Handicapping The NHL's Western Conference

The meat grinder that was the NHL’s Western Conference last year, didn’t get any easier for the upcoming season. In many ways, almost every one of the top 8 in the West last year, got better in the off season. The sobering part for the Hawks is, most of them are in the Central Division.

 

It would be hard to fathom any of the bottom 6 Western teams a year ago, making it to the post season this year. Neither Phoenix, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary, or Edmonton did enough to get them in the 90+ point range it will take to make the Western top 8. And although Nashville added some well-worn veterans in James Neal, Derek Roy, Mike Riberio, & Ollie Jokinen for Laviolette to work with in his first full season, it seems like a stretch for them to compete for the top 8 in a field that got increasingly better.

 

So, how does the top 8 from last year, stack up in their positioning for this year? I see some of those teams getting significantly better, some getting marginally better, and some saying the same by way of addition/subtraction or standing pat.

Significantly Better:

Anaheim
The Ducks were at or near the top of the Western standing the entire year. They wound up with the #1 seed, finished with 117 points, and was behind Boston by 1 point for the President’s Trophy. They probably will enter the season with a ‘Blackhawk’ sized chip on their shoulder after losing the final 2 games in the Kings series. Then they add Ryan Kesler which gives them that strength at center like LA. Goaltending is their issue. 

Minnesota
Didn’t look like much during the regular season, but showed just how tough they are to play against in the playoffs. They lacked the scoring to be legitimately dangerous, but added Thomas Vanek and will have a full season with Pominville. 

Dallas
Had a late season surge and gave Anaheim a run in the 1^st round. Upper end scoring team already, then added Spezza and Hemsky. Defense is an issue, but their goaltending is well above average.

Marginally Better:

Chicago
We know their strengths, we know their weakness. Richards could thrive between Kane and Saad, and one could argue that Kane has that break through 100 point season as a result of Richards assisting. The question is, which player/s are gone by opening night? 

St. Louis
The Blues and Hawks battled for the Central lead all season. The Blues really pulled away in the final month, but a 6 game losing streak in the final week gave the Central to Colorado. They lacked that #2 center at the top, and picked up Paul Stastny. Brian Elliott who has deserved a #1 spot for 2 seasons running will get it this year.

No Change:

Los Angeles
When you win the Cup, I guess there isn’t an urgency to do anything. The Kings did just that. They didn’t really look scary in the regular season, and had some good fortune during their Cup run. 

San Jose
I don’t know if the Sharks are using the term ‘panic situation’, but they should be. When your only the 6^th team in league history to blow a 3-0 playoff lead, as your Cup window is closing, it aint good. Then the only significant moves the Sharks made was to strip their long standing best players of their Captaincy.  

Colorado

The newly crowned Central Division champs lost leadership and scoring in Stastny, and replaced it with Jerome Iginla who didn’t really light things up with Boston. Their opening round loss to Minnesota did more to question the validity of their finish, and if Patrick Roy can get the same from that young, defense challenged roster.