There has been a gradual changing of the guard in the NHL’s Western Conference the last couple of seasons, and it figures to continue. While Detroit, Colorado and Dallas once dominated, one or two of them might not even make the playoffs. Calgary, San Jose, Nashville and, yes, the Blackhawks appear ready to take their place among the conference’s hierarchy.
Division winners
Calgary made a surprising run in the playoffs and went to the final seconds of Game 7 before falling to Tampa Bay in the 2004 Stanley Cup final. Now the Flames are expected to be good in what is probably the toughest division in hockey. With Jarome Iginla, arguably the game’s best player, and a solid defense, the Flames should be able to hold off Edmonton and Vancouver for the Northwest title.
Just as surprising as the Flames’ run was San Jose’s playoff performance. The Sharks have been able to grow most of their own talent and didn’t do much during free agency. They are a solid team with little flash, have good goaltending and should slip past Anaheim in a tight Pacific Division race.
Is it too much to ask to go from last in the conference to division winner? After what Calgary did in 2003-04, why can’t the Hawks win the Central in this most unpredictable season? The Hawks, Detroit and Nashville should be neck, neck and neck all season. In a tight race, go with goaltending. The Hawks’ Nikolai Khabibulin rates a slight edge over Nashville’s Tomas Vokoun and much higher than Detroit’s Chris Osgood.
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They’ll be in too
Anaheim is a popular choice to win the Pacific, and the Ducks should contend right to the end before coming up short. The Predators got a taste of the playoffs and gave the Red Wings all they could handle two years ago. Paul Kariya is a perfect fit in Nashville, and with Vokoun entering the ranks of elite goaltenders, the Predators should take another step forward.
The Wings were getting old before the lockout and are just plain old now. Pavel Datsyuk coming back from Russia helps, but can he become the go-to guy like Steve Yzerman has been for nearly 20 years? Nicklas Lidstrom still is a world-class player, and Henrik Zetterberg will be even better. But the Wings will count too heavily on Brendan Shanahan, 36, Mathieu Schneider, 36, Chris Chelios, 43, and Yzerman, 40.
Vancouver has a solid group of forwards and added Anson Carter to the mix. It has as good a top-four defensive crew as any team. But goalie Dan Cloutier has had problems in the playoffs.
Few teams were helped as much by the salary cap as Edmonton, which was able to add defenseman Chris Pronger and center Mike Peca to an already solid mix. The Oilers and Colorado Avalanche could go to the final game of the season–April 17 in Colorado–with a playoff spot at stake.
Outside looking in
Like the other free-spending clubs, Colorado was hurt seriously by the salary cap, losing Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote. The top line of Joe Sakic, Alex Tanguay and Milan Hejduk is as good as any, but it really thins out after that, with former Hawk Brett McLean possibly the third center.
Like Detroit, Dallas just got older during the lockout. Mike Modano’s numbers were slipping two years ago, yet he’s still the Stars’ top center. Goaltender Marty Turco will keep them in the playoff hunt.
With Jeremy Roenick around, the Los Angeles Kings will be a quotable team. But Roenick already has suffered his first concussion of the season, and if he plays more than 60 games, it would be an accomplishment.
Give Wayne Gretzky credit for putting his reputation on the line to take over Phoenix, a team that might not exist were it not for his involvement. Too bad he can’t be a player-coach.
Rick Nash may lead the NHL in goals scored, but if coach Gerrard Gallant keeps putting tough guy Jody Shelley out on a five-on-three power play, Columbus won’t be near a playoff spot.
Minnesota is cursed by being in the toughest division in hockey and having to play Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Colorado eight times each, dooming whatever playoffs hopes it might have. St. Louis has the longest active streak of making the playoffs. That should change.
Playoff forecast
Calgary has the experience, but will the expectations be too great now that the Flames are the hunted and not the hunter? Playoff time usually comes down to goaltending, and two of the best are Khabibulin and Vokoun. So that makes the Hawks and Nashville legitimate contenders in a wide-open conference.
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