The Wild Wild West

Thanks again Ryan......you rock!!!


Has anyone taken a gander at the potential that the Western Conference has for this season?? All 15 teams have a shot to make the playoffs (unlike the East), and have 5 powerhouses that are all Cup contenders…

Central Division
Chicago… The young ‘Hawks still have loads of potential and will look to build off their run to the conference finals this spring.
Columbus… Rick Nash & company can be even better than last year if Steve Mason avoids a sophomore slump.
Detroit… It’s the Red Wings; they’ll be at the top every year.
Nashville… No one can match the work ethic of the Preds as they’ll look to stay healthy enough to make the playoffs.
St. Louis… I’d be surprised if their late-season run was a fluke. The Blues have 3 really good lines and a solid back end.

Northwest Division
Calgary… Though they lost Cammalleri, the Flames should be near the top of the division with a new coach and the best defensive corps in the league.
Colorado… If the Avs can stay healthy and Craig Anderson can be the #1 goalie they’ve been looking for, this team could surprise.
Edmonton… You never know what you’ll get out of this team. A new goalie and coach could give Oilers fans something to cheer about in the spring.
Minnesota… Goodbye Gaborik, Hello Havlat. The Wild will finally be a fun team to watch and their prospects could shine under Todd Richards.
Vancouver… With Roberto Luongo in net, any team can win a division; the Canucks will look to defend their crown with the twins back in the fold.

Pacific Division
Anaheim… Possibly the scariest team in the conference if Jonas Hiller is for real; adding Koivu would solidify any doubts.
Dallas… The Stars suffered numerous costly injuries last year, and Turco had his worst year. A bounce back season should be expected even with Crawford behind the bench.
Los Angeles… LA should be the next big market to witness a hockey renaissance after years of disappointment (Boston & Chicago last year).
Phoenix… They still have a young and talented team despite the front office issues. If they can replace Gretzky behind the bench, they could compete for the 7th or 8th seed.
San Jose… The Presidents’ Trophy winners should be back to their regular season winning ways. Whether they go anywhere when it counts is a different story!

My Western Conference power ratings… what the playoff picture looks like as of July 5th.
1. Detroit
2. Calgary
3. San Jose
4. Anaheim
5. Chicago
6. Vancouver
7. Columbus
8. Los Angeles
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9. Dallas
10. St. Louis
11. Edmonton
12. Nashville
13. Minnesota
14. Phoenix
15. Colorado