In the world of professional sports, there are always clear cut winners, and clear cut losers, but what’s difficult to determine is the final positioning of those middle teams. One injury can destroy a team’s playoff hopes faster than a cherry bomb in a toilet, and the sport of hockey is probably the most affected by this. Certain teams can survive the loss of one player (see Brodeur, Martin in 2008-2009; and Crosby, Sidney in 2008-2009), however most teams will absolutely fall apart at the loss of their highest paid player(s). It’s this unpredictability that makes picking which middle of the pack teams will make it to the summer shindig that much more difficult. With this, I present to you my picks of teams that won’t quite make it to the golf course(yet) come April (Part 2)
Detroit Red Wings- Best, most offensively and defensively deep team in the West. Hard to bet against their top 2 lines, and now with the additions of Jiri Hudler and Mike Modano, it’s also difficult to bet against their third line. If Jimmy Howard plays the way he did last year, this is the best team in the West, possibly the entire league.
Los Angeles Kings- With plenty of cap space, and room for additions to their young and already highly skilled core, the Kings should take the Pacific division with relative ease, and make waves in the playoffs. Without major additions at the deadline, they can’t (and won’t) make it to the Cup finals, but an early to midseason addition of prospect Jonathan Bernier should make it a lot easier.
Vancouver Canucks- With one of the best (regular season) goalies in the league, and a top 3 defensive unit to go along with their forward depth, they will make waves this season in both the regular season and playoffs, but will fail to get the cup due to Roberto Luongo.
San Jose Sharks- The Sharks are no longer “best team in the league” material, but definitely still playoff material. Can’t say how well they will do in the regular season, but with an additional defensive addition at the deadline, they should make it further than they ever have in the playoffs to date.
Chicago Blackhawks- After losing 12 of their players, they aren’t in a position to challenge for the cup again, but they will definitely make the playoffs on the backs of Toews, Kane, Keith, et al.
Phoenix Coyotes- Financial issues will be no big deal for the desert dogs, and they’ll ride the coattails of heart and soul leader Shane Doan, as well as goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, to make it to the playoffs for a second straight year.
Nashville Predators- With a ridiculous number of NHL forwards, and even more ridiculous number of defensive prospects in the pipeline, the Preds are set to make the playoffs for several more years to come, including this one. They lost the ‘old man’ in Jason Arnott in a trade to the Devils, but that will only create more opportunities for younger, hungrier players.
Minnesota Wild- I’m going against my gut on this one, but looking at the Wild forward corps, they’re much deeper than they were 1 year ago. If Niklas Backstrom can return to form, and he gets offensive help, the Wild can go far. This team, a lot like the Penguins of the East (big surprise since GM Chuck Fletcher was previously the right hand man of Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero), are built to be a team that can make the playoffs, but when it does it will make waves. This is my sleeper pick to go to the finals in the West.
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