So to start off, i would like to say that my favourite team is the Pittsburgh Penguins, and no my favourite player isn't Crosby. as awesome as he is, my favourite players are Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, and Evgeni Malkin.
Eastern Conference Notables:
Crosby's Return:
So It is clear that without Crosby, Pittsburgh is going to have a much harder time winning the cup. though as we proved last year, with Crosby, Staal, and Malkin our 3 best players being out for half a season each.. we still posted 106 points and only were out winned by Vancouver. we proved that we are a strong team without our best players, it showed our true depth, determination and strength. now this season with Jordan Staal poised for a big year, Malkin *if he stays healthy* poised for a 100 point season, and Crosby*when he returns* hopefully will start where he left off last year, running away with the scoring lead of 60+ points in just a bit over 40 games; if all of this proves to be true, we have a fantastic shot at winning the cup.
Now that being said, i don't believe that all of this is going to happen. I think that Pittsburgh will have a strong regular season, and possibly advance to the conference finals if they are lucky assuming that the factors above do not all occur.
Toronto Making the playoffs:
This year, i believe that the Leafs have all of the tools to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Kessel should have a strong year with goals in the high 30's, Grabovski (the best player on that team IMO) is poised to have another great year, and Toronto's defensive core is very strong. The only factor that should affect them making the playoffs is goaltending. They are relying on James Reimer, who played very well at the end of last season during Toronto's playoff push. If Optimus Reim(His nicknames are the best btw) can play like he did last season, Toronto should be able to squeak in the playoffs in the 8th, possibly 7th spot.
Winnipeg Jets:
The Atlanta Thrashers were bought out at the end of last season and they moved back to Winnipeg and brought back the Jets! as awesome as this is, they are still the same team as last year. they are still the Thrashers. Though they have a very promising youth as their team is very young, this season i do not expect much from the Jets. I would be happily surprised if they made the playoffs, but i expect them to come somewhere between 10th and 12th in the Eastern.
Washington Capitals:
Ok Washington, you should have won the cup last year, or the year before. you have been the best team in the Eastern Conference and the league for many years now. Ovechkin could basically win a cup by himself. lets go Washington.
Eastern Conference Winner Prediction:
Washington Capitals
OR
Pittsburgh Penguins (If they can stay healthy)
Western Conference Notables:
I would like to start off by saying, Vancouver should have won the cup last year. and this year since they are basically the same team, need to make it to the finals and win the cup that they deserve. Also i would like to say that the Western Conference is much more competitive in the standings than the Eastern Conference. almost every team in the Western Conference are playoff quality(exceptions Edmonton)
Vancouver Canucks:
Vancouver really should have won the cup last year. They were the perfect team... outstanding forwards, strong defensive core, and superb goaltending. they almost did it, but game 7 was a disaster. since they are basically the same team, Vancouver needs to win the cup this year, or I fear that their days might be numbered before they have to repeat the rebuilding process again.
Detroit Redwings:
This Old Fart of a team... as much as i hate to say it, are still good even at their old age. Lidstrom is arguably the best defense and most complete defense in the league. Their forwards are old, but still very talented. and Jimmy Howard.... one of my least favourite players in the game... is good. Detroit should have a good run in the season and in the playoffs
LA Kings:
The Kings this year have improved drastically, with the addition of Mike Richards. Anze Kopitar is in for a HUGE year, and defense Drew Doughty is also primed for a strong year. this team has all the tools to challenge for the Stanley Cup
San Jose Sharks:
The Sharks Ditched Heatly and Setigouchi and picked up Havlat and Burns. was this a good move? yes. the Sharks have been playing at the top of the Western Conference Standings for years now, and this year might finally be the year they have the tools to be pushed over the top and Win the Cup. They have strong goaltending in Stanley Cup winning goalie Anti Niemi, an extremely talented forward group and with the addition of Brent Burns, a solid defensive core.
Western Conference Winner Prediction:
Vancouver Canucks
OR
Los Angele's Kings
This is all im saying for Western Conference because i could basically list every team :|
Standings at the end of the season- Western Conference:
1st. Vancouver Canucks (112 points)
2nd. San Jose Sharks ( 105 points)
3rd. LA Kings (103 points)
4th. Detroit Redwings (99 points)
5th. Nashville Predators (98 points)
6th. Columbus Blue Jackets (96 points) stretch pick
7th. Anaheim *MIGHTY* Ducks (96 points)
8th. Dallas Stars (95 points)
9th. Phoenix Coyotes (94 points)
10th. Calgary Flames (94 points)
11th. Chicago BlackHawks (93 points)
12th. Minnesota Wild (88 points)
13th. St. Louis Blues (84 points)
14th. Edmonton Oilers (76 points)
15th. Colorado Avalanche (75 points)
Eastern Conference standings:
1st. Washington Capitals (108 points)
2nd. Pittsburgh Penguins (106 points)
3rd. Buffalo Sabres (102 Points)
4th. Philadelphia Flyers (100 points)
5th. Tampa Bay Lightening (99 points)
6th. New York Rangers (96 points)
7th. Boston Bruins (93 points)
8th. Toronto Maple Leafs (92 points)
9th. Carolina Hurricanes (91 points)
10th. Winnipeg Jets (87 points)
11th. Montreal Canadians (86 points)- stretch pick, could do better if healthy
12th. New Jersey Devils (82 points)
13th. New York Islanders (79 points)
14th. Florida Panthers (78 points)
15th. Ottawa Senators (69 points)
I know these standing may not be a good prediction because of divisions and points and stuff, but this is generally what i am expecting from the regular season.
Playoffs:
I expect Washington to win the Eastern Conference against Pittsburgh or Tampa Bay in the end, and I expect Vancouver to beat San Jose or Nashville in the end.
Stanley Cup Winner:
Vancouver Canucks
i believe that Vancouver will win the cup because they are clearly the best team in the league... and their loss from last year will just make them hungrier... like the Penguins a few years back when they lost to Detroit in the Finals, then the Next year they beat Detroit in the finals and won the cup.
Trophies(not all just some)
Art Ross Trophy(most points)
Alexander Ovechkin (112 points)
runner up- Evgeni Malkin (108 points if healthy)
Norris Trophy (best defense)
Shea Weber
runner up- Zdeno Chara and Kris Letang
Vezina (best goalie)
Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators
runner up- Roberto Luongo(Vancouver) or Marc-Andre Fleury(Pittsburgh)
Maurice Rockey Richard (most goals)
Steven Stamkos with 56 goals
runner up- Alex Ovechkin with 54 goals
Lester B Pearson Award (best player)
Alexander Ovechkin
runner up- Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos
so this is my little prediction for the NHL season... i could go on for hours... but im going to leave it at this.
So todays song of the day is from Killswitch Engage, and is called Never again off the album Killswitch Engage(self named). I really like this band, their music is intense, meaningful, and the lyrics are fantastic. the mood of this song, and the singer of this band are both fantastic. its hard to describe it. anyways here it is, i highly recommend you listen to this band they have a lot to offer.
Killswitch Engage- "Never Again" off the album "Killswitch Engage" (2009)
Remember to compliment someone! it really helps people... makes people feel good about themselves. at least once a day! im not sure when my next post will be, maybe tomorrow if i have the time. im trying to do at least a post a day, but with work and school its difficult you know?
anyways..so long for now and thanks to everyone who reads :)
you forgot to mention that Vokoun is now the starting goalie for the caps and that one of the two Sedin twins will win the art ross just because ovi doesnt get enough points also Los Angeles doesnt have a ' in it. Also LA and San Jose are in the same division so they cant be second and third and as much as i would love to see chicago miss the playoffs they wont cause they have to piss off Vancouver. finally dallas doesnt have a goalie or brad richards so excpect them to be in the 13,14,or 15 position, Minnesota a team that couldnt score but had great defence last year added two snipers they are gonna be in one of those latter playoff spots not dallas or columbus
ReplyDeletethis took my like an hour to type, these are my predictions not yours. i didnt tell you to read it. im not going to do a spell or grammar check on my blog bro. i could have mentioned every team but i just mentioned what mattered to me. i also mentioned that my predictions might be messed because i didnt go over the specifics. this is generally what i expect like i said. also, columbus finally has a number one center in Jeff Carter so Nash has someone to play with. and Dallas has good goaltending, good defense and a strong young forwards in Loui Errikson and Jamie Benn.
ReplyDelete