live, in person, with a great view of the action? Okay, maybe a seat next to hockey super-fan Taylor Swift at the game, but regardless, hockey tickets are a great idea for any hockey enthusiast on your list this season. Plus, with the economic downturn, great seats are still available for great prices. For tickets, check out websites like StubHub.com, which specialize in second-hand tickets sold from ticket owner to ticket owner. I’ve used this website before and had only one problem which resulted in an immediate refund of my money. While StubHub does have a convenience fee, it is nowhere near the price of Ticketmaster’s surcharges. Plus, since owners set their own ticket prices, you can sometimes luck out and get great prices on tickets that are below face value. I don’t ask questions, I just enjoy the game.

Price: Tickets as low as $10

Newborn Short Sleeve Creeperp4512363reg

Got a little hockey fan in the making to buy for? This creeper is a perfect little gift for the perfect little fan. It’s made out of soft cotton and has a 3-button closure designed for easy dressing and diaper changing. Do they make an adult version? I know I certainly crap myself whenever I see Datsyuk or Zetterberg dingle dangle and score.

Price: $16.99 at NHL.com

Eric:

Ice Flirt Jersey

Ice Flirt Jersey

NHL.com Ice Flirt Jersey

Do you have a young lady in your life? Well if so, nothing says, “I love you” quite like a hockey jersey of her favorite team. A sleek black jersey with silver and white accents, also a colored trim on the logo, not only is it stylish, it screams sexy.

Starting price: $59.99 at NHL.com

NHL  3rd Jerseys

Many NHL teams have a 3rd jersey that not only sports your local team, but adds a little flare. From San Jose’s black colored jersey accented with the orange trim to St. Louis’ round crest sporting the blue note and the St. Louis Arch.

Starting price: $114.99 at NHL.com

Matt:

Shotblocker Hat

Gongshow Gear Shotblocker Hat

Gongshow Gear Shotblocker Hat

Gongshow Gear – hockey apparel designed and produced exclusively for hockey players. The Shotblocker hat would be a dandy for any hockey fan. The front of this stretch fit lid is made out of hockey sock, providing a great look for any hockey junkie. Colors currently available include Toronto, Minnesota, Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston and Pittsburgh.

Price: $29.99 at GongshowGear.com

Hartford Whalers Flip Shot V Neck T-Shirt

Vintage looking apparel is hot right now, we all know that. This vintage tee from Mitchell & Ness would be a hit for any true hockey fan. However, if the hockey fan you’re buying for is a die hard for a particular team, chances are Mitchell and Ness has the solution for you.

Price: $42.00 at MitchellandNess.com

How Would You Build Your Team?

Oct 7

Posted by Eddie in Fantasy, Round Table | 6 Comments

Every hockey fan will go through this discussion. “If I were to build my own team, I would have (insert player names here).” Well it got Hockey World Blog thinking, “Build a team with 1 forward, 1 defenseman, and 1 goalie, who would you pick?”

Eddie:

Forward: Pavel Datsyuk

If I were to build my team, I would keep it young in terms of age and experience, but I’d throw in a few guys in that 30-35-year-old range to provide leadership on and off the ice. Datsyuk is one of those players who can score a highlight reel goal every time he touches the puck. At age 31, Datsyuk has won two Stanley Cups and was a finalist for the Heart Trophy this past season. On my team, he would be that perfect combination of experience and offensive threat. Not to mention he’s a great two-way player as he won the last two Selke Trophies.

Defenseman: Mike Green

Mike Green has the perfect combination of scoring and defensive presense for a young player.

Mike Green has the perfect combination of scoring and defensive presence for a young player.

What a first-round draft the Capitals had in 2004. With the No. 1 overall pick, they take Alexander Ovechkin. And at No. 29 they take a young defenseman in Mike Green. They are amongst the best forward-defenseman combinations in the league. Both can light the lamp at anytime. What I like about Green is  that he’s grown into a much better player the last two seasons. Last year he scored 31 goals. That’s an insane amount for a defenseman. But what attracts me to him is his +/- rating. His +24 rating was tied for fifth in the league last season.

Goalie: Steve Mason

 In looking for a goalie, I want someone young who can be my franchise goalie, in the way that Chris Osgood was for Detroit and Martin Brodeur was for New Jersey. Living in the Central Division, I got to see a lot of the Blue Jackets and Steve Mason. He helped guide a team that was once the laughing stock of the NHL to a playoff birth last season. His 10 shutouts was the most in the league last season. If Columbus can get a couple more quality defenseman in front of him Mason can rise to one of the best goalies in the league.

EB:

Forward: Jarome Iginla

The boy can score, set up plays, fight and can even do commericals! Iginla is a class act, both on and off the ice. He is an ambassador for Kidsport Calgary which which donates $2,000 for every goal he scores. The money aides disadvantaged families by purchasing equipment as well as registration fees. He also supports many other causes through time and money, ranging from hockey diversity initiative to literacy programs. Sure you are widely known for the work you display on the ice, but to have a franchise player, you want someone well rounded both on and off the ice.

Jonathan Ericsson finishes a hit and already has eyes back on the play.

Jonathan Ericsson finishes a hit and already has eyes back on the play.

Defense: Jonathan Ericsson

Perhaps my biased Wings fan is showing, but Ericsson is going to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day. Currently under Nicklas Lidstrom’s leadership as a defenseman, I expect nothing but great things to come from this kid and would be more than willing to put a franchise with him at the center. The 6’4″ 206 lb. hard hitting and shooting player is a treat to watch at his young age. His agility and coordination improves daily it seems, with the natural unteachable poise of play that he possesses, and willingness to drop the gloves when he needs to.

Goalie: Jonas Gustavsson

Any player with the nickname “The Monster” is bound to gain attention. Coming into his first year and already with the media following would only mean $$$ for the owner. Fans would come far and wide just to get a glimpse of his enormous size only to be matched by his enormous talent. With the feeling that he alone could defeat a team with his quick reflexes, you could only imagine that he increases your chances of making playoffs as well as the possibility of getting some cups.

 

Chris:

Forward: Alexander Ovechkin

Give me a goal-scorer like Alexander Ovechkin any day of the week to build my offensive program around. This guy can score from his knees, while he’s diving, forward or backward. He is one of the most dynamic forwards in the NHL right now because of his speed, skating ability and his capacity to shoot mid-stride and catch both goalies and defenders off guard. Ovechkin has topped the 50-goal plateau three times in his four NHL seasons, only missing out on 50 by four goals in 2006-07. Plus Ovechkin is young. At just 23 years of age, this sniper has a long NHL career ahead of him.

Defenseman: Dion Phaneuf

If I get one player to build my defensive core around, I want a guy like Dion Phaneuf standing on my blue line. At 6’3 and 214 pounds, this guy is big, scary, and mean. He plays physical and is no stranger to throwing a few bone-crunching checks. His physical style of play has landed him with 90 penalty minutes or more in each of his four NHL seasons, topping out at 182 PIM during the 2007-2008 season. Phaneuf has an offensive prowess, too. In 323 NHL games, Phaneuf has accumulated 206 points, including 141 helpers. At the tender age of 24, Phaneuf has all the makings of a star blue liner.

Goalie: Ryan Miller

For a starting goalie, I like Ryan Miller. While he may not be cozying up to any goaltender records anytime soon, this is a guy who is solid between the pipes and gives you a chance to win every night. While he isn’t a tender young pup anymore at the age of 29, he definitely still has several quality years left in him to backstop a team to the Cup. Miller sports a career goals against average of 2.66 and a save percentage of 0.910. Not every team can draft a Marty Brodeur or Roberto Luongo, but Miller will make the saves he’s supposed to and probably stop a few that he shouldn’t. If nothing else, he will give you a chance to win night in and night out.

 

Matt:

Forward: Alex Ovechkin

Alexander Ovechkin is a scoring machine, plain and simple. As time goes on, however, he is solidifying himself as a more responsible defensive player as well. In fact, Alex finished his 2009 playoff campaign with a +10 rating in 14 games played. He is evolving into a terrific leader, and a player who wants nothing more than to win the Stanley Cup.

Defense: Mike Green

Does this guy not just remind you of Bobby Orr a little bit? At least in terms of his skating and scoring? If there is another defenseman to crack the 100 point barrier anytime soon, my money is on Mike Green. Last season he had 31 goals and another 42 helpers, for 73 points on the season, in only his third full year in the NHL. He is young, he is talented, and he will win a Norris Trophy and a Stanley Cup before his career is over.

Goalie: Roberto Luongo

They say that goalies tend to reach their peak performance level a bit later in their career than most other players. Well, if that’s the case, at 30 years young, Roberto Luongo is a guy you want on your squad. He has proven himself as a guy who can handle a heavy workload, playing more than 70 games in four of the past five seasons. Along with that, he’s posted a .919 save percentage throughout his career. As the current captain of the Vancouver Canucks, you know the man has tremendous leadership ability, and that is vital to the construction of any team.

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Hockey World Blog picks the winners

Oct 1

Posted by Chris in Round Table, Season Previews | 4 Comments

Throughout the month of September, the members of Hockey World Blog deconstructed the strengths, weaknesses and off-season acquisitions of all 30 NHL teams as they finalize their rosters and prepare for the 2009-10 season. Now we offer our predictions for who will lead the league by seasons end. Who will come out on top in each division? And ultimately, which team will be left standing long enough to hoist the Stanley Cup in June? Here’s what we think:

Chris

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: This could be the toughest division in the East, but the Flyers have good, young talent and got a whole lot tougher during the off-season. Their blue line looks better with Pronger and Emery could be a surprise in net. The Flyers will take the Atlantic.
  • Northeast: The Bruins are the complete package – good defense, unselfish offense and solid goaltending. The Bruins will skate through the competition without a doubt.
  • Southeast: While the division is slowly improving, nobody can match the scoring power of the Washington Capitals. The Caps could do some serious damage this year.

Who could win the Cup: The Boston Bruins have a great team that has failed to make a significant impact in the post-season in recent years. Attribute it to injuries or lack of toughness or what you will, the Bruins are resilient and play hard and tough every night. Not only can this team put the puck in the net, they all work hard to keep it out of their own net. Last season, 11 players were plus-15 or better. With team scoring leader Marc Savard a potential free agent at season’s end, and with the team tight up against the cap, it’s do or die for the Bruins this season.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: Arguably the best division in hockey, my money is still on Detroit. Experience and great leadership, plus an infusion of young, hungry talent, will propel this team.
  • Northwest: The Sedin twins and Roberto Luongo all signed long-term? With the addition of puck-moving defenseman like Schneider and Ehrhoff, the Vancouver Canucks look better on both ends of the rink. This team could be scary.
  • Pacific: This could be a close one, but San Jose should be able to edge Anaheim for the division title. San Jose has good offensive depth and strong goaltending. If Thornton and Heatley click as linemates, watch out.

Who could win the Cup: Quack…quack…quack…Not only are the Ducks big and physical, they have strong depth at all positions. The loss of Chris Pronger will be offset by the addition of Ryan Whitney and James Wisniewski, who are both offensively-minded and defensively talented. Koivu, Lupol, Selanne and Ryan all provide excellent scoring depth in addition to Perry and Getzlaf on the top line. These guys are big and tough and thrive on physical play. If Giguere falters in net, the Ducks have a stellar back-up in Jonas Hiller. This team has what it takes to win.

Chris’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Anaheim Ducks

As a Wings fan, I want to put the Red Wings’ name in that line, and I hope I’m wrong in my prediction, but the fact of the matter is that the Anaheim Ducks are big, powerful and know how to score goals. Sure, they lost Chris Pronger, but they offset his absence with offensive depth and still boast a solid defensive corps. Add in the one-two punch of Jonas Hiller and J. S. Giguere in net and you have a lot of work on your hands if you want to put the puck in their net. If the Ducks begin to fly together, do other teams in the West have what it takes to break them apart?

Eric

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: With their already deep depth from the previous year, as well as the additions of big defenseman Chris Pronger and wild card Ray Emery, I am going to have to go with the Philadephia Flyers.
  • Northeast: Come on Ottawa! They have added so much talent during the off season, as well as getting rid of unhappy Dany Heatley, they have an amazing team this year on paper and the ability to live up to those numbers. Plus a healthy Pascal Leclaire should be the answers to their goalie troubles.
  • Southeast: Besides the Washington Capitals, is there anyone really worth watching in this division? No there is not, and that is why I choose the Washington Capitals.

Who could win the Cup: This is a tough one, but I will have to say the Philadelphia Flyers. They have the size, grit and talent of every aspect of the game, it is hard not to choose them. The only potential weakness could be of new goaltender Ray Emery, but I have a feeling he will be a great fit in Philly and will do great.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: Although I do feel the Chicago Blackhawks have added some amazing talent over the off-season, I still feel the Detroit Red Wings are the dominant team. The Wings have lost some big named players, but in previous years they have proven their young players coming up from Grand Rapids are NHL caliber players.
  • Northwest: Having some of the best hockey fans in the NHL, the Calgary Flames look to build upon their 7th guy and go for it all. Captain Jarome Iginla does it all, fighting, point scoring and penalty killing. Big defenseman Dion Phaneuf is already laying on the big hit in the pre-season, what more could you ask for? A solid goaltender in Mikka Kiprusoff will provide the big saves to win the game as well. Calgary will be tough.
  • Pacific: I would love to say the Phoenix Coyotes, but that would be completely wrong. Maybe almost as far fetched, I am going with the Dallas Stars. They have amazing depth and talented players, as well as some very attractive ice girls. I do believe they have a good chance as long as they stay healthy, which has been a problem in previous years.

Who could win the Cup: Despite losing many talented players, the Detroit Red Wings are still a threat in any 7 game series. A team that turns the other cheek and then smirks as they score on the power play, Detroit is a well disciplined and talented team. The team is comprised of some of the best players in the game today, as well as up and coming talent. The only concern as with every team, is the ability to stay healthy throughout the whole season and playoffs.

Eric’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Philadelphia Flyers

The Broad Street Bullies are back and will be the real deal this season. The whole team is tough. Daniel Carcillo lead the league last year in penalty minutes. Big defenseman Chris Pronger will be skating with the team this year and will provide grit and a lock down defensive play style. Goaltender Ray Emery is on a mission from the previous year playing overseas in the KHL.  Veteran players such as Danny Briere, Simon Gagne and Kimmo Timonen will provide leadership in the playoffs. All of them will be lead by one of my favorite players, Captain Mike Richards. The Philadelphia Flyers will also be playing in the Winter Classic this year which would hype any team up. Do not be surprised when they win it because they are built to win the Stanley Cup this year.

Eddie

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: The defending cup champion Pittsburgh will have the infamous “Stanley Cup Hangover” early on, but will get things together to take the division away from Philadelphia and New Jersey after the Olympic Break. It will be interesting to see how well they play under a full season under Dan Bylsma.
  • Northeast: Boston is simply the best team in this division. They dominated last season and they got better. Montreal and Buffalo will try to make a run but will come up short.
  • Southeast: Similiar to Boston in the Northeast, Washington is the clear favorite. Watch out for Florida and Carolina to make the division race closer than it was last season.

Who could win the Cup: Like how last season was Sidney Crosby’s year to win, this could be the same for Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin has won every other major award but the one that’s most important. A team that only got better with the additions of Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison, I like for the Capitals to get over the Pittsburgh hill and reach the Stanley Cup finals.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: If Chicago wants to be taken seriously by Detroit, they have to win the division this year. If Chicago doesn’t win it this season, who knows if they ever will. The Blackhawks and the Red Wings will be in the two-team race all season, with the younger Blackhawks wanting it more.
  • Northwest: If Mikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla can pickup their game from last season, this can be Calgary’s division. Whats working in Calgary’s favor is the home ice advantage at the Saddledome and Vancouver’s NHL-Record 14-game road trip before and after the Olympic Break.
  • Pacific: San Jose is everyone’s pick to win this division. While the Sharks and Dallas Stars can be in talks to win the division, the big question is can Anaheim play the way they played the second half of last season throughout the 2009-10 season? Expect the Ducks to take the division title.

Who could win the Cup: Like in the Eastern Conference, this could be the year of the young super stars. That is what will keep the Red Wings from advancing to the finals. Anaheim has Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry. Chicago has Jonathan Towes and Patrick Kane. Expect the Blackhawks to lift the Clarence Campbell Bowl for the first time since 1992.

Eddie’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Washington Capitals

When this season is over, the title of Marian Hossa’s autobiography will be “Close But No Cigar: How I Got To Three Consecutive Stanley Cup Finals Without Winning.” Hossa will play in another Stanley Cup final with the Blackhawks, but this time he will see Alexander Ovechkin raise the Cup over his head.

Matt

Division Winners, East

  • Atlantic: While the Penguins are defending Stanley Cup Champions, they won’t have what it takes to get it done during the regular season this year. Philadelphia got bigger and stronger during the off-season, and a healthy Daniel Briere will lead them to a division title.
  • Northeast: The loss of Phil Kessel and Aaron Ward won’t do much harm to the Boston Bruins. They return enough experience to claim another division title.
  • Southeast: The Capitals are another year older, another year wiser, and another year hungrier. Alex Ovechkin and his crew will run away with this one.

Who could win the Cup: The past two seasons have ended in disappointment for the Washington Capitals, but that could all change this season. They have one of the hungriest groups of players ever, and with their free agent signings, are a clear choice in the East.

Divisions Winners, West

  • Central: As everyone expects the Blackhawks to oust the Red Wings and claim a division championship, the Wings find themselves in the exact position they want to be in – the underdog. Chicago and goalie Cristobal Huet falter under pressure and the Detroit takes the division once again.
  • Northwest: Vancouver added some tremendous depth to their team via trade and free agency. They will own the Northwest Division this season.
  • Pacific: Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley will be absolutely lethal in San Jose, but Anaheim will pick up where they left off last season and take the division.

Who could win the Cup: Detroit’s young players have more experience in the playoffs than they do in the regular season. This should benefit them come April, May and June as they march to a third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

Matt’s Stanley Cup Champion Prediction: Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are eager to prove last year was a fluke and they are still among the NHL’s most elite, while the Capitals are the hungriest to prove they have what it takes to raise Lord Stanley. It will will be a battle, but the stifling defense of Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski will shut down the most potent scorers in the league and claim their second Stanley Cup in three years.