It is time to ask that all important question: Who will win the cup in 2009? Let's start with the Eastern Conference first:
Tampa Bay Lightning:
The new management can possibly turn this team around. Let's take a trip back to last season where they finished in last place, not just in the East but the whole league with 71 points. In the old NHL, those 71 points could have gotten you to ninth or 10th place.
The Lightning have just signed a whole slue of great players and they made the biggest splash in the free agency pool so far. Some of the players are Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Radim Vrbata, and Olaf (Ollie the Goalie) Kolzig just to name a few.
New Jersey Devils:
The Devils have flashed back to the year 1995, yes their first cup, with the signings of Bobby Holik, and Brian Rolston. They also re-signed Jay Pandolfo and Bryce Salvador.
The Devils have always been a defense first team and with the signings of Holik and Rolston they will have a little more fire power to them.
New York Rangers:
The Rangers didn't necessarily make a big splash on the first day of free agency, but they sure did the second day.
The Rangers got off to a fast start on Wednesday trading defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman for two forwards from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nikolai Zherdev and David Fritsche.
They still haven't signed Jaromir Jagr at the time of this article, nor Brendan Shanahan, but he looks to be as good as gone. The only downside about today for the Rangers is they lost agitator Sean Avery to the Dallas Stars.
Let's take a look at the Western Conference.
Detroit Red Wings:
The Wings are going to be the favorite again this year. The defending Stanley Cup champions beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games last season and are going to go after it again and try to defend their title.
After signing all star power forward Marian Hossa to a one year deal worth $7.4 million, they already seem like the obvious choice this year.
Chicago Blackhawks:
Another team that made a huge splash in this year's free agency pool signing Goaltender Cristobal Huet and defenseman Brian Campbell (for a whopping $56.8 million for eight years). They have a chance to be a really great team to go after the cup next year.
The Hawks already have the young team that was good last year and adding Campbell and Huet on the back end will make them better. Signing Huet probably means that Khabibulin is on his way out.
Dallas Stars:
After making the run to the conference finals last year, the Stars are going to be at it again.
The Stars have just signed agitator Sean Avery for four years and $15.5 million. Avery will make that team look better.
The Stars have the leadership in Modano, the star goaltending in Turco, the youth in over half the team, and now the feisty Sean Avery. Look for the Stars to be in contention next season.
Those are my predictions for 2008-2009.
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