FanHouses NHL 2008-09 Previews
Last year, the Red Wings rose to the top of the NHL by hoisting the Stanley Cup. Will the Wings be the first team in a decade to repeat? FanHouse breaks down the new season.
Gene J. Puskar, AP
New York Islanders: Predicted: Fifth Place, Atlantic Division
Veteran forward Doug Weight arrives to a team in turmoil on Long Island, and one with a long way to go to reclaim its past glories. Get Preview
Winslow Townson, AP
New York Rangers: Fourth Place, Atlantic Division
With superstar Jaromir Jagr gone to Russia, Markus Naslund will have the pressure on as the latest hired gun on Broadway. Get Preview
Scott Audette, Getty Images
New Jersey Devils: Third Place, Atlantic Division
The story in New Jersey starts in the crease, as the Devils go as far as Martin Brodeur takes them. Get Preview
Al Bello, Getty Images
Philadelphia Flyers: Second Place, Atlantic Division
The Flyers rose from the NHL's worst record the year before to the Eastern Finals. What will Philly do for an encore? Get Preview
Jim McIsaac, Getty Images
Pittsburgh Penguins: First Place, Atlantic Division
After a run to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring, Sidney Crosby and his revamped Penguins now look to take the next step. Get Preview
Dave Sandford, Getty Images
Toronto Maple Leafs: Fifth Place, Northeast Division
Ron Wilson is in charge in Toronto now, and even he admits this Leafs team won't end the 41-year-old drought. Get Preview
Dave Sandford, Getty Images
Boston Bruins: Fourth Place, Northeast Division
After an unlikely season where they pushed the Habs in the playoffs, Zdeno Chara's Bruins now look for bigger things this year. Get Preview
Andre Ringuette, Getty Images
Ottawa Senators: Third Place, Northeast Division
Daniel Alfredsson's Senators entered 2008 as the league's best team, but the team narrowly missed an epic collapse. Get Preview
Bjorn Larsson Rosvall, SCANPIX / AP
Buffalo Sabres: Second Place, Northeast Division
After a fall from the NHL's best regular-season record, Ryan Miller's Sabres now will look to climb back into the playoff hunt. Get Preview
Dave Reginek, Getty Images
It always seems like such a waste of time and energy, because they always end up being so wrong.
But that doesn't stop us from trying!
It's time to see how the NHL FanHouse panel voted on the upcoming season. I put the call out to my colleagues to submit predictions on the final regular-season standings, list their top eight for each conference, and give their picks on the major NHL award winners.
I also asked them to answer a very important question about the upcoming season.
The results of our little survey are after the jump.
First off, thanks to Eric McErlain, James Mirtle, Kevin Schultz, Earl Sleek, and J.P. Press for their kind participation.
We'll begin with the six divisions. Five points were given for a first-place vote, four for second, and so on. If a team got first-place votes, that number is in parentheses.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
1. Pittsburgh (2) - 25 points
2. Philadelphia (2) - 24
3. New Jersey (2) - 21
4. N.Y. Rangers - 14
5. N.Y. Islanders - 6
Northeast Division
1. Montreal (5) - 29 points
2. Buffalo (1) - 20
3. Ottawa - 18
4. Boston - 17
5. Toronto - 6
Southeast Division
1. Washington (6) - 30 points
2. Carolina - 21
3. Florida - 18
4. Tampa Bay - 15
5. Atlanta - 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
1. Detroit (6) - 30 points
2. Chicago - 22
3. Nashville - 17
4. Columbus - 12
5. St. Louis - 9
Northwest Division
1. Calgary (3) - 23 points
1 (tie). Minnesota (1) - 23
3. Edmonton (1) - 21
4. Colorado (1) - 15
5. Vancouver - 8
Pacific Division
1. San Jose (4) - 27 points
2. Dallas (2) - 24
3. Anaheim - 21
4. Phoenix - 12
5. Los Angeles - 6
As you can see, there are a couple of interesting notes here. The Northwest Division saw the least consensus of the divisions. Detroit and Washington are apparently safe bets for division titles. We also don't have a clue who will win the Atlantic. For all we know, it'll be the Rangers.
I also asked the crew to list a 1-8 for each conference. Based on a similar point system, here are the teams we think will make the playoffs. Remember, division winners are seeded 1-3, and we follow that formula here, even where it doesn't make mathematical sense.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Montreal (3 votes for top seed) - 42 points
2. Washington - 40
3. Pittsburgh (1) - 31
4. New Jersey (1) - 30
5. Philadelphia (1) - 25
6. Buffalo - 17
7. Boston - 10
8. Ottawa - 8
Others receiving votes: N.Y. Rangers 7, Florida 4, Carolina 1, Tampa Bay 1
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Detroit (4 votes for top seed) - 46 points
2. San Jose - 39
3. Calgary - 20
4. Dallas - 31
5. Anaheim - 25
6. Minnesota - 17
6 (tie). Edmonton - 17
8. Chicago - 13
Others receiving votes: Colorado 7, Nashville 1
10 Things to Watch in 2008-09
10) How Will Stamkos Fare? With a revamped team around him, the NHL's top pick Steve Stamkos will have every chance to grab this year's Calder Trophy for top rookie.
Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
9) Where Will Ilya Go? With the Thrashers facing a long rebuilding process and unrestricted free agency just two years off, Atlanta might look to shop Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk at the trade deadline.
Jamie Sabau, Getty Images
8) Which Senators Will Show Up? Dany Heatley's squad entered the calendar year 2008 as the best team in the NHL, but Ottawa nearly missed out on the playoffs. Which version of the Sens will fans see this year?
Dave Sandford, Getty Images
7) Can the Sharks Handle High Expectations? San Jose has been one of the top regular-season teams in the league, but have failed to deliver in the playoffs. Jonathan Cheechoo's club knows that the window is closing on the Sharks' chance at a Stanley Cup.
Don Smith, Getty Images
6) What Will Philly Do for an Encore? Martin Biron's club rose from the worst record in the NHL in 2006-07 to a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, can the Flyers take the next step towards the Stanley Cup?
Jim McIsaac, Getty Images
5) Chicago Hope? After narrowly missing the playoffs last year, Cristobal Huet was part of a spending spree to carry the team into the playoffs. The question is if Chicago can make the next step.
Nam Y. Huh, AP
4) Can Habs Deliver in Spring? Alexei Kovalev's Montreal squad had the best record in the East, but couldn't advance past the second round. Now, with the Canadiens celebrating their 100th anniversary, fans in Quebec are expecting a memorable season.
Richard Wolowicz, Getty Images
3) What Will Ovechkin Do? Last year, Alex Ovechkin became the first player to pass the 60 goal mark in a dozen years. Now, will the Caps' superstar be able to top his Hart Trophy performance in 2008-09?
Andy Marlin, Getty Images
2) Will Sid Skate With Stanley? The Penguins made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, and now the question is if the NHL's young icon can lead his team to a title.
Niklas Larsson, AP
1) Will Hossa Fuel Detroit Repeat? No NHL team has won back-to-back Stanley Cups since the Red Wings won in 1997 and 1998. With a one-year deal with Marian Hossa, Detroit's got a great chance to earn another Stanley Cup crown.
Dave Reginek, Getty Images
Now, we move on to the important matchups. Who does FanHouse see in the conference finals?
In the Eastern Conference, the consensus is a final between Washington and Montreal. Each team was picked to get at least this far by three of the six panelists. Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh received two votes each.
Out West, it's not a consensus. Detroit, Dallas, and San Jose each got three votes to appear in the conference finals. Based on an arbitrarily chosen tiebreaker of "Who was picked to make the Stanley Cup Finals by more voters?", Detroit and San Jose advance. Anaheim received two votes, and Edmonton got one.
The Stanley Cup Finals will feature Detroit (three votes) against either Montreal or Philadelphia (two each). San Jose (two) and Dallas (one) also got votes as the Western Conference winner, while Buffalo and Washington each got a vote to win the East.
The individual awards are next.
Hart Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin 4 votes, Sidney Crosby 1, Evgeni Malkin 1, Mike Richards 1
Norris Trophy: Niklas Lidstrom 4 votes, Dion Phaneuf 1, Chris Pronger 1
Vezina Trophy: Evgeni Nabokov and Martin Brodeur 2 votes each, J.S. Giguere 1, Carey Price 1
Calder Trophy: Steven Stamkos 4 votes, Shawn Matthias 1, T.J. Oshie 1
Adams Award: Claude Julien 2 votes, Peter DeBoer 1, Guy Carbonneau 1, Todd McLellan 1, Craig MacTavish 1
Finally, the most important question of all:
Assuming a salary of $3.5 million, how much money will defenseman Jeff Finger cost the Toronto Maple Leafs for every point he scores this season?
$140,000 got two votes. One each for $318,000, $200,000, $125,000, and $116,666.66.
Good luck, Jeff.
Latest NHL Photos
Colorado Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj, of Slovakia, warms up before facing the Chicago Blackhawks in an exhibition hockey game in Denver on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008. After several seasons of sharing the duties between the pipes, Budaj will take over as the Avalanche's main goalie with Andrew Raycroft as the backup. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
AP
Colorado Avalanche head coach Tony Granato looks on against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period of Chicago's 7-4 victory in an exhibition hockey game in Denver on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008. Granato, who served as the team's coach before stepping aside to act as an assistant three seasons ago, will be leading the team again as head coach when the Avalanche take the ice to host the Boston Bruins in the teams' NHL season-opener in Denver on Thursday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
AP
Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny warms up before facing the Chicago Blackhawks in an exhibition hockey game in Denver on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008. Stastny and his teammates will open the 2008-2009 NHL season by hosting the Boston Bruins on Thursday in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
AP
Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore takes a drink during hockey practice Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
AP
Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, center, talks to his team during NHL hockey practice Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
AP
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, watches his teammates during the hockey team's practice Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, in Washington. Ovechkin left practice early Tuesday, but the reigning NHL MVP is expected to play in the Capitals' season opener Friday at Atlanta. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
AP
Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, center, talks to his players during the NHL hockey team's practice Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
AP
SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Goaltender Rick DePietro #39 of the New York Islanders can't stop the shot by Jay Bouwmeester #4 and assisted by Nathan Horton #16 of the Florida Panthers during a preseason game at BankAtlantic Center on October 6, 2008 in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Islanders 6-0. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick DePietro;Nathan Horton
Getty Images
SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Goaltender Rick DePietro #39 and Doug Weight #93 of the New York Islanders and an official watch as Chris Lee #47 is loaded onto a stretcher during preseason action against the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center on October 6, 2008 in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Islanders 6-0. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick DePietro;Doug Weight
Getty Images
SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Goaltender Rick DePietro #39 of the New York Islanders reacts after giving up the fifth goal of the night to Nathan Horton #16 of the Florida Panthers during a preseason game at BankAtlantic Center on October 6, 2008 in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Islanders 6-0. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick DePietro
Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-04-2008 @ 12:56AM
Earl Sleek said...
For the record, I nominated neither Pronger nor Giguere. I don't believe that it's possible to win trophies on the west coast.
Reply
10-04-2008 @ 10:46AM
DCDetroit said...
It doesn't help that Pronger is the douchiest douche that ever douched.
Reply
10-05-2008 @ 8:31AM
GrapevineSooner said...
Did it ever occur to any of you to...oh I don't know, step outside the realm of Fanhouse and poll other bloggers?
Can't claim to be the little guys when you maintain this aura of exclusivity.
Reply
10-05-2008 @ 8:32AM
GrapevineSooner said...
And BTW, that's not directed at you, Bruce, or any of the other Fanhouse bloggers.
I know you guys don't have that kind of pull with your editors, to whom the last post is directed at.
Reply
10-05-2008 @ 8:33AM
GrapevineSooner said...
BTW, this wasn't directed at you, Bruce, or any of the other Fanhouse Bloggers.
It's just a little external pressure directed at your editors.
Reply