The NHL's 2009-10 Division Winners

The bad news: Phil Kessel will most likely not play in Boston this year, as he's reportedly seeking $5 million per season, which the Boston Bruins would have to dismantle their roster in order to resign him.

The good news: The Bruins are one of the few teams in the NHL with the best overall depth. They have a handful of players in their prime, youngsters who are finding their touch, and aging veterans who still have it. That's a recipe for Stanley Cup success.

The Bruins will be led by reigning Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara, reigning Vezina winner Tim Thomas, and the very consistent setup man, Marc Savard.

The youngsters who are leading the charge: Matt Hunwick, Blake Wheeler, Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron, and David Krejci.

The players currently in their prime: Marc Savard, Zdeno Chara, Dennis Wideman, Michael Ryder, Shawn Thornton, Chuck Kobasew, and Marco Strum.

The veterans who still have it are the ageless Mark Recchi, and blue collar, do whatever it takes to make a save, Tim Thomas.

This team will have no problem repeating as Northeast champions, as Montreal saw a whole roster overhaul and will no doubt have chemistry and leadership problems, while Ottawa has the Dany Heatley drama, Toronto is missing a top six forward along with goaltending being a dark shadow, and Buffalo keeps suffering loses via free agency.

The Philadelphia Flyers added a great piece to their blue line with the ferocious Chris Pronger and have a new goaltending tandem with Ray Emery and Brian Boucher.

They are going to be missing some scoring depth from departed Joffrey Lupul and Mike Knuble, but that's not a problem with Claude Giroux ready to break out and the highly touted prospect James van Riemsdyk coming to the big dance.

Their problem is goaltending. Goaltending is always the Achille's heel of Philadelphia and it's not always the goaltender's fault as Flyer fans are relentless on them for their mistakes and slumps. I'm not convinced Emery has changed his ways with one year in the KHL, the KHL is not the same caliber as the NHL.

The Pittsburgh Penguins just won the Stanley Cup, but they don't have the depth to win the Division. There was over a 50-point gap behind Malkin and Crosby to the third place scorer on the team and Fluery is notorious for being mediocre until the stretch.

My reasoning for the New York Rangers winning the Division is because John Tortorella will be the man behind the bench from the start of the season. The Rangers took the Washington Capitals to Game Seven for two reasons: One Henrik Lunqvist was inhuman for the games they won and Torts is a very good coach at finding other teams' weaknesses and enhancing his team's strengths.

The Rangers have had a problem with producing offense, which won't be the same problem this year, at least on paper.

I am probably the only one who believes Marian Gaborik will play over 75 games this season. If that's the case and if he really was held back in the Wild's defensive system, expect him to add 45-50 goals for them. A reunion between Ales Kotalik and Chris Drury could give the Rangers another 60-70 goals between the duo, while Brandon Dubinski is getting more experience and has stated he plans on shooting more which could see him break 30.

Ryan Callahan is getting better with being a power forward who can add another 20 goals and be a great help in front of the net and create havoc along with the pesky Sean Avery. Vaclav Prospal is a signing that could pay dividends, as he could be the perfect setup man for Gaborik. Christopher Higgins will provide scoring on the third line.

Defense will be better than most would think. The Rangers did a better job defensively against the Capitals and shutting down Alex Ovechkin than Pittsburgh did. If you think Marc Staal hasn't gotten better this offseason from playing with his brothers Eric and Jordan, then you're mistaken. Marc Staal has the skills to be a very great all-around defenseman. He's very good in his own zone already at age 22 and showed he has the offensive skills in the Youngstars game. If a coach can channel it properly like the Capitals did with Mike Green, then he has the potential to be a 15-20 goals 50-70 point man.

Redden is still looking to find the impact he used to have back when Chara was his line mate. Corey Potter could be a huge surprise as he's had very good success since turning pro in the minors from College hockey. Matt Gilroy could also make an impact coming off a great senior year for BU and capturing a National title.

Lundqvist will have plenty of help this year and won't have to win games 2-1 anymore. While the team will be playing a more up-tempo style that may lead to more 2-on-1 opportunities, Lundqvist is skilled enough to make that unique timely save.

The Washington Capitals will win their third-straight Southeast Division crown this year, but it won't be as easy as the past two seasons.

Carolina proved to a team that has made great improvements by advancing to a surprising Eastern Conference Finals berth. With Eric Staal becoming a more complete player and making those around him better, he is a dangerous combination with Cam Ward, who is learning what it takes to be an NHL goaltender and applying his natural skill to that dedication.

Tampa Bay will also be better, although I don't see them making the playoffs despite the Alex Tanguay, Mattias Ohlund signing and drafting Victor Hedman. The Lightning will be better offensively with Tanguay in the lineup along with Stamkos getting better, though.

With the additions of Ohlund, who will provide overall ability on their blueline, Kurtis Foster who will be a fine defensive defenseman for them, and Hedman who is probably the most NHL ready rookie, I don't think it will make a difference in their GAA. I don't believe Mike Smith and Antero Niittymaki are good enough.

Capitals will have a 4-8 point lead over the Hurricanes and a 10-30 point lead over the Lightning.

The Capitals' weakness was fully exposed to the NHL during the playoffs against the Rangers and Penguins. They have a very thin blue line. The Capitals didn't do much to address this problem, and instead have signed more offense in Brendan Morrison and Mike Knuble.

Instead of going after a shut-down defenseman in the open market, the Capitals resigned Jeff Shultz, Milan Jurcina, Shoane Morrisson, and John Erskine. All four defensemen, of which I was hoping to see leave the team. I don't think they're good enough to defend this offensively gifted blue line. Mike Green is great offensively, but he was very poorly in his own zone and Tom Poti is an average all-around defenseman. Brian Pothier maybe their best defensively skilled defenseman and that's not saying a whole lot. Karl Alzner will get a shot at the top seven spots of the blueline, but he's another defenseman who isn't too great in his own zone.

Regardless, the Capitals are stacked offensively. Sure a team could stop Ovechkin in one game, but it won't stop the Caps from scoring five goals in that game. Backstrom, Ovechkin, Green, and Semin all averaged more than a point per game. If Ovechkin played in all 82 games, he'd finish with 114 points, which would've been the best in the league. If Semin played in all 82 games, he'd score 103 points, while Green would've scored 88 points.

Their offense will be even more potent with Knuble playing on a line with Ovechkin, as Knuble will be able to work the boards to setup a nice one-timer for Ovechkin, or create traffic in front of the net for deflections or screening the goalie.

Last year Ovechkin and Backstrom recorded a point on the same goal 45 times, making them the highest scoring duo in the league. As well Backstrom has had 121 assists in his first two years tying him seventh with Peter Forsberg. With Backstrom being one of the best playmakers and a gritty power forward like Knuble, Ovechkin could break his own record for most goals in a season by a left winger with over 70 goals.

In net, the Capitals have some issues.

Jose Theodore is being paid $4 million this season, that's a lot for a backup, however, Theodore has been very good in the past in a contract year. Unfortunately the Theodore family suffered a tremendous loss of their two-month-old son, dying earlier this month. This will no doubt be very hard for Theodore and it will be extremely hard for him to focus, very few people in this world can understand what Theodore is going through right now. But Simeon Varlamov has shown he is ready, being the youngest Russian born goaltender to start a game, win a playoff game, and the youngest goalie to have a shutout in a playoff game.

While the Capitals play a run-and-gun game, that makes them wide open for breakaways and odd man rushes. This team has a good outlook on goaltending, fast players to backcheck, and can outscore any team to get them through the regular season as Southeast division champs

P.S. After watching friendly rivals Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby hoist the Cup this spring, don't be surprised to see Ovechkin have a career year with over 70 goals and 130 points. Were this to happen in today's NHL, 70 goals would be comparison to the goal marks Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, and Mario Lemiuex enjoyed in their high years.

I will state right here that I wouldn't hate anything more in the NHL than to see the Vancouver Canucks win the Stanley Cup. I don't know why because when I was five, I was rooting for them against the Rangers in 1994, but that's because I was memorized by Bure's unique combination of speed, stick handling, and quick release.

However, I think this is the best overall team the Canucks have had since their run to the Finals. While they don't have a player of the caliber of Bure or the leadership of Trever Linden, they have (as much as I hate to say this) a very big advantage in net in Roberto Luongo.

While Luongo hasn't had much postseason success, he is consider by many hockey analysts and professional writers one of the best goalies in the world. Last year probably would've seen him win his first Vezina trophy if he'd not gotten injured. But Luongo proved his incredible impact with his return pushing the Canucks past the Flames for the Northwest Division crown. A full healthy season could see Luongo match or even pass his career best of 47 wins. It's not out of the question with the shootout, that Luongo could be the first goaltender to win over 50 games. He'll play anywhere between 70-75 games, which gives plenty of opportunities.

While they signed Raycroft to be his backup, with Schnieder being sent back to Manitoba due to cap restraints. Ray-Ray won't see much time, he's most likely signed in the event of Luongo getting injured, so they don't have to juggle four goaltenders again. However, with Luongo winning anywhere from 40-51 games and Raycroft winning 3-8 games, that gives the Canucks 95-115 points.

They're only competition is the Flames, but I don't see the Flames getting anymore than 95 points this year. Without getting sniper for Hemsky, I don't see the Edmonton Oilers making the playoffs. Minnesota is a question mark with a new GM, coach, and style that they don't have the players yet to pull off. The Colorado Avalanche will be bottom feeders so they pose no threat.

The Canucks have done a great job adding scoring by signing Mikeal Sammuelsson, who is a very underrated two-way player, who will boost their power play significantly. With Ryan Kessler and Alexandre Burrows maintaining or improving their performances, a healthy year from Demitra, an impact from Cody Hudson, along with Sedin twins doing what they always do, the Canucks will be able to score more than 2-3 goals a game.

Sami Salo was tremendous for them in the postseason, having seven points in seven games, an even plus/minus rating with an average 18-plus minutes a game, and should anchor this blue line. Kevin Bieksa should have another 40-plus point season, with solid play from Willie Mitchell, not to mention the additions of Mathieu Schnieder quarterbacking their power play, Christian Ehrhoff bringing the possibility of another 40-point plus defenseman, and Brad Lukowich bringing solid play in their own zone and cup experience.

The Canucks' top six defensemen look to be one of the best in the NHL in front of one of the best goalies in the league. With a newly informed offense that can score, minus a certain European Veteran who is overrated with no heart, equals Cup aspirations.

With the Olympics being held in Vancouver and Luongo looking to be the starter of team Canada, expect Luongo to lift his game to a whole new level that will pay huge dividends for this club, along with Samuelsson and the Sedin Twins defending their Gold Medals.

A gold for either the Swedes or Luongo isn't out of the question, along with winning the Cup, in the same season isn't out of the question here. However, a gold for the Swedes and a disappointing loss for the Canadians on home soil, with Luongo in net, could be the bullet that puts this raging bull down.

As anyone knows, I'm a Detroit Red Wings fan first, then a hockey fan second.

So declaring that Chicago will win over the Red Wings and for the first time since 1999-00 season, the Red Wings will not be Central Division champions, shows I'm being unbiased.

While I believe there's a chance for the Wings to keep their throne with their unmatched depth from the NHL roster to their farm system, I believe the losses of Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Ty Conklin, Mikeal Samuelsson, Chris Chelios, and Tomas Kopecky will be hard to overcome. Along with the additions of Todd Bertuzzi, Jason Williams, Patrick Eaves, reduces ice time to players such as Ville Leino, Darren Helm, Valterri Filppula, and Jason Abdelkader, who could've have given plenty of opportunity otherwise.

While all will be given the opportunity, I only see Filppula getting top six minutes and Leino spending majority of the season in the kind of role Filppula and Franxen played during their first three-and-a-half seasons with the club.

I also believe Bertuzzi is a bad omen since his incident in 2004 on Steve Moore. The Red Wings are also over the cap and it's rumored that they will either waive or trade long time Red Wing Thomas Holmstrom, which causes problems for their offense as he's been the perfect complement to Datsyuk and Zetterberg by getting his nose dirty in front of the net. His absence will leave only Franzen as a big body in front of the net to create traffic and havoc. Bertuzzi is known for not going into traffic and will not be a suitable replacement for Holmstrom's overlooked contributions.

Lidstrom being one of the best defenseman and players in the NHL, at age 39, will lead a very impressive defensive corps with Raflaski, who is the best U.S born defenseman in the NHL. Niklas Kronwall, one of the best hitters and break out passing defenseman, rising youngster Jonathan Ericsson, with Brad Stuart and Brett Lebda, the Wings have one of the best blue lines.

Their problem is Chris Osgood, who after having his worst regular seasons, came up huge in the playoffs. Which goalie will they get, playoff or regular season? If they get regular season, they'll be in trouble as they don't have a quality backup like Ty Conklin.

The Wings will finish close behind Chicago though, It'll be between 1-3 points different. The Wings will finish with the 4th seed, and second in the West in points.

Columbus and St. Louis will make the charge too.

Columbus has one of the best young goaltenders who already is mentioned in the same breath as Luongo and Martin Broduer.

Rick Nash is now one of the best two-way forwards thanks to Ken Hitchcock, as they have a lots of options for once at forward, while Derick Brassard is finally the center they've been looking for to play on the top line with Nash.

St. Louis finished sixth in the West, despite having an injury filled roster all year. Full healthy years from Brewer, Johnson, Mcdonald, and Kariya will make this team more dangerous than many realize and could also make a surprise push for the crown if Ty Conklin plays the way he has the past two seasons and Chris Mason plays the way he did down the stretch.

Now for Chicago, the projected winners.

The reason I went into such detail with the other three teams is to show that, Chicago, unlike the other divisions has the most competition and play in what was once the weakest division, now being the strongest. Last season all five teams almost made the playoffs with Nashville finishing two points out of the dance.

Chicago has added very important pieces to their roster. They Signed Marian Hossa to a very cap friendly 12-year contract with an annual cap hit of $5 million per. Signed John Madden, who is a great third line shut down center, who provides more offensive upside than Pahlsson. As well as rugged Tomas Kopecky who will provide depth on their third or fourth line.

The Hawks have one of the best young defensive corps with veteran Brian Campbell leading Cam Barker and Ducan Keith and Brent Seabrook, both of whom are probably this team's best overall defense men as both proved to be great in the playoffs and are great in all three zones on the ice.

Their offense is lead by two of the best youngsters in the NHL Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane who could both have career years breaking the 30 goal and 80 point marks. Steady goal scorer Patrick Sharp, second line center Dave Bolland, rookie sensation Kris Versteeg provide secondary scoring from Kane, Toews, and Hossa. Along with Ladd, Eager, Byfuglien, and Brouwer, who will provide depth in case of injuries and even more scoring.

Byfuglien made the transition from defenseman to right wing and excelled at it posting 31 points seeing limited time on the top two lines. Ladd was a huge impact with 49 points in the regular season. Ladd is a very good player with offensive capabilities and defensive upside.

Cristobal Huet was signed to be their starter last year, but lost it to Khabublin, although, Huet is the clear starter and has always played his best when he doesn't have competition. It might be best for them this season that many believe Corey Crawford isn't ready for the NHL as it will push Huet more to be even better in net. He knows Crawford won't steal his starter job like Price and Khabublin have in the past but he will play better knowing he is the man between the pipes and it's up to him to make the saves.

This is the year for the Hawks. They made it to the Western Conference Finals with the youngest team in the NHL and made improvements to their roster.

This is the year the Hawks make the push to the Cup, their best chance since 1992. Could a third trip to the Stanley Cup finals in the third consecutive year be the charm for Hossa?

The Hawks are hoping for that.

The Anaheim Ducks almost didn't make the playoffs last year. They finished eighth, just two points ahead of the Nashville Predators.

I'm sure the President Trophy winning Sharks, wish they hadn't. The Ducks beat the Sharks in just six games, while the Sharks out shot the Ducks, there was one man who turned them away, Jonas Hiller. As well as another man provided clutch offense, Ryan Getzlaf.

The Ducks then took the reigning Stanley Cup winners Detroit Red Wings to seven games. The Ducks were tied with them in the final three minutes, then Dan Cleary banged in a confrontational goal. The Ducks almost knocked the Red Wings out without a solid second line.

This year will be different for the Ducks. They will win the Pacific Division and finish as the second or third seed.

Why? They made the best overall deals that solidified their team. They traded key defenseman Chris Pronger, who was their biggest presence on the blue line and key leader, but they traded him for secondary scoring, which they needed more.

Returning to the Ducks is Joffrey Lupul, who left the Ducks in the summer of 2006 in a deal that sent him to Edmonton for Pronger. Funny how things go full circle. Lupul, is a player who the Ducks know and won't need introducing to their style nor will management need to learn how to use him. In the deal the Ducks also got first round pick and Luca Sbisa, who is a very highly touted prospect who could even make this team this year on the blue line. If not, he will in the next two years.

The Ducks' blue line won't be hurting with captain Scott Niedermayer giving it one more season. While at age 35 he is still one of the fastest smoothest skating defenseman in the NHL who is great in all aspects of the game. Ryan Whitney who revitalized his game and fit nicely in the Ducks system is their along with James Wisniewski who was a great pick up at the deadline from Chicago. Wade Brookbank and free agent signing Nick Boynton will add nice defensive depth as well.

The Ducks now have two lines that can score. Their first line will consist of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and rookie sensation Bobby Ryan. Their Second line will be the greatest franchise player Teemu Selanne, newly signed fellow Fin Saku Koivu, and Lupul. The Ducks still maintain their balance of skill and grit with Ryan Carter, Todd Marchant, George Parros, and Brad Larsen rounding out their third and fourth line.

Ryan Getzlaf showed in the playoffs that he does earn his comparison to the Great captain Mark Messier and he will be donning the C after Niedermayer does retire.

He's one of the most complete centers in the NHL and many people don't realize it. I've stated it every time I've talked about him, that he's the player that Joe Thornton should be. He uses his size to advantage and will go into the corners and more often then not come out with the puck despite whose in there with him. He's a very physical player who has a very high hockey I.Q. He's the perfect set up man for fellow gritty skilled shooter Corey Perry and young Ryan. Getzlaf will have a career year in all categories this year. I'm predicting 31 goals, 75 assists, 106 points, 130 PIM, 33 plus, and eight GWG.

If he takes his game to that level the Ducks could make a push for first seed along with Perry and Ryan having 33-40 goals, Lupul 23-30, Koivu 16-22, and Selanne 24-35 goals.

Also did I mention that with Jonas Hiller and former Conn Smyth, Stanley Cup winning goal tender Jean-Sebastian Giguire, the Ducks have possibly the best goal tandem in the NHL.

This team should be runners for the Williams Jennings Trophy as well score over 270 goals, making them one of the most dangerous teams in the NHL.

In closing this season will be an exciting year and offense will go up as well.

More and more teams are finding themselves with young players who are dangerously gifted offensively and going to an up-tempo style to showcase this. While others are combing both defensive and offensive styles together and few teams have to stay with the boring style.

This year there's more teams that are considered Stanley Cup contenders out of the gate than recent years with Pittsburgh, Washington, Chicago, Anaheim, Vancouver, Boston, Philadelphia, and Detroit leading the way as best teams to start the season.

I can't wait for the season to start nor to see how this season plays out with one of the most anticipated Olympics coming in February.