NHL Predictions: 50 Reasons You Should Be STOKED for the Upcoming Season

The 2011-12 NHL season kicks off Thursday and it's an exciting time for the sport and each of the 30 teams in it.

The defending champion Boston Bruins host the Philadelphia Flyers in the first game of the season, with the Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins squaring off in the second of Versus' doubleheader on Thursday.

Each club has a clean slate and is ready to prove it will be a force this season. The league has been gaining popularity at a nice rate over the past few seasons, due to the exciting play of many stars and teams.

Let's look at 50 reasons you should be STOKED for the new hockey season!

For updates on all NHL news throughout the season, follow Nick Goss on Twitter. Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.

The League Is Full of Starpower

The NHL is full of star power, and nearly every NHL team has at least one quality player to be excited about.

Young stars such as Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos, Chicago's Jonathan Toews and Los Angeles' Drew Doughty are taking their teams to new heights and have yet to reach the prime of their careers.

Winnipeg Is Back in the NHL

The city of Winnipeg is back in the NHL, after the Atlanta Thrashers franchise relocated to the Canadian city.

The Jets will bring massive excitement to Winnipeg and Canada, and you know the fans will be in full of support at every game.

The Original Six Teams Are Good

Each of the Original Six teams will be quite competitive this season, which is good for the league because these teams play in large hockey markets and have some of the most passionate fans.

The Original Six teams are the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens.

NBC/Versus Signed a New 10-Year Deal with the NHL

NBC and Versus agreed to a new 10-year broadcasting deal this summer, and the NHL will benefit mightily.

NBC's telecasts are great from all angles, and more and more people are starting to watch Versus.

Hockey Has the Best Overtime

Hockey has the best overtime in any sport. Period.

No sport creates more excitement in extra play than hockey, and I'm not even talking about the playoffs, which are just unreal in overtime.

Bruins and Canadiens Rivalry Is Back

The Boston Bruins' and Montreal Canadiens' historic rivalry is finally getting back to what it was in the 1970s, with each contest providing great excitement and storylines.

The teams have also met in three of the last four playoffs, each time in the first round, with two of those series going to seven games.

The Winter Classic Is the Best Early-January Sports Event

Forgot the Rose Bowl in college football, the NHL's Winter Classic is early January's premier sporting event.

The game takes hockey players back to their childhood days of pond hockey, and the game itself is taken so seriously that you'd think you're watching a playoff game.

New York Has Two Good Teams

For the first time in years, New York has two good hockey teams, and both the Rangers and Islanders have a chance to make the playoffs.

Both teams have good young players and will bring hockey excitement to new heights in the Big Apple this season.

Nick Lidstrom Can Make History

Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings is one of the greatest players ever to play hockey, and this season, he can win his eighth Norris Trophy, which would tie him for the most of those awards ever won with great Bruins legend Bobby Orr.

The NBA Lockout Means More Attention to Hockey

With the NBA lockout situation possibly forcing the start of the season or the entire season to be lost, the sport of hockey will get more attention from news organizations everywhere.

Maybe ESPN will spend more than five minutes on hockey highlights on SportsCenter this year.

Brendan Shanahan Is Improving the Game

Brendan Shanahan is the new league disciplinarian, and his explanatory videos on why players were suspended or not for big hits (often ones that are dirty) are really helping teams and players understand why a ruling was given.

Drew Doughty Contract Saga Is over

Drew Doughty signed a new long-term contract with the Los Angeles Kings this summer, ending a long contract saga that lasted the entire summer.

Kings fans can now relax and watch their young star defenseman lead their team for a long time.

Florida Panthers Made Good Signings

The Florida Panthers made some good signings this summer, and while they overpaid for many of them, they certainly are more talented and will be more competitive than they usually are.

Hockey Is Full of Surprises

The NHL is full of surprises each season, whether it's teams making unpredictable playoff runs or individual players taking their talents to new levels.

Which young player will become a superstar this season?

Hockey Excitement Is Back in Boston

Hockey excitement is back in Boston after nearly 40 years of playoff misery. The Bruins are defending the Stanley Cup for the first time since the 1972-73 season, and one of hockey's best American cities is finally seeing what it's like to have hockey fever.

The San Jose Sharks Are Hungrier

The San Jose Sharks are going for it this season, and with some big defensive upgrades made over the summer, they are ready to make a long-awaited Stanley Cup run.

The Sharks will be a passionate team all season, and they have the necessary veteran talent and young skill to win a championship.

The Sport Has More Speed

With the sport trying to eliminate headshots and hits that cause serious injury, the game will undoubtedly become more about speed.

This will create more excitement, and hopefully more scoring chances.

The Playoffs

Although the playoffs are months away, the fact that every point in the regular season is crucial to many team's chances of making the playoffs is exciting.

Hockey has the best playoffs in sports, and the intensity simply cannot be matched.

Trade Deadline

The trade deadline is very exciting as teams try to make bold moves that will help them put together a good run at the playoffs.

The suspense of the trading deadline is awesome, and the rumors make for great drama.

Saturday Marquee NBC Games

When NBC starts doing weekend games between top teams, your Saturdays and Sundays will be so much better.

The national games of the week are a great way for people all over the country to watch the sport's top stars that they normally wouldn't be able to watch in their area.

Old Faces Return

Several veterans are back in the NHL after spending time away from the game or deciding not to retire.

Jaromir Jagr is back in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Ducks legend Teemu Selanne is coming back for another season after deciding not to retire.

Evgeni Malkin Is Back

With Sidney Crosby out at the beginning of the season with his return unknown, Evgeni Malkin will lead the Penguins as their best player.

Malkin suffered a bad knee injury last season and couldn't help Pittsburgh in the playoffs. This season, Malkin is looking good and will have a career season.

Zach Parise Is Healthy

No one likes when a star player is hurt, and New Jersey Devils young forward Zach Parise is healthy and ready to lead the Devils back to the playoffs.

Parise has one year left on his contract, and may be motivated to have a great season so he can cash in next summer.

He could be in for an amazing season!

Buffalo Sabres' Bold Moves

The Buffalo Sabres made some bold offseason signings this summer, and in the process let their team and fans know that they are seriously committed to bringing a championship to the city.

They signed former Canucks defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and former Flyers winger Ville Leino, both of whom will help a lot offensively.

Stamkos the New Face of NHL?

Steven Stamkos is barely old enough to legally drink in America, yet he's a top-five offensive player in this league.

Stamkos has scored 96 goals the past two seasons, and the NHL should market him like it does Crosby and Ovechkin.

Shea Weber's Future in Nashville

The Nashville Predators must decide if star defenseman and team captain Shea Weber is worth a long-term contract for at least $7 million per season when others good players such as d-man Ryan Suter and goalie Pekka Rinne are also due for big raises next summer.

All the rumors and talk about Weber's future will be very exciting.

Opening Night Games

The NHL season will open up with the Bruins versus the Flyers at 7:00 p.m. EST on Versus, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks playing at 10:00 p.m. EST on Versus as well.

Two great matchups to start the season!

Black Friday Game

The Detroit Red Wings and the Boston Bruins will play a nationally televised game on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) this season.

This is a great matchup of two elite teams, and it’s great that the NHL is recognizing this day as a time when people are typically home with families and likely to watch hockey.

Alexander Ovechkin Will Be Better

Alexander Ovechkin will become an even better player this season, and he will make an effort to be better defensively.

He's certainly capable of being a great two-way forward due to his physical and intense style of play.

His leadership will be vital to the Washington Capitals' success this season.

Washington Capitals Have Their Best Team Ever

With the signing of goaltender Tomas Vokoun, the Washington Capitals finally have an elite goalie that's good enough to finally help them realize their Stanley Cup dreams.

Washington has a ton of talent this season, and each and every game it plays will be an absolute joy to watch.

Pierre McGuire Is Back

Oh come on, you know you enjoy Pierre McGuire. Sure, sometimes he says some things that have you scratching your head, but he makes for great entertainment and he's quite knowledgeable about the sport of hockey.

Vancouver Canucks Eager to Redeem Themselves

No team has a bigger chip on their shoulder than the Vancouver Canucks, who were just beaten physically and embarrassed in last year's Stanley Cup Final defeat to the Boston Bruins.

The Canucks come into this season with a lot of pressure, but are ready to show they are still a Cup-caliber squad.

Also, they have the last two scoring champions in Henrik and Daniel Sedin, so they are a very exciting team to watch.

Minnesota Wild Made Good Offseason Moves

The Minnesota Wild made some bold trades this past summer with the San Jose Sharks, acquiring Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi to bolster their offense. 

These two great offensive players will join Mikko Koivu in an offense that needed scoring last season. 

The Wild will be a playoff contender and will bring NHL excitement to the state of Minnesota.

Steve Yzerman Is Building a Winner in Florida

Former NHL legend Steve Yzerman has done a masterful job as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning in making them a great team for southern hockey fans to enjoy.

The Lightning are full of talent with players like Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis.

Tampa Bay came up one period short of the Stanley Cup Finals last season and will be a major Cup contender this year.

Columbus Finally Has a Team for Success

The Columbus Blue Jackets have made one playoff appearance in their short franchise history and needed to make a big splash this offseason to improve the team so they can get back to playoff hockey.

This summer, they signed defenseman James Wisniewski to a big long-term contract and traded for former Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeff Carter.

These two additions will help superstar winger Rick Nash lead an improved Blue Jackets team and give Columbus the winning team it so desperately needs.

Players Returning from Injury

Having stars return from injury is always good in creating hope when the new season arrives, and stars such as Evgeni Malkin, TJ Oshie and Zach Parise will help their respective teams achieve the expectations they failed to meet last season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs Are a Contender

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally have a roster that can make the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season, and they are a young team that, towards the end of last season, no team wanted to play against.

Expect a big improvement and an exciting year in Toronto this season. One of hockey's best cities.

Edmonton Has Exciting Young Players

The Edmonton Oilers have selected first overall in the past two NHL drafts and have selected forwards Taylor Hall (2010) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011).

Both young players have star potential and will help make the Oilers an exciting team to watch as well as a tough team to play against this season.

Jarome Iginla Trade Rumors

In what seems like a yearly topic, the rumors of Jarome Iginla being traded to a contender will undoubtedly cause excitement throughout the league.

Iginla is still a top player for a man in his 30s and is the best power forward in hockey. The Calgary Flames are near rebuilding mode, so this could be the season they trade their superstar for future talent.

Colorado Avalanche Have a Ton of Young Talent

The Colorado Avalanche were one of the worst teams in the NHL last year, but they come into the 2011-12 season with a ton of young talent and potential stars.

Forwards Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny lead a young Colorado team which could be among the most improved teams in the NHL this season.

The Shootout Is Thrilling

The shootout has its critics from players and coaches, but you cannot say it isn't exciting. 

The shootout is a great way to end a regular season game after a period of overtime, and the goals scored in this event are amazing.

New Rivalries Will Form

New rivalries have begun to take off in recent seasons, with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals starting a fierce one.

There also could be some new player rivalries develop this season. Steven Stamkos vs. Alexander Ovechkin? Drew Doughty vs. Duncan Keith? Tyler Seguin vs. Stamkos?

Will Mark Cuban Try to Buy the Dallas Stars?

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is one of the best owners in sports and is always just as competitive as his players are.

He has tried to buy baseball's Chicago Cubs unsuccessfully, and he may try to buy the Dallas Stars.

A Cuban-owned Stars team would spend money and be a playoff contender each season.

Detroit Red Wings Poised for Another Cup Run

The Detroit Red Wings are a veteran team with lots and lots of championship experience, and they come into the 2011-12 NHL season healthy and ready to make another Stanley Cup run.

The Red Wings were the last team to repeat as champions and have won four Stanley Cups since 1997.

Bruins and Canucks Meeting in January

The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks renew their battle from the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday, January 7 in Boston.

The game will be very intense after a physical seven-game battle in the Cup Finals last June. It will be a big game for the Canucks to prove they have improved from last season.

Hockey Day in Canada

Hockey Day in Canada will be Saturday, February 11, 2012, and will showcase several exciting games.

12 teams will play on the day, with every Canadian squad playing each other, except the Winnipeg Jets who will battle the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The highlight of the day is a rivalry game between the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs.

The Final Day of the Season

The 2011-12 NHL season will end on Saturday, April 7, 2012, and for the first time in league history, all 30 teams will play their final game of the year on the same day.

This is a good move by the league to maximize the excitement of the final day, as playoff spots are fiercely battled for.

Sidney Crosby's Return

Sidney Crosby's hopeful return to the Pittsburgh Penguins will be a closely followed issue all season, and most people believe he could return this season.

Crosby hasn't been cleared to take part in physical contact drills, but he is getting better.

Ilya Bryzgalov Has Cup Hopes High in Philly

The Philadelphia Flyers' biggest weakness the past few seasons has been a lack of an elite goaltender. The past two seasons could have ended in Cup championships if Philly had a top goalie.

Ilya Bryzgalov was signed by the Flyers this summer to a nine-year contract from the Phoenix Coyotes and will give them a top presence in net.

To have the money to be able to sign him, Philly had to depart with some offensive talents, but overall, the Flyers are better equipped for the playoffs.

Stanley Cup Finals

What's better in sports than the thrill of the Stanley Cup Finals? Answer: nothing.

Every team plays for the best trophy in the world starting Thursday, in the most intense title chase in sports.