NHL Predictions: 8 Teams that will be out of the Playoffs by January 1

Every team has high hopes coming into the new year as the NHL season approaches, but some of those teams will find it difficult to contend.

Several teams, like the Winnipeg Jets, will be out of the playoff race by January 1, and will have to look to the draft for hope.

Injuries and misfortune can also play a part in an early exit from playoff contention, but usually the good teams fight through that adversity.

Let's look at eight teams who will be out of the playoff hunt by January 1. Is your team one of them?

Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets finished 12th in the Eastern Conference last season as the Atlanta Thrashers, and were 13 points behind a playoff spot.

With the Jets remaining in the Southeast Division, despite playing home games much farther north in Canada than in Atlanta, the amount of travel they will have to endure will be a mighty burden this season.

Also, the team did not make any significant improvements to their roster during the offseason. Teams who finished behind them last year, like the New York Islanders, have more young talent and will be better this season.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators had a lot of money to spend under the salary cap in free agency this summer, but made hardly any moves to improve upon their 13th-place finish in the Eastern Conference and last-place finish in the Northeast Division last season.

Jason Spezza will once again have to carry the offense, and without a star goaltender the Senators will find it difficult to win games.

It also doesn't help that Ottawa plays in a very competitive division, which includes the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins and contenders like the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres.

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers will be an exciting team to watch this season, but they don't have enough veteran experience or quality goaltending to contend for the playoffs.

Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' development will be priority one this season, and while they will be somewhat competitive, the playoffs aren't a realistic goal.

The Oilers were 35 points behind a playoff spot last season, and it's not fair to think they will improve that much this season.

Florida Panthers

If I were to tell you the Florida Panthers would not make the playoffs, would you be shocked?

Interestingly enough, the Panthers made a number of free-agent signings this summer, but most of them were overpaid, such as Scottie Upshall signing a four-year, $14 million contract.

The Panthers still don't have a quality goaltender and don't have enough offense. It's going to be another long season in South Florida.

Phoenix Coyotes

The Phoenix Coyotes relied so heavily on star goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov that his absence will be too much to overcome this season.

Bryzgalov signed a nine-year, $51 million deal with the Philadelphia Flyers this summer, and the Coyotes don't have a capable goaltender to fill his shoes.

The Coyotes offense is also quite old, with aging stars such as Shane Doan and Ray Whitney.

Phoenix has serious ownership issues to deal with this season, but they will also have problems on the ice this year.

Colorado Avalanche

There is no doubt that the Colorado Avalanche will be better this season; they have lots of young talent with star potential.

However, they did finish with 68 points last season—29 points behind a playoff spot.

Even though the Avalanche will be better, there were teams in front of them last season who either improved during the offseason or will return healthier.

The Minnesota Wild made several trades to improve their offense this summer, the St. Louis Blues will get quality players back from injury and the Columbus Blue Jackets added stars to their offense and defense.

The Avalanche will be better, but they won't make the playoffs this season.

New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are a team headed in the right direction, and signing young forward John Tavares to a new contract this summer was a smart move.

The Islanders still don't have a legitimate goaltender, nor do they have enough experience to thrive during a playoff push late in the season.

The Islanders will have a good season, but they will not make the playoffs.

Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild improved their offense this summer by acquiring former San Jose Sharks forwards Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi, but they lost their best defenseman in Brent Burns to the Sharks via trade.

The Wild have no replacement on defense for Burns, and having just one good offensive line won't be enough.

Add to that the lack of a consistently good goaltender and the Wild will not make the playoffs this season.