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It's that time year again!
Time for predictions and time for all the experts to show that we know as much as a monkey or a dog when it comes to deciding where these teams will finish. And what better division to prove yourself a fool than the Pacific division. So after a build up like that here goes nothing…
#7 The Arizona Coyotes
I'm always pulling for the Coyotes, and this year will be no exception. I believe in hockey in Arizona and I believe in the fanbase as well. I have met too many of them to think they are anything but real solid hockey fans.
Unfortunately, I don't see where the goals are going to come from this year, and while this defense continues to get better and better were they in the Atlantic division I would say they would be a team to watch.
It is always possible that Sam Gagner finds the consistency he always searched for in Edmonton. The problem is he will be matched against some of the best defensive centers in the world.
#6 The Calgary Flames
The Flames are going to be a blast to watch this year. If you have NHL Game Center or the Center Ice package on your cable TV make sure you record yourself a few Flames games. They will compete and they can fly.
Add to this the addition of Johnny Gaudreau and Flames fans have their own version of a young Patrick Kane.
The defense is suspect but the addition of Jonas Hiller will keep this team in games. Monahan is also worth the price of admission himself.
#5 The Vancouver Canucks
Everyone I talk to in Vancouver is extra psyched for this season to get going. I will say this now that I believe #3-#5 in this division will be separated by as few as five points. So yes I do believe the Canucks could make the playoffs.
The addition of Ryan Miller and the freshness of Willy Desjardins combined with the team still full of superstar players who have been to a Stanley Cup Final makes the Canucks perhaps the most difficult team to predict.
If the Sedin brothers return to form in any way shape or form the Canucks will be a force once again. I see the start of the season as being the bellweather for this franchise. With a hot start they will be a playoff team.
#4 The San Jose Sharks
I am serious when I say that 25 other franchises would trade their entire lineup with Doug Wilson. It is hard to imagine the Sharks not making the playoffs. In fact, there are some days when I look at what happened last year and think to myself the Sharks could repeat what the Bruins did after they blew a three nothing lead to the Flyers.
The Bruins rallied and won a Stanley Cup. And why couldn't that be San Jose this year? The problem with the Sharks in my mind is they are one of my favorite teams and I have predicted them so many times to win this division and more. So I honestly can't tell you my mind isn't clouded and there is a little of that twice burnt feeling.
So I am placing them in fourth where they will battle for a playoff spot.
#3 The Edmonton Oilers
Yes that's right, the Edmonton Oilers. Before the preseason I didn't see the Oilers as a playoff team. I saw them as a much improved team, but in the West still not a playoff team.
However I like the way the additions looked playing alongside the young players we all thought would be superstars in this league. I have the same feeling watching Edmonton in the preseason this year that I had watching Colorado in the preseason last year.
They did a really good job addressing the role player issue that has haunted this team for a decade now. I like Scrivens in goal. I like the compete a Benoit Pouliot. I like the timely scoring of Teddy Purcell.
And when I look at Taylor Hall this year I see the kind of player that makes you say "a team that Taylor Hall is on makes the playoffs."
#2. The Anaheim Ducks
There is so much to like about Anaheim, not the least of which is the fact that they are being driven by revenge. This is a team that is clearly gearing themselves up for a playoff series against the LA Kings.
I go back-and-forth on Ryan Kesler. I kind of feel he will either be a world beater or a bust in Anaheim. He is a strong personality to bring into the locker room. That can go either way. When push comes to shove I believe it goes well. Really well.
The goaltending however is just a big enough unknown for me to put the Ducks in second this year. I also have them in second because I believe this is a team that has learned not to blow too much energy in the regular season. In the playoffs however this is a team that could have more success than they did last year.
#1. The Los Angeles Kings
Do you think Jonathan Quick is a Hall of Famer? Is he the best American-born goalie ever to play the game? Not until he wins himself a Vezina and dominates in the regular season like he has in the playoffs. I believe this will be the year he does that.
When the Kings won their first Stanley Cup I got a sense that they felt they pulled the wool over everyone's eyes. The following season they didn't come out like a Stanley Cup winner, like a potential dynasty. They didn't feel invincible. Now, they kind of do.
Gaborik and Kopitar, together for an entire season, is going to set this league ablaze. Kopitar's numbers could be so high that they become a problem for the Kings come the free-agent market in July.
Jeff Carter is poised to pass Ryan Getzlaf as the best center in this division. Mike Richards came to camp in incredible shape and with something to prove. And this doesn't even touch on the young players on this team who have grown up in this winning environment and are poised to become stars of their own.
Today on the Buzzcast We Will Preview the Atlantic Division...