It is time to have some fun with all thirty teams and try to rank them as training camps commence everywhere. Let’s rank them from 1 to 30 and take the slings and arrows later…maybe much later.
1. Washington Capitals — They are the best regular season in the league by a good margin once you drop off the #2 team on our list. The Caps will win the Presidents’ Trophy with scorers such as Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Semin along with defensemen Mike Green. Really this team can score over 300 goals and goaltending does not have to be all that great when a team scores that early and that often. More than likely a team that will tally around or slightly over 120 points.
2. Detroit Red Wings — The team is the healthiest they have been in the past couple years. Imagine what the Wings could have done last season if this healthy going into camp. As it was, they got to the second round despite being throughly worn out. A relaxed, more upbeat team going into this camp should benefit the Red Wings later and in the second season. The bottom line with the emergence of Jimmy Howard, the Wings’ offense does not have to worry about who is behind the pipes. Expect bounce back years from the likes of Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Lidstrom, Rafalski, and company. The Wings will be the closest compettior to the Caps for the Presidents’ Trophy.
3. Los Angeles Kings — Having the Kings above the Devils sounds crazy and maybe it is but the Kings have a goalie lurking in the system that could be one of the two or three best netminders in the game in just a couple years. Jonathan Bernier’s time is coming close at hand and even starter Jon Quick knows it. How fast Terry Murray makes this change could be the difference between 3 and maybe the Top 5 for the Kings. This team will also be better without Alex Frolov and Ilya Kovalchuk on the roster. It sounds crazy but the Kings are also better defensively. They will score less but give up quite a bit less this season.
4. New Jersey Devils — The biggest wild card in the top 5 is the Devils. Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise could be playing together depending on how camp goes. The Devils brought in Henrik Tallinder, Anton Volchenkov, and Johan Hedberg as well. Yes they lost Paul Martin but will make that up with Andy Greene. The key will be how everything meshes after the Devils get under the salary cap. If things gel early, then look out.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins — The Pens lost Sergei Gonchar but got younger with the signing of Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek. However, can the Penguins Power Play bounce back? Marc Andre-Fleury has to play better at some point for the Pens to go anywhere and I think he will put it together a bit better this year. We all know about Malkin and Crosby but say hello to Eric Tangradi. This prospect could be a breakout player for the Pens. Some projections have him being a Top 6 forward. The defense is improved and that may help Fleury just enough. Will they overtake New Jersey? I do not know.
6. San Jose Sharks — The Sharks will drop off a bit this year with the departure of Evgeni Nabokov to the KHL. The offense and defense are pretty much the same. Yes Rob Blake retired but that will help the defense. Antero Niittymaki and Antti Niemi are just not the same. Niemi rode the Chicago defense and some confidence to the Stanley Cup. However this 1A and 1B approach will drive Sharks fans nuts all year. This team is a bit off from last year but not enough to drop them further.
7. Vancouver Canucks — Roberto Luongo losing the C will not be a big deal. The key with this team is how many players with breakout years can maintain their levels. Injuries have hurt the team already. Sami Salo may be out half the season with an achillies injury or longer. Kevin Bieksa may not be traded after all. The Sedins need to stay healthy. Ryan Kesler needs to perform like last year. Can they do all this? It seems like a ton to ask but it is doable but do expect somewhat of a dropoff.
8. Phoenix Coyotes — Some are predicting a big fall from the Coyotes but I do not think that just yet. The Coyotes have some higher expectations. Ilya Bryzgalov and Shane Doan lead this team. A Top 5 team defensively should be too far off from last year. The addition of Ray Whitney could be an absolute boon for the Coyotes who do go through scoring droughts from time to time. Phoenix will be better on the ice than off once again this year.
9. Chicago Blackhawks — This team has had more change than any Stanley Cup winner ever. What is left is a team that has potential but a ton of unknowns and knowns. Kane and Toews are knowns along with Keith and Seabrook but Marty Turco is now an unknown wildcard. The champs still are tough to beat but until the year gets going, it will be tough to gauge.
10. Nashville Predators — Scoring balance will be their strong suit all year and with Pekka Rinne finally having the #1 all for himself. Patric Hornqvist and Steve Sullivan along with Martin Erat and David Legwand should be the leading scorers but none of these guys scream to being an 80 point guy. They play with solid footing and solid coaching. That balance will serve them well in a very tough Central Division. Barry Trotz may finally have that year to get Nashville into the second round of the playoffs.
11. Buffalo Sabres — What will Ryan Miller do for an encore? After last year, he became a truly elite netminder in every sense of the word. If Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis can perform, this team will perform about the same as last year. Look, the East is tougher! Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, and Jason Pominville finally have to get it going from the start of the season. This team is a co-favorite in the Northeast.
12. Boston Bruins — Can this team shake it off? Also can Marc Savard come back from injury or is this a way for the Bruins to get under the salary cap? The Bruins will score more goals this year almost by default. Zdeno Chara will have a better season offensively. It seemed everything went wrong for Boston last year and yet they were one game from the conference finals. Tyler Seguin will make a positive impact on this team and Boston ironically will need it more than most think. I just think guys like Patrice Bergeron and Nathan Horton are a touch overrated. Tuukka Rask will anchor the squad and willl end the goalie curse at least some.
13. Colorado Avalanche — This team is not a fluke ladies and gentlemen. Also, Craig Anderson will be just as good in Year 2. That should be enough to get Colorado into the playoffs. If David Jones is healthy all year, look out! Paul Stastny finally is playing like he was expected to. Plainly put, this young type of team can impress once again.
14. Tampa Bay Lightning — We have seen Stamkos and now we have seen Steve Yzerman. Tampa really has potential to do well and they could start the season like a house of fire. Offense and even defense is not as much of a question as goaltending. Can Dan Ellias share the job with Mike Smith well enough to make this work? I think it can for now at least and that gets them in the top 15 much like the same for the next team.
15. Atlanta Thrashers — Rick Dudley can put a team together. Atlanta has risen from the ashes of Kovalchuk and the trade of Kari Lehtonen to boast a more formidable team than last season even. The Big Buff is in town as a defenseman for now but ultimately will be parked on the man advantage in front of the net at some point. Chris Mason and Ondrej Pavelec make a good 1A and 1B in the nets. Tobias Enstrom was a bit of a breakout player last year and will only improve this year. The third and fourth lines have some bite at last and the defense is a bit tougher. Let’s see what happens here.
The Other 15……..
16. St. Louis Blues — Jaroslav Halak and the subtraction of Paul Kariya and Keith Tkachuk will help.
17. Ottawa Senators — Could make bigger jump depending on Rick Wamsley? Yes a goalie coach.
18. Philadelphia Flyers — They start off a little low but could jump up quickly.
19. Montreal Canadiens — Just will not be the same as last year.
20. Calgary Flames — The Sutters still have a mess.
21. New York Rangers — In Gaborik we trust or die.
22. Anaheim Ducks — The defense will be a liability along with scoring depth.
23. Dallas Stars — The Stars are just not the same team.
24. Carolina Hurricanes — A transition year no question.
25. Minnesota Wild — Another long year in the land of 10,000 lakes.
26. New York Islanders — Okposo and Tavares will grow together.
27. Toronto Maple Leafs — Too much grit and not enough skill still.
28. Columbus Blue Jackets — It just does not get any easier for this team.
29. Florida Panthers — Winnipeg or Quebec anyone? Could get ugly if Vokoun slips any.
30. Edmonton Oilers — At least the prospects are good.
The skinny as always for our last 15. Come back for updates throughout the season.
