The 2008/09 NHL Season According to BT

As we're just 48-hours away from the North American start of the 2008-09 NHL season, and I just wrapped up the season previews with the Toronto Maple Leafs, I figured it was a fine time to recap.

Side note: I don't think I've ever done one of these so early, but the season isn't 48 hours away if you're just reading this now. In fact, it took me three hours to write this, so already we're down to 45 hours. If you drink heavily and pass out in a gutter somewhere you could even cut it down to maybe 15 hours—not that I'm condoning that.

As for the rest of the time? Well you could cook 60 fifteen-minute meals in that time, or 30 half-hour meals. Or (if you're like me and terrible at video games) you could beat Star Wars: The Force Unleashed...twice. Yes it took me seven hours to do, but I like collecting collectibles. These are things I think you should know.

We'll start with the division leaders. In the Northeast, it's a pretty common expectation that the Montreal Canadiens are going to resume their dominance from last season, and increase the pace just a bit as they're driven by the emotions behind their centennial anniversary.

Rounding out the Eastern Conference will be two of the top young teams of recent memory. The devastating trifecta of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal will help keep the Pittsburgh Penguins afloat in the Atlantic Division despite the losses of Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney, while Alexander the Great is eyeing a second consecutive trip to the promised land with the Washington Capitals.

Across the Conference border, the Detroit Red Wings only got stronger in hopes of defending their Stanley Cup championship. They lost only two players (Dallas Drake and Dominik Hasek) to retirement, and gained Marian Hossa, Ville Leino, and Ty Conklin, while re-signing key cogs from last year, cementing the fact that they're the cream of the Central Division.

The Dallas Stars surprised a few teams last season, making it all the way to the conference finals last season, and in a season of adjustment for San Jose, the Stars will look to slip on the divisional crown in the Pacific. The Northwest Division is anything but wide open, but the Calgary Flames will look to fend off an upstart Edmonton Oilers team and the defending champs, the Minnesota Wild

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