NHL Predictions: Western Conference

Western Conference Predictions  (Click here for Eastern Conference Predictions)

The President’s Trophy should be renamed the Detroit Red Wings Trophy, then given to the team with the best record that isn’t the Red Wings.

The James Norris Trophy should be renamed the Niklas Lidstrom Trophy, then given to the best defenseman who is not Nik Lidstrom.

The Red Wings will again finish with the best record in the league and earn the West’s number one seed.  It is also likely that the Red Wings will be the Central Division's only postseason representative.

The Northwest and Pacific Divisions are where the division races are still hot.

In the Northwest, the Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild are tied for first; Calgary has a game in hand.  The Colorado Avalanche are just one point back, and two points behind them, sit the Vancouver Canucks.

The current Pacific Division leaders are the Dallas Stars.  They currently lead the San Jose Sharks by three points but have also played three more games.  The Anaheim Ducks, trailing Dallas by four points, probably will not be making a push for the Pacific crown, but will make the playoffs.

Based on the number of games Dallas has played compared to the teams behind them, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them fall a little bit in the standings, especially if they cool off and/or Calgary or San Jose heat up.

The race for the final few spots is fairly close in the west.  In the end, I think the only team that may drop out would be the Canucks and they would be replaced by the Chicago Blackhawks who are just four points out of the final spot and playing pretty well of late.

Speaking of the Blackhawks, Patrick Kane will probably win the Calder Memorial Trophy, especially if he can carry Chicago to the playoffs.  If this happens, it could mark the first time in a long time that all the Original Six qualified for the playoffs.

Final Standings in the West:

1. Detroit Red Wings
2. Calgary Flames
3. San Jose Sharks
4. Dallas Stars
5. Anaheim Ducks
6. Minnesota Wild
7. Colorado Avalanche
8. Chicago Blackhawks

Awards won in the west:

James Norris Memorial Trophy:  Niklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings (Runner-up:  Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins)

Calder Memorial Trophy:  Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks (Runner-up:  Brandon Dubinsky, New York Rangers)

Frank J. Selke Trophy:  Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings (Runner-up:  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames)

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:  Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings (Runner-up:  Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning)

William M. Jennings Trophy:  Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings (Runner-up:  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils)