2008-09 NHL Wish List

In no particular order, here's list of things that I'd like to see happen in the NHL this year.

I guess this is considered going out on a limb, since most of these events would be far-fetched. But this is my wish-list for the season, and I wouldn't mind if any of these came true:

• Alex Ovechkin scores 70-plus goals.

• Evgeni Malkin beats Sidney Crosby in points—this time, with Crosby playing all 82 games.

• Mats Sundin makes up his mind.

• Brad Richards has a comeback season and the Dallas Stars win the Pacific Division.

• At least one showdown between Sean Avery and George Parros.

• Chris Drury goes back to being Chris Drury.

• Andrew Raycroft stands on his head in Colorado, giving the "finger" to Leafs' fans.

• The Edmonton Oilers eliminate the Ducks in the opening round of the playoffs.

• Ron Wilson tells the Leafs' media where to go.

• Todd Bertuzzi becomes a dominant player—again.

• Craig Hartsburg shows Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley what it means to step up their game in the playoffs.

• Jean-Sebastien Giguere tries smaller chest pads.

• The Buffalo Sabres finish dead last—so they can draft Victor Hedman, NOT John Tavares.

• Florida Panthers relocate to (insert city here), so someone would actually care about this team.

• Minnesota uses players within the system to take the places of Marian Gaborik and Brian Rolston.

• Tampa Bay plays four forwards and one defenseman at a time.

• Boston Bruins become an offensive threat with Ryder, Bergeron, and co.

• Marty Brodeur plays less than 70 games, and saves himself for the playoffs.

• Markus Naslund lights it up with Scott Gomez and Petr Prucha on his line.

• Chicago beats Detroit in the Winter Classic.

• Less than 243 play stoppages at the Winter Classic.

• Nashville makes the playoffs with their already-depleted roster.

• Brad Boyes notches 50 goals in a Blues' uniform.

• Barry Melrose loses the mullet.

• Evgeni Nabokov wins the Vezina Trophy.

• Joe Sakic comes back to play one more season.

• Columbus makes the playoffs for the first time ever.

• New York Islanders average more than 5,000 fans in attendance for their home games.

• Taylor Pyatt becomes the Canucks' new captain.

• Anton Volchenkov and Jason Smith see as much rubber as Martin Gerber.

• Detroit repeats as Stanley Cup champions, after beating the Penguins in the Finals for the second straight year.