It time for Conference Previews. Today is the Western Conference. (Please don't expect elaborate previews here)
First up we have the Colorado Avalanche. Last year the Avs finished 11th in the West. The Avs have a lot of talent up from with Landeskog and Statsny but their down fall is their defense. After Erik Johnson there isn't much left on the blue line for the Avs even after the addition of Greg Zanon this off season. Projected finish: 12th
The Blackhawks finished 6th in the West last season and got bounced by the Coyotes in the 1st round of the playoffs. The Blackhawks have on of the best group of forwards in the league as well as one of the better defensive groups. Up font they have Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Frolik, Bolland, Stalberg, and on the blue line they have Keith, Seabrook, Oduya, Motador, Hjalmarsson and Leddy. They will be a force in the in the west this season. Projected finish: 4th.
LOL. The Blue Jackets finished last in the West last season. Mark Letestu will probably be their leading scorer. Yeah. Projected finish: 15th
Last season the Blues finished 2nd in the West. The Blues surprised a lot of people last season when the finished 2nd in the conference. They were eliminated by the Kings in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The Blues have a lot of talent up font and a half decent defensive unit. Ken Hitchcockface's trap probably had a lot to do with the Blues finishing 2nd. Will they be able to have a season like last years? Projected finish: 8th
The Coyotes finished 3rd in the West last season. Talk about surprising. The Coyotes came out of no where last season to win the Pacific division. They looked like everything was on their side in the playoffs until the Western Conference finals when they were eliminated by the Kings. The loss of Ray Whitney to free agency was erased by the signing of veteran Steve Sullivan. They also acquired Zbynek Michalek from Pittsburgh. Mickhalek had his best seasons as a member of the Coyotes. Their issue is consistency. Last season the Coyotes started off terribly but picked it up late. They had a stretch of games where they didn't lose a game for over a month. A 48 game season could fit this team perfectly. Projected finish: 3rd
Last season the Ducks finished 13th. After finishing 4th two seasons ago the Ducks expectations were high going in to last season. But a very disappointing 2011-2012 season dropped the Ducks to 13th in the West. The Ducks have a ton of talent up front with Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, as well as veteran leadership from Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne. What let them down last season was their defense and inconsistent goal tending. The Ducks hope that the addition of Bryan Allen will help sure up the defense and hope that Jonas Hiller will have a bounce back season. We think they will. Projected finish: 8th
Last season the Flames finished 9th. Not sure how the Flames finished 9th last season. The Flames do have some talent up front but their defense isn't anything to jerk off over. Mikka Kiprusoff will probably carry this team again but they will probably fall short of the playoffs again. Projected finish: 13th
Last season the Kings finished 8th. The Kings finished 8th in the West last season but went ape shit in the playoffs and won the Stanley Cup. The Kings will be without Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Jonathan Quick to begin the season which might hurt them. Considering the Kings don't start playing hockey til March/April they could be in for some trouble. They will make the playoffs though. Projected finish: 6th
The Oilers finished 14th in the West last season. The Oilers were ranked #3 in Sports Illustrated's power rankings recently. When asked about it Oilers defensman Ryan Whitney said "Marijuana is legal in some states." The Oilers are close to becoming a team to be reckon with in the West. They aren't there yet even with all the talent they have. Projected finish: 14th
Last year the Predator finished 5th in the West. They were eliminated by the Coyotes in the second round of the playoffs. The Preds got worse in the off season losing Ryan Suter to free agency and not filling the hole he left. They almost lost Shea Weber too. The Preds really didn't add anyone and everyone in their division got better. Projected finish 9th
The Sharks finished 7th in the West last season. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by St. Louis. A lot of teams got better in the off season. The Sharks weren't one of them. They do have a ton of talent on their team but inconsistent play will be the down fall of this team especially in a shortened season. Projected finish: 11th
Last season the Stars finished 10th. In the off season the stars added veteran wingers Ray Whitney and Double J. They also acquired Derek Roy in the off season from Buffalol. There is however uncertainty over stud forward Jamie Benn. Him and the Stars have yet to agree on a contract. Regardless of what happens with Benn the Stars defense is very thin. That will be the downfall for them. Projected finish: 10th
Last season the Wild finished 12th. The Wild spent unlimited money this off season bringing in Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. The Wild have one of the most potent offenses in the league this season but after Ryan Suter what are they gonna do defensively? Is Tom Gilbert gonna shut down the Wings? Doubt it. Their offense and Ncklas Backstroms sack will get this team to the playoffs though. Projected finish: 5th
The Wings finished 5th in the league last season. The got bounced by Nashville in the first round of the playoffs. The Wings will look to have a bounce back year after getting knocked out in the first round last season. The Wings have one of the more potent offenses in the league but their defense is questionable at best. Nik Lindstrom is no longer with the team so that leave a gaping hole in their defense. Is Niklas Kronwall the guy that will fill it? If hockey was about leaving your feet to check people then yes. But since its not we'll just have to wait and see. Jimmy Howard might have to bail them out some nights. Projected finish 2nd.
Vancouver finished 1st last season. Your reigning President's trophy winners. Also your reigning choking and diving champions. The Canucks have a great team. There is no denying that. They are great.....in the regular season. The Canucks just have trouble winning in the playoffs. They got bounced in the first round last season by the Kings. The Canucks will still win their division this season because their division sucks. They also most likely win the Presidents Trophy. Have fun getting bounced in the first round again tools. Projected finish: 1st
There you haven it. If you don't like our projected finishes then too bad.
Eastern Conference preview tomorrow.
Go Pens
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