And with that, I think I'll unveil my NW Division prognostications:
1.) Minnesota Wild
Every year I look at the Wild's roster and end up underwhelmed. And every year they surprise me.
Well, not this year. I think they have an unspectacular forward group that is susceptible to injury. However, Gaborik, Koivu and (to a lesser extent) PM Bouchard are all very good players who could conceivably take a step forward this year. Then there's the improved back-end which should be deadly on the PP.
Minnesota is always hard to score on and always has excellent special teams thanks to Lemaire. Unless Gabbers gets hurt in the first week and stays out of the line-up all year, I think the Wild are a good bet to win the division.
2.) Colorado Avalanche
The only real weaknesses on this team are: health and goaltending. The Avs bloggers have been banging the drum for Budaj the last few weeks, but Im not yet convinced that he's anything above mediocre. That said, the forward and defensive groups for this club are solid from top to bottom. This is also a team that finished in second place last season despite major injuries to Sakic, Stastny, Hejduk and Leopold (and probably Svatos). A surprising Budaj and/or a healthy line-up and this team could unseat Minnesota.
3.) Calgary Flames
Let's face it: these guys could finish first or last, which is why I have them in the middle. The offense should be middling and the defense should be improved. Kipper is obviously the biggest question mark and the returns from the pre-season have not been heartening. Injuries could also be a factor for the first time in a couple of years.
4.) Vancouver Canucks
A lot of very smart people like these guys to finish high in the standings, so Im loathe to disagree. Still, despite their deep blueline and excellent goaltending, Im very dubious of Vancouver. The forwad depth is just abysmal: they have Mason Raymond and Taylor Pyatt on their second line and Steve Bernier on their first. Demitra is expected to make the secondary attack float, even though he's a virtual lock to miss 15-20 games.
I also think that their injury concerns on the back-end aren't totally born of bad luck: the Canucks travel a ton and just happen to have several injury prone players on the blueline. It makes for a lot of infirmary visits.
5.) Edmonton Oilers
Surprise, surprise...I pick the Oilers to suck.
Lots of optimism in Oil country this year, but Im afraid I dont buy it. I think the vaunted kid line is going to give back more than thy score this year and that 3rd line featuring Moreau and Penner scares no one. They've decided to go with an entirely useless "all goon" 4th line as well, which I doubt will add any points to the standings. The first line looks alright, but Im guessing one of Cole or Horcoff will eventually be demoted in the interests of making one of the lower lines float.
I think Garon is poised to take step back as well and the chances this club repeats that Shout-out/OT record are next to none.
Sorry Oil fans. You're darlings of the MSM, but I think you'll be play-off-less again this season.
