Experts from coast to coast are ready to prematurely hand the NHL's Northwest Division title to Vancouver and with good reason. Magic salary cap management and a deep roster that includes a wealth of talent in the minors gives the Canucks a legitimate chance for a deep run into the playoffs. Calgary must stay close or the untouchable Sutter boys will finally be run out of Dodge. Edmonton is and will be the most exciting team to watch, but are losing games with their wide open attacking style. Their goalie will be the first human to ever strap himself into a straightjacket and will be dreaming of frozen pucks while locked in a rubber room. Colorado will be in the hunt and have a decent roster blend of youth and grizzled vets and the Wild just don't have enough stars.
Vancouver Canucks - I am not a Luongo fan and find his flopping fish style to be effective only because he is as big as a pre-historic sturgeon. He has a lot to prove when the fat is in the fire and the games get meaningful. A talented and deep defence with three solid lines gives their coaching staff plenty of ammo.
Cody Hodgson will soon be reminding people of Jonathon Toews.
The Sedin twins have finally won my confidence and no longer shy away from the "cycle game" that most NHL teams employ. First place is a lock.?
Calgary Flames - Iginla has some familiar faces to deflect the blame for what will be a lot of losses for the same old reasons - no offence. They need secondary scoring from Langkow and Kotalik not to mention bounce back years from Tanguay and Jokinen. Niklas Hagman and Rene Bourque are both capable of 20 goals apiece, but Kiprusoff will be left hung out to dry.
The heat is on Jay Bouwmeester to justify dealing away Phaneuf, but Sutter needs to let him play a more offensive style game or his skill set is wasted. Ian White is adequate, but Sarich is slowing down putting the pressure on rugged Robyn Regehr for big minutes.
Close but no cigar Calgary fans.
Colorado Avalanche - Plenty of firepower with exciting forwards like Stewart, Mueller, Stastny and Duchene will make for some thrilling hockey. John Michael-Liles moves the puck like other elite offensive styled blue-liners, but the leader Adam Foote is past his prime and the supporting cast is unproven.
It's no wonder goalie Craig Anderson is bald. Back up Peter Budaj lets in soft goals despite admirable stats. His one-year contract speaks to how much confidence the organization has in him or maybe they can't spell his name to give him an extension?
Minnesota Wild - Beyond Koivu and Havlat they have very few natural scorers unless Latendresse finally busts through his cocoon of unfulfilled promise. Aging Andrew Brunette and Matt Cullen will score in double figures and Brett Burns is a top-tier NHL defenseman, but there is simply not enough talent to climb the ladder in this division. Cam Barker plays physical and has a deadly shot and Zidlicky adds an offensive dimension to the blue liners.
Goaltending is in good shape with Backstrom and with the injury to Harding, the Stars signed Jose Theodore for a backup.
Edmonton Oilers - The list of young talent leaves fans drooling and yet sadly disappointed with any true progression in performance on the iceor in the standings. It's time for Gagne and Cogliano to poo or get off the pot. Although Jordan Eberle has already turned a few heads this year, the city is waiting for Taylor Hall to grow into Mark Messier.
The foolish and juvenile handling of Sheldon Souray is a blemish on the management team and having him rot in the minors is costing them wins and leadership.
Hopefully next year's draft yields them even more promising youngsters, but at some point, it's time to man up.
Two of my boys live and die with the Flames and keep many union workers on the Molson assembly lines gainfully employed because of this curse. Darryl Sutter is like a cat with 10 lives and tries his best to shake up the roster at every opportunity, but the luster is wearing thin. Both Calgary and Edmonton need new rinks as much as a change in Karma. Trying to get tickets to see either team is harder than getting a second helping at a Hamilton Christmas dinner.
Look for more of the same in Vancouver. Luongo is the most over-rated goalie in the history of the NHL, but it is a fallacy that the defenceman with the worst plus/minus after a home game has to shave his back. He is the only goalie that can grow a full beard over the course of three periods of hockey. His hefty salary needs to translate into playoff wins instead of Gillette razors.
