NHL Predictions 2011: Philadelphia Flyers and 3 Teams with Playoff Dreams

With the 2011 NHL regular season kicking off on Thursday, Oct. 6, it’s time to get all of our big-picture predictions out of the way.

A wild offseason of trades and free-agent signings shook the landscape of the NHL to its core, and the madness of the season hasn’t even begun yet.

While the Boston Bruins are defending Stanley Cup Champions, they are not a favorite to win it all this season. Instead, these following three teams are the most likely to win the whole show.

Philadelphia Flyers

 The Philadelphia Flyers went to the Stanley Cup finals two seasons ago and were bounced in the second round of the playoffs last year, but an offseason that featured the departure of captain Mike Richards, sniper Jeff Carter and several other pieces has the team better off now than before.

While the Flyers added many more pieces through free agency, the draft and trades, like Jaromir Jagr, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, the biggest addition was All-Star goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

After signing the starting goalie they haven’t had since the mid-90s, the Flyers are poised to do big things this postseason.

Washington Capitals

 As usual, the Washington Capitals are favored to be a serious Stanley Cup contender, but the difference this year is goaltending. While last season's goalie situation wasn’t terrible, the upgrade to Tomas Vokoun in net is a big deal.

With an improved defense and defensive scheme, the Capitals will be solid as a rock in their own zone, leaving the success of the team up to the offense.

The notoriously streaky bunch of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Semin have to come up big this season, and if they do, it's lights out for the rest of the Eastern Conference.

Los Angeles Kings

 If there was one team in the Western Conference that was already an elite team that got better by leaps and bounds, it was the Los Angeles Kings. Yes, it’s true they traded depth and youth for former Philadelphia captain Mike Richards, but his experience is something that was a main selling point for the Kings.

With a long-term contract out of the way for young defensive star Drew Doughty and stability in the organization for the first time in too long, Los Angeles has a real chance of making a huge splash in the Stanley Cup race.

Check back for more on the NHL as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s Hockey Page to get your fill of the NHL.

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