Puck Daddy's 2009-2010 Western Conference Staff Prognostications

As per this morning, I am chiming in on Puck Daddy’s staff’s prognostication on how the NHL season will play out. This morning was the Eastern Conference, tonight we shall do the West.

	Puck Daddy	Sean Leahy	Ryan Lambert (Two Line Pass)	Dobber!	Dmitry Chesnokov	Mike D (50MC)
	Red Wings	Red Wings	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Red Wings	Red Wings
	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Red Wings	Red Wings	Blackhawks	Blues
	Blue Jackets	Blue Jackets	Blues	Blues	Blue Jackets	Blackhawks
	Blues	Predators	Blue Jackets	Blue Jackets	Predators	Blue Jackets
	Predators	Blues	Predators	Predators	Blues	Predators

Some people think that this is the year the Red Wings will falter as the 'Hawks move up. I don’t. In fact, evidently I think that the Blues will make the biggest climb. I’ll take Chris Mason over Cristobal Huet any day.

The Predators just don’t have the offense to keep up with everyone else. To their favor, they have the best goal horn in the industry and the endorsement of Taylor Swift (sigh).

	Puck Daddy	Sean Leahy	Ryan Lambert (Two Line Pass)	Dobber!	Dmitry Chesnokov	Mike D (50MC)
	Canucks	Canucks	Flames	Flames	Canucks	Canucks
	Flames	Flames	Canucks	Canucks	Flames	Oilers
	Oilers	Oilers	Wild	Oilers	Oilers	Flames
	Wild	Wild	Oilers	Wild	Wild	Wild
	Avalanche	Avalanche	Avalanche	Avalanche	Avalanche	Avalanche

The Oilers are good enough to compete for second place in the Northwest Division. They have too many skilled forwards and defensemen, but not much physicality. Their goaltending is much improved.

I don’t like the Flames' offense. Olli Jokinen will have a much better season, but it still won’t be enough to take the division.

Taylor Hall will look really good with Matt Duchene next year.

	Puck Daddy	Sean Leahy	Ryan Lambert (Two Line Pass)	Dobber!	Dmitry Chesnokov	Mike D (50MC)
	Sharks	Sharks	Sharks	Sharks	Sharks	Sharks
	Ducks	Ducks	Coyotes	Kings	Ducks	Stars
	Stars	Stars	Ducks	Stars	Kings	Ducks
	Kings	Kings	Kings	Ducks	Stars	Coyotes
	Coyotes	Coyotes	Stars	Coyotes	Coyotes	Kings

This is the year for the Shark (I hope, I pray). They are just the complete package ("but they were last year too"…shut up!). The playoff disaster is a motivational point that the entire organization will use to win another President’s Trophy.

I don’t like the Ducks mainly because I don’t like Corey Perry and his gutless style of play on the ice.

I really like the Stars. Their forwards are all healthy and Marty Turco will not play as badly as he did last year.

Despite their off ice problems, the Coyotes don’t have that bad of a team. Apparently Lambert has the same frame of thinking.

Mike D, Regional Director in Charge of Sales

1. Sharks
2. Red Wings
3. Canucks
4. Stars
5. Blues
6. Oilers
7. Blackhawks
8. Flames