Melissa's NHL 2008-09 Season Predictions

Here are my own predictions for the outcome of the 2008-09 season.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit Red Wings: No. 1 in the western conference, No. 1 in the Central Division

2. San Jose Sharks: No. 2 in the western conference, No. 1 in the Pacific Division

3. Calgary Flames: No. 3 in the western conference, No. 1 in the Northwest Division

4. Dallas Stars: No. 4 in the western conference, No. 2 in the Pacific Division

5. Anaheim Ducks: No. 5 in the western conference, No. 2 in the Northwest Division

6. Minnesota Wild: No. 6 in the western conference, No. 3 in the Pacific Division

7. Chicago Blackhawks: No. 7 in the western conference, No. 2 in the Central Division

8. Columbus Blue Jackets: No. 8 in the western conference, No. 3 in the Central Division

9. Nashville Predators: No. 9 in the western conference, No. 4 in the Central Division

10. Phoenix Coyotes: No. 10 place in the western conference, No. 4 in the Pacific Division

11. Vancouver Canucks No. 11 in the western conference, No. 3 in the Northwest Division

12. Edmonton Oilers No. 12 in the western conference, No. 4 place in the Northwest Division

13. Los Angeles Kings: No. 13 in the western conference, No. 5 in the Pacific Division

14. Colorado Avalanche: No. 14 in the western conference, No. 5 in the Northwest Division

15. St. Louis Blues: No. 15 in the western conference, No. 5 in the Central Division

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Montreal Canadiens: No. 1 in the eastern conference, No. 1 in the Northeast Division

2. Pittsburgh Penguins: No. 2 in the eastern conference, No. 1 in the Atlantic Division

3. Washington Capitals: No. 3 in the eastern conference, No. 1 in the Southeast Division

4. Ottawa Senators: No. 4 in the eastern conference, No. 2 in the Northeast Division

5. New York Rangers: No. 5 in the eastern conference, No. 2 in the Atlantic Division

6. Philadelphia Flyers: No. 6 in the eastern conference, No. 3 in the Atlantic Division

7.New Jersey Devils: No. 7 in the eastern conference, No. 4 in the Atlantic Division

8. Tampa Bay Lightning: No. 8 in the eastern conference, No. 2 in the Southeast Division

9. Buffalo Sabres: No. 9 in the eastern conference, No. 3 in the Northeast Division

10. Atlanta Thrashers: No. 10 the eastern conference, No. 3 in the Southeast Division

11. Boston Bruins: No. 11 in the eastern conference, No. 4 in the Northeast Division

12. Florida Panthers: No. 12 in the eastern conference, No. 4 in the Southeast Division

13. Toronto Maple Leafs: No. 13 in the eastern conference, No. 5 in the Northeast Division

14.Carolina Hurricanes: No. 14 in the eastern conference finals, No. 5 in the Southeast Division

15. NY Islanders: No. 15 in the eastern conference, No. 5 in the Atlantic Division

The Montreal Canadiens will win the president trophy over the Detroit Red Wings by three points. Now, that does not mean that I will think that the Detroit Red Wings will win the Stanley Cup.

I am not going to say that your new 2008-09 Stanley Cup champions after 10 years of winning their first Stanley Cup is the Dallas Stars. So what makes the Dallas Stars different?

For starters, they have some of the top best forwards—Mike Ribeiro, Brenden Morrow, and Brad Richards—have just entered their primes and leading the way, making it easier to no longer relying on the likes of 38-year-olds Mike Modano and Sergei Zubov.

Yes, they play an important role, but this team can do great even when they are out of the line-up. They have the amazing leadership in Brenden Morrow and have some amazing youngsters like Matt Niskanen, Mark Fistric, Nicklas Grossman on defense with Robidas and Daley leading them while you have newcomer Fabian Brunnstrom and Loui Eriksson ready to take on bigger roles.

I believe that it is time for the Dallas Stars to shine in the NHL and prove that they can be a Stanley Cup Winner.