NHL 2013

Reflect. Review. Changes. Expectations. Welcome back to A Radiant Catalyst.

I don't even know who still reads this blog besides me, but it's a great way to just speak my mind. Someone has to be interested right? Even if it's just me, it will have to do.

Hockey talk

So we started off the new year with the end of the NHL lockout! Both sides are at fault and both Bettman and Fehr should be fired. This could have been resolved a month ago or earlier. Idiots, both of them! For the first time they just sat down, talked about it, and got a deal done. No drama, no walking, part due to the mediator that helped bring both sides together, and just kept working until a deal was done. I've been saying this from the start, if both sides just met every single day for a couple of hours for a week or two, a deal would be done. I know it's a process and both sides held out to try and get the other side to give in, but this is a crime to the fans. We easily could have had a full season if both sides just did what is best for the fans and compromised with each other from the very beginning. Bettman, as much as I don't like him, is a great business man and has done wonders for the NHL as a league... but he's an idiot. Fehr I truly believe was scared for his job at the end and that is why he gave in. Fehr is also an idiot, though he left baseball in pretty good shape when he left. Hopefully the next lockout (8-10 years depending if one side opts out early) can be resolved a year before the lockout would start like it should have been with this one. There's half a season gone from the fans, the players careers, and the NHL. It's good for nobody, and both sides are to blame. But in the end, hockey is back and I am excited. 

Going down the teams, east to west.
Atlantic Division
Pittsburgh Penguins: 
Being a Pittsburgh fan, if everyone can stay healthy and if the Fleury-Vokoun combo can stay consistent I say Pittsburgh is the favourite team. Even without Crosby, Pittsburgh is very strong and could make a cup run. I see Letang having a giant year, and James neal scoring around 25 goals in this half season. Malkin will make another dominant performance again. 

New Jersey Devils:
Losing Parise means the aging devils are going to have a tough time making the playoffs. Either Kovalchuk will have to put the team on his back or Brodeur will have to stand on his head at the end of his career. I can't see this team doing well, but stranger things have happened.

New York Islanders:
Tavares is going to destroy this season, I can feel it. Islanders have a lot of young players... they could be the big surprise of the year.With players like Moulson and Grabner, Okposo and Tavares... and with Ryan Strome coming up soon I can safely say this team is the team to watch in the east in the coming years... a talent shit-storm is coming.

New York Rangers:
Then, there's the Rangers... Oh man are they ever stacked. With the addition of Rick Nash they now have arguably the most potent offense in the league, pair that with a solid defense core in Marc Staal and the best goalie in the work in King Hendrik, Rangers are incredibly dangerous.

Philadelphia Flyers: 
As much as I hate the Flyers, they have a good team and I have to respect that. Giroux is a stud, Luke and Brayden Schenn will develop nicely, Hartnell will continue to be an enigma, and with players like Wayne Simmonds around they have all of the offensive talent to win a cup... its all banking on their shaky defensive core and Bryzgalov going back to form like he was in Phoenix.

Northeast Division
Toronto Maple Leafs:
They are kind of a wildcard for me. They have a decent team on paper, and depending on Reimer being healthy and playing well, they could slip into 7th or 8th. If Lou joins the team then Toronto is a playoff team, plain and simple. If not, they could still do it. Kessel and Lupul are solid, Kadri is developing well, and when Gardiner comes back from injury they have a great defensive core in Phaneuf, Liles, Gunnarson, Franson, Kostka (this kid is sick), and I guess Komisarek. Still need that big #1 center though, someone like Eric or Jordan Staal would be perfect for this team. Still waiting...

Ottawa Senators:
I am going to say it right now, last year in my opinion was a fluke. Karlsson need to prove hes the real deal to me, their goal-tending is decent but still not amazing, the rest of their defense is lacking, and their scoring is mediocre. Only players like Spezza and Turris standout to me. I can't see them making the playoffs with other teams improving so much.

Montreal Canadiens:
Quite honestly, the worst team in the NHL right now. Carey Price is amazing, but that's about it. They have major problems scoring, their defense is ok I guess but still not playoff quality... this team needs to rebuild. Start drafting Montreal, make the playoffs 6 years from now. Don't try anytime soon. The rookie they picked up seems good, but looking for a #1 center will be a problem.

Buffalo Sabres:
I really think this team can make the playoffs this year. Ryan Miller is as solid as you can get in net, and with Enroth backing him up if he gets injured they are still playoff caliber. Their defense is great, their offense is very solid... this team could make a cup run in my opinion.

Boston Bruins:
A great team that should have no trouble taking the division. Tuuka Rask is manning the net this year and he is solid. Their offense is talented, their defense is solid. This team should cause headaches for every other team this year. Will they win the cup? I think they could.

Southeast Division
Carolina Hurricanes:
Adding Jordan Staal and Semin makes this team look excellent on paper. Eric and Jordan Staal, Semin, Skinner, Gleason, Ward, Murphy (if they ever call him up... he's the real deal). The team could make the playoffs, and I think in a weak division they could take the title. Much improved.

Florida Panthers:
Surprised the hockey world last year with their division title. They got a bunch of good, young players... but in all honesty I don't see them making the playoffs with this division getting stronger in the Hurricanes and Lightning. Stranger things have happened though... Huberdeau is sick.

Tampa Bay Lightning:
Adding Anders Lindback gives Tampa a solid goaltender (still unproven however)... and that is really their only problem. They have all the offense in the world with Stamkos, St. Louis, Lecavilier, ect... and their defense in Hedmen and others is great. It's just goaltending. If Lindback proves to be the real deal, this team is extremely dangerous.

Winnipeg Jets:
A young team... its not their time yet. Pavelec is a wall in net for them... their defense could use some work and their offense is ok, but improving with players like Sheifele coming up. Not this year, but soon...

Washington Capitals:
This team really baffles me. From Presidents Trophy winners to... this. And so fast too. If Ovi can get back to being a monster and their goaltending stays ok then this team is good to go... for me this team is banking on Ovi... Mike Green as well getting back to form. Backstrom is a solid #1 center.

Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks:
Extremely gifted offensively, solid defensively, just worried about Crawford being a legit #1 goalie. If he can prove to be solid, then this team has a chance at the cup.

St. Louis Blues:
This team came out of nowhere last year. They are solid on all fronts though, and possess the best goaltending combination in Elliot and Halak. This team is one of the best in the NHL, and will do excellent in the regular season.

Columbus Blue Jackets:
Finally Rick Nash is gone. Looking at the Blue Jackets, you see a very young team that just needs some time. I see this team being competitive again in 2-3 years. Draft some players, let prospects develop, build on a solid foundation that the organization has laid out, and this team will be back in the talks for the playoffs. Bobrovsky is awesome in net as well... Philly is an idiot for trading him.

Nashville Predators:
Losing Suter means a less dangerous Predators team. Rinne is still great in net, Weber and the rest of the defense is very good even without Suter, and the offensive is solid (similar to Buffalo's style in my opinion with players like Hornqvist). A playoff team? Yes. 

Detroit Redwings:
I think this season ends the longest playoff appearance run of any major league sports team in history. The Redwings are only getting older... still a great team but I can't see them cracking the much younger, more competitive Western Conference. I think this is the year that Jimmy Howard finally cracks... but again stranger things have happened. 

Northwest Division
Minnesota Wild:
Adding Parise and Suter makes this team a playoff team. Plain and simple. They now have Heatley, Koivu, Setigouchi, Parise, Suter, Backstrom ect. It's a great team, and I see this team not only making the playoffs, but going far as well.

Edmonton Oilers:
This team... will be great. This year? It could happen, but I see this team being a sure thing in 1-2 years, not this year though. Nugent-Hopkins, Hall, Yakupov, Eberle, Dubynik, Hemskey... this team will be great. Just maybe not this year.

Vancouver Canucks:
No reason why this team should not make the playoffs.... or win the cup for that matter. They have all of the pieces in place. Lets just see if Schneider can perform as a #1. If not, and if they don't trade Lou they have him to carry the team. It should be a big year for Vancouver. They could win their division, but I can't see them repeating as President's trophy winners in a shortened season.

Colorado Avalanche:
A young team... not very good right now. Goaltending is great with Varlamov... Landeskog is sick, OReilly is sick... but a couple more years of rebuilding and development for this young team. Not this year, I can't see it happening.

Calgary Flames:
Sorry Calgary, your days are numbered. Iginla is getting old, Kippy is getting old. That's basically your team. Cammaleri is good, and Wideman is good on the back end... I know I am leaving out players but that't because this team is a mess. I don't know what they are... and it's a shame because Iginla and Kippy deserve a cup.

Pacific Divison:
Anaheim Ducks:
Hiller is solid in net, Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, Selanne all make up a great offense... and their defense is decent as well. This team could make the playoffs, but in an ultra-competitive Western Conference in a shortened season who knows what will happen. This teams performance will dictate what happens to Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan in the offeason as well, so Anaheim needs a big year.

San Jose Sharks:
The window of opportunity is closing for the aging sharks. Joe Thorton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Dan Boyle, Anti Niemi... its an amazing team. This team has consistently made the playoffs for the past... I can't even remember its been a solid 5 or 6 years of this team being at the top. This is the year I think that the team makes it to the finals and possibly wins it.

Dallas Stars:
An interesting team... they could make the playoffs. Jamie Benn is a superstar, Eriksson is a great player, net is solid, defense is ok in Goligoski... with the addition of Roy from Buffalo it makes this team competitive. Playoff caliber even in a shortened season. In a Western Conference though, I can't see it.

LA Kings:
The Stanley Cup champions of last year have the exact same team... which means they are incredibly talented and should have no problem making the playoffs... should. They could be the first repeat champions in a while... the team is still so young and with pieces like Richards in there  it makes the dangerous. Watch out, this team is good.

Phoenix Coyotes:
While the future in Phoenix is blurry, the team itself is solid. I just think that every other team improved so much that Phoenix will miss the playoffs. Mike Smith needs to prove that he is the real deal... which I think he is. Their scoring is meh, but their defense is top-notch. It could happen I guess, but I think other teams have improved too much. Here's to another Canadian team? Perhaps Seattle? We will see.


That's all 30 teams.
So here are my predictions for the standings this year.

Eastern Conference:
1st *Pittsburgh Penguins (P)
2nd *Boston Bruins
3rd *Carolina Hurricanes
4th New York Rangers
5th Philadelphia Flyers
6th Ottawa Senators
7th Buffalo Sabres
8th New York Islanders (aww yeah) (W)
9th Tampa Bay Lightning (W)
10th Washington Capitals (W)
11th Toronto Maple Leafs (W)
12th Florida Panthers (W)
13th New Jersey Devils
14th Winnipeg Jets
15th Montreal Canadiens

Western Conference
1st *St Louis Blues
2nd *Vancouver Canucks
3rd *LA Kings
4th San Jose Sharks
5th Chicago Blackhawks
6th Minnesota Wild
7th Anaheim Ducks
8th Nashville Predators
9th Phoenix Coyotes (W)
10th Detroit Redwings (W)
11th Dallas Stars (W)
12th Edmonton Oilers (W)
13th Colorado Avalanche
14th Calgary Flames
15th Columbus Blue Jackets 

* Indicates division champion
P indicates Presidents Trophy
W indicated wildcard, they have the potential in my opinion but it might not be their season yet. 

Right away, you see the east is much less set in stone than the west which is interesting, it's usually the other way around.

Stanley Cup - Pittsburgh Penguins in a perfect world, otherwise the San Jose Sharks
Western Champs - San Jose Sharks
Eastern Champs - Pittsburgh Penguins or the New York Rangers
Conn Smyth - Sidney Crosby or Joe Thorton
Art Ross - Evgeni Malkin
Maurice Rocket - Steven Stamkos
Norris - Kris Letang
Frank J Selke - Ryan Kesler
Calder - Justin Huberdeau
Lady Byng - Pavel Datsyuk
Vezina - Ryan Miller
William M Jennings - Hendrik Lundqvist
Ted Lindsey - Evgeni Malkin