Kassam's 2008-09 NHL Regular Season Predictions

So the preseason is now underway, with the regular reason being set to start in Europe in less than ten days. 

With the time until regular season being counted down, many people are wondering what the standings will look like at the end of the year. 

These are what I believe will be the standings at the end of the 2008-09 regular seasons and my reasons for them.  The wild-card player is a player who may turn out great, or may bust during the year.

Eastern Conference

1.       New York Rangers

Key Players: Chris Drury (C), Scott Gomez, Henrik Lundqvist

Wild-Card Player: Brandon Dubinsky

Key Additions: Markus Naslund, Wade Redden

Key Losses: Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka

The New York Rangers will be a force in an offense-driven Eastern Conference.  They have a solid offense with great depth down the middle. 

They have one of the best defensive cores in the East and they have arguably the best goaltender in the entire conference in Lundqvist. 

With the additions of Naslund and Redden, the already-strong Rangers have become evenstronger.  Even though they lost their captain in Jagr, young guns such as Dubinsky will gladly step into more offensive, roles allowing them to edge out the Penguins for the Atlantic Division crown.

2.       Washington Capitals

Key Players: Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green

Wild-Card Player: Sergei Fedorov

Key Additions: Jose Theodore

Key Losses: Cristobal Huet, Olaf Kolzig

In my opinion, the Capitals will run away with the Southeast this year.  They will be tested by the Lightning and possibly the Hurricanes for portions of the year, but the bottom line is the offensive punch of the Capitals will be too strong. 

They have the best player in the game today and are starting to focus more on defense.  They received a goaltending upgrade in Theodore, and will be a tough contender in the East.

3.       Montreal Canadiens

Key Players: Alex Kovalev, Andrei Markov, Saku Koivu (C)

Wild-Card Player: Carey Price

Key Additions: Robert Lang, Alex Tanguay, Georges Laraque

Key Losses: Mark Streit, Bryan Smolinski

The Canadiens are heading into their centennial year, and will run away with a much softer Northeast Division.  Alex Kovalev and Saku Koivu will lead this team once again.

If Carey Price is able to live up to his expectations in his first full NHL season, then the Canadians will easily win the Northeast and could trade places with the Capitals.

4.       Pittsburgh Penguins

Key Players: Sidney Crosby (C), Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar

Wild-Card Player: Miroslav Satan

Key Additions: Miroslav Satan, Ruslan Fedotenko

Key Losses: Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Georges Laraque

Even though the Penguins have lost some key members of their offense, you cannot look past the fact that two young studs named Crosby and Malkin are not going anywhere.  Malkin and Crosby will continue to improve their careers, and Jordan Staal and Petr Sykora will continue to be members of a great supporting cast with help from new Pen’s Satan and Fedotenko. 

The only reason I have them penciled in as fourth and not first in the conference is due to the fact that their top two defensemen (Gonchar, Whitney) will be out indefinitely with injuries.

5.       Philadelphia Flyers

Key Players: Daniel Briere, Mike Richards (C), Kiimo Timonen

Wild-Card Player: Simon Gagne

Key Additions: J.S. Aubin

Key Losses: Jason Smith, R.J Umberger, Vaclav Prospal

The Flyers have not changed very much since last season, and after making the conference finals expectations will be high for them.  They have a new captain in Mike Richards, who is a great choice.  Their scoring will still be there—and if Simon Gagne can stay healthy, then the Flyers will be even stronger at fifth.

6.       New Jersey Devils

Key Players: Zach Parise, Martin Brodeur, Jamie Langenbrunner (C)

Wild-Card Player: Patrick Elias

Key Additions: Booby Holik, Brian Rolston

Key Losses: None

The Devils are just another one of the four strong Atlantic Division teams that will be battling for home-ice advantage. If Brodeur and Parise stay consistent and if Rolston and Elias can find their form early in the season, the Devils could just as easily find themselves in fourth instead of sixth. 

Having arguably the best goalie of all time will also help the Devils' chances of receiving a playoff spot.

7.       Tampa Bay Lightning (could drop as low as 10th)

Key Players: Vincent Lecavalier (C), Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos

Wild-Card Player: Steven Stamkos

Key Additions: Vaclav Prospal, Olaf Kolzig, Andrej Meszaros, Ryan Malone

Key Losses: Filip Kuba, Dan Boyle

The Lightning are back, and their offense is better than it has been in quite a few years.  I believe that Vinny Lecavalier will return to his Art Ross form from two years ago—and with new superstar Steven Stamkos, the Lightning will be a very high scoring team. 

Great additions have been made in the offseason by the Lightning, such as forwards Ryan Malone and Vinny Prospal.  Defense and goaltending may be an issue for them, and that’s why I have them at seventh.

8.       Ottawa Senators (could drop as low as 11th)

Key Players: Dany Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson (C), Jason Spezza

Wild-Card Player: Martin Gerber

Key Additions: Jason Smith, Jarkko Ruutu, Alex Auld

Key Losses: Ray Emery, Andrej Meszaros, Wade Redden

The Senators will be battling with the Sabres and Bruins for the final playoff spot, but their offense will be the thing that pushes them ahead.  They will count on Martin Gerber to come day in and day out and perform well. 

If Gerber plays like he can, and if Heatley, Spezza, and Alfredsson can do what they’ve been doing over the past two years, the Senators will be in the playoffs at the end of the season.

9.       Buffalo Sabres (could jump to seventh, could drop to 10th)

Key Players: Jason Pominville (C), Tomas Vanek, Ryan Miller

Wild-Card Player: Maxim Afinogenov

Key Additions: Craig Rivet, Patrick Lalime

Key Losses: Steve Bernier

10.   Boston Bruins (could jump to eighth, could drop to 11th)

Key Players: Patrice Bergeron, Marc Savard, Zdeno Chara (C)

Wild-Card Player: Manny Fernandez

Key Additions: Michael Ryder, Blake Wheeler

Key Losses: Glen Murray

11.   Carolina Hurricanes (could jump to eighth, but this is a long shot)

Key Players: Eric Staal, Rod Brind’Amour (C), Cam Ward

Wild-Card Player: Sergei Samsonov

Key Additions: Joni Pitkanen

Key Losses: Erik Cole

12.   Florida Panthers

Key Players: Nathan Horton, Tomas Vokoun, Rostislav Olesz

Wild-Card Player: Shawn Matthias

Key Additions: Bryan McCabe

Key Losses: Olli Jokinen, Mike Van Ryn

13.   New York Islanders

Key Players: Bill Guerin (C), Mike Comrie, Rick DiPietro

Wild-Card Player: Mark Streit

Key Additions: Mark Streit, Doug Weight

Key Losses: Miroslav Satan, Ruslan Fedotenko

14.   Toronto Maple Leafs

Key Players: Tomas Kaberle, Vesa Toskala, Nik Antropov

Wild-Card Player: Jason Blake

Key Additions: Mike Van Ryn, Niklas Hagman

Key Losses: Mats Sundin, Bryan McCabe, Darcy Tucker

15.   Atlanta Thrashers

Key Players: Ilya Kovalchuk, Tobias Enstrom, Mathieu Schneider

Wild-Card Player: Zach Bogosian

Key Additions: Mathieu Schneider

Key Losses: Bobby Holik

Western Conference:

1.       Detroit Red Wings

Key Players: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom (C)

Wild-Card Player: Chris Osgood

Key Additions: Marian Hossa, Ty Conklin

Key Losses: Dominik Hasek

Nothing much to say.  The strongest team in the NHL just gets stronger.  With the addition of Marian Hossa, that already-potent offense has become even more dangerous.  A great defensive corps led by Nick Lidstrom will be strong once again. 

The only question surrounding this team is if Chris Osgood can lead his team to another first-place finish.

2.       San Jose Sharks

Key Players: Joe Thronton, Evgeni Nabokov, Dan Boyle

Wild-Card Player: Jonathan Cheechoo

Key Additions: Dan Boyle, Rob Blake

Key Losses: Matt Carle

The Sharks have a heavily-improved defense, a skillful group of forwards, and one of the best goaltenders in the conference.  Rob Blake and Dan Boyle will be great two-way defensemen, and stars Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau will continue to produce in the offensive aspects of the game. 

If Nabokov is as good as he was last year, then the Sharks will have no problem edging out the Stars for the Pacific Division crown.

3.       Calgary Flames

Key Players: Jarome Iginla (C), Miikka Kiprusoff, Dion Phaneuf

Wild-Card Player: Todd Bertuzzi

Key Additions: Mike Cammaleri, Todd Bertuzzi

Key Losses: Stephane Yelle, Alex Tanguay, Kristian Huselius

Throughout the season, the Flames will be battling for the Northwest Division crown with the Oilers and the Canucks.  But as the lineups stand right now, the Flames—as much as it pains me to say it—have the best team in the division. 

Led by their captain Jarome Iginla, as well as Dion Phaneuf, the Flames will be a skillfull and gritty team in the Western Conference, who will compete day in and day out.  Todd Bertuzzi is a bit of a scary pickup, but it could pay off.

4.       Dallas Stars

Key Players: Brendan Morrow (C), Mike Ribeiro, Marty Turco

Wild-Card Player: Fabian Brunnstrom

Key Additions: Fabian Brunnstrom

Key Losses: Anti Miettnen, Niklas Hagman

The Dallas Stars haven’t made very many changes since the end of last season—and that may not be a bad thing.  I believe that they will battle San Jose in the Pacific Division, but will just come short. 

They have two great centers in Ribeiro and Richards, and great wingers in Morrow, Lehtinen, and Modano.  If Sergei Zubov and Phillipe Boucher can stay healthy, and if Marty Turco finds his form, look for the Stars to zoom into fourth place.

5.       Chicago Blackhawks

Key Players: Jonathan Toews (C), Patrick Kane, Brian Campbell

Wild-Card Player: Cristobal Huet

Key Additions: Cristobal Huet, Brian Campbell

Key Losses: Robert Lang, Jason Williams

The Blackhawks are a revamped team, and there is a reason to be excited for hockey in Chicago again.  Young stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are both heading into their sophomore seasons and my guess is that they will be even better than last year. 

They also now have a great goaltending tandem in Huet and Khabibulin and now have two star defenders in Keith and Campbell. 

They won’t come close to challenging for the Central Division, but they may possibly squeak into fourth and get home-ice advantage in Round One.  If Martin Havlat can stay healthy, Chicago will be an even deeper threat.

6.       Vancouver Canucks (could jump to third, could drop to ninth)

Key Players: Roberto Luongo, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin

Wild-Card Player: Steve Bernier

Key Additions: Pavol Demitra, Steve Bernier, Cody Hodgson

Key Losses: Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, Trevor Linden

The Canucks will be back with a better team than last year’s disappointing squad, which finished in a tie for ninth in the conference.  Pavol Demitra and Steve Bernier seem to be more than adequate replacements for Naslund and Morrison. 

The Canucks depth has gotten much better with the likes of Darcy Hordichuk and Ryan Johnson.  And the possibility of kids Cody Hodgson and Michael Grabner will help the Canucks offense. 

The Canucks still have one of the strongest defensive corps in the conference, led by Willie Mitchell and Mattias Ohlund. 

And then there’s Luongo.  Arguably the best goalie in the NHL, Luongo will look to bounce back from a disappointing season.  If the Canucks stay healthy, look for them to challenge for the Northwest Division title.

7.       Edmonton Oilers (could jump to third, could drop to 10th)

Key Players: Shawn Horcoff, Sam Gagner, Ales Hemsky

Wild-Card Player: Sheldon Souray

Key Additions: Erik Cole, Gilbert Brule, Lubomir Visnovsky

Key Losses: Joni Pitkanen, Raffi Torres, Jarret Stoll

The Oilers are a much better team than they were last year.  They are the fastest team in the Western Conference, and they have a very potent offense.  Power forward Erik Cole will be heavily relied on in both five-on-five and power-play situations. 

A key to the Oilers' success will be the health of Sheldon Souray.  If Souray can stay healthy and if the Oilers can receive solid goaltending from either Garon or Roloson, they could see themselves move into division contention—but they will likely end up in either sixth or seventh.

8.       Anaheim Ducks (could drop to 10th)

Key Players: Ryan Getzlaf, Chris Pronger (C), J.S Giguere

Wild-Card Player: Bobby Ryan

Key Additions: Brendan Morrison, Ken Klee

Key Losses: Mathieu Schneider

The Ducks are not as strong of a team as they were a couple of years ago.  They may still have the same core of layers, but they are not feared as they once were. 

Nonetheless, they still have a great bunch of forwards, including Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, a solid defensive unit led by Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermeyer, and an All-Star goaltender in J. S Giguere. 

I do not think that the Ducks will be able to compete with the Sharks or Stars this season, but look for them to push very hard for a playoff position.

9.       Phoenix Coyotes (could jump to seventh, could drop to 12th)

Key Players: Shane Doan (C), Olli Jokinen, Ed Jovonovski

Wild-Card Player: Kyle Turris

Key Additions: Olli Jokinen

Key Losses: Nick Boynton, Keith Ballard

10.   Minnesota Wild (could jump to seventh, could drop to 12th)

Key Players: Marian Gaborik, Brett Burns, Nicklas Backstrom

Wild-Card Player: Owen Nolan

Key Additions: Owen Nolan, Andrew Brunette

Key Losses: Pavol Demitra, Brian Rolston

11.   Colorado Avalanche (could jump to eighth, could drop to 13th)

Key Players: Joe Sakic (C), Paul Stastny, Milan Hejduk

Wild-Card Player: Andrew Raycroft

Key Additions: Andrew Raycroft, Darcy Tucker

Key Losses: Andrew Brunette, Jose Theodore

12.   Columbus Blue Jackets

Key Players: Rick Nash (C), Kristian Huselius, Pascal Leclaire

Wild-Card Player: Raffi Torres

Key Additions: Raffi Torres, Kristian Huselius

Key Losses: Ron Hainsey

13.   St. Louis Blues

Key Players: Paul Kariya, Eric Brewer (C), Brad Boyes

Wild-Card Player: Chris Mason

Key Additions: Chris Mason

Key Losses: None

14.   Nashville Predators

Key Players: Jason Arnott (C), Dan Ellis, Shea Weber

Wild-Card Player: Steve Sullivan

Key Additions: None

Key Losses: Alexander Radulov

15.   Los Angeles Kings

Key Players: Anze Kopitar, Jarret Stoll, Michael Handzus

Wild-Card Player: Drew Doughty

Key Additions: Jarret Stoll, Matt Greene

Key Losses: Lubomir Visnovsky, Rob Blake

Those are my opinions on what will occur this season in the NHL.  Could they be wrong? Of course.  But with the lineups that each team has at this moment, this is what I believe is the most accurate representation of standings. 

Accurate or not, you be the judge.