As far as playoffs go, however, I'm a little wary of making predictions. The league is getting closer and closer each year, so making predictions this early is pretty useless.
In that light, there are teams that are more likely to make the playoffs then others, so I present to you the NHL Hollywood Rankings of 2008!
The Johnny Depp Category
You're sure to get a solid performance out of these teams!
Montreal Canadiens
It's their Centennial, and they've got one of the best up-and-coming goalies and a strong offense. A lot of people sense something pretty special going on.
Pittsburgh Penguins
We know all about their offense, but it's their defense that raises questions. If Alex Goligoski and Kris Letang can step up, then they'll be fine.
Washington Capitals
Alexander Ovechkin turned Sergei Fedorov into a player again. Need I say more?
Detroit Red Wings
They're a powerhouse that only got stronger over the offseason.
Dallas Stars
Momentum is a powerful thing, and the Dallas Stars will be riding it after last season's success. Add super-pest Sean Avery and Fabian Brunnstrom on to a well-rounded corps led by Brenden Morrow.
Calgary Flames
The Flames are cooking with grease now, with the combination of Mike Cammalleri and Jarome Iginla.
New York Rangers
Chris Drury and Scott Gomez should settle into the Rangers' offense after last year's debut. If Nikolai Zherdev can get motivated, New York may have two "Big Blue Wrecking Crews."
San Jose Sharks
With Evgeni Nabokov in net, and Joe Thornton—one of the best regular-season playmakers—you can't discount them. We'll see what happens come playoff time.
Anaheim Ducks
Anchored by Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer, the Ducks have one of the strongest defenses. They will have a solid offense if Teemu Selanne returns to form and some of the other youngsters step up.
The Nicolas Cage Category
They'll be up and down all year, a lot like his films.
Philadelphia Flyers
Although they'll probably be a strong team once again, some of the younger Flyers may be a bit streaky—especially with Gagne just returning to the ice.
New Jersey Devils
Martin Brodeur is still one of the best—and he'll hold the records to prove it after this season. But the Devils need an offense to help him out.
Ottawa Senators
It's all up to them to put last year's dysfunctional circus behind them.
Boston Bruins
Patrice Bergeron is back and ready to prove he's recovered from a concussion. If he can combine with Milan Lucic and Marc Savard, the B's could be dangerous.
We're going to send you the most entertaining NHL articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
13 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete