| I didn’t think that I was ever going to get to write this column, but finally, after losing a season to the lockout, I present the Cheap Seats 2005-06 NHL Predictions:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
1) Flyers: So now Philly has the greatest player in the league, Peter Forsberg. They upgraded their defense with Hatcher and Rathje. They have great young talent in Carter, Richards and Pitkanen. Robert Esche is a good goalie. I have to go with the consensus here and take the Flyers to win the Atlantic.
Year to Shine: Peter Forsberg
2) Devils: This is the same Devils team we all know and love. Broduer, Elias, Rafalski. The have added Alex Mogilny and the combo of McGillis/Malakov should help alleviate the loss of Scott Neidermayer. Martin Broduer will carry this team all season.
Year to Shine: Scott Gomez
3) Penguins: Every year, all the experts think that a team will make a huge turnaround. They are the chic-pick. With all the Pens did in the offseason, I have to agree with everyone else that this team goes from the worst in hockey to a playoff contender. Not only is phenom Sid Crosby coming in, but add vets like Recchi, Gonchar, LeClair, Palffy and Thibault to a team that has Mario. How can you not pick these guys?
Year to Shine: Ziggy Palffy
4) Islanders: So the Island didn’t dump Alexi Yashin and his google-million dollar contract. They should have. A great pickup in signing Mirsoslav Satan, but they managed to loose both Adrian Aucoin and Mike Peca. The only way they avoid a long season is if Rick DiPietro plays strong in net.
Year to Shine: Rick DiPietro
5) Rangers: Rebuilding year, eh? A bunch of youngsters around Jaromir Jagr? Not exactly--the Rangers went out and spent some cash of some run-of-the-mill vets ( Rucinsky, Niemenen) that will only allow for another bad year and a year without maturing its youngsters.
Year to Shine: Steve Rucchin
Northeast
1) Senators: I was never a fan of Marian Hossa, so I think that the Sens helped themselves by trading him for Dany Heatley. Ottawa looks strong up and down their lineup and a good year from Dominek Hasek between the pipes could land the Senators in the Cup finals.
Year to Shine: Jason Spezza
2) Bruins: They wanted to retool to make Joe Thornton happy. And they did. Brian Leetch, Shawn MacEchern, and Alex Zhamnov all join the fold--that nearly included Mike Modano. Sergi Samsonov is in his last contract year before becoming a UFA next season. With Andrew Raycroft back in the fold, look for the Bruins to shine.
Year to Shine: Brad Isbister
3) Candiens: Jose Theodore is secured. Alex Kovalev returns. Montreal will rely on some youngsters to step up this year defensively. Offense looks loaded. If they get hot, they might overtake Boston.
Year to Shine: Saku Koivu
4) Leafs: I am sure there is plenty of optimism in Toronto. They thought they were going to sign Adam Foote, Peter Forsberg and Scott Neidermayer. Instead they have an injured Eric Lindros and Jason Allison. Jeff O'Neil should provide some needed scoring, but the Leafs are relying too much on older players especially with Belfour in goal. Could be a long season.
Year to Shine: Matt Stajan
5) Sabres: The Sabres didn’t do much in the offseason. They are still young. They still lack some needed defense. One of their three goalies needs to step up this year. Not too sure who will make up for the loss of Miro Satan.
Year to Shine: Maxim Afingenov
Southeast
1) Lightning: I'll go ahead and pick the Lightning to win this division, but not by much. Sure they kept most of the Stanley Cup winning team in tact, but the loss of Nick Khabibulin will leave its mark. I just don’t think that John Grahame and Sean Burke are capable goaltenders.
Year to Shine: Brad Richards
2) Thrashers: Another hot pick in the NHL. Add Holik, DeVries, Bondra and Hossa to a young team, and the Thrashers look like a lock to make the playoffs. One thing to watch is young goalie Kari Lehtonen, who has shined in the minors. This will be his team.
Year to Shine: Kari Lehtonen
3) Panthers: Mike Keenan said he would be a player in the free agent market. And he was, but I don’t know if he signed the right guys. Nieuwendyk, Roberts, Stumpel, Gelinas and Gratton are solid vets, but aging. The one good thing Florida has going is in goal. Roberto Luongo could carry any team to the Stanley Cup all by himself.
Year to Shine: Nathan Horton
4) Hurricanes: The Canes added some good FAs in the offseason (Tverdovsky, Stillman, Whitney) but the key will be Eric Staal. The young star shine in the AHL during the lockout. Goaltender will be a big issue. Career backup Martin Gerber gets the shot to take over.
Year to Shine: Eric Staal
5) Capitals: Another long season. That is what the Caps have in front of them. They signed Andrew Cassels to help the young kids like Alexander Ovechkin. Olaf Kolzig gives you a chance to win most nights. But there really isn’t anything else in Washington to hoot about. They will have the balls in the lottery next season.
Year to Shine: Alex Semin
Western Conference
Central
1) Predators: This division is going to be really, really close. I'll go out on a limb and take Nashville to win it. Why? They had a breakout year last year, nearly knocking out the Wings in the playoffs. They added Paul Kariya. They are gritty and have a ton of great defensive prospects. Assuming Tomas Vokoun plays well in goal, watch out.
Year to Shine: David Legwand
2) Blackhawks: There is only one reason Chicago finished second: Nikolai Khababulin. He backstopped the Lightning to the Cup. He signed for big money in Chicago. The Hawks are adequate enough to score some goals and win, but have the Wall in goal is the key. He struggles, Hawks finish last.
Year to Shine: Kyle Calder
3) Blue Jackets: The Jackets are one of the most improved teams on paper. The biggest signing in their history came along in Adam Foote. Bryan Berard will add much-needed scoring defense. Martin Prusek will be a great backup to Marc Denis. The key was to re-sign Rick Nash. He is “stuck” in Columbus for five more years, and he is damn ecstatic about it.
Year to Shine: Nick Zherdev
4) Red Wings: Are you kidding? The Wings fourth? Goaltending will be up and down with Legace and Osgood. Most of the Wings are older. And with a year off, rusty. They are having contract squabbles with their two young stars. A lot of turmoil in my book.
Year to Shine: Niklas Kronwall
5) Blues: Another perennial in trouble. Chris Pronger is gone. Keith Tkachuk is out of shape. The whole team is aging fast. Even a Vezina-type season out of newcomer Patrick LaLime wont help the Blues from singing the blues.
Year to Shine: Peter Sejna
Pacific
1) Sharks: The Sharks just stood pat during the lockout frenzy. They attempted to bring in some big names, but ended up with none. This is a nice young squad who is anchored by Evgeni Nabokov in goal. Look for the Sharks to gel early and cruise to another division championship.
Year to Shine: Jonathon Cheechoo
2) Kings: The Kings have been busy, especially at center. They have added Jeremy Roenick, Pavol Demitra, and Craig Conroy since last playing a game. Having dumped Roman Checkmanek for Mathiieu Garon in goal may be costly, but there is enough offense in Hollywood to compensate.
Year to Shine: Alexander Frolov
3) Stars: Rumors of demise struck Dallas. Modano was leaving for Boston. Guerin was getting bought out. Zubov was a UFA. Instead nothing happened, except Pierre Turgeon packing his bags. The Stars remain a veteren laden team, and unless they are bit by injury, they remain a Western Conference powerhouse.
Year to Shine: Mike Modano
4) Ducks: A lot of optimism surrounds the Ducks. They brought in Scott Neidermayer, the biggest UFA of the season to anchor the defense. They brought back Teemu Selanne to regain his scoring touch. As with many talented teams, success hinges on the back of JS Giguere. He has the skills to return the Ducks to the Cup finals, or send them back to the cellar.
Year to Shine: Ryan Getzlaf
5) Coyotes: The biggest addition was behind the bench. The Great One, Wayne Gretzky comes down from the owners box to take over the Yotes. They have been one of the busier teams in the NHL, adding the likes of Brett Hull and Curtis Joseph. But will the remaining players be enough for a turnaround? Doubt it.
Year to Shine: Shane Doan
Northwest
1) Oilers: Mike Peca and Chris Pronger. The Oil could return to its dominate force of the 1980’s after acquiring two superstars. Add them to Ryan Smyth and a force of youngsters as Edmonton looks to dethrone Vancouver and Colorado for the Northwest title.
Year to Shine: Raffi Torres
2) Canucks: The biggest thing the 'Nucks did was retain Markus Naslund. Plus, they have the services of Todd Bertuzzi again, back from suspension. Adding Anson Cater further pushes the offense. But I have always had a problem with Dan Cloutier in goal and he is the reason the Nucks cant win the division or the Cup.
Year to Shine: Ryan Kesler
3) Flames: The defending Western Conference Champs retooled. Add Tony Amonte, Darren McCarty and Roman Hamrlik. Subtract Craig Conroy and Martin Gelinas. Most importantly, keep Jarome Iginla and Mikka Kiprusoff, the anchors to this team. So why pick them third? I feel they will struggle out of the gate, but easily make it the playoffs and be a powerful second half team.
Year to Shine: Tony Amonte returns!
4) Avalanche: Wow, I would have never seen this coming. The Avs fourth? The loss of Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote will leave huge marks all season. Milan Hejduk is out with an injury. A lot of pressure falls on Joe Sakic’s shoulders. And I odnt know that he can handle it. Too bad Patrick Roy wasn’t ready to un-retire.
Year to Shine: Alex Tanguay
5) Wild: Did the Wild know that there was a free agent frenzy happening? Adding Brian Rolston before the lockout, the Wild's biggest acquisitions since was third line center Todd White. This further proves the Wild will be a boring team to watch, thus the worst in the NHL.
Year to Shine- who cares?
So, the playoffs--here is how I think the teams rank out. Top eight move on to the Cup playoffs:
Eastern Conference:
1. Philadelphia Flyers
2. Ottawa Senators
3. Tampa Bay Lightning
4. Boston Bruins
5. New Jersey Devils
6. Atlanta Thrashers
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
8. Montreal Canadiens
9. Florida Panthers
10. New York Islanders
11. Toronto Maple Leafs
12. Buffalo Sabres
13. Carolina Hurricanes
14. New York Rangers
15. Washington Capitals
Western Conference
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Nashville Predators
4. Vancouver Canucks
5. Calgary Flames
6. Chicago Blackhawks
7. Los Angeles Kings
8. Columbus Blue Jackets
9. Dallas Stars
10. Detroit Red Wings
11. Colorado Avalanche
12. Anaheim Mighty Ducks
13. Phoenix Coyotes
14. St Louis Blues
15. Minnesota Wild
According to these rankings, look for The Flyers to play the Oilers in the Cup finals. But these rankings don’t take into account the playoffs. I believe that the Flyers finally do make it back to the Stanley Cup finals. And the sale of all things Orange will be on as they battle the Calgary Flames.
A red-hot Mikka Kiprusoff leads the Flames to the hoisting of the Cup.
Finally, hockey is back.
On a personal note, I would like to dedicate this article to my dog Buddy. We had to put him to sleep recently and I know how much he would enjoy sitting in front of the TV to watch hockey return. Buddy was a terrific dog and will be sorely missed by many. |
