not sure on the order yet, but I'll say these teams get in

Vancouver
St. Louis
Detroit
Chicago
San Jose
Los Angeles
Colorado
Minnesota

STL
LA
VAN
CHI
DET
NSH
MIN
SJ
-------
PHX
EDM
COL
DAL
ANA
CGY
CBJ

STL
LA
VAN
CHI
DET
NSH
MIN
SJ
-------
PHX
EDM
COL
DAL
ANA
CGY
CBJ
- bluecoconuts

Concur, but I don't think Detroit finishes that high. Honestly not sure they make the playoffs. The loss of Lidstrom will have a greater impact than people imagine.

Also, I'd put Phoenix in and SJ out. The winds of change continue to blow in the west. Not sure how Nashville does minus Suter either.

(frank) it. Who knows..

Lots of interesting stuff has transpired so far and there are bound to be more surprises.

The top end of the West could be wide open. Every team has question marks.

1 - Vancouver
2 - San Jose
3 - Chicago
4 - LA
5 - St. Louis
6 - Dallas
7 - Detroit
8 - Minnesota

9 - Nashville
10 - Edmonton
11 - Colorado
12 - Anaheim
13 - Calgary
14 - Phoenix
15 - Columbus

I really feel this year is a toss up.

Vancouver is going with a relatively unproven #1 in Corey Schneider. He was sensational in a backup role but how will he react to a heavier load? They won't have him as a Luongo safety net. Who will be his if he struggles? With all that being said I think the longer off-season will help the Canucks get back to being healthy and the NW is probably still a soft division.

San Jose will benefit from a tired LA team. However, guys like Thornton and Marleau aren't getting any younger and they could start to decline. They do have nice depth with Couture, Pavelski, Clowe and Havlat so I think they could be in the conversation for the President's Trophy.

Chicago is in an interesting spot. They have some all world talent but their depth isn't great. If they do manage to acquire Luongo they could vault all the way to the top of the standings. The Central division is another one that is up for grabs with the changing landscape.

LA is probably due for a little bit of a hangover. They play a physical brand of hockey that is hard to sustain for 82 games. I'm not sure the focus will be there at the start of the year and I expect them to struggle a little. Vancouver and Boston both had very good seasons a year removed from their cup runs. I think the Bruins benefited from a weak division last year as did the Canucks. LA has a stiffer test in the Pacific division.

St. Louis, in my opinion overachieved last year. Elliott was all-world and this guys couldn't win a game in Colorado. Halak is a very good goalie and Hitchcock is an excellent coach. Hitch also tends to start with a bang and slowly fizzles. This is a good team that plays hard every night but they are lacking in high-end skill. The Central is wide open so they could easily win the division but I think a a market correction is in order.

Dallas made some nice moves this off-season. This is a team that could just as easily miss the playoffs like they have the past two seasons. I think Whitney and Jagr help their PP enough and with the Ducks and Coyotes taking on water I can see them squeezing in this year.

Detroit is on the decline. Losing Rafalski and Lidstrom in back-to-back years and not getting an adequate replacement for either spells trouble. Howard is average and I don't think the defence will be good enough. Datsyuk and Zetterberg are still premier players but they have miles on them. Any significant time lost to injury for those two and Detroit will be on the outs.

Minnesota made the coup of the off-season bringing in Parise and Suter. Both are outstanding hockey players. I don't think either are worth the money shelled out but that's another argument. Minnesota was an awful hockey club last year. They bled chances and had a horrible GF/GA ratio. Parise and Suter will undoubtedly help improve that but will it be enough to get into the playoffs? Just barely, I think.

I'll deal with the rest later. My mind has changed several times writing this so it might change again by the time I get around to posting the rest of my thoughts.

No way Anahiem is gonna miss the playoffs again. With both Getzlaf and Perry going into free agency next year there's not gonna be any games that they aren't gonna play all out, if not for the team, than at least for their own future contracts

Why do fans insist that LA will have a hangover??

LA had one of the least amount of games played to win the Cup with very minor injuries if any at all.

I dont think LA will be tired.
They were also one of if not the youngest team in the playoffs which also coms into play for a Stanley Cup hangover.

Why do fans insist that LA will have a hangover??

LA had one of the least amount of games played to win the Cup with very minor injuries if any at all.

I dont think LA will be tired.
They were also one of if not the youngest team in the playoffs which also coms into play for a Stanley Cup hangover.
- LA_Kings6720

It's just typical with most teams. No one is saying they are definitely going to have it, but there is a solid chance of it happening. To ignore the possibility of it happening is dumb as well.

1 - Vancouver - Northwest
2 - St Louis - Central
3 - Los Angeles - Pacific
4 - Chicago
5 - Nashvlle
6 - Detroit
7 - San Jose
8 - Minnesota
-------------------------------
9 - Colorado
10 - Phoenix
11 - Edmonton
12 - Anaheim
13 - Dallas
14 - Calgary
15 - Columbus

1. Edmonton
2. Columbus
3. Phoenix
4. Calgary
5. Anaheim
6. Nashville
7. Minnesota
8. San Jose
9. Colorado
10. Dallas
11. Detroit
12. Chicago
13. St. Louis
14. LA
15. Vancouver

Vancouver
St. Louis
LA
Chicago
Detroit
Minnesota
Nashville
Dallas
---
Phoenix
San Jose
Anaheim
Calgary
Colorado
Edmonton
Columbus

1. Edmonton
2. Columbus
3. Phoenix
4. Calgary
5. Anaheim
6. Nashville
7. Minnesota
8. San Jose
9. Colorado
10. Dallas
11. Detroit
12. Chicago
13. St. Louis
14. LA
15. Vancouver
- bacheesh

I agree with this one.

No way Anahiem is gonna miss the playoffs again. With both Getzlaf and Perry going into free agency next year there's not gonna be any games that they aren't gonna play all out, if not for the team, than at least for their own future contracts
- sudburyboy

I think they'll definitely be better, but I don't think they'll be able to beat out teams like Dallas, Nashville, or Phoenix for that final spot.

FYI, the Edmonton Oilers WILL be in the playoffs in 2012/13, I personally guarantee it!!!!

Concur, but I don't think Detroit finishes that high. Honestly not sure they make the playoffs. The loss of Lidstrom will have a greater impact than people imagine.

Also, I'd put Phoenix in and SJ out. The winds of change continue to blow in the west. Not sure how Nashville does minus Suter either.

(frank) it. Who knows..
- GuyLaDouche

Honestly my first thought was Det 6, Edm 7 and Phx 8... But if Phx loses both Whitney and Doan I think they are in trouble. I can see Detroit finishing 8th or 9th easily, but they have enough skill and coaching to finish top 8, if they stay healthy. But they probably bounce in the first round. I think Edmonton starts their play this year, even if they don't finish top 8, they will be in competition for it come April.

Why do fans insist that LA will have a hangover??

LA had one of the least amount of games played to win the Cup with very minor injuries if any at all.

I dont think LA will be tired.
They were also one of if not the youngest team in the playoffs which also coms into play for a Stanley Cup hangover.
- LA_Kings6720

It seems like everyone is forgetting that LA was an 8 seed that happened to have a ridiculously hot goalie going into the playoffs. Not to take anything away from the run because it was insane, but they almost didn't even make it to the show either. 3 more wins from Calgary or a few more ties from Dallas and they were on the outside looking in. That is a little too close to be getting cocky and I don't know if Carter for a full season is going to improve on where they ended up at season's end.

LA plays Boston for the championship. That is all that needs to be said
- LA_Kings6720

Its funny this guy used to be a Ducks fan...I remember his name....I think he liked Chicago a couple years ago

It seems like everyone is forgetting that LA was an 8 seed that happened to have a ridiculously hot goalie going into the playoffs. Not to take anything away from the run because it was insane, but they almost didn't even make it to the show either. 3 more wins from Calgary or a few more ties from Dallas and they were on the outside looking in. That is a little too close to be getting cocky and I don't know if Carter for a full season is going to improve on where they ended up at season's end.
- tmoyer_15

I don't understand what it's going to take to convince people that this Cup roster was finally stabilized as of last trade deadline. The team chemistry finally started to materialize during the end of last season. Is San Jose going to suddenly suck next year? No. Why? Chemistry and talent. St. Louis? Same. So, why would LA suddenly fold all of a sudden? This team was lacking serious forward talent, which has been addressed. So...convince us why it should be any different next season and going forward.

The Kings have a good chance of regressing from their, let's face it, dominating performance the last quarter of the year, that much is true.

But you guys are also forgetting the Kings could not score for poop for 3/4 of the season, 2nd to last in that stat, and they lost numerous games 1-0 or 2-1.

After the trade deadline, the Kings were, if memory serves correct, second in scoring in the NHL.

I don't think they can continue that scoring streak, so in that yes they will regress. But they played nowhere near what they were expected to 3/4 of the season. They can easily play better than their showing last season in the regular season, and there is really no real reason why they won't.

You guys are underestimating them a bit. But that's fine. We're all entitled to our own opinion.

The Kings have a good chance of regressing from their, let's face it, dominating performance the last quarter of the year, that much is true.

But you guys are also forgetting the Kings could not score for poop for 3/4 of the season, 2nd to last in that stat.

After the trade deadline, the Kings were, if memory serves correct, second in scoring in the NHL.

I don't think they can continue that streak, so in that yes they will regress. But they played nowhere near what they were expected to 3/4 of the year. They can easily play better than their showing last year in the regular season, and there is really no real reason why they won't.

You guys are underestimating them a bit. But that's fine. We're all entitled to our own opinion.
- StayTunedMTC

Read my post. Chemistry and talent up front were lacking. The media knew it, the management knew it, and the fans knew it. The problem has been addressed.

Read my post. Chemistry and talent up front were lacking. The media knew it, the management knew it, and the fans knew it. The problem has been addressed.
- Ersberg

Cant wait to see you guys play SJ again in back to back games....remeber big Joe sliding on his back last year.......

1. Vancouver- 51 wins, 111 points
2. St. Louis- 49 wins, 109 points
3. Phoenix- 42 wins, 97 points
4. Nashville- 48 wins, 104 points
5. Detroit- 48 wins, 102 points
6. Chicago- 45 wings, 101 points
7. San Jose- 43 wins, 96 points
8. Los Angeles- 40 wins, 95 points
9. Calgary- 37 wins, 90 points
10. Dallas- 42 wins, 89 points
11. Colorado- 41 wins, 88 points
12. Minnesota- 35 wins, 81 points
13. Anaheim- 34 wins, 80 points
14. Edmonton- 32 wins, 74 points
15. Columbus- 29 wins, 65 points

1. St. Louis (Same team, but older and wiser)

2. Vancouver (I think not having Kesler to start the year will hurt their chances at #1)

3. Los Angeles (They will win the Pacific, but they still wont be a high scoring team.)

4. Chicago (Injury will probably not be as much of an issue this year. Toews?)

5. San Jose (Again injury issues should be less, could be higher if they win Nash.)

6. Colorado (League ranking 11th Defense, 22nd offense/ Added a Healthy Duchene, and McGinn & Downie for a whole year. Plus 20 more goals from PAP..)

7. Minnesota (Bastards, hopefully they are at least more fun to watch now.)

8. Nashville / Detroit (Suter and where did the Russians go? That will hurt offensively.)

9. Detroit / Nashville (Losing BOTH Lidstrom & Stuart? Added a backup goalie..)

10. Dallas (Could be in 8th but, will all those 40 year olds hold up the entire season?)

11. Edmonton (Defense? Goaltending? And their skilled forwards are still small and vulnerable.)

12. Phoenix (Lost Whitney, probably losing Doan, and Vrbata scoring 35G again? That is a lot of offense to lose for a team that still needed more.)

13. Calgary (Got worse defensively with Wideman, and softer up front w/Hudler.)

14. Columbus (Their defense is just to strong to be last.)

15. Anaheim (Pretty much rebuilding and not by their own choice, especially if they trade Ryan. Higher if they don't.. How did they miss out on guys like Ribero and Roy? One line will not do it for you anymore with how good defensively the west is getting.)

Read my post. Chemistry and talent up front were lacking. The media knew it, the management knew it, and the fans knew it. The problem has been addressed.
- Ersberg

Yeah. I hear you D.I.6.

We played subpar for most of the year because of those issues, and they were fixed.

I find it kind of comical that people expect us to play worse than we did in the regular season last year. But whatever.

Yeah. I hear you D.I.6.

We played subpar for most of the year because of those issues, and they were fixed.

I find it kind of comical that people expect us to play worse than we did in the regular season last year. But whatever.
- StayTunedMTC

That's retarded, I think LA will be better this year but I still don't think you guys will be a super high scoring team. It will be enough to win the Pacific hands down though. SJ could give you problems if they win the Nash sweepstakes though. Well and if Niemi decides to play to what hes capable of.

1. Edmonton
2. Columbus
3. Phoenix
4. Calgary
5. Anaheim
6. Nashville
7. Minnesota
8. San Jose
9. Colorado
10. Dallas
11. Detroit
12. Chicago
13. St. Louis
14. LA
15. Vancouver
- bacheesh

This Guy has all-class predict skill

That's retarded, I think LA will be better this year but I still don't think you guys will be a super high scoring team. It will be enough to win the Pacific hands down though. SJ could give you problems if they win the Nash sweepstakes though. Well and if Niemi decides to play to what hes capable of.
- Steve-B

Agree with all that.

As far as SJ goes, they always give us trouble. But my only contention would be with regards to Nash. SJ usually pulls off good trades, so take this for what it's worth, but depending on who SJ has to theoretically give up to get Nash, does that make them worse off? Or does Nash + whoever they bring in make them better overall?