Brent's NHL Season Prognostigations - Western Conference

CENTRAL

Detroit Red Wings - I can see them getting the ship righted for the regular season.  Jimmy Howard will have a great season in net.

Nashville Predators - I believe that everybody is underestimating their offense.  Could be the surprise of the season.

Chicago Blackhawks - No Cup hangover but they lost too many players from last year.

Columbus Blue Jackets - Rick Nash signed an extension.  The major question in my mind is why?  They will be mired in the bottom half of the conference again.

St. Louis Blues - A nice story last year, I just don't see the talent that will let them crash the playoff party again.

PACIFIC

San Jose Sharks - Great in the regular season.  The true test of this team will come playoff time.

Los Angeles Kings - Call me crazy, but I think that the Kings will beat lots of teams that will take them a little bit too lightly.

Phoenix Coyotes - Ilya Bryzgalov is the reason that the Yotes made the postseason last year.  He can do it again.

Anaheim Ducks - They had Teemu Selanne come back but that won't be enough with the retirement of Scott Neidermayer to push the Ducks into the playoffs.

Dallas Stars - Life without Marty Turco and Mike Modano starts.  Marc Crawford will get the most out of his squad, but they are young and Crawford must be patient.

NORTHWEST

Vancouver Canucks - Rumblings out of the Northwest are saying that the Canucks can win the cup.  That is up to Luongo and if he can play lights out anymore.

Colorado Avalanche - Craig Anderson proved last year that he is a very good goalie.  This year he makes people say a great goalie.

Calgary Flames - The great enigma of the NHL.  You have Kiprusoff, Iginla, Boumeester.  You bring in Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen.  And you still don't know if they can win or not.

Minnesota Wild - New system without playing defense first will make the team more watchable.  But it won't help in the standings.

Edmonton Oilers - Edmonton is lucky.  Buffalo could have had 3 or 4 of the best prospects for compensation  for an Edmonton signing.  Can you imagine Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle as Sabres?

Western Conference Finals :

Vancouver Canucks over Detroit Red Wings

Stanley Cup Finals:

Buffalo Sabres over Vancouver Canucks