Hey! Hockey started!

I like hockey. I understand that America doesn't, but I do. I even woke up and watched the Kings/Ducks start off the season last weekend in London. I mean, I watched it at home in LA but the teams were in London. (p.s. How poor are the decision making skills of Gary Bettman et al? Obviously the strike was brutal, and the whole Versus thing hasn't helped, nor has the fact the ESPN has completely swapped the NHL for NASCAR [ugh] but hockey itself seems to do very little to promote what should be a profitable venture. I mean, I'm a rabid fan and I had no idea the season started in London until the day before. That NFL game overseas is A YEAR AWAY and I know about it. Hockey could sell, and it does move tickets, but the lack of any kind of promotion is disheartening.) As a few teams already have wins or losses in the books (and in Anaheim's case, both) this can't qualify as a technical preview but here are my scouting reports on each division and how I think they'll finish at the end of the year.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. NY RANGERS-far and away the most improved team in the east and this was already a playoff club. Adding Drury just expands on a franchise on the way up. This is a more than possible President's Trophy Hockey team.
2. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS-year three for Sid the Kid. He took them to the playoffs last year and one could expect a regression but I wouldn't put money on that. The Pens didn't do a ton to improve the team except get older so I expect them to battle the Rangers for the division crown.
3. NEW JERSEY NETS-not a big offseason for a 06-07 playoff club and they can only go as far as Martin Brodeur takes them. Fortunately, that can be quite far.
4. NY ISLANDERS-The Isles aren't much better than they were last year when they sneaked into the playoffs. I don't see them doing that again.
5. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS-the Flyers are better than last year but somebody's got to finish last. Adding Briere will help of course.

NORTHEAST DIVISION

1. OTTAWA SENATORS-this is basically the same team that went to the finals last year so I see them having no problem winning this piss poor division.
2. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS-This is a joke. The Leafs improved from last year by adding Taskala and Blake but in any other division they would be shut out of the top 3. By putting Toronto here, and I expect them to make the playoffs as well, I'm
taking a gamble. It's very well possible this team could end up trying to hold off Boston for last place. It could go either way. The names and number are all there but the Leafs are old, injury prone, and have no plan for the future. P.S. that last sentence could be attached to every Maple Leafs team for the last 15 years.
3. BUFFALO SABRES-I'm sorry, I know the Sabres have a lot of young talent and still have Miller in goal, but you just can't lose Drury and Briere and pretend to compete. I could be wrong, they could finish second and make the playoffs, but I doubt it. Losing those two guys is too much of a psychological burden, not to mention the loss of their play on the ice.
4. MONTREAL CANADIENS-Montreal has Saku Koivu...and a lovely jazz district...and that's it. The goaltending is solid but they have nobody who can score. Je regrette.
5. BOSTON BRUINS-Boston's terrible. Wicked terrible. Cam Neely will help a floundering front office but they will lose many more games than they win. Good thing they don't play in much of a sports town.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

1. FLORIDA PANTHERS-Oh, what a difference a goaltender makes. Vokoun will take this team to the playoffs. They have a rough road trip to start their schedule but if they get a good season out of Olli Jokinen, then they're in.
2. ATLANTA THRASHERS-Atlanta still has the most talented roster in the division but they play in Atlanta which seems like such a non-hockey town that it actually sucks up any kind of hockey kharma that may be headed the Thrashers way. Plus they have serious goalie issues. But still, with Hossa, Kovalchuk and Kozlov they ought to make the playoffs.
3. CAROLINA HURRICANES-I expect Carolina to have a bounceback year. They had Cup hangover pretty good last year and I expect them to get over it in 07-08. However, their postseason hopes hang completely on Staal and Ward getting back to 05-06 form.
4. WASHINGTON CAPITOLS-This is a talented, young team that's getting older that also improved from outside (Michael Nylander). They're not quite there but they're on the way up.
5. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING-No depth, no goaltending, no playoffs.

CENTRAL DIVISION

1. DETROIT RED WINGS-With all the hubbub about San Jose and Colorado in the West, Detroit is quietly scary good. They lost Schnieder, but they'll still win the division in a walk. Hasek is always a question mark and team is up there in age but Hockeytown shouldn't be that concerned.
2. NASHVILLE PREDATORS-This team won't get scored on a lot but it watched all it's play-makers take off. Their defense and goaltending could keep them in the hunt but it's going to be a struggle.
3. ST. LOUIS BLUES-The Blues are better. They played really well at the end of the season with new coach Andy Murray and they added Paul Kariya to help their offense. I know anyone can win games when they're so far out of it like St. Louis was last year, but they should be in it for a while this year.
4. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS-This year could be exciting for Blackhawks fans. I mean, they're still going to be exciting, but there is the chance that they might not be terrible in the future. Chicago's high draft picks have their coming out party this year so Chicago can take a look at their future. Of course if Nikolai Khabibulin can't stay healthy, they'll have serious future netminding issues...as well as a salary cap situation.
5. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS-Woof. Bad team. They've got a better coach and some direction from an overturned front office and along with Nash and Peca, if Federov pulls his head from his posterior they could show improvement but, gosh, they're bad.

NORTHWEST DIVISION

1. COLORADO AVALANCHE-And how about the most improved team in the National Hockey League? They missed the playoffs by a point, finished on a huge tear, and now they have Ryan Smyth. This team wins the division easily and the Northwest is the best division in hockey. With two great goaltending options (Theodore and Budaj) and two steady scoring threats (Statsny and Sakic) Colorado should do more than well.
2. VANCOUVER CANUCKS-Luongo carried them last year, he can do it again. Plus, he should have more help from Markus Naslund this year than he did last year. Shouldn't he? He has to, right?
3. CALGARY FLAMES-The Flames have a power play problem that has to improve if they are to go anywhere. Aucoin is a question mark which makes this team a bit of a mystery. Any team with Jerome Iginla should be on a playoff watch but this team has a lot of questions that need answering.
4. MINNESOTA WILD-As Marian Gaborik goes so do the Wild. They had a disappointing postseason and a silent off season so this team can only acheive as much as the health and play of Gaborik.
5. EDMONTON OILERS-Too many people gone, inadequate replacements, it's strange how quickly Chris Pronger ruined this team.

PACIFIC DIVISION

1. SAN JOSE SHARKS-This is the best team in hockey. The offense could score at abstinance camp and their defense is solid even with a few offseason losses. This team wins the Pacific big and pushes past the second round this year.
2. ANAHEIM DUCKS-Brian Engblom said this team lost the most over the offseason. That's idiotic. The Ducks treaded water by bringing in Schnieder and Bertuzzi and they will get Giguerre back soon. Even if they don't get Selanne and Neidermayer back, this team can compete. And if those two DO return, watch out.
3. LOS ANGELES KINGS-Goaltending is a big concern, obviously. If it faulters, the Kings could finish very low in the standings. But, newcoming netminder Jonathon Bernier looked pretty impressive against the Ducks in London even if his backup Jason LaBarbera did not the following day. Adding Blake helps, and if Anze Kopitar and Michael Cammalleri continue their assent LA could be in business. But that's a lot of ifs to start the season off.
4. DALLAS STARS-The Stars were pretty stagnat during the offseason and they're still old. So I think they lose a step in the west.
5. PHOENIX COYOTES-This team is bad. Bad, bad, bad. They were bad last year, they are worse this year. They have the brains in place to be good in the future. But the future is not now. They could win 30 games...but they won't.

So there you have it. And here are your playoff teams:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. RANGERS
2. PENGUINS
3. SENATORS
4. DEVILS
5. PANTHERS
6. THRASHERS
7. HURRICANES
8. MAPLE LEAFS

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. SHARKS
2. RED WINGS
3. DUCKS
4. AVALANCE
5. CANUCKS
6. FLAMES
7. WILD
8. PREDATORS

And Joe Thornton and the Sharks beat the Rangers in 6 for your Stanley Cup Final. Print this out and place it on your refridgerator. Call me in June to congratulate.