1. Carolina: Don’t think for one minute the Hurricanes aren’t feeling the sting of missing the playoffs after winning the Stanley Cup in 2006. They are determined to show the Cup season was no fluke. Injuries to Cory Stillman and Frank Kaberle did the Canes in a season ago, but they still only missed the postseason by four points after enduring a miserable power play.
The Canes are as strong as any team in the Eastern Conference down the middle with Rod Brind’Amour, Eric Staal and Matt Cullen the top three centers. GM Jim Rutherford resigned leading scorer Ray Whitney and Scott Walker, who adds some much needed grit to a team that’s not very physical. And Erik Cole is one of the NHL’s most powerful and fast wingers.
The defense is aging with Glen Wesley starting his 20th season and Bret Hedican entering his 16th, and there is now little depth at that position in the minors. A long injury to any of the team’s top four D-men could spell trouble. There also isn’t a legitimate No. 1 D-man to quarterback the point on the power play.
In net, Cam Ward has looked sharp in exhibitions heading into his second season as a starter, and one year removed from his playoff MVP run. He is poised to be the next star goalie. Remember, his idol is Martin Brodeur.
This club has a nice mix of veterans and youth, along with a coach in Peter Laviolette who keeps the pedal to the medal at all times.
If everything breaks right, Carolina could win 50 games.
2. Washington: Who has better young talent than the Washington Capitals? Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin are superstars, and 20-year-old Nicklas Backstrom, the fourth overall pick in the 2006 draft, has arrived with unlimited promise. And former first-round draft picks Steve Eminger and Mike Green are improving the defense with each passing game.
Getting center Michael Nylander, a skilled playmaker who had 83 points for the Rangers last season, may make Ovechkin even better. And adding Viktor Kozlov will be a calming effect for the two Russians.
Olie the Goalie is aging, but still has good stuff on net. He’s kept the Caps afloat during the tough times, now can he win with a better team in front of him? Brent Johnson is a capable backup in net.
The Caps won 28 games a season ago. They can make the jump to 42 this season and make a push for the postseason.
3. Florida: The key for the improving Panthers will be in net with Tomas Vokoun. That’s because Florida still won’t be able to put the puck in the net to outscore many of its SE division rivals.
Olli Jokinen doesn’t get enough credit for being a scoring machine for Florida, while a young Nathan Horton notched 31 goals last season and looks ready to emerge. Still, role players like Radek Dvorak, Jozef Stumpel, Stephen Weiss and Richard Zednik will have to have career scoring years to parlay Florida into a playoff team.
The defense is underrated, led by 6-foot-5, 215-pound Jay Bouwmeester, who was a plus-23 a season ago. He, along with Bryan Allen, Ruslan Salei, Mike Van Ryn and Steve Montador each played in 72 or more games, making for a solid and cohesive back end.
This club is used to playing in close, low-scoring games. If Vokoun has a stellar year, watch out for the Panthers. The more likely scenario is another long offseason along South Beach.
4. Tampa Bay: We feel the Lightning has seen better days. They’ve invested $25 million in four players, and little else. Sure, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards and Dan Boyle are studs, but who is going to help when the going gets tough?
Aside from Vaclav Prospal, it’s hare to envision where the rest of the offense will come from.
The defense is big and slow, while coach John Tortorella can’t decide who to play in net, Marc Denis or Johan Holmqvist? Neither can I.
If the Lightning miss the playoffs, which I predict they will, look for a major shake-up in Tampa at the trade deadline.
5. Atlanta: From first to last. That’s the prediction for the Thrashers, who did next to nothing to keep any momentum from last year’s first playoff appearance.
The defense was gutted with the losses of Greg de Vries and Andy Sutton, while Scott Mellanby retired and rent-a-player Keith Tkachuk returned to St. Louis. The Thrash also lost Eric Belanger and Jonathan Sim. Ouch!
Sure, Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk are more than capable on offense, but there is little else left aside from an aging Bobby Holik.
And the defense is small and not very imposing, which should make for a long season in net for Kari Lehtonen.
Eastern Conference picks:
1. Ottawa
2. Pittsburgh
3. Carolina
4. New York Rangers
5. Montreal
6. New York Islanders
7. Washington
8. Buffalo