Western Conference

The Western Conference is harder to predict. Last year playoff teams Nashville and Phoenix lost some good players during the off season, Anaheim and Detroit just don´t convince me. (The reasons can be found at the team analysis blog entry.) In my opinion Columbus and Minnesota improved their squads and should be a bigger threat next season.

Anaheim and Detroit, even though they do not convince me, will probably go through to the playoffs. Vancouver and San Jose are favored to win the Western Conference and i would add Chicago that finished eighth only because Jonathan Toews was the only top 4 forward who played a full season. Chicago lost two points for the fourth placed Anaheim and without some lack of the top forwards they probably would have gotten those two points. Also the Los Angeles Kings improved their squad and should have no problem advancing to the playoffs.

Nashville and Phoenix will be fighting for the two last playoff spots with Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues. Even though that expekt (the company i use for betting) does not really give Wild, Blues or Blue Jackets really any chance of winning i believe they have what it takes to go to the playoffs. It will take a couple of years from Edmonton to rise again and Colorado to get enough quality players. Flames and Stars will have to wait for a rebuild period before they can get back to the top of the game.

The Western Conference table as i predict it to be:
1. Vancouver Canucks
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Los Angeles Kings
5. Detroit Red Wings
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. Nashville Predators
8. Minnesota Wild
9. St. Louis Blues
10. Columbus Blue Jackets
11. Phoenix Coyotes
12. Edmonton Oilers
13. Calgary Flames
14. Dallas Stars
15. Colorado Avalanche

Went through bigger changes than the Eastern Conference so there will be more rotation with the playoff teams. Vancouver will be a Presidents Trophy contender, but will surely aim higher after the disappointing game seven loss against Bruins. It will certainly be a very interesting year for the Western Conference.