Western Conference Predictions 2013

[The_People1]

Western Conference Predictions 2013

1. Vancouver Canucks - Great regular season team

2. Los Angeles Kings - Cup champs had ample time to recharge

3. St.Louis Blues - Most balanced roster in the Conference

4. Chicago Blackhawks - Questions in goal but steady team overall

5. Minnesota Wild - They are healthy and added impact players over the summer

6. San Jose Sharks - Still hard to argue against their roster

7. Phoenix Coyotes - Learning how to win and returning a solid team from last season

8. Detroit Red Wings - No Lidstrom hurts them but they still make the playoffs

--

9.Edmonton Oilers - Too much emerging potential to not be in the playoff hunt this season

10. Nashville Predators - No dynamic duo on the blueline and don't have enough scoring power

11. Calgary Flames - Too many "what if's"

12. Dallas Stars - No Ribeiro and don't have enough blueline depth overall

13. Colorado Avalanche - Kind of like a young St.Louis Blues in the making but not quite there yet

14. Anaheim Ducks - No improvements during the summer

15. Columbus Blue Jackets - clinched last place way back in the summer

[ConnorFutureGM]

Western Conference Predictions 2013

1. Vancouver Canucks - Great regular season team

2. Los Angeles Kings - Cup champs had ample time to recharge

3. St.Louis Blues - Most balanced roster in the Conference

4. Chicago Blackhawks - Questions in goal but steady team overall

5. Minnesota Wild - They are healthy and added impact players over the summer

6. San Jose Sharks - Still hard to argue against their roster

7. Phoenix Coyotes - Learning how to win and returning a solid team from last season

8. Detroit Red Wings - No Lidstrom hurts them but they still make the playoffs

--

9.Edmonton Oilers - Too much emerging potential to not be in the playoff hunt this season

10. Nashville Predators - No dynamic duo on the blueline and don't have enough scoring power

11. Calgary Flames - Too many "what if's"

12. Dallas Stars - No Ribeiro and don't have enough blueline depth overall

13. Colorado Avalanche - Kind of like a young St.Louis Blues in the making but not quite there yet

14. Anaheim Ducks - No improvements during the summer

15. Columbus Blue Jackets - clinched last place way back in the summer

1. St.Louis - Hitchcock takes the team to the next level to contender status

2. Vancouver - A step back in the standings, might not be the worse thing for the Canucks

3. LA - Slight hangover with big body team might take a bit to get going plus in tough division

4. Chicago - Need to get some of their depth back to be serious contenders

5. San Jose - Window closing if not closed

6. Minnesota - Should be improved

7. Detroit - One step back, how is Holland going to respond?

8. Edmonton - Edmonton benefits from short season where they might not make it in a 82 game season, too bad they face Hitchcock

------------------------

9. Phoenix - Lost some forward depth and veteran team might be a slow starter, Smith's play drops off a bit

10. Nashville - How's the team going to be without Suter?

11. Dallas - Talented forward group, lacking defence but might surprise

12. Calgary - Feaster stirred the pot in the off season but didn't really make the roster better

13. Colorado - Young team could go either way

14. Columbus - Strong defence forwards not so much

15. Anaheim - This is my rebuild candidate

[wally31]

Western Conference Predictions 2013

1. Vancouver Canucks - Great regular season team

2. Los Angeles Kings - Cup champs had ample time to recharge

3. St.Louis Blues - Most balanced roster in the Conference

4. Chicago Blackhawks - Questions in goal but steady team overall

5. Minnesota Wild - They are healthy and added impact players over the summer

6. San Jose Sharks - Still hard to argue against their roster

7. Phoenix Coyotes - Learning how to win and returning a solid team from last season

8. Detroit Red Wings - No Lidstrom hurts them but they still make the playoffs

--

9.Edmonton Oilers - Too much emerging potential to not be in the playoff hunt this season

10. Nashville Predators - No dynamic duo on the blueline and don't have enough scoring power

11. Calgary Flames - Too many "what if's"

12. Dallas Stars - No Ribeiro and don't have enough blueline depth overall

13. Colorado Avalanche - Kind of like a young St.Louis Blues in the making but not quite there yet

14. Anaheim Ducks - No improvements during the summer

15. Columbus Blue Jackets - clinched last place way back in the summer

1. St. Louis Blues

2. Los Angeles Kings

3. Vancouver Canucks

4. Chicago Blackhawks

5. San Jose Sharks

6. Detroit Red Wings

7. Nashville Predators

8. Phoenix Coyotes

9. Minnesota Wild

10. Dallas Stars

11. Edmonton Oilers

12. Anaheim Ducks

13. Calgary Flames

14. Colorado Aves

15. Columbus Blue Jackets

I just don't have a good feeling about this year. I want to be proven wrong, and make the playoffs, but I don't see it happening with our C depth. (lack there of).

I also think the St. Louis Blues will win their first cup since being introduced to the league in 1967.

[The_Don]

Western Conference Predictions 2013

1. Vancouver Canucks - Great regular season team

2. Los Angeles Kings - Cup champs had ample time to recharge

3. St.Louis Blues - Most balanced roster in the Conference

4. Chicago Blackhawks - Questions in goal but steady team overall

5. Minnesota Wild - They are healthy and added impact players over the summer

6. San Jose Sharks - Still hard to argue against their roster

7. Phoenix Coyotes - Learning how to win and returning a solid team from last season

8. Detroit Red Wings - No Lidstrom hurts them but they still make the playoffs

--

9.Edmonton Oilers - Too much emerging potential to not be in the playoff hunt this season

10. Nashville Predators - No dynamic duo on the blueline and don't have enough scoring power

11. Calgary Flames - Too many "what if's"

12. Dallas Stars - No Ribeiro and don't have enough blueline depth overall

13. Colorado Avalanche - Kind of like a young St.Louis Blues in the making but not quite there yet

14. Anaheim Ducks - No improvements during the summer

15. Columbus Blue Jackets - clinched last place way back in the summer

Can't disagree too much. Might go:

1. Vancouver

2. Los Angeles

3. St. Louis

4. Chicago

5. Detroit

6. San Jose

7. Nashville

8. Minnesota

-----------

9. Dallas

10. Colorado

11. Phoenix

12. Anaheim

13. Edmonton

14. Calgary

15. Columbus

[Igster]

Wow...bleak looking for the Flames from you guys huh? I'm not going to make a full prediction, but I think the Flames older lineup benefits from a shortened season and gets into the playoffs.

[wally31]

Wow...bleak looking for the Flames from you guys huh? I'm not going to make a full prediction, but I think the Flames older lineup benefits from a shortened season and gets into the playoffs.

I really hope so. I'm just worried about our C depth....

[DirtyDeeds]

1. Los Angeles Kings

2. St.Louis Blues

3. Minnesota Wild - Most improved and won't fade half way into a short season

4. Vancouver Canucks

5. San Jose Sharks

6. Chicago Blackhawks

7. Calgary Flames - I'll be a homer

8. Colorado Avalanche

9. Anaheim Ducks - They were solid to finish the season with new coach.

10. Phoenix Coyotes

11. Detroit Red Wings

12. Dallas Stars

13.Edmonton Oilers - same basic probs as last season. D and suspect goaltending.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

15. Nashville Predators

[mrjohnnycanuck]

1. Los Angeles Kings

2. St.Louis Blues

3. Minnesota Wild - Most improved and won't fade half way into a short season

4. Vancouver Canucks

5. San Jose Sharks

6. Chicago Blackhawks

7. Calgary Flames - I'll be a homer

8. Colorado Avalanche

9. Anaheim Ducks - They were solid to finish the season with new coach.

10. Phoenix Coyotes

11. Detroit Red Wings

12. Dallas Stars

13.Edmonton Oilers - same basic probs as last season. D and suspect goaltending.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

15. Nashville Predators

Change up the Blue Jackets with the Preds and your on the mark.

[hockeypriest]

Kings. Looked invincible in the playoffs and they are the best coached team in the world

Blues. Incredible season last year and a very balanced roster...add the 2nd best coach in the world and you have a force to be reckoned with

Canucks. Best of a weak division...

Sharks. Still a good regular season team with a bolstered blue line

Hawks. High end talent up front and 2 studs on the point

Wild. If last year was only 48 games these guys could have won a playoff round...big offseason too...

Flames. Would have been a playoff team last year with NHL coaching, better special teams, or better results in the shootout

Avs. Thanks to Lidstrom, Holmstrom, Hudler, and Stuart for leaving the Wings

Ducks. Could easily finish as high as sixth if the BIG BOYS bring their game

Wings. Holy high end exodus Batman!!

Preds. Annual overachievers have a huge hole to fill on the backend

Yotes. Overachieved last year

Stars. Jagr ain't what he used to be....Loss of Ribeiro hurts

Oilers. Best D-man has zero NHL experience...besides "Deflate for Nate" ....they just can't resist sucking and drafting a high profile forward...

Jackets No Nash....Who is their best player now?

This is all based on it being a short season....

[FF12]

1.Minnesota- Off season trades will net Minnesota First

2.Phoenix-They did make the West final after all...

3.St.Louis

4.Colorado- Showed incredible promise late in season.

5.Vancouver

6.Chicago

7.San Jose

8.Detroit

9.Los Angelas- I know I'm probably on crack suggesting the Kings will miss.

10.Anaheim

11.Dallas

12.Calgary- Usual

13.Edmonton- Usual

14.Nashville

15.Colmubus

[bronco73]

1-Vancouver - Still the beast of the conference even with Luongo fiasco

2-Los Angeles - Last year wasn't a freak, they've got plenty of power

3-St Louis - They've built a team that will not quit, and they are deep

4-San Jose - Lots of stars and Couture rocks, definitely have a shot.

5-Detroit - They still have it, only weakness is defense if you can call it a weakness

6-Minnesota - They've added too many pieces to be ignored

7-Chicago - goaltending and defense must be solved, offense will carry them

8-Phoenix - the workhorse of the western conference

9-Nashville - Losing Suter hurts, but they still have plenty of talent

10-Colorado - Landeskog is future star, the team is on its way up

11-Edmonton - Lots of holes still to fix, but I gotta be a homer

12-Dallas - Some work to do, but a strong cast

13-Calgary - Getting older but still a threat, Kipper is king. cervenka, hudler, and kids will be the factor

14-Anaheim - The four big guns can't do it all, and sellane in his late twighlight

15-Columbus - is there anything else that can go wrong for that team?

[mrjohnnycanuck]

1-Vancouver - Still the beast of the conference even with Luongo fiasco

2-Los Angeles - Last year wasn't a freak, they've got plenty of power

3-St Louis - They've built a team that will not quit, and they are deep

4-San Jose - Lots of stars and Couture rocks, definitely have a shot.

5-Detroit - They still have it, only weakness is defense if you can call it a weakness

6-Minnesota - They've added too many pieces to be ignored

7-Chicago - goaltending and defense must be solved, offense will carry them

8-Phoenix - the workhorse of the western conference

9-Nashville - Losing Suter hurts, but they still have plenty of talent

10-Colorado - Landeskog is future star, the team is on its way up

11-Edmonton - Lots of holes still to fix, but I gotta be a homer

12-Dallas - Some work to do, but a strong cast

13-Calgary - Getting older but still a threat, Kipper is king. cervenka, hudler, and kids will be the factor

14-Anaheim - The four big guns can't do it all, and sellane in his late twighlight

15-Columbus - is there anything else that can go wrong for that team?

Too be honest...

I think both the Oilers and the Flames can be better than most people think

both teams CAN make the playoffs but is that the BEST for each Franchise?

HE He..........

Can't wait for the Season to begin

[ConnorFutureGM]

1-Vancouver - Still the beast of the conference even with Luongo fiasco

2-Los Angeles - Last year wasn't a freak, they've got plenty of power

3-St Louis - They've built a team that will not quit, and they are deep

4-San Jose - Lots of stars and Couture rocks, definitely have a shot.

5-Detroit - They still have it, only weakness is defense if you can call it a weakness

6-Minnesota - They've added too many pieces to be ignored

7-Chicago - goaltending and defense must be solved, offense will carry them

8-Phoenix - the workhorse of the western conference

9-Nashville - Losing Suter hurts, but they still have plenty of talent

10-Colorado - Landeskog is future star, the team is on its way up

11-Edmonton - Lots of holes still to fix, but I gotta be a homer

12-Dallas - Some work to do, but a strong cast

13-Calgary - Getting older but still a threat, Kipper is king. cervenka, hudler, and kids will be the factor

14-Anaheim - The four big guns can't do it all, and sellane in his late twighlight

15-Columbus - is there anything else that can go wrong for that team?

Putting Oilers as 11th is not being a "homer". Most analysts figure the Oilers should be in the mix but not quite there yet.

1. St.Louis - Hitchcock takes the team to the next level to contender status

2. Vancouver - A step back in the standings, might not be the worse thing for the Canucks

3. LA - Slight hangover with big body team might take a bit to get going plus in tough division

4. Chicago - Need to get some of their depth back to be serious contenders

5. San Jose - Window closing if not closed

6. Minnesota - Should be improved

7. Detroit - One step back, how is Holland going to respond?

8. Edmonton - Edmonton benefits from short season where they might not make it in a 82 game season, too bad they face Hitchcock

------------------------

9. Phoenix - Lost some forward depth and veteran team might be a slow starter, Smith's play drops off a bit

10. Nashville - How's the team going to be without Suter?

11. Dallas - Talented forward group, lacking defence but might surprise

12. Calgary - Feaster stirred the pot in the off season but didn't really make the roster better

13. Colorado - Young team could go either way

14. Columbus - Strong defence forwards not so much

15. Anaheim - This is my rebuild candidate

1. Los Angeles Kings

2. St.Louis Blues

3. Minnesota Wild - Most improved and won't fade half way into a short season

4. Vancouver Canucks

5. San Jose Sharks

6. Chicago Blackhawks

7. Calgary Flames - I'll be a homer

8. Colorado Avalanche

9. Anaheim Ducks - They were solid to finish the season with new coach.

10. Phoenix Coyotes

11. Detroit Red Wings

12. Dallas Stars

13.Edmonton Oilers - same basic probs as last season. D and suspect goaltending.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

15. Nashville Predators

I'm the only one who has the Oilers in and you the Flames. Our other picks are also quite different. It will be interesting to see who is closer between us.

[mrjohnnycanuck]

Putting Oilers as 11th is not being a "homer". Most analysts figure the Oilers should be in the mix but not quite there yet.

I'm the only one who has the Oilers in and you the Flames. Our other picks are also quite different. It will be interesting to see who is closer between us.

It should be......

Both teams can be right their...

Time will only tell

[DirtyDeeds]

I'm the only one who has the Oilers in and you the Flames. Our other picks are also quite different. It will be interesting to see who is closer between us.

You got to move the Wild higher up. The only reason they didn't make the playoffs after their fast start was their #1 center was injured for over 20 games. They need Niklas Backstrom to stay healthy too.

For this season add in two elite players to the mix and they will be right there.

[ConnorFutureGM]

You got to move the Wild higher up. The only reason they didn't make the playoffs after their fast start was their #1 center was injured for over 20 games. They need Niklas Backstrom to stay healthy too.

For this season add in two elite players to the mix and they will be right there.

They'll be better, no denying that and they have some really good prospects coming up too. The one thing is that teams usually take a season or two to gel to move up the standings. They're going to be a lot different team so it will take some time for people to adjust.

[Chairman_Maouth]

I agree with most of you in that the Canucks will not place first although they won't be far off. I predict somewhere between 1-4. Kesler won't be starting the season and that's going to hurt. Unless they get a decent fill-in in a trade for Luongo that could have significant impact.

Don't see Minnesota placing first despite the fact they rode first for quite awhile last season. I also think St. Louis may return closer to the norm and that last year was a bit of an anomaly.

[Coolie]

1. St. Louis Blues

2. Vancouver Canucks

3. Los Angeles Kings

4. Nashville Predators

5. San Jose Sharks

6. Chicago Blackhawks

7. Minnesota Wild

8. Detroit Redwings

9. Calgary Flames

10. Dallas Stars

11. Anaheim Ducks

12. Edmonton Oilers

13. Colorado Avalanche

14. Phoenix Coyotes

15. Columbus Blue Jackets

[The_Don]

Honestly, there are 14 teams that "could" make the playoffs. With a shortened season 1 slow start or late slump with just be that much more back-breaking. It'll be an interesting stretch, each game essentially means twice as much as usual.

[DirtyDeeds]

Honestly, there are 14 teams that "could" make the playoffs. With a shortened season 1 slow start or late slump with just be that much more back-breaking. It'll be an interesting stretch, each game essentially means twice as much as usual.

This is true and more. Someone said we won't be doing eastern swings this year but I am not sure of that.(Lets see the schedule) Even so with the high number of inter-division and inter-conference games in a shortened season do make the games worth twice as much.

[Carty]

This is true and more. Someone said we won't be doing eastern swings this year but I am not sure of that.(Lets see the schedule) Even so with the high number of inter-division and inter-conference games in a shortened season do make the games worth twice as much.

I saw the same thing they did from the sound of it, I forget whether it was on TSN or Sportsnet...

They did not list individual games, just that it was only games within the division and that they were not even close to being equal against other teams within the division...

It was very unbalanced and looked like more of "a luck of the draw" as to who a given teams opponents were for the larger percentage of games to be played...

I hope it was either simply not true or they change their minds...

[The_Don]

This is true and more. Someone said we won't be doing eastern swings this year but I am not sure of that.(Lets see the schedule) Even so with the high number of inter-division and inter-conference games in a shortened season do make the games worth twice as much.

This will be a lot of good hockey jammed in a short period of time. The intensity from game one will be just that much higher.

The previous "walk-over" games just won't be there any more. Every team will still be in the hunt in February.

[ifiwaschucknorris]

1. St. Louis Blues- Young, strong, skilled and very well coached. They took a huge step forward last season and will continue dominating.

2. Vancouver Canucks- Still dominant in the weakest division.

3. San Jose Sharks- the Sharks are still really good against bad teams. There is enough bad in the west to get them the pacific lead...but not by much

4. Chicago Blackhawks- Still a young great team, huge goaltending questions mean they won't win the division but 4th is realistic.

5. LA Kings- Lots of time to recover from the Cup hangover, same team should be better than they were in the regular season last year.

6. Colorado Avalanche- Good, young team. Most players had a bit of a slump last year and are too good to let that continue.

7. Detroit Red Wings- Still the Wings.....only.....less so.

8. Calgary Flames- In a 48 game season Kipper is enough to at least get us to the dance. Expect the centre situation to sort itself out early.

9. Anaheim Ducks- In a lot of ways they are very similar to the Flames. However Hiller is not quite as good as Kipper and they are not as deep.

10. Edmonton Oilers- Miss the playoffs but not by much. Dubnyk takes a few strides but having no defence on the Oil costs wins.

11. Minnesota Wild- Off season acquisitions spend a year getting acclimatized, also Minnesota fans need a program to remember the names of the defence not named Suter.

12. Dallas Stars- Got older, got slower. Stars fans won't mind that the Cup run cuts into Cowboys training camp because they won't need to watch hockey by then.

13. Nashville predators- They play a grinding playoff style of hockey all season. Since everyone will be playing that hard this year they lost there biggest advantage. Oh and they lost Suter.

14. Phoenix Coyotes- Still holding onto life in the desert. They will lose early and often. Replaced Whitney with Sullivan and just plain overachieved last year. They come down to earth.

15. Columbus Blue Jackets- No Nash. No Goalie. No scorers. Probably wont even get the 1st pick either as Edmonton will pull a 1-50 chance out of there butt.

[ifiwaschucknorris]

Dbl post

[lordxan]

Wow...bleak looking for the Flames from you guys huh? I'm not going to make a full prediction, but I think the Flames older lineup benefits from a shortened season and gets into the playoffs.

Agreed, and I predict they surprise and get in around 3-5 in the conference. This team is something I think Hartly will surprise many with and with the added speed, skill and youth and possibility of rolling 3 lines vice relying on 1 line will make a huge difference. Why? Well, look at how well the young guys carried the team when many of the old guys were out last year, we only fell out of contention when the same old same old came back. Now play that forward to this years team younger, skilled, faster and more drive to win I think they make a great run at it.

The only real weak area is grit and the face off dot, grit an be fairly cheap to fix and if a problem can get sorted out fairly fast. The face off dot may be an issue we have trouble addressing and our Achilles heel.

Shades of the 04 team here, everyone counted them out but the team it's self has a solid foundation. I for one have a good feeling about this year and by the way, I called last year's implosion if/when the old guys come back the team is out and I was right on with it. I really think I'm right on for this year too!