NHL Season Preview 2014

The puck is about to drop for the 2013/14 NHL season.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  Time to start a new 82 game season for the hockey season.  Chicago was the beneficiary of the shortened season, going undefeated in regulation for half the year before eventually going on to win the Stanley Cup.  It is a new year and with the crazy amount of offseason moves, it looks to be an unpredictable one.  So naturally, I will make predictions as I do so often here at Brutal Sports.  2013/14 NHL season preview:

First off, it is worth noting the new divisions and playoff formatting.  The new conferences stand as follows in the order I predict they will finish.  Green teams will make playoffs:
Eastern Atlantic:
Bruins, Red Wings, Canadiens, Senators, Maple Leafs, Sabres, Panthers, and Lightning
Eastern Metropolitan:
Penguins, Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Flyers, Capitals, Blue Jackets, and Hurricanes
Western Pacific:
Sharks, Kings, Canucks, Ducks, Coyotes, Oilers, and Flames
Western Central:
Blackhawks, Blues, Predators, Wild, Jets, Stars, and Avalanche

The way the format works, the top 3 teams from each division make the playoffs.  The 7th and 8th teams to make playoffs in each conference are wildcards.

Here is my 30 team preseason power rankings:

1. Chicago Blackhawks: The won the Cup and have plenty of young talent to compliment their returning players.  Unlike 2008, they did not have to disassemble this Cup winning team in the offseason.  If Crawford holds his own then expect big things.  With a weak division, they are almost a lock for the Western Conference Finals.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins: When you look at their roster it is hard to argue that they shouldn't win the Cup every year.  Crosby is healthy, Malkin is dominant, and Neal, Dupuis, Kunitz, Letang, and many others fill up an explosive roster.  Fleury has struggled in the playoffs but I still think he has what it takes to take this team to the finals again.
3. San Jose Sharks:  I know I am going to get heat for my bias here but hear me out.  Marleau, Thornton, and Boyle are all unrestricted free agents at the end of the year.  They have a lot to prove as they get up there in age, seeking new contracts.  Couture and Pavelski are locked up long-term as pieces to build around.  Niemi is as solid as it gets in net.  Although they do not have a lot of prospects, Tomas Hertl could be the next star player in the league this year.  San Jose just might have all the pieces to put it all together this year.  Or they could stumble out of the gate and rebuild by moving the aforementioned Boyle, Marleau, and Thornton at the deadline.  Either way, they'll be exciting.
4. Boston Bruins:  They went to the finals last year and made quite a bit of changes.  They moved Seguin, Peverley, and Ference but did well to replace them with Iginla and Eriksson.  Tuukka Rask is one of the best net minders in the NHL.  Don't forget about these guys.  Bergeron will win the Selke again.
5. St. Louis Blues:  The Blues have had very good teams in the past, but never quite made that deep playoff run.  They packed their lineup full of shutdown defensive forwards as well as defensemen.  They boast 3 top tear talent goalies on their roster.  Injuries cannot halt this deep lineup, but goal scoring might.  If they get at least 2 goals in every playoff game, they could be staring at a Stanley Cup when this season is over.
6. Los Angeles Kings: They pretty much have the same roster they won the Cup with a few years back.  They added young talent and still have that Quick guy in net.  Kings are still good.
7. New York Rangers:  With Torts gone the goal scorers like Nash and Richards can get back to doing what they do best.  Lundqvist is still the best goalie in the NHL and he has some solid defense in front of him.  Stephan should emerge as one of the leagues best centers as the Rangers have a big season.
8. Detroit Red Wings:  While Detroit has done nothing to address their obvious weakness on defense, they did a good job getting veterans Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss to fill in at forward.  They have a good mix of young and "veteran" to balance their team.  Howard will be relied upon heavily this year to make Detroit a Cup contender again.
9. Vancouver Canucks:  Like San Jose, Vancouver's season could end with a Stanley Cup or end as a train wreck.  I think Torts will do enough to make Luongo a stud again, but the Sedins and many other pure offensive players will struggle.  I like Vancouver's chances if they buy in to what John Tortorella is selling them.  Luongo will be a stud again, mark my words.
10. Nashville Predators:  Do not underestimate what a great job Barry Trotz has done as this team's only coach.  The Preds should have little problem bouncing back from an awful season in their new conference behind Weber and Rinne.
11. Montreal Canadiens:  The Habs were quietly efficient in the offseason, acquiring Douglas Murray and Danny Briere.  PK Subban won the Norris and Price is one heck of a good goalie.  Look for them to be in the hunt.
12. Minnesota Wild:  Maybe I rescind what I said about Chicago having a weak division.  Minnesota looks to be in prime position to make the playoffs for the 2nd year in a row thanks to Parise, Suter, and the youngsters like Coyle and Granlund.
13. Anaheim Ducks:  The last playoff spot in the Western Conference might rest in the hands of the Ducks.  Perry and Getzlaf got new contracts and new linemates.  Bobby Ryan was shipped out of town for prospects and they will have an instant impact on the Ducks lineup.  Oh and that Selanne guy is still playing.
14. New York Islanders:  The Islanders made noise last year by making playoffs and forcing Pittsburgh to play 6 games in the first rounds.  Tavares now wears the "C" and his team is young and ready to make a run.  Don't sleep on the power of youth.  When Strome gets called up from the AHL, hell will be unleashed on the Metropolitan Division.
15. Ottawa Senators: The Sens lost their captain to the Red Wings, but they got this Bobby Ryan kid who is pretty good.  Should be a team to watch for years to come, but they are still a borderline playoff team at this point.
16. New Jersey Devils:  They probably were happy to see Kovalchuk walk to the KHL.  The added Jagr and Clowe to their already mean squad, as well as American goalie Corey Schneider.  Him and Brodeur should both be primed for big years.
17. Toronto Maple Leafs:  The Leafs had a huge lead fall out of their grasp as Boston came from behind to win game 7.  They added Clarkson and Bernier to their team in the offseason.  If Kadri and VanRiemsdyk live up to their potential it could be a good year for them.
18. Winnipeg Jets:  The Jets are finally in the West and look to be contenders.  They have their work cut out for them in a tough West conference.
19. Philadelphia Flyers:  Lecavalier and Streit are the two big additions to the Flyers roster.  This will be an explosive team offensively but they have too many holes on defense and big question marks in net with Emery and Mason.
20. Washington Capitals:  They barely made playoffs last year and Ovechkin had to have a huge end of the year hot streak to do so.  He will return to pedestrian production as the Caps miss playoffs.
21. Dallas Stars:  The added Seguin and Peverley but lost Loui Eriksson.  They also got really ugly jerseys.  I do not expect much from them this year.  If they make playoffs it will be because of Benn and Lehtonen throwing the team on their backs.
22. Phoenix Coyotes:  Mike Smith is good and Ribeiro is a good signing.  This team sucks though.  They play shutdown defense but struggle to score.  Don't expect too much from the Yotes other than a loss of profit.
23. Columbus Blue Jackets:  Bobrovsky!  Other than that they are subpar.  Gaborik and Horton are alright but are not enough to squeak them into the playoffs.  Especially since Horton, Gaborik, and Wisniewski are known for always being injured.
24. Edmonton Oilers:  Their young talent just never seems to translate into a playoff run.  They will have their moments but unless Sam Gagner, Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins all put up 100+ points I don't see this team in the postseason.
25. Buffalo Sabres:  Ryan Miller is not that good and I think him and Vanek should both be traded.  They seem to think that both Vanek and Ott should be captain.... Weird.
26. Florida Panthers:  The surprise story of 2 years ago came up short last year.  Tim Thomas could lead this team to a good season but don't hold your breath.
27. Carolina Hurricanes:  The Canes have some big name players with 2 Staals and Semin on their team but they are still pathetic defensively.  They have potential to be higher, but I think they will continue to be mediocre at best.
28. Tampa Bay Lightning:  Stamkos and St. Louis are good at hockey.  Is Bishop their guy in net?  Who knows.  Don't expect playoffs but expect another 50-60 goal season from Stamkos.
29. Colorado Avalanche:  I love Landeskog.  Colorado is bad though.
30. Calgary Flames:  Jay Feaster has doomed this team to so many bad seasons to come.  Why is he still employed?  Why did they add Burke to that awful equation?  How many idiot managers does it take to finish last in the NHL?  2.  Kipper and Iginla are no longer Flames so there is literally no reason to be a fan other than hockey masochism.  25 wins looks like a lofty goal for this team.