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As a companion thread to the East Predictions, here's the flip side, looking at the Western Conference.
ESPN's Terry Frei put his perspectives forward last week with his crystal ball cogitations...again, posted here in two parts:
NHL 2009-10: WHO WILL WIN THE WEST?
Terry Frei, ESPN.com, July 7, 2009
During the past few weeks, the Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off the improbable, the awards handed out in Vegas did not stay in Vegas, John Tavares went at the top of the draft and the opening days of free agency came with some fireworks.
In the Western Conference, at least, it was a busy offseason even before any of that happened. In the Northwest Division, four of the five coaches from last season are gone, leaving Vancouver's Alain Vigneault as the last man standing behind his bench. There have been front-office shake-ups in Minnesota, Dallas and Colorado. The Phoenix Coyotes' situation has so many subplots involving legal and ego issues, it could be the next reality show. And, unlike what's-his-name and Kate, at least you've heard of Wayne Gretzky.
Here's a look at the events in the West and where they leave everyone. The order is a highly conditional predicted finish in the conference next season. It also disregards the automatic seeding of division champions in the top three playoff slots.
1. Detroit Red Wings
Yes, the Game 7 loss on home ice to the Penguins was a shocker. But this is still the league's elite organization, and GM Ken Holland has shown a willingness to make tough decisions, and the right ones, in the prioritization process. So although the Wings have lost Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Tomas Kopecky and Ty Conklin, and told Chris Chelios they can't use (or re-sign) him, this is still the class of the conference.
2. Chicago Blackhawks
After the signings of Hossa, Kopecky and John Madden, among the things that can derail the Blackhawks are youthful overconfidence and a hangover effect after such an exhilarating season, and complacence after Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews land long-term extensions at some point. It's also possible Hossa's remarks about not having to worry about contract issues for 12 years (thanks to his front-loaded, $62.8 million deal) are hints he could end up going into cruise control. Cristobal Huet still has to prove he's worth his huge deal in the wake of Nikolai Khabibulin's departure. That's quibbling. The league's best recovery story likely will continue.
3. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks could go 27-2-2 in their first 31 games next season, yet coach Todd McLellan would frequently be fielding questions about whether any of that success mattered. Actually, overcoming the image of playoff underachievers was the underlying theme for the Sharks last season, and McLellan welcomed, rather than sidestepped, it. He'll have to do it again in 2009-10, and as bitter as the first-round loss to the Ducks was, the worst mistake would have been overreaction, beyond the minor housecleaning involved in not making qualifying offers to Marcel Goc, Tomas Plihal and Lukas Kaspar. The roster, with both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, deserves one more crack.
4. Calgary Flames
Mike Keenan tried keeping a relatively low profile in his latest coaching stint, but that didn't keep him on the job, either, after a first-round loss to the Blackhawks. The most compelling reason for GM Darryl Sutter to step back behind the bench was that, given the history here, his looming shadow potentially undercut any coach. Now the strength of those Sutter family bonds might give Brent Sutter an extra measure of authority another coach might not have.
After Darryl's savvy move of acquiring Jay Bouwmeester's rights and signing him before free agency opened, the Flames should, and will, win the Northwest -- unless Miikka Kiprusoff's horrible play against the Blackhawks turns out to be an indication he's not just slipping but careening downhill.
5. Vancouver Canucks
Former player-turned-agent Mike Gillis showed a lot of immediate moxie after taking over as GM. One of his best moves was keeping the faith with Vigneault during trying times, and he was able to lock up the Sedin twins and sign Samuelsson. They still have Roberto Luongo, of course, and the Canucks and Flames will benefit from what is becoming a bottom-heavy division, reminiscent of the Central of a few years ago.
6. Anaheim Ducks
Those were the real Ducks down the stretch and in the playoffs, and Ryan Getzlaf is headed for Olympic glory. Despite the trade of Chris Pronger to the Flyers in the wake of Scott Niedermayer's decision to return as well as inactivity in free agency, the Ducks will remain at least a playoff team. And count me among those who believe goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere will get his act in order and earn back the job from Jonas Hiller.
7. St. Louis Blues
Instead of whining about injuries this past season -- some teams in the same boat wanted us to believe they were the only team in the league to lose more than one regular since the Original Six days -- the Blues persevered. With Erik Johnson out because of the dreaded golf-cart accident, St. Louis figured out who else could play and sped the development of its young talent. Keith Tkachuk is coming back (he was good enough last season to make that a good thing), and Brad Boyes, so renowned for being underrated, is no longer underrated. Conklin could end up pushing Chris Mason in net.
8. Dallas Stars
The revolution led to the installation of the untested Joe Nieuwendyk as the general manager and Marc Crawford as the coach, and the way the cycle works, Dave Tippett was portrayed as too nice a guy and Crawford as the man who can provide the needed sharper edge. That means when Crawford is ousted, he will be portrayed as an inflexible pain who turned off the players, and his successor will be billed as the sort of "players' coach" the roster sorely needs (and Tippett was). But that's for down the road. With the Sean Avery imbroglio out of the picture, Nieuwendyk and Crawford will look great next season because last season was an aberration. And there's still enough talent here -- including Mike Modano -- unless Marty Turco has completely lost it or owner Tom Hicks' problems create Phoenix-like distractions.
ESPN's Terry Frei put his perspectives forward last week with his crystal ball cogitations...again, posted here in two parts:
NHL 2009-10: WHO WILL WIN THE WEST?
Terry Frei, ESPN.com, July 7, 2009
During the past few weeks, the Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off the improbable, the awards handed out in Vegas did not stay in Vegas, John Tavares went at the top of the draft and the opening days of free agency came with some fireworks.
In the Western Conference, at least, it was a busy offseason even before any of that happened. In the Northwest Division, four of the five coaches from last season are gone, leaving Vancouver's Alain Vigneault as the last man standing behind his bench. There have been front-office shake-ups in Minnesota, Dallas and Colorado. The Phoenix Coyotes' situation has so many subplots involving legal and ego issues, it could be the next reality show. And, unlike what's-his-name and Kate, at least you've heard of Wayne Gretzky.
Here's a look at the events in the West and where they leave everyone. The order is a highly conditional predicted finish in the conference next season. It also disregards the automatic seeding of division champions in the top three playoff slots.
1. Detroit Red Wings
Yes, the Game 7 loss on home ice to the Penguins was a shocker. But this is still the league's elite organization, and GM Ken Holland has shown a willingness to make tough decisions, and the right ones, in the prioritization process. So although the Wings have lost Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Tomas Kopecky and Ty Conklin, and told Chris Chelios they can't use (or re-sign) him, this is still the class of the conference.
2. Chicago Blackhawks
After the signings of Hossa, Kopecky and John Madden, among the things that can derail the Blackhawks are youthful overconfidence and a hangover effect after such an exhilarating season, and complacence after Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews land long-term extensions at some point. It's also possible Hossa's remarks about not having to worry about contract issues for 12 years (thanks to his front-loaded, $62.8 million deal) are hints he could end up going into cruise control. Cristobal Huet still has to prove he's worth his huge deal in the wake of Nikolai Khabibulin's departure. That's quibbling. The league's best recovery story likely will continue.
3. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks could go 27-2-2 in their first 31 games next season, yet coach Todd McLellan would frequently be fielding questions about whether any of that success mattered. Actually, overcoming the image of playoff underachievers was the underlying theme for the Sharks last season, and McLellan welcomed, rather than sidestepped, it. He'll have to do it again in 2009-10, and as bitter as the first-round loss to the Ducks was, the worst mistake would have been overreaction, beyond the minor housecleaning involved in not making qualifying offers to Marcel Goc, Tomas Plihal and Lukas Kaspar. The roster, with both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, deserves one more crack.
4. Calgary Flames
Mike Keenan tried keeping a relatively low profile in his latest coaching stint, but that didn't keep him on the job, either, after a first-round loss to the Blackhawks. The most compelling reason for GM Darryl Sutter to step back behind the bench was that, given the history here, his looming shadow potentially undercut any coach. Now the strength of those Sutter family bonds might give Brent Sutter an extra measure of authority another coach might not have.
After Darryl's savvy move of acquiring Jay Bouwmeester's rights and signing him before free agency opened, the Flames should, and will, win the Northwest -- unless Miikka Kiprusoff's horrible play against the Blackhawks turns out to be an indication he's not just slipping but careening downhill.
5. Vancouver Canucks
Former player-turned-agent Mike Gillis showed a lot of immediate moxie after taking over as GM. One of his best moves was keeping the faith with Vigneault during trying times, and he was able to lock up the Sedin twins and sign Samuelsson. They still have Roberto Luongo, of course, and the Canucks and Flames will benefit from what is becoming a bottom-heavy division, reminiscent of the Central of a few years ago.
6. Anaheim Ducks
Those were the real Ducks down the stretch and in the playoffs, and Ryan Getzlaf is headed for Olympic glory. Despite the trade of Chris Pronger to the Flyers in the wake of Scott Niedermayer's decision to return as well as inactivity in free agency, the Ducks will remain at least a playoff team. And count me among those who believe goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere will get his act in order and earn back the job from Jonas Hiller.
7. St. Louis Blues
Instead of whining about injuries this past season -- some teams in the same boat wanted us to believe they were the only team in the league to lose more than one regular since the Original Six days -- the Blues persevered. With Erik Johnson out because of the dreaded golf-cart accident, St. Louis figured out who else could play and sped the development of its young talent. Keith Tkachuk is coming back (he was good enough last season to make that a good thing), and Brad Boyes, so renowned for being underrated, is no longer underrated. Conklin could end up pushing Chris Mason in net.
8. Dallas Stars
The revolution led to the installation of the untested Joe Nieuwendyk as the general manager and Marc Crawford as the coach, and the way the cycle works, Dave Tippett was portrayed as too nice a guy and Crawford as the man who can provide the needed sharper edge. That means when Crawford is ousted, he will be portrayed as an inflexible pain who turned off the players, and his successor will be billed as the sort of "players' coach" the roster sorely needs (and Tippett was). But that's for down the road. With the Sean Avery imbroglio out of the picture, Nieuwendyk and Crawford will look great next season because last season was an aberration. And there's still enough talent here -- including Mike Modano -- unless Marty Turco has completely lost it or owner Tom Hicks' problems create Phoenix-like distractions.
And your track record is an eloquent one.
