Western Conference Playoff Predictions

1. Chicago

This team has 3 superstar forwards on their team in Toews, Hossa and Kane. As long as Crawford doesn’t play like he did in the playoffs, Chicago is the team to beat in the West.

MVP: Marian Hossa (If he stays healthy)

2. San Jose

Time is running out for San Jose to make a serious Stanley Cup run before their team gets blown up. They missed out on Rick Nash, but still have two high scoring top lines.

MVP: Patrick Marleau

3. Minnesota

The Wild add two superstars in the offseason in Parise and Suter. They already have Koivu, Heatley and Backstrom. If Granlund plays like a #2 center, this team will be tough to beat.

MVP: Zach Parise

4. St. Louis

If not for Los Angeles' Dominance in the playoffs last season, the Blues would have been in the Stanley Cup. This team is built for playoff hockey.

MVP: Alex Pietrangelo

5. Vancouver

It’s going to hurt the Canucks to not have Ryan Kesler. The Sedin’s aren’t getting younger, Luongo isn’t getting better, and Schneider is unproven.

MVP: Henrik & Daniel Sedin

6. Los Angeles

The dreaded Stanley Cup hangover and no Kopitar will get the Kings off to a slow start. In a 48 game season, that is going to cost the Kings.

MVP: Anze Kopitar

7. Detroit

An end of an era in the loss of Lidstrom, a void that cannot and will not be filled. The Wings will still make the playoffs, but they’re not the same team.

MVP: Pavel Datsyuk

8. Dallas

If Jagr and Whitney can give the Stars one good year, the Stars are a playoff team because of Kari Lehtonen. The longer Benn stays unsigned, the odds of making the playoffs for the Stars decrease.

MVP: Kari Lehtonen

Clarence Campbell Winner: St. Louis

Western Conference MVP: Zach Parise

Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions

Now that the 2012-2013 NHL lockout is over, we can get back to business. First up, we will do our yearly Eastern and Western Conference predictions.

The season will be a short one. Yes, we may even see unexpected teams make the playoffs where as they probably wouldn’t if this was a full season. So taking that into consideration this is how I expect the Eastern Conference to pan out before the playoffs.

1) New York Rangers

Rick Nash will become a game breaker once again, while he is paired with Brad Richards. Fact is that Rangers were winning without him and were very, very good. Nash gives them another explosive option and that scoring threat to help Gaborik that they desperately lacked.

2) Boston Bruins

Tim Thomas was the sole reason why the Bruins were knocked out of the playoffs last season. Tuukka Rask will be very good, he has no reason not to be. The team in front of him is almost identical to the one that won the cup.

3) Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom, that is all. This team will go as much as these guys will. I think Adam Oates is the right man for the job to jump-start the red machine.

4) Pittsburgh Penguins

Malkin and Crosby make everyone around them shine, including dusters and grocery stick players. The problem here is the back-end. Fleury is not the goalltender Pittsburgh is waiting for and the defense is not enough to win the division either.

5.) Buffalo Sabres  

 The Sabres can really flourish if Tyler Myers and Thomas Vanek return to form, if Cody Hodgson can develop as a true first-line performer and if Ryan Miller returns to being one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders.

6.) CarolinaHurricanes 

The Hurricanes reunited the Staal brothers, Eric and Jordan, to an already-solid bunch and added Alex Semin in free agency. The hope is that the enigmatic Russian Semin can thrive in Carolina and silence the character whispers that have been circulating throughout the league over the past few seasons.

7.) Philadelphia Flyers 

Bryzgalov is the main question. If he plays a bit better than he did last year, we are looking at a very scary team. It is crazy how in just one year we are questioning Bryzgalov’s goaltending instead of praising it, but that is how this story goes. He was awful iu the playoffs last year, but can be brilliant at times. That’s if he ever comes back from space.

8.) Ottawa Senators 

Spezza resurrected himself last season and rose back to that elite status. If he does not get hurt and stay healthy, he is deadly. If Craig Anderson can continue to have Ottawa’s faithful fall in love with his consistent play, we can count on this team being more than a playoff bubble team.

What Needs To Click For Buffalo To Succeed?

     The Sabres will play a compacted schedule this year due to the lockout. They will play a total of 48 games in 97 days. They only recieve one 3 day break throughout the entire year which is March 13-15.
     All of the games are going to be inter-conference which means that they will not be going on long 7 game road trips this year. This brings up the discussion of how will they end up playing on home ice. The last two years Buffalo has been 40-42 at home with that including overtime losses. The Sabres are easily matched with the Bruins as the best team in the division. Thats why I believe they can be a top 5 team in the conference.
    It all comes down to the goaltending. Lindy Ruff has been known to wear out his starting goaltender by January, but now he has a backup goaltender that he can rely on in back to back games. With that being said Jhonas Enroth should be getting around 10-12 games this year while Ryan Miller can hold his crease for the 35 plus games.
     If April comes around and a playoff spot is not sealed up for the blue and gold we may have seen the last of the Ruff/Regier tandem.
    Whether you think they should of been fired a long time ago or not they shouldnt be going out in ugly fashion.
    The playing field has been  as even as its ever been in todays NHL. One thing for sure with the compacted schedule it should determine an outlook for Terry Pegula (owner) on the future of his franchise.

Why Mikhail Grigorenko Deserves a Spot.

     Just from looking at his highlights on youtube you know that Mikhail Grigorenko is going to be a rising star is the NHL. He stands 6'3 200 pounds. The Russian 18 year old looked awkward the first 10 minutes of his first practice as he introduced himself to his new teammates.
     You can always tell when there is going to be a gifted player. Just seeing Grigorenko skate in the first drill I knew that Buffalo had someone special. He looked as if he was a younger Jason Spezza. Making clear crisp passes along the center of the ice, while showing the hands of a veteran really put an awe look on the fans watching him skate.
     The question that fans are wondering is will he be on the team for the duration of the season or will Coach Ruff decide he is not ready to take on an NHL centre role?
     It certainly will not be a shock if Buffalo sent him back down to Quebec for his final year in juniors knowing the Sabres have a history of caution in these matters.
    It all comes down to whats best for Ruff's defensive system. they just signed Jochen Hecht to a one year contract for 1 million dollars. Hecht is a 35 year old signing that could help the team but he also represents as a failed investment because he isn't a premiere goal scorer  like Grigorenko.
     If a decision was made it would be smart for Buffalo to keep the 18 year old on the team while keeping Hecht centering he 4th line. It would bring fans by giving them what they want. Keeping Grigorenko on the team can nurture him in becoming a great centre by playing him with two proven veterans in Ville Leino and Steve Ott.
    Overall, why would Buffalo settle for average in Jochen Hecht when they can gamble on greatness in Mikhail Grigorenko.
    

Offseason Outlook

     Lets look at some of their offseason moves for the Buffalo Sabres. They started out by signing John Scott to a 1 year deal. Next, was the trading of Derek Roy to the Dallas Stars for Center Steve Ott. Finally, was the two recent signings of Center Kevin Porter who was formely on the Colorado Avalanche and the resigning of a long time AHL all star of the Sabres Mark Mancari.
      Buffalo fans have become upset over these aquisitions and I cant agree with them anymore. According to last years statistics the Sabres were in the bottom Half in the NHL in goals for and in shots per game. So why is management singing players whose roles are about being tough and getting under the nerves of other teams. John Scott, yes he is an incredible fighter that can motivate a team and Steve Ott, well he is a solid third line player that can score but not consistently. The Sabres have plenty of grinders such as, Patrick Kaleta, Cody Mcormick, and Corey Tropp that are going to blossom into great instigaters. The signing of Mark Mancari makes no sense because in the NHL nowadays you need speed in which he does not have and Kevin Porter just cannot produce because according to last years stats he had 7 goals in 35 games.
      What is a great addition to the team is drafting Mikhail Grigorenko. The first-round draft pick did show a quick adjustment to North America last season with 85 points in 59 games playing in the QMJHL. Grigorenko is 6-foot-3 and plays like a big player. However, he has plenty of room to add bulk to his frame, which may be one of the main reasons the club will not rush him.
       Overall, with the young talent that Buffalo possess i do forsee the playoffs for them this year. i definetly think they are a top 5 team in the eastern conference if the play from the first and second line works as projected to.