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| Milan Lucic |
1) Boston Bruins
Goal Scoring: B+
Goaltending: A+
Breakout Player: Tyler Seguin, RW
3 Stars
***Zdeno Chara, D
**Patrice Bergeron, C
*Tim Thomas, G
MVP: Milan Lucic, LW
I think the key for the Bruins will be for them not to fall into the same sort of slump that killed the Blackhawks last season. I don't see that happening as long as they stay healthy because the core stays in tact and the Bruins are young and talented. I expect the Bruins to be at or around the top of the Eastern Conference throughout the season.
Projected Point Total: 108 Points
2) Buffalo Sabres
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| Thomas Vanek |
Goaltending: A
Breakout Player: Tyler Ennis, LW
3 Stars
***Tyler Myers, D
**Drew Stafford, RW
*Thomas Vanek, LW
MVP: Ryan Miller, G
Buffalo is improved and ready to make a move in the Eastern Conference. After coming up just short last season against Philadelphia, Buffalo went out and acquired some needed pieces to sure up the defense around Ryan Miller. I like Buffalo to contend for the Northeast crown and be no slouch when it comes to the postseason.
Projected Point Total: 104 Points
3) Montreal Canadiens
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| Carey Price |
Goaltending: A
Breakout Player: P.K. Subban, D
3 Stars
***P.K. Subban, D
**Brian Gionta, RW
*Tomas Plekanec, C
MVP: Carey Price, G
Montreal will need to stay healthy and will need to score a few more goals if they want to be a playoff team once again. The Canadiens can be a dangerous team if they make the postseason, but with an aging core that hasn't been healthy the past couple of seasons, I don't see the Canadiens doing enough to make the postseason.
Projected Point Total: 91 Points
4) Toronto Maple Leafs
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| Dion Phaneuf |
Goaltending: B-
Breakout Player: James Reimer, G
3 Stars
***Luke Shenn, D
**Tim Connolly, C
*Phil Kessel, RW
MVP: Dion Phaneuf, D
The Leafs could be primed for a breakthrough season that includes a playoff berth. I like what they did in the offseason and it seems now they have the depth to contend. Let's see if they can play consistent hockey for 82 games this season.
Projected Point Total: 90 Points
5) Ottawa Senators
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| Daniel Alfredsson |
Goaltending: B
Breakout Star: Jared Cowen, D
3 Stars
***Erik Karlsson, D
**Daniel Alfredsson, RW
*Craig Anderson, G
MVP: Jason Spezza, C
The Senators are rebuilding, that is very clear. They have a lot of young players which means this could be a long year. The only way the Sens can smell the playoffs is if veteran leaders Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson can play out of their minds along with sensational goaltending from Craig Anderson, but I don't see this happening.
Projected Point Total: 71 Points
Atlantic Division
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| Evengi Malkin |
Projected Point Total: 119 Points
2) Philadelphia Flyers
Projected Point Total: 107 Points
3) New York Rangers
Projected Point Total: 105 Points
4) New Jersey Devils
Projected Point Total: 93 Points
5) New York Islanders
Projected Point Total: 86 Points
Southeast Division
1) Washington Capitals
Projected Point Total: 106 Points
 |
| Steven Stamkos |
2) Tampa Bay Lighting
Projected Point Total: 96 Points
3) Carolina Panthers
Projected Point Total: 83 Points
4) Florida Panthers
Projected Point Total: 79 Points
5) Winnipeg Jets
Projected Point Total: 73 Points
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
1) Pittsburgh
2) Boston
3) Washington
4) Philadelphia
5) New York
6) Buffalo
7) Tampa Bay
8) New Jersey
Western Conference
Central
1) Chicago Blackhawks
 |
| Duncan Keith |
2) Detroit Red Wings
Projected Point Total: 104 Points
3) St. Louis Blues
Projected Point Total: 101 Points
4) Columbus Blue Jackets
Projected Point Total: 95 Points
5) Nashville Predators
Projected Point Total: 83 Points
Northwest
1) Vancouver Canucks
 |
| Ryan Kesler |
2) Minnesota Wild
Projected Point Total: 98 Points
3) Edmonton Oilers
Projected Point Total: 84 Points
4) Calgary Flames
Projected Point Total: 82 Points
5) Colorado Avalanche
Projected Point Total: 76 Points
Southwest
1) Los Angeles Kings
Projected Point Total: 106 Points
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| Bobby Ryan |
2) San Jose Sharks
Projected Point Total: 103 Points
3) Anaheim Ducks
Projected Point Total: 102 Points
4) Dallas Stars
Projected Point Total: 68 Points
5) Phoenix Coyotes
Projected Point Total: 64 Points
Western Conference Playoff Picture
1) Chicago
2) Los Angeles
3) Vancouver
4) Detroit
5) San Jose
6) Anaheim
7) St. Louis
8) Minnesota
 |
Awards
MVP: Evengi Malkin, C Pittsburgh
2 Alex Ovechkin, LW Washington
3 Jonathan Toews, C Chicago Blackhawks
Vezina: Henrik Lundqvist, New York
2 Ryan Miller, Buffalo
3 Ilya Bryzgalov, Philadelphia
Coach of the Year: Terry Murray, Los Angeles
 |
| Henrik Lundqvist |
Quarters
East
1) Pittsburgh over 8) New Jersey 4-1
2) Boston over 7) Tampa Bay 4-2
3) Washington over 6) Buffalo 4-3
5) New York over 4) Philadelphia 4-3
I think the best of these series is Philly/New York. Both teams have the goaltending and the playmakers and I see New York pulling the upset in Philly. The Capitals also win a big Game 7 with Alex Ovechkin coming up big.
West
 |
| Jaroslav Halak |
7) St. Louis over 2) Los Angeles 4-2
6) Anaheim over 3) Vancouver 4-1
5) San Jose over 4) Detroit 4-3
I see three upsets in the first round in the West. St. Louis knocks off Los Angeles because of great goaltending by Jaroslav Halak. Anaheim handles Vancouver with ease thanks to plenty of goals by Corey Perry and the Ducks top line. San Jose beats Detroit for the third straight year, this time in Detroit in a Game 7. In the other series, Minnesota will push Chicago to the brink, but too much talent puts them over the top of Minnesota.
 |
| Nicklas Backstrom |
Semis
East
1) Pittsburgh over 5) New York 4-3
3) Washington over 2) Boston 4-2
Pittsburgh will defeat the Rangers in another classic series. Washington finally breaks through to the conference finals by beating Boston. The Talent of the Capitals is just a bit too much for the Bruins as their quest to repeat falls short.
West
1) Chicago over 7) St. Louis 4-1
5) San Jose over 6) Anaheim 4-3
Chicago ends St. Louis's cinderella run while San Jose wins another Game 7, this time over Anaheim in a series all about goal scoring. San Jose makes their third consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance.
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| Evengi Malkin and Sidney Crosby |
Eastern Conference Finals
1) Pittsburgh over 3) Washington 4-3
Will this be the year Ovechkin and the Caps break through? Well, if Sidney Crosby is healthy, they won't. But if Crosby is not back, this is the Capitals time. I expect Crosby to back though and as good as ever. Teaming up with Evengi Malkin along with spectacular goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleury will push the Penguins past the Capitals in a phenomenal seven game series.
Western Conference Finals
 |
| Joe Thornton |
San Jose will finally get over that hump to the Stanley Cup Finals. Chicago is talented on paper, but the same problems that plagued them last year including goaltending and edge will hurt them against the Sharks, who are hungry. I compare the Sharks to the Dallas Mavericks, a team that has failed and failed and failed again, but just when time is about to run out, they make that one last run. Led by Joe Thornton and backed by breakout performer Logan Couture, the Sharks get by the Blackhawks and head to the Cup Finals to face the Penguins.
Stanley Cup Finals
Pittsburgh Penguins over San Jose Sharks 4-2
The Penguins are the deepest team in the NHL and virtually have no weaknesses. This is a team that was missing it's two best players who happen to be two of the best in the league and they took the Lighting to 7 games in the first round, even though they blew a 3-1 lead. The Lighting went on to take the Bruins to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Penguins are ready to reign supreme again. The Sharks will make it a series, but with the combination of Crosby and Malkin, the Pens will be Cup champs again.
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