When I said yesterday that the best teams in the NHL were all in the Western Conference, I was really only talking about four teams. The Blackhawks and Kings are doing their own little version of what the Giants and Cardinals do in the National League, so if form holds, Chicago wins the Cup this year. But those other two teams in California, the Sharks and Ducks, are also right up there. Outside of those four, the only teams I see having a shot of hoisting Lord Stanley's hardware come June are Boston and Pittsburgh.
With that being said, though, unlike the East, the West is very top-heavy. While Boston and Pittsburgh might be the best teams in the East, it wouldn't be a complete surprise to see someone like Montreal or Tampa Bay or the Rangers end up winning the conference title. But in the West, I'd be very surprised to see a team outside of that top four emerge. Maybe St. Louis, but that's about it. And with two fewer teams fighting for the playoff berths, and a few bad ones thrown in, expect to see a dogfight between the Blackhawks and one of the California teams in the conference final.
CENTRAL DIVISION
The Chicago Blackhawks have emerged as the NHL's model franchise. It just sucks that their archrivals from Detroit aren't in the same division anymore. Because the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry, especially over the last couple years when they were both good, is perhaps the best in hockey. Anyway, this team is going to be a contender year after year as long as Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Co. are around, which is why they were wise to lock up Kane and Toews to long-term deals. The Blackhawks are also a very entertaining team to watch.
Colorado won an unexpected division title last season, as Patrick Roy earned Coach of the Year honors. The Avalanche have plenty of talent, so I wouldn't be shocked if they contended in this division again. I am somewhat worried about them, though. Because last year could also have been a case similar to the Florida Panthers, who went right back to the bottom last season after winning their division in 2012-13.
For a good portion of last season, St. Louis really looked like a legitimate Cup contender. Then the Blues simply collapsed down the stretch, culminating in a first-round playoff loss to the Blackhawks. They've got the talent to make a run, but which Blues team will show up? I find myself asking the same question about the Minnesota Wild. They did almost the opposite of the Blues. Minnesota had its problems during the regular season, but upset Colorado in the first round of the playoffs. Talent-wise, the Wild shouldn't have problems getting into the playoffs.
Dallas benefitted from the new wild card system to make its first playoff appearance in five years last season. The Stars are still the fifth-best team in this division, though, so they'll need to stay healthy and get some help to avoid a wild card and a matchup with either Chicago or the Pacific Division winner in the playoffs. Winnipeg and Nashville won't be fighting for playoff berths. They'll be fighting with each other for last place in the division. I think the Predators are probably a slightly better team than the Jets.
PACIFIC DIVISION
Where do I start about the Pacific Division? Without a doubt, this is the best division in hockey. Because it's got three teams that are legitimate Cup contenders. (It's also Exhibit A as to why I hate the current playoff format, but that's a topic for a different day.) The Kings are the defending champions, so let's start there. LA's got all the pieces in place to make another run at the Cup, as they look to become the first back-to-back champions since the Red Wings in 1996-97 and 1997-98. If they do, it'll be three in four years. They've certainly got the makings of a dynasty.
The Ducks possibly missed their chance. They had that series against the Kings won, but let LA comeback and win in seven en route to the Cup. They're still very good, but they aren't as good as they were last year. Still, I'd rather be the Ducks than the Sharks. Because San Jose blew it against LA even worse. The Sharks had a 3-0 lead before the Kings won four in a row, continuing San Jose's streak of underachieving in the playoffs. They really remind me of the Detroit Tigers. How many years in a row can you be one of the top teams, yet never actually win? It's got to be frustrating for the fans, the players, the coaches, the owners, hell, everyone involved with the team. This might be their last chance before they blow it all up and start over.
Speaking of starting over, the Phoenix Coyotes are no more. They've been rebranded as the ARIZONA Coyotes. The three California teams are a cut above the rest, but Arizona is better than the three Western Canadian teams. I can definitely see them making the playoffs this season. If the Coyotes aren't a playoff team, it might be Vancouver that is. The Canucks came up on the short end of the coaching trade with the Rangers. The Rangers ended up in the Finals, while Vancouver became the latest team to fire John Tortorella. Now that they have a much more level-headed coach, things should get back to normal in Vancouver. Because the Canucks still have a crapload of talent, led by the Sedin twins.
Edmonton and Calgary. Ah, Edmonton and Calgary. It'll be a long year in Alberta. The Oilers have been so bad for so long that they're just stockpiling top picks and grooming them in the NHL instead of the minors. This is going to payoff with a huge breakout year sooner rather than later. It's possible that that breakout might come this season, but I don't think it will. At the very least, the Oilers will have bragging rights over the Flames. I don't know what's going on in Calgary, but it's not a lot of winning.
Playoff Teams: Chicago, St. Louis, Colorado, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Arizona
I don't think we'll see as many upsets in the Western Conference playoffs this season. The top teams are just too good. The Blackhawks will meet the Blues in the second round, while I'm saying the Sharks beat the Ducks and play the Kings. For some reason, I'm going to give San Jose the nod in that series, setting up a matchup between the Sharks and the Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final. Chicago seizes the opportunity to regain the top spot in the West that it lost last year to LA and moves on to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in five years.
And just like two years ago, it'll be the Blackhawks and Bruins in an All-Original Six final. And just like two years ago, it'll be Chicago that emerges victorious.
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