NHL Western Conference Predictions for 2009-10: Ducks, Wings Are Favorites

15. Colorado Avalanche

The Avs look to enter rebuild mode for the first time since moving from Quebec back in 1995. Trading away winger Ryan Smyth to the Kings was a step in the right direction as they move forward with a younger core.

With longtime team captain Joe Sakic retiring, no clear number one goalie and a brand new front office running the show, look for the Avs to finish in the basement of the Western conference in the 2009-10 campaign.

14. Phoenix Coyotes

For the past few seasons, fans in the desert have had little to cheer about. To make matters worse, they've been the talk of the NHL all summer with the team filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and Jim Balsillie trying to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario. Seemingly continuing to re-build since their last playoff run in the spring of 2002, fans in Arizona should be familiar for what lays ahead for this troubled franchise.

13. Nashville Predators

After falling short of the playoffs last season after being part of them in each of the four seasons prior, the Nashville Predators look to finish in a similar fate this coming season.

With the emergence of Finnish goaltender Pekka Rinne and a strong group of young and talented blue-liners, the Predators look to be set defensively. Their weakness however remains up front with mediocre scoring talent at best. In the Western Conference, you need more weapons if you are going to succeed.

12. St. Louis Blues

Last season, the Blues were the Cinderella story of the Western Conference finishing 9-1-1 in their final eleven games to clinch their first playoff berth since the NHL lockout. With a young group of talented players sprinkled throughout the line-up, they were easily dispatched in a first round sweep by the Vancouver Canucks.

If the Blues are to take the next step forward they need to add more talent, something they have failed to do this summer other than the lone signing of goaltender Ty Conklin. That just simply isn't enough when most other teams in the Western Conference have gotten stronger this offseason.

11. Minnesota Wild

Many fans in the State of Hockey have waited for a more open style of hockey to watch at the Xcel Energy Center, and for the first time in their short history, they will get a chance to see just that. New head coach Todd Richards promises an up-tempo, aggressive, and attacking style of hockey, but unfortunately, the Wild's roster doesn't fit that mold quite yet.

Fans of Minnesota should be patient with the complete overhaul that the Wild will be sure to get over the next couple of seasons. With time, the Wild can be a true contender in the Western Conference and a team to be feared come playoff time. It's up to Todd Richards and new General Manager Chuck Fletcher to follow through on the promise of just that.

10. Los Angeles Kings

Long a team buried deep in mediocrity, the Kings look to climb their way out of the Western Conference basement with the offseason acquisitions of Stanley Cup winning defenseman Rob Scuderi and veteran scoring winger Ryan Smyth. The Kings have some of the best young talent throughout their roster in the NHL and head coach Terry Murray has started to bring out the talent of these players.

But is it enough? Maybe with a little more time. Their goaltending still remains suspect, and even now with a legitimate number one scoring line, they look thin elsewhere. Kings fans should continue to remain patient (it's not like you don't know how, right?). Their future looks brighter than almost any other team in the NHL.

9. Columbus Blue Jackets

For the first time in their short existence, the Columbus Blue Jackets made their first postseason appearance last season versus division rival and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings. Although they were swept in a quick four games, the Jackets now have some playoff experience and a head coach in Ken Hitchcock that knows how to win in the playoffs.

Armed with some great young forwards and with the re-signing of captain Rick Nash, the Blue Jackets will have no problem scoring goals. Add in offense with a great young and talented blue line and future all-star goaltender and fans in Ohio finally have a team to be proud of. The only thing that will keep them out of the playoffs this season is the lack of making an impact during free agency when so many other teams in the Western Conference got better.

8. Edmonton Oilers

Oilers fans in Edmonton, Alberta have been let down the past three seasons after their magical run to the Stanley Cup Finals in the summer of 2006 by missing the playoffs in each of the following three seasons. Hopefully, the addition of Pat Quinn behind the bench should help them regain the winning tradition that fans of this franchise are used to.

Edmonton is my dark-horse pick this season to get into the playoffs and do some damage. Armed with some of the best young talent up front that can score and skate with the best of them, look for Edmonton's skilled forwards to do some damage this season.

Losing a top goaltender in Dwayne Roloson was rectified by signing Nikolai Khabibulin and with a capable D-corps that can shut down opposing offenses as well as score, Edmonton looks well rounded. The addition of Pat Quinn is only going to help this team, something that fans in Rexall Place have been craving since that magical 2006 summer.

7. Dallas Stars

After a one-year coaching hiatus, former Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, and Los Angeles Kings head coach Marc Crawford became the new Dallas Stars head coach. Crawford brings a winning tradition to Dallas with a Jack Adams Award in 1995, a Stanley Cup Championship with the Avalanche in 1996, and a career coaching record of 470-361-100-52.

In just that one signing, the Stars become better on paper. The question is, will it translate into success on the ice? Crawford is known for his uptempo and attacking style of play, something that should benefit the players that Dallas has. The team was riddled with injuries last season which caused them to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2001-02 season.

If the Stars can stay healthy, Crawford can help this team inflict some damage on its Pacific Division foes. Players and fans of the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks should take note.

6. Vancouver Canucks

General manager Mike Gillis has had a busy offseason. Rumors have it that he is working on a long-term contract extension of goaltender Roberto Luongo. At the NHL Entry Draft, he was able to select a fantastic forward in Minnesota Golden Gopher Jordan Schroeder who has a bright future ahead of him. Last but certainly not least, he seemingly waited until the last minute by re-signing Daniel and Henrik Sedin on day one of free agency.

While some may look upon the Canucks as not doing much during the offseason compared to other teams in the NHL, nothing really needed to be accomplished other than making sure to re-sign the Sedin twins as Vancouver is still one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

While many other teams' fans complain about "the trap" that the Canucks seem to use at times, head coach Alain Vigneault opened up the offense last season which resulted in Alexandre Burrows, Ryan Kesler and the Sedin twins all having career years. The Canucks have a great crop of players and if they can lock up Roberto Luongo long-term this season, look for the Canucks to continue to have continued success.

5. Chicago Blackhawks

Fans in Chicago got to watch one of the most exciting teams in all of hockey last season after many years of terrible play. When you are bad for that many seasons though, you get rewarded with plenty of great draft picks and the Blackhawks certainly cashed in when they were given the opportunity.

Already armed with young sniping forwards Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews and Kris Versteeg, the Blackhawks looked set. During the first day of free agency however, the 'Hawks dropped another bomb on the NHL world. They were able to sign arguably the top player in free agency, winger Marian Hossa.

With this group of forwards, Chicago has arguably the best offense in the NHL. Their only question mark remains in the goaltending position after losing Nikolai Khabibulin to free agency.

If Cristobal Huet can step up his game, the Blackhawks could be the team to beat in the West this year. Look at Huet's past, though, and you see an incredibly streaky goaltender. He is certainly capable of carrying a team, but when he is bad, he is bad. The upcoming 'Hawks season can be quickly be summed up by which Huet shows up in net.

4. San Jose Sharks

For whatever reason, the hockey gods haven't been to nice to the San Jose Sharks. Over the past five seasons, they have won the Pacific Division title three times (the other two seasons finishing in second) and finishing each season with an average of 107 points.

During those same five years, they haven't been able to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Last year seemed to have been the hardest pill to swallow—winning the President's Trophy, yet falling to the eighth seeded Anaheim Ducks in the first round. Whatever the problem is, this is the year they need to figure it out. Already in cap trouble with less than $1 million available, they still have several roster spots to fill.

Many Sharks fans are voicing their opinion and are clearly frustrated, and who can blame them? General Manager Doug Wilson has had a talented team for a while now, but they've fallen short of expectations year after year. Is it time for him to go?

If the Sharks falter again this season after being a top team in the West, then he should be fired. Not succeeding is one thing. Not succeeding and destroying your teams future with horrible cap management is another.

This team isn't going to win the Pacific Division this year. They are going to need to dump some of their assets just to get in under the salary cap. The Sharks could have a very disappointing year that many fans don't yet realize. Stay tuned.

3. Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames look to take the Northwest Division crown in the 2009-10 season. A quick look at their roster, and you can see why.

They are extremely well balanced from top to bottom. Up front, you have one of the game's most well-rounded players in Jarome Iginla. He alone makes your team better. The Flames also have a great young crop of forwards that will only get better with experience.

On defense is where it gets scary. The Flames now have two of the NHL's best defensemen in Dion Phaneuf and Jay Bouwmeester. Also add in Robyn Regehr and Cory Sarich and fit them in with either Phaneuf or Bouwmeester and you have the best top two defensive lines in the game today.

In net you have Miikka Kiprusoff, who has been shaky the past couple years but also has William M. Jennings and Vezina Trophy to his name. All together, they are the best team in the Northwest Division and if they can stay healthy, don't be surprised to see them make a deep run in this year's playoffs.

2. Detroit Red Wings

Score one goal and you are going to overtime. Get another goal there, and you win your second Stanley Cup in as many years. Just getting to the Stanley Cup Finals two years in a row is something very rare in today's well-balanced league.

For the Detroit Red Wings, though, it's almost to be expected. Some might have predicted when the NHL returned from the lockout that dynasties such as the Detroit Red Wings wouldn't be able to exist because of the salary cap.

But what other teams lack, the Detroit Red Wings possess: flawless management. The Red Wings lead the way in terms of scouting, drafting and developing their players. Justin Abdelkader, Pavel Datsyuk, Valtteri Filppula, Johan Franzen, Darren Helm, Tomas Holmstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Brett Lebda, Nicklas Lindstrom and Henrik Zetterburg were all players drafted by Detroit, and all of these players are in the starting line-up each night.

To get each of these players to stay long-term and stay within a winning environment is what makes this team so special. It is unmatched by any NHL team and it's what keeps the winged-wheel rolling. Look for Detroit to win the Central title again and to continue their dominance within the Western Conference. Do they get to the Stanley Cup Finals again in the summer of 2010?

1. Anaheim Ducks

Ever since the 2006-07 season, the Ducks have lacked secondary scoring. Enter Saku Koivu, who turned down a long-term offer from the Minnesota Wild to play one year in the OC with his friend and countryman Teemu Selanne.

The Anaheim Ducks are one of few teams throughout the NHL that can employ two lines of attack. On line one you have Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. On line two you have Joffrey Lupul, Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne. Randy Carlyle is one of the league's top coaches and giving him two lines to score with is something every opponent should fear.

Finishing last season in the eighth seed was deceiving. Anaheim wasn't a normal eighth seed where they didn't have the talent to be any higher. The team suffered from some issues that they couldn't control like injuries and then also went through some things that they could control.

Careless penalties and undisciplined play come to mind. If they can get those two things under control, this team is capable of running through the rest of the Western Conference all the way to the Cup Finals.

The questions remains, though, can they—or, more importantly, will they—do so? This is a team that has made it's success with playing the game with reckless abandon and it has proven successful in the past. After all, they won the Stanley Cup in 2007.

Can they do it again this year? It certainly shouldn't surprise anyone if they do.