NHL Contenders and Pretenders: The Top 10 Teams That Will Rise or Fall

With the NHL season kicking off in less than 24 hours, it's time to look ahead to see which teams are using smoke and mirrors and which teams have nothing to hide.

This time last season most people expected teams like the Avalanche and the Coyotes to be competing for the best draft pick in the 2010 draft. So what are we to make of all the predictions we've seen heading into this season?

I've used the expected point totals from Vegas, because if anyone has a stake in their evaluations it's them. After scanning the predictions around the hockey world, most prognosticators have teams pretty close to these numbers.

Having said that, are any of these predictions legit, or are we blindly stampeding over a cliff with them?

Here is a list of 10 teams that will be movers or shakers in the 2010 NHL season.

10. Atlanta Thrashers

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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 21: Evander Kane #9 of the Atlanta Thrashers flips a puck around on his stick during warmups before facing the Columbus Blue Jackets during the preseason opener at Phillips Arena on September 21, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by K

Vegas Line: 83 points

Not a lot is expected of the Thrashers this season. Most pundits are convinced they will miss the playoffs by a fair margin. With a new GM and coach in place, it is considered a transition year as Atlanta institutes a new plan of action.

However, don't be surprised if this young squad makes a serious push at the eighth playoff seed.

Chris Mason was brought in to be the No. 1 guy, but I think Ondrej Pavelec will win the starting job during the first half of the season. Zach Bogosian, Evander Kane, and Niclas Bergfors are ready to step up and lead this team in a new direction.

If you like a Cinderella story, this might be it.

9. Edmonton Oilers

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EDMONTON, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 23: Taylor Hall #4 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his 3rd period goal on September 23, 2010 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

Vegas Line: 76 points

The company line coming out of Edmonton is that the development of the young kids is more important than wins. This is a wise move by the organization to help ease the pressure on the rookies.

Without the burden of expectations, the newcomers will be given free reign to play at their best. It also takes some of the pressure off players like Andrew Cogliano, Ales Hemsky, and Sam Gagner.

Collectively, this team could make a serious jump up the standings and easily exceed the point total the prognosticators have set out for them. Tom Renney has a history of getting more out of his players when the chips are stacked against them but hasn't done so well when the bar is raised.

Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, and Jordan Eberle are blue-chip prospects and will give fans their money's worth every night.

No one expected the Avalanche to make a big jump in the standings last year, and if Edmonton can get some consistent goaltending, they could follow in their footsteps. 

8. Boston Bruins

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MONTREAL- SEPTEMBER 22: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins stretches out to stop the puck during an NHL pre-season game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on September 22, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Bruins defeated the Canadi

Vegas Line: 100 points

The Bruins are the odds-on favorite to win the Northeast Division in 2010, but this team could challenge the Capitals for first in the Eastern Conference.

The additions of Nathan Horton and Tyler Seguin will infuse the team with the kind of offense that was missing last year, and they are only two years removed from a 116-point season. With Tuukka Rask leading the way for an entire season, the Bruins are set for a monster improvement in the standings.

Everything began to fall in place during their playoff run, and with a little bit more poise and leadership they very easily could have been contending for the Cup against the Blackhawks. For whatever reason, their scoring was down across the board last year, but don't expect that to happen again.

7. Montreal Canadiens

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MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 27: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens prepares for his game against the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre on September 27, 2010 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Vegas Line: 87 points

If you've read or watched any of the predictions this season, you'll see the Canadiens hovering around the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. I am here to tell you that this version of the Canadiens won't even come close to a postseason date this year.

The primary reason? Carey Price.

Trading away Jaroslav Halak to make way for Price will likely get GM Pierre Gauthier fired at some point over the next couple of years because this organization has taken a serious step backwards. Instead of building on a dream playoff run, the team decided to keep Tomas Plekanec and go cheap at goaltender rather than secure the stabilizing force of the franchise.

Fans in Montreal are an educated bunch, and booing Price in the preseason is a sign of things to come. It's just unfortunate that the Canadiens will need to throw away a full season before they realize their mistake.

6. St. Louis Blues

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ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 21: Jaroslav Halak #41 of the St. Louis Blues makes a save against the Colorado Avalanche during a pre-season game at the Scottrade Center on September 21, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Vegas Line: 93 points

Speaking of Halak, the St. Louis Blues will be headed to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2010 while Montreal is at home watching on the couch.

Goaltending was a huge void for the Blues last year, and they got one of the game's best young netminders when they stole Halak from the Canadiens. This is an up-and-coming team that will feature two young studs on their blue line in Erik Johnson and Alex Pietrangelo. Andy McDonald, David Perron, and T.J. Oshie will lead the charge up front.

Look for them to be the 2010 version of the Nashville Predators: great goaltending, solid defense, and disciplined play.

5. New Jersey Devils

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UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 02: Anton Volchenkov #28 of the New Jersey Devils skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 2, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Devils 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Ben

Vegas Line: 101 points

The New Jersey Devils are expected to make the playoffs once again this season, but very few have them beating out the Penguins for the division crown. I am one of those few.

For the last three seasons the Devils have bowed out in the first round. That won't happen this year. I don't think that Ilya Kovalchuk will be the primary reason for this improvement because I think he is currently the league's most overrated player. He is definitely not worth what the Devils gave up to get him.

Having said that, his top-flight offense will give them a lethal boost up front. The idea of pairing him on the top line with Travis Zajac and Zach Parise could give them the best top line in all of hockey.

At the same time, it's the other changes that have me believing this is a team headed for the top. Henrik Tallinder and Anton Volchenkov are two players should have gotten the headlines, not Kovalchuk. This bolsters their defense immensely and should give Martin Brodeur the kind of stability in front of him that he's been missing.

Jason Arnott was an underrated addition up front, and a new coach should breathe new life into a stale team.

4. Chicago Blackhawks

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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 12: Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks carries the Stanley Cup to the field before the NFL opening season game between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on September 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bea

Vegas Line: 107 points

Despite all of the offseason losses, the Blackhawks are still considered by the so-called experts to be contenders this year.

It is true they have their core players in place, but anyone who knows what it takes to win a Cup will concede that it is the supplemental roster that puts a team over the top. These complementary players are now gone, and it would take a miracle for this team to repeat.

Last year this club knew it was a now-or-never situation, and to their credit they stepped up and delivered. Now they become the hunted rather than the hunters. Every team will raise its game knowing it is playing the defending champs (even if it is a hollow version), and it won't be easy to get up for the challenge each and every time.

This group of pretenders will fall well short of the 107 points expected of them, but after last year I have a small suspicion their fans won't mind.

3. Detroit Red Wings

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings makes the stick save as Michael Del Zotto #4 of the New York Rangers looks for a rebound at Madison Square Garden on September 29, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Ima

Vegas Line: 102 points

Taking Chicago's place atop the division in 2010 will be the Detroit Red Wings. This is an organization that does not take a year off. Year after year they find ways to make magic happen and be in the running for Lord Stanley.

A lot of credit must be given to this team for simultaneously keeping the core in place and at the same time complementing them with enough role players to make a deep run.

Among those complementary players this year is hometown boy Mike Modano. He is well beyond his prime, and he likely should have retired, but if anyone knows how to get the most out of him, it's Detroit. Jiri Hudler is back after a season in the KHL, and Jimmy Howard gives them a strong foundation between the pipes.

The Wings will easily surpass 102 points and once again strike fear into any team that is unlucky enough to face them in the playoffs.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

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SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 1: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates prior to the pre season game against the Florida Panthers on October 1, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 2-1 in overtime.

Vegas Line: 92 points

Put on your thinking cap and ask yourself when the last time was you remember an NHL team that has done as large of a 180 in an offseason as this year's version of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Bringing in Steve Yzerman to captain the ship singlehandedly brought immediate credibility to an organization in desperate need of it. Combine that with one of the scariest groups of offensive players in the league, and you have yourself the second trendiest pick of the 2010 NHL season.

Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman are two of the brightest young stars in the league, and Dan Ellis and Simon Gagne were excellent offseason additions. Martin St. Louis will continue to be a brilliant player, and one has to assume that these changes will reignite Vincent Lecavalier's career. If he's not inspired now, then he'll never be.

Guy Boucher might be a little bit unorthodox in his approach, but no one minds as long as it produces results. The bandwagon is taking passengers, and I'm along for the ride.

1. Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 15: Rally towels for the fans blanket the seats prior to the start of Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals between the Los Angeles Kings and the Vancouver Canucks during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs at General Motors

Vegas Line: 106 points

As a Vancouver native, some people might scoff at the fact that I have the Canucks at the top of this list.

However, I never have been or ever will be a fan of the Canucks. In fact, this hometown team has been a great source of rivalry for me over the years. I've had a front-row seat for many of the disappointments, and I've never believed this club had much of a chance to win the Stanley Cup. That is, until now.

This year's edition has all the pieces in place. If they can avoid major injuries, they should be able to secure first place in the Western Conference and set themselves up with home ice advantage for the entire playoffs.

Adding Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis on the back end was a critical upgrade, and signing Manny Malholtra was possibly the most underrated signing of the entire summer. Look hard for a weakness on this team because it will not be easy to find.

The Hockey News has them as its consensus choice to win the Cup, and while I won't go that far, it's difficult to dispute the hype. This is one team that could surpass all of the preseason expectations and go all the way for the first time in franchise history. The only question will be, can they stay out of their own way? I, for one, like their chances.