Note: This list is not the teams I feel will finish the highest, just the list of the teams who I believe actually could be more of a force to recon with in a shorter season...
#10 St Louis
There are 3 big reasons the Blues were so solid last year versus past years. They bought into a system and they were finally healthy and they had huge goaltending. A shortened, delayed season will help to keep the Blues healthy and remember Hitchcock didn't start with the teams last year, so this year this will be 100% Hitch's Team.
#9. Columbus
Yes Columbus. A shortened season and the team being rid of the distraction that had become the Rick Nash trade will help this upstart group and I believe make them a far better threat than anyone could have seen coming. I love the way they battled down the stretch last year and the players from the Rangers deal will fit in nicely. Not saying they are a playoff lock, just that they will be a tough 2 points.
#8. NY Rangers
The Rangers will bring their three headed monster into the new season and being able to put a power play together with Richards, Gaborik, and Rick Nash won't suck. The Rangers have suffered towards the ends of seasons as of late because they played Lundqvist too many games. A shortened season will keep him fresh come playoff time.
#7 Flyers
The Flyers were the team with the best scoring rookies in the NHL last year, but there is concern over and aging defensive corps. You know you are deep up front when you can deal a James vanRiemsdyk for a stay-at-home hitting d-man. The shorter season will help the Flyers Defense to be more healthy come playoff time
#6 Montreal
The Habs are quietly putting together a fast/young group of star players who can put numbers up and allow the pressure to be off of Price to have to win games by himself...
#5 Los Angeles
The Kings were dominant in the playoffs, as dominant as any team has been in years, but had we started the season on time there would have been Cup hangover concerns.. I believe there wont be any this year and they will instead prove they weren't a Hollywood one-hit wonder.
#4 Pittsburgh
Say what you want, but from March on last year the Penguins were amazing and just ran into a bad matchup in round 1 or they may have taken the Silver Cup home. This is Crosby's team and the best treatment for concussions is extended time away....this lockout will make the Penguins much stronger.
#3. Toronto
For the past several years the Leafs have been a good team early on and a bad team later in the season...The young guns are coming on and Lupul and Kessel have shown amazing chemistry. Add to this a good chance Luongo is in the pipes for this team and I believe the playoff-less streak will come to an end. (even without the need of all 30 teams making the playoffs)
#2. Edmonton
The Oilers young guns have been playing alot of hockey and getting the kind of experience this team would have never been able to afford had there been another NHL season. It's good for young players to ride busses and learn the humility of the AHL. The Oilers are a few deals away from a powerhouse. They need to solidify their defensive woes, something that has continued in the AHL as well.
#1. NY Islanders
The Isles have been getting harder and harder to play over the past few years. Tavares is the most underrated star in hockey and has been playing during the lockout. He will be ready. Nabokov, once not wanting anything to do with this team, could revive his career with a shortened season and the Isles could revive their franchise.
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