With the 2008- 2009 NHL season drawing closer, I figured I would jump on the bandwagon and do a division prediction. I’m going to do a Wild team prediction as well, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
I’ve seen a bunch of season predictions, most namely from The Hockey News, and they barely have anything in common.
That said, here are my predictions for how the Northwest division will shake out this year:
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Calgary Flames
3. Colorado Avalanche
4. Minnesota Wild
5. Vancouver Canucks
Before you start bashing me (and you know you will), let me defend my predictions, or at least try to:
1. Edmonton Oilers
They are the epitome of the term "solid." The Oil are set from the first line all the way through the fourth. You really can’t find a glaring hole on this team, and they have Potulny, Strudwick, and Schremp waiting in the wings.
You could argue that they might have problems in goal with Garon and Roloson, but I think they’ll be all right. They’re really well balanced—they kind of remind me of the ’03 Wild, to an extent.
2. Calgary Flames
The Flames are a one-line team, maybe two. Iginla’s still one of the best in the league, Bertuzzi’s fading, then guys like Langkow and Lombardi are solid. And then there’s Andre Roy?
Their defense is pretty solid, with Phaneuf headlining, as always. They could fill out two good defensive pairings, but you’ve got to score goals to win games. Plus, they’ve got one untested backup, Curtis McElhinney.
3. Colorado Avalanche
Too many questions surround the Avalanche this year. Their success hinges on Sakic and Forsberg—Sakic returning to the Avalanche, and both of them staying healthy. T
he question marks are even bigger in goal. Budaj is a solid backup—but just that—and Raycroft is a mystery. If they can get the Raycroft that played in Boston and not the one that played in Toronto, then the Avs will be way better off.
If everything breaks right for Colorado, this could be a breakout year for them. I just don’t see it happening though—they’re too old.
4. Minnesota Wild
The Wild are my team, but the moves they've made this offseason make no sense to me.
The ownership took a mediocre team and made it worse. Yes, they have an okay team on paper, but they’re one major injury away from disaster.
I won’t go into the Wild situation too much here, but keep your eyes peeled for my Wild preview.
5. Vancouver Canucks
I’ve heard people call this a rebuilding year in Vancouver, but I don't buy into it. Yes, I picked them last, but that doesn’t count for much—the Canucks are still going to be competitive this year.
The Canucks still have the Sedins (at least this year), a solid defensive corps, and any team that has Luongo in net will always be competitive.
23 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jason R 10 months ago
"I’ve heard people calling for a rebuilding year in Vancouver, but not so much. Yes, I picked them last, but that doesn’t count for much; the Canucks are still going to be competitive this year. The Canucks still have the Sedins (at least this year), a solid defensive corps, and anyone who has Luongo is always competitive."
Yet you put them last....? They've always done well as underdogs so keep on it guys...lol
Calgary's a one line team as well with maybe the same level of D and a marginally worse goalie (especially if Kipper continues his decline) and they're second....riiiiight.
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Matt Ellenberger 10 months ago
Well, I really couldn't put anyone else there. The Avs have a bunch of question marks, but they could take the division if they get them all addressed. The Wild are still an enigma and I don't know which direction their going. I never said the Canucks wouldn't be competitive, they could easily beat out the Wild. I just think they have too many young kids on their team to really make a deep run.
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Jason R 10 months ago
That's like saying the Canucks have a hole in their 1st/2nd line centre position and if they get it addressed they could take the division.... except the Av's have way more than one hole and their biggest, goal, will be harder to fill.
Personally I see Van/Edm/Cal fighting for the top 3 spots and Min/Col fighting for the last two unless there's some BIG changes in the next month.
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Rob Buff 10 months ago
I hope by "we're better in net" we doesn't mean Kipprusiv.
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Jason R 10 months ago
"We" was Vancouver ;)
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Jason Chen 10 months ago
The Flames are not a one-line team. Despite Conroy and Langkow's age they can still put up pretty big numbers, and while Bertuzzi's no longer first line material he's still a good second-liner. You also forgot Mike Cammalleri, who is expected to put up some pretty good numbers. Their bottom six is solid too, with grinders like Primeau and youngsters like Boyd and Moss who can pitch in once in awhile. I think they're the favourites for the division.
I also have a hard time believing that Budaj will lead the Avs over Backstrom and the Wild. Hejduk is not healthy and has not skated all summer, while for the time being Arnason's their second line centre.
1. Calgary
2. Edmonton
3. Minnesota
4. Vancouver
5. Colorado
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Jason R 10 months ago
Exactly. Vancouver and Calgary are basically the same team other than Calgary has a SLIGHT advantage in their top 6 and we're better in net. Yeah that puts Van in last place/4th *roll eyes*
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Rob Buff 10 months ago
Oilers first eh? I guess you will be another dissapointed optimist. When will you people take off your rose-tinted goggles? The oilers stunk last year, stunk the year before and will stink this year. They don't have a first line, they don't have a good goalie and their defense is not very good in their own end. And they certainly won't win all of those shootouts this year.
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Ian Wilson 10 months ago
The guy who wrote this is a Wild fan, so how is he being an optimist? Also, the Oil were one of the best teams in the league after the All-Star break last year ... I don't exactly see how they "stunk" last year.
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Jason Chen 10 months ago
Asides from Luongo and a healthy defense (if that), Vancouver's not that good. Their offense remains largely unchanged, which still remains their number one weakness. You can't win any games if you can't score. Luongo can only bail you out for so long.
Vancouver was last in the Northwest last year. Edmonton got better. I fail to see how you think Vancouver can place any higher than third in the division.
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Matt Ellenberger 10 months ago
Exactly. They have 6 offensive players under 25. Experience is the name of the game
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Jason R 10 months ago
Because they've improved their offensive lines and that same team that was last in the NW last year was riddled by injuries and at points was also leading the division last year and won it the year before.
All Van needs is one more top 6 forward to be at the top of the division and in the top half of the conference. Whether that's Sundin, a yet to be made trade or a young guy stepping up.
Do I think Van's going to win the cup this year? Not likely even with Sundin unless all the right planets align but they're NO WHERE near as far as all you idiots seem to think. None of these teams are. Edmonton is not likely to "stink" and even the Col/Min aren't going to be horrible and could by some miracle surpise. I still say that Van/Edm/Cal will be fighting for the top 3 spots and Min/Col fighting for the last two. It will be a close division as always. Nobody's walking away with it and I'd be surprised to see any of them dwellling in the gutter either.
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Jason R 10 months ago
Matt, I guess that's why young teams like Chicago aren't going to do well this year? *roll eyes*
Actually youth, not experience is the name of the game in the new NHL. You still need veteran leaders etc but young talented players are more important with each passing year.
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Jason R 10 months ago
Oh and by the way Matt you picked the Oilers as #1 and they're a pretty young team. Seriously, think before you type.
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Matt Ellenberger 10 months ago
You've got to remember the Blackhawks had the two most highly touted rookies to play since Crosby and Malkin. I agree no one's going to be anywhere close to a cellar dweller. There are just so many variables this year. The difference I see between the Oilers and the Canucks is that the Oilers are much more balanced. They have a nice mix of veterans like Visnovsky and Horcoff, then you have guys like Gagner and Smid. On the Canucks side of the coin, you have a veteran defenseive corps with Bieksa, Salo, Mitchell, and Ohlund. On the forwards, you've got a pretty young group, discounting Demitra, and the Sedins to an extent. Demitra is the only Canucks forward over 30.
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Jason Chen 10 months ago
Vancouver has been saying they need another top six forward for quite some time now, dating back to the WCE now when we relied on one line and Jovanovski for offense. Management has yet to fix this glaring hole, and as always they'll be stuck in the middle somewhere.
Their record season in 06-07 was based purely on Luongo's outstanding play. They won that division purely because of Luongo and the first round as well.
And keep in mind, just because a team is last in the Northwest doesn't mean they'll be last in the West. It's still possible that all 5 teams make the playoffs. The Canucks are not a cellar team.
Edmonton was in the hunt for a playoff spot for much of the second half of the season, and they're a better team this year than they were last year. Horcoff was almost a point per game player and Hemsky can put up some nice numbers. Visnovsky and Souray give them arguably the best PP QBs in the West, along with the Sharks and Ducks.
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Jason R 10 months ago
Luongo's play surely was a large part of their success and still will be. They should not apologize for having the best goalie in the league. But the team also played a very tight system, the defense was largely healthy and stellar and the Sedins as well as players like Kesler continued their improvement as well. Your view is rather simplistic.
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Jason Chen 10 months ago
Since you're seemingly high on the Canucks, what do your rankings look like?
Kesler has never been a noted scorer, even back in his Ohio State days. His 21 goals last year were largely in part due to hard work and increased ice-time due to Morrison's injury. He is by no means an offensive go-to guy, and I would think that relying on him to score would take him away from what he does best - shutting down the opponent.
Gillis and Vigneault have vowed to implement a more offensive system, which means bye-bye to the tight defensive system we've seen the last 2 years. Whether they have the players to do that remains to be seen (I don't think they do), but the style of hockey they choose to play will only be as good as the players they have (slightly above average).
This is the Sedins' make it or break it year. If they continue to show that they can't perform under pressure or when the going gets tough it's time for the Canucks to show them the door.
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Jason R 10 months ago
I already stated I believe twice in this thread:
"Personally I see Van/Edm/Cal fighting for the top 3 spots and Min/Col fighting for the last two unless there's some BIG changes in the next month."
Sakic signing after that statement was a pretty big change. I honestly thought he'd retire. It certainly helps their chances but I still don't think they're cup-bound by any means (which is why I thought he'd retire)
I've also said in other posts that making any REAL predictions at this time of year before all moves have been made, prospects have been tried and tested and one even exhibition game has been played, is an exercise in futility.
As for Kesler I agree he's best suited to the role he's in but 21 goals is not nothing and there's no reason he couldn't get 20-25 this year which is pretty good for your checking line centre IMO. He's part of the puzzle just like the Sedins, Luongo etc. It takes a team.
Speaking of the Sedins they've had one year of playoffs since they've been our 1st line and that one year they had a stomach virus. I don't think you can really call that a failure. And if you are bringing their toughness in to question, I've rarely seen players fight as hard in the corners for the puck and usually get it while being speared at, hit from behind, cross checked and NEVER complaining about it or taking a shift off.
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Chris Bouthillier 10 months ago
This whole division looks like a disappointment.
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Matt Ellenberger 10 months ago
I don't think so. It won't be as good as prior years, but it won't be as bad as I put it because some of the question marks I stated have been answered.
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Jason Chen 10 months ago
The Sedins' greatest strength lies in their ability to cycle the puck, but that's also their greatest weakness. For whatever reason, whether they're unwilling or unable to, they can't play any other style. Granted, the cycle is very effective as an offensive puck possession tactic, but it doesn't work if you don't shoot the puck. Dan Sedin, while being the "sniper" of the duo, doesn't shoot the puck much and is often hard-pressed to pot over 30 goals - hence, the never-ending search for that "perfect" right winger.
They're not a great first line, and considering the patchwork second line they have right now, it just won't do.
I've discussed (and plenty others as well) the Sedins at canuckscorner.com
You can read it here:
http://www.canuckscorner.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5552
I post as "jchockey".
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Jason R 10 months ago
Hopefully Bernier will be the missing part of the puzzle they've been lacking since coming here. And no Carter does not count. You could put a cardboard cut out in front of the net for them to bank pucks off and it would get as many goals as he did.
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