Breaking: The Canadiens have claimed Paul Byron off of waivers from the Flames...and the Leafs gave claimed d-man Frank Corrado from Vancouver.
Well here we go! The last two days where we get to ONLY talk about hockey without ACTUAL hockey being played.
Today I will do the Central and the Pacific, Tomorrow the Atlantic and the Metro….
And since there is no better place to start than with the best division in hockey….
Ek’s Predictions: AKA: Exactly What Will Happen in the Central Division.
#7 Colorado:
This is not a strike against the Avalanche who would make the playoffs were they in ANY other division in my opinion. This is more about a defense that still looks lacking and not fully replacing a VERY important player in O’Reilly, who despite his contract issues throughout the years has always shown up to play and was a big leader on this team….at times arguably their best all-around player.
#6 Winnipeg:
Again, this team is very good and personally I hate placing them in this spot. The Jets are way to talented to finish out of the playoffs and were they in the Pacific I would have them top 3. The Jets do find themselves at an odd crossroads of sorts taking maybe a few steps back in their rebuild (which is perceived as on track) in order to become a true Cup contender long term. So many prospects and so much potential to start working in. They are going to be younger and are very likely to part ways with Byfuglien and/or Ladd…who are the remnants of the Thrashers rebuild.
#5. St Louis:
The Blues will make the playoffs, but something tells me they will squeak in and then be a force. Kind of the opposite to what we have grown used to with great NHL seasons followed by tough playoff losses to the hands of eventual Cup Champs. Being 5th in the Central could land the Blues a first round opponent outside the Central….which I believe they would not only welcome but dominate.
#4. Dallas:
The Stars Jim Nill truly made some great additions in two former Hawks, and Cup Champs, with Oduya and Sharp. He did it for the team’s culture in the room and ability to overcome diversity as much as he did it to improve their on-ice performance…Also be careful no to downplay a third former Cup Champ with Niemi. This team is loaded for bear. I believe their defense is better than most others do as well.
#3. Chicago.
It’s been a crazy off-season for the Hawks and I can’t help but think this team is going to get off to a subpar start. They simply don’t have the motivation to finish first in the division. Get to the playoffs….That’s all the Hawks need.
#2. Minnesota:
The Wild are better than just Dubnyk. This is a team with crazy depth and crazy speed. They will be among the top scoring teams in the NHL I believe. They need to stay healthy to finish 2nd, but that could be said about any team I suppose.
#1. Nashville:
Again health, but if Rinne and Weber are good to go the Preds are the toughest win in the West this season. They were running away with things last year before Rinne went down, and before Weber went down in the playoffs the Preds showed something no other team in the playoffs could show…an ability to dominate the Hawks. Not for entire games granted, but for spells they had the Hawks looking confused and skittish. However soon experience took over for Chicago and nerves for Nashville. We will never know what a healthy Shea Weber would have meant in that series, but I still think the Preds would have been defeated. However they have only gotten more experienced and faster with more potential for scoring. They are my pick to win the West outright this season.
We will discuss this on today’s podcast at 1pm ET.