The NHI. season is around the comer Teatns have just wrapped up tmiining camps and are making tinal cute, Since the NHL lockout the qual- ity of hockey bas been spectacular Predictions Every team starts ihe season with optimism, Two months into the season, the contenders will separate themselves from the pretenders, In the salary cap war! a contender can become a pretender with a few injuries to the roster, This iy why trying to predict standings is equivalent to playing pin the tail on the donkey. This is nxy attempt at playing pin the tail. The Rasters Conference Prujected Standings Washington Capitaly NY Rangers 3. Boston. Brains 4. Pittsburgh Penyuins = Philadelphia Flyers @, Buffalo Sabres 7, TB Lighting $. Montreal Canadians a, ‘Toronto Mapleloats W, Carolina Hurricanes and this year should be no different. This offseason was full of activity. Player personal has changed al! over the league. Teams are always trying to improve and this year wos po differ The Westers Conference Projected Standings Vancouver Canucks Los Angeles Kings Chicagy Blackhawks San jose Sharks Detroit Redwings b Columbas Bluejackets 1 Nashville Predators 8 Calgary Flames 9 ST Louis Blues tt) Anaheim Ducks 1) Edmonton Oilers w= uw Su 12 Phoenix Coyotes 13 Colorado Avalanche 4. Dulas Stars 15, Minnesota Wild Western Conference Final: geles Kings ve e off-season ‘concussion ent. Some taoyes will work out, while some Will lead to more moves during the year. All the player movement has led to teams having big question marks going into this season. Here are October, 4 2011- Over the Hdge some early predictions of the overall standings and Stanley cup winner. We Will take an in-depth look at the Can- adian teams, Some teams have made major changes 10 their rosters, Tt is Eastern Canadian: Team Preview: Vancouver Canucks This year’s Canucks will try to build on their Stanley cup appearance and try (© Win their first champion- ship. The Camucks will once again win the Northwest Division in 2011- 2012, Anything short of hoisting the (cani's Ist Stanley Cup will be a dis- uppointment. This year’s Canucks team has many question marks on their backend: The loss of Christian Bhrhoff will hurt the power play. Mis 50 points will be hard (replace. Ehirhoff played an ip tempo game and his pace of play will be difficult to replicate. Can any- one on the active roster replace Eli holfy Can Keith Ballard find his same? Bullard never found his vanie lest year with the Canucks. Ballard a for- aner all star found bimelf in the press box during pivotal games fast year, Ballard will bave lo earn his playing | time this year. The loss of Ehrhoff _ shotild open up important minutes for avg wiikakan eincoles Scott Gorden on of the new assistants will he leading candidate to replace Calgary Flames The Flames havevhad a very busy offseason, General manager Jay Fenster has maneuyered this teat aut ofso called cap purgntory. Feaster has moved out three monster contracts this year. Robyn Revehr, Ales Kolalik and Daymond Langhow and thei xal- aries have left town. ‘The Flames were one of the finalists to land prized free agent Brad Richards. They resigned Alex Tanguay with the money they have saved, The teans has a major question mark poing into this season. Can the defense sustain the loss of Regehr? The onee niighty deferse that bousted Revel. Bouwmeester and Phaneuf is no longer, The team’s blueline is younger and mobile Defenserman Mark Giordano will have to make a huge impact defensively and offen- sively for the Plames to have any suc- cess. The offense will be lead by captain Jerome Iginla. He will need a stroug sUpporting cast if the Flames expect to make the playoffs. Matt Stajan wall he askedto play a prominent role him, Look for the Leafs to make 9 . _ big push towards ending their playoff slump, Ottawa Senatars The Senators are in full-blown rebuild mode. They drafied Mika Zibanejad in this year's drafi. He will haye un ouiside shot to make n. Veterans Jason Spezza and ( Alfredsson will, be counted ¥ position, Along with zibstad young prospect hobby butler will be len EVETY Opportunity ta succeed. ‘The ‘Sens acquired Nikita Filatoy from the bluejackets, Pilatoy will be given top six minutes to get fils career back on track Last year’s rookie sensation Erik difficult to find owt how these moves will shape out, but here ate some ear- ty thoughts, this year, Stajan has struggled since becoming a Flame. Young prospect Mikael Backlund wil need to break- out this year. Look for Prince George product Ryan Howse will try fo make the Abbotsford heat and become a call up forthe Flames. Edmonton Oilers The Oilers will look to improye this year, which should not be difficult as the team finished 40th the last two years. The Oilers have brought im some veteran leadership to help the youne kids, Ryan Smyth, Erie Bel- anger, Ben Eager and Andy Sutton will provide much needed leadership for the young Oilers. Will Ryan Nugent Hopkins make the Edmonton Oilers? That question has been on the fan's. minds all svm- mer long, If Hopkins has a great start fo the season, T do not see how you can send hin down, If he cannot play in the top nine forwards. he will be hest served 10 play the year in the whl and world junior championships. Karlsson will try to improve on last years great showing. Karlsson will anchor a defense that bousts two all slars: looking for rebound seasons. Sergei Gonchar and Chris Philips will look to rebound this year The two — will be coimled upon for Jeadership, The blue line should have te rookies on their team Swedish defenseman David Ronblad and Canadian Jared Cowen should get long looks from the organization this year. The signing of Craig Anderson should give the Sens some stable goaltending, The Sens will bave a rough season and finish at the bottom of the eastern conference for a secons year ina row. rere kiev ery