Projected Western Conference Standings
Posted 11:39 PM ET | Comments 12
I don't know how those boxes got there.Sorry.
With just a couple of weeks left until training camp starts I thought I would write what I think the standings in the Western Conference would be if the teams would be if they were to use the players they had right now.
1.Anaheim Ducks
Additions: Shane Hnidy, Todd Bertuzzi, Mathieu Schneider, Dan Lacouture
Losses: Dustin Penner, Ryan Shannon, Shawn Thornton
A lot of their success will depend on whether or not Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne retire. Todd Bertuzzi is a big question mark too, we’ll see if he can bounce back from an injury filled season.
2. Colorado Avalanche
Additions: Ryan Smyth, Scott Hannan
Losses: Brett Mclean, Patrice Brisebois, Anti Laaksonen
With the additions of Smyth and Hannan the Avalanche are now serious cup contenders.
3. Detroit Red Wings
Additions: Dallas Drake, Brian Rafalski, Mark Cullen, Brad Ference
Losses: Robert Lang, Todd Bertuzzi, Kyle Calder, Mathieu Schneider
Dallas Drake is going to bring even more leadership, and adding Rafalski just makes this team even better. Todd Bertuzzi was really just a rental player.
4. Los Angeles Kings
Additions: Brad Stuart, Kyle Calder, Ladislav Nagy, Michael Handzus, Tom Preissing
Losses: Aaron Miller, Tom Kostopoulos, Mathieu Garon
Now this team means business their tired of sitting at the bottom every year those are 5 big time additions to the team I think it’s a sure thing that their in the playoffs this year. I would just try to work on the goaltending(Hint: Raycroft).
5. Vancouver Canucks
Additions: Curtis Sanford, Aaron Miller, Byron Ritchie, Brad Isbister,
Losses: Bryan Smolinski, Danny Sabourin
They made a couple of good singnings but it will be a tight Northwest Division so it won’t be that easy to win the division this year and I think there’s going to be a couple of trades coming up.
6. Calgary Flames
Additions: Owen Nolan, Adrian Aucouin, Anders Eriksson , Cory Sarich
Losses: Roman Hamrlik, Brad Stuart, Byron Ritchie, Brad Ference, Andrei Zyuzin
I’d say they got better, they have Adrian Aucoin’s big shot on the powerplay, but Phaneuf lost his set up man in Hamrlik.
7. San Jose Sharks
Additions: Alexei Semenov
Losses: Bill Guerin, Vesa Toskala, Mark Bell, Scott Hannan
I don’t know what the Sharks are thinking, how are they supposed to stay in playoff contention when they give away all of their players. I give 2 thumbs down for their offseason. The move they made all summer was re-signing Thornton. Not to mention they still need a backup for Nabokov.
8.Nashville Predators
Additions: Radek Bonk, Martin Gelinas, Greg De Vries, Jed Ortmeyer
Losses: Paul Kariya, Tomas Vokoun, Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, Vitali Vishnevski
They lose 3 of their top players and acquired some average players. They still need a backup for Mason
9. Dallas Stars
Additions: Todd Fedoruk, Toby Peterson, Brad Winchester,
Losses: Darryl Sydor, Ladislav Nagy
I don’t see much change but I think they still might be an okay team.
10. Minnesota Wild
Additions: Eric Belanger, Sean Hill
Losses: Todd White, Manny Fernandez
Didn’t change much except for Fernandez, still need a backup for Backstrom. Will be a touh competitor in the tight Northwest position.
11. Edmonton Oilers
Additions: Dustin Penner, Geoff Sanderson, Joni Pitkanen, Sheldon Souray, Richard Tarnstrom, Mathieu Garon
Losses: Petr Sykora, Joffrey Lupul, Petr Nedved, Jason Smith, Toby Peterson, Ryan Smyth, Brad Winchester, Jan Hejda, Jussi Markannen
I still see some life in them. If you look at it they still have pretty decent team. Plus they have a lot of young talent so if they don’t win the cup pretty soon they will in the future.
12. Chicago Blackhawks
Additions: Kevyn Adams, Robert Lang, Sergei Samsonov, Yanic Perreault, Jim Fahey
Losses: Radim Vrbata, Jeff Hamilton, Andrei Zyuzin
Its hard to predict where the Blackhawks will finish because if you look at their forwards they have a lot of talent with Robert Lang, Yanic Perreault, Sergei Samsonov and Martin Havlat and we’ll finally get to see Jonathan Toews this year but the rest of their team is only average. Khabibulin hasn’t been as good as he has been in the past.
13. St. Louis Blues
Additions: Paul Kariya, Hannu Toivonen
Losses: Radek Dvorak, Dallas Drake, Jamie Rivers, Curtis Sanford
I don’t think they’re going to make the playoffs this year but I think they’re headed in the right direction.
14. Phoenix Coyotes
Additions: Alex Auld, David Aebischer, Mike York, Radim Vrbata
Losses: Owen Nolan, Kevyn Adams, Mike Ricci,
They got a little better but they won’t make the playoffs with a team like this. They’re going to have an interesting goalie battle but I think Aebischer will start and Auld will back him up.
15.Columbus Blue Jackets
Additions: Kris Beech, Jan Hejda, Jiri Novotny
Losses: Anders Eriksson
Not much movement they’ll probably finish near the bottom like always.
Sorry if there's any missing information.
These standings probably will change because these teams aren't done making moves.
With just a couple of weeks left until training camp starts I thought I would write what I think the standings in the Western Conference would be if the teams would be if they were to use the players they had right now.
1.Anaheim Ducks
Additions: Shane Hnidy, Todd Bertuzzi, Mathieu Schneider, Dan Lacouture
Losses: Dustin Penner, Ryan Shannon, Shawn Thornton
A lot of their success will depend on whether or not Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne retire. Todd Bertuzzi is a big question mark too, we’ll see if he can bounce back from an injury filled season.
2. Colorado Avalanche
Additions: Ryan Smyth, Scott Hannan
Losses: Brett Mclean, Patrice Brisebois, Anti Laaksonen
With the additions of Smyth and Hannan the Avalanche are now serious cup contenders.
3. Detroit Red Wings
Additions: Dallas Drake, Brian Rafalski, Mark Cullen, Brad Ference
Losses: Robert Lang, Todd Bertuzzi, Kyle Calder, Mathieu Schneider
Dallas Drake is going to bring even more leadership, and adding Rafalski just makes this team even better. Todd Bertuzzi was really just a rental player.
4. Los Angeles Kings
Additions: Brad Stuart, Kyle Calder, Ladislav Nagy, Michael Handzus, Tom Preissing
Losses: Aaron Miller, Tom Kostopoulos, Mathieu Garon
Now this team means business their tired of sitting at the bottom every year those are 5 big time additions to the team I think it’s a sure thing that their in the playoffs this year. I would just try to work on the goaltending(Hint: Raycroft).
5. Vancouver Canucks
Additions: Curtis Sanford, Aaron Miller, Byron Ritchie, Brad Isbister,
Losses: Bryan Smolinski, Danny Sabourin
They made a couple of good singnings but it will be a tight Northwest Division so it won’t be that easy to win the division this year and I think there’s going to be a couple of trades coming up.
6. Calgary Flames
Additions: Owen Nolan, Adrian Aucouin, Anders Eriksson , Cory Sarich
Losses: Roman Hamrlik, Brad Stuart, Byron Ritchie, Brad Ference, Andrei Zyuzin
I’d say they got better, they have Adrian Aucoin’s big shot on the powerplay, but Phaneuf lost his set up man in Hamrlik.
7. San Jose Sharks
Additions: Alexei Semenov
Losses: Bill Guerin, Vesa Toskala, Mark Bell, Scott Hannan
I don’t know what the Sharks are thinking, how are they supposed to stay in playoff contention when they give away all of their players. I give 2 thumbs down for their offseason. The move they made all summer was re-signing Thornton. Not to mention they still need a backup for Nabokov.
8.Nashville Predators
Additions: Radek Bonk, Martin Gelinas, Greg De Vries, Jed Ortmeyer
Losses: Paul Kariya, Tomas Vokoun, Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, Vitali Vishnevski
They lose 3 of their top players and acquired some average players. They still need a backup for Mason
9. Dallas Stars
Additions: Todd Fedoruk, Toby Peterson, Brad Winchester,
Losses: Darryl Sydor, Ladislav Nagy
I don’t see much change but I think they still might be an okay team.
10. Minnesota Wild
Additions: Eric Belanger, Sean Hill
Losses: Todd White, Manny Fernandez
Didn’t change much except for Fernandez, still need a backup for Backstrom. Will be a touh competitor in the tight Northwest position.
11. Edmonton Oilers
Additions: Dustin Penner, Geoff Sanderson, Joni Pitkanen, Sheldon Souray, Richard Tarnstrom, Mathieu Garon
Losses: Petr Sykora, Joffrey Lupul, Petr Nedved, Jason Smith, Toby Peterson, Ryan Smyth, Brad Winchester, Jan Hejda, Jussi Markannen
I still see some life in them. If you look at it they still have pretty decent team. Plus they have a lot of young talent so if they don’t win the cup pretty soon they will in the future.
12. Chicago Blackhawks
Additions: Kevyn Adams, Robert Lang, Sergei Samsonov, Yanic Perreault, Jim Fahey
Losses: Radim Vrbata, Jeff Hamilton, Andrei Zyuzin
Its hard to predict where the Blackhawks will finish because if you look at their forwards they have a lot of talent with Robert Lang, Yanic Perreault, Sergei Samsonov and Martin Havlat and we’ll finally get to see Jonathan Toews this year but the rest of their team is only average. Khabibulin hasn’t been as good as he has been in the past.
13. St. Louis Blues
Additions: Paul Kariya, Hannu Toivonen
Losses: Radek Dvorak, Dallas Drake, Jamie Rivers, Curtis Sanford
I don’t think they’re going to make the playoffs this year but I think they’re headed in the right direction.
14. Phoenix Coyotes
Additions: Alex Auld, David Aebischer, Mike York, Radim Vrbata
Losses: Owen Nolan, Kevyn Adams, Mike Ricci,
They got a little better but they won’t make the playoffs with a team like this. They’re going to have an interesting goalie battle but I think Aebischer will start and Auld will back him up.
15.Columbus Blue Jackets
Additions: Kris Beech, Jan Hejda, Jiri Novotny
Losses: Anders Eriksson
Not much movement they’ll probably finish near the bottom like always.
Sorry if there's any missing information.
These standings probably will change because these teams aren't done making moves.
The Jackets will finish better than that...they weren't last place last year
LA 4th?? with their goaltending??? Sorry but Raycroft is no Patrick Roy, the Kings will be lucky, make that very lucky, to even squeeze in at 8th. No doubt they are a team that is on the rise, but don't look for them to make the postseason before 2009.
I have a feeling that the Hawks are going to sneak back into the playoffs ahead of the preds. I agree with ginogold that there is no way the Kings come 4th.
you left out Kane and Toews for Chicago, looks like both will get a shot in the NHL, which should help the Hawks big time
Sorry MyTeamMyTown, I wasn't sure if Kane was one of those players that would play in college for a year.
I'd like the Avs to finish 2nd but they will probably finish 5th. Unles of course Budaj plays like Luongo, lol. Not sure about them Kings.
yeah, i think the coyotes and the blue jackets will end up higher in the standings, they may suprise alot of us with their talent and skill this up and coming year
jesus h dude, the kings won't finish 4th no matter how much crack is in your pipe
Kings deffinately won't make the playoffs with their Goaltending. I know this will seem really bizare and mabe bitter coming from a sens fan but I think that with all the loses the Ducks took that they won't make the playoffs or will only squeeze in. This plus the Cup hangover will result in a bit of a disapointing season.
Oh yeah and WIld will make the playoffs they have a solid team.
the only way Phoenix will surprise me is if they don't finish 15th!
Columbus will do better than Edmonton, and I'm not kidding.