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Well it is that time of year, Blind Predictions for the NHL Season. I’ll be quick and make it easy to follow. Before I pick each conference 15 to 1, I’ll divide the teams into four categories. It’s so tough to say exactly where teams are going to finish exactly 82 games form now, but it is easier to put them into groups.

The four simple categories are 1-Not A Chance 2-Battling for a spot 3-Playoff team 4-Top Notch

West:

Not a Chance: LA, Columbus, Nashville, Colorado, St. Louis

LA was an easy choice, Columbus is still at least 2 players away form battling, Nashville will become the team everyone thought they were going to be last year, Colorado all you have to do is look in between the pipes and St. Louis is heading the right direction, but the Erik Johnson injury bumped them out of a playoff battle.

Battling for a Spot: Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, Edmonton, Vancouver, Minnesota

I have only four of these teams making the playoffs, which is tough because they all have a big upside. One of the Three Northwest teams will falter down the stretch and it’ll be interesting to see which young up and coming team in Phoenix and Chicago can go on a run and maybe push out Dallas for a final spot.

Playoff Team: Anaheim, Calgary

The heart of making the playoffs is goaltending and defense corps, these teams have them both.

Top Notch: San Jose, Detroit

Detroit is easy, they are the Stanley Cup Champs plus a guy named Marian Hossa, The Sharks made some subtle moves, Out Campbell, In Boyle, Out Rivet, In Blake. I think Boyle brings the same offence with a little more defensive presence than Campbell and Blake will bring even a bigger veteran Presence for the Young defense than Rivet did.

15. Los Angeles

14. Columbus

13. Colorado

12. Nashville

11. St. Louis

10. Edmonton

9. Chicago

8. Dallas

7. Phoenix

6. Minnesota

5. Vancouver

4. Anaheim

3. Calgary

2. Detroit

1. San Jose

East:

Not a Chance: Toronto, New York Islanders, Atlanta, Tampa Bay

Too young and too unproven can be said for The Leafs, Isles and my beloved Thrashers and the Lightning will try for a Philadelphia like turnaround but goaltending and the lack of a defense corps will get in the way of that.

Battling for a Playoff Spot: Florida, Carolina, Ottawa, Buffalo, New Jersey, Philadelphia

Too think that probably 3 off these teams won’t make the playoffs, Florida, Carolina, and Buffalo will have to scratch and claw for every single point this year but all three teams have the horses to do so. New Jersey and Philadelphia will be products of a very tough division and a lack of solid number 4-5-6 defensemen. Ottawa they have the goods everywhere but the pipes.

Playoff Team: Washington, Pittsburgh, Boston

These teams will make the playoffs based on probably the best four players in the east: Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Zdeno Chara

Top Notch: Montreal, New York Rangers

Montreal will do anything to win this year, so even if they hit some injury trouble Bob Gainey will not hesitate to pick up some elite help. The Rangers are Jagr free, look for huge years from Gomez, Drury, Naslund and Zherdev. They also have great goaltending and one of the best D corps in the east.

15. New York Islanders

14. Toronto

13. Tampa Bay

12. Atlanta

11. Buffalo

10. Carolina

9. Philadelphia

8. Florida

7. Ottawa

6. New Jersey

5. Pittsburgh

4. Boston

3. Washington

2. Montreal

1. New York Rangers

For tons of NHL talk don’t forget NHL Tonight Hosted by Sean Campbell and Mitch Gallo on the TEAM 990 starts this Saturday October 11^th and will air every Saturday for the full hockey season at 7pm. For more email us at nhltonight@team990.com