| Central Division |
[Feb. 17th, 2006|04:33 pm] |
DETROIT REDWINGS: WOW!!! Detroit is the best team in the NHL. At 39-13-5 after 57 games, they have a remarkable NHL leading 83 points. The Wings are rolling. Many people suggested that they would be one of the teams that would have a hard time filling out a competitive roster under the new salary cap, but the Wings have silenced the naysayers once again. They have a well rounded team that doesn't have a visible weakness. Scoring goals is what the Wings do best. Pavel Datsyuk is leading the way with 66 points, and linemate Henrik Zetterberg is not far behind with 61. The Redwing lineup is full of big names that are all producing this season. Shanahan, Yzerman, Lang, Williams, Franzen, and Samuelsson... and those are just forwards. The blueline has been anchored by the steady play of 44 year old captain of Team USA, Chris Chelios as well as Mathieu Schneider, Nicklas Lidstrom, Andreas Lilja and Jason Woolley. The powerplay is lethal. With so much skill, the big warrior Tomas Holmstrom parked in front of opposing netminders, and Schneider with the rocket from the point, there has been little that PK units can do. Players like Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby have added grittiness and consistency. In net, Manny Legace has been fantastic all season, even after missing time with injury. Veteran backup Chris Osgood has been good enough for the Wings to win in Legace's absence, which isn't amazing, but the job got done. There is no stopping these Wings. The Wings are great, but their record includes beating up on weaker divisional opponents all year (Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, and Blues). They are sick, but don't be fooled, these teams are rotten, and that's 24 games for the Wings...
Prediction: The Redwings will easily win the two horse race that is the Central Division and finnish first in the West. Dallas just doesn't have enough firepower to overtake the Wings, especially with the discrepancy in schedules. They will challenge for the Presidents Trophy (NHL's best record in the regular season) and will be a serious Cup contender. Many experts are taking the Wings to win the Cup, and it's hard to disagree with them when you watch this team play.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS: After 58 games and a record of 34-18-6 for 74 points, the Preds have been one of the league's biggest surprises this season. This is a fast skating team that never takes a night off. They are a small team, but they make up for it with their feet. Players like Steve Sullivan, Paul Kariya, and Scott Walker are prime examples that the "new NHL" allows for players of this stature to excel. The rebirth of Paul Kariya finds him leading the team with 58 points. Sullivan has the goal scoring lead with 26. This team has mobile defensemen that can make plays with the puck and with their feet. Kimmo Timonen and Marek Zidlicky are among the league's best. The penalty killing is number four in the league at 85.3 and certainly has something to do with the play or Tomas Vokoun, who has been nothing short of magnificent. He plays a ton and he plays well. Big saves in timely situations have stolen some games for the Preds. Also, the acquisition of Mike Sillinger from St. Louis has brought more experience, grit, depth down the middle, and reliability in the faceoff circle.
Prediction: Second in the division (easily of course) behind Detroit and ahead of the stragglers. The Preds too have been the product of some easy wins against weaker opponents, but will finnish 4th or 5th in the West. I love this team's chances in the playoffs because they just find ways to win, and the have the goaltending. They will definitely be a team you don't want to play come playoff time. Trust me.
COLUMBUS BLUEJACKETS: After 58 games, the BJ's are 23-33-2 for only 48 points. At the start of the season, they were one of the worst teams in the league, but in the last few months, they have really began to find their stride. Segrei Fedorov has finally started to contribute to this team, and although he is obviously past his prime, he is helping his linemates score and he is helping the young players on his team mature. The Bluejackets have had a tough time playing defense this year. They have allowed the fourth most goals in the league this season (209). This is more a product of poor defense than bad goaltending. They have had decent play from Marc Denis and a few of his younger counterparts this season. However, the big offseason acquisition of Adam Foote did not materialize right away as expected. He too had a rough start to the season but has since gotten it going and regained his top form. Bryan Berard has had a great offensive season, especially on the powerplay, and he is on pace for a career high in points. The loss of defensemen Jaroslav Spacek from 03/04 has significantly weakened the defensive corps. Up front, Rick Nash is the man. His early season injury was another big reason for the Bluejackets' rough start. Since coming back, he has scored with a fury. He has 17 goals for 28 points and is fourth on the roster in scoring in only 30 games. Leading scorer David Vyborny is having a superb year with 44 points and Nikolai Zherdev is leading in goals with 19. This team has gotten solid play from Trevor Letowski and Jason Chimera, who have played well but need to chip in offensively a little more. Columbus is trying not to be only a one line team.
Prediction: Columbus has been infinitely better lately and should finnish pretty strong. They will finnish third in the Central and they will not make the playoffs. However, this is a young team that learned a lot this year and they are going to keep getting better. I look for the BJ's to have a real strong year next year. Of all the teams at the bottom of the league, the Bluejackets have the most potential and are not all that bad, they are just inexperienced. They will surprise people next season. I promise.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: After 58 games played, Chicago is 18-31-8 for 44 points. This team has majorly underachieved. Everyone thought Nikolai Khabibulin, who led the Lightning to a Stanley Cup championship in 03/04, was going to be the savior in Chicago. Well, Nikolai struggled for awhile, now, he is out for the season with another injury. Three youngsters are pacing the Blackhawks in scoring. Tyler Arnason has 40 points, Kyle Calder has 39 points, and Mark Bell has 35 points, including a team leading 19 goals. Veteran tough guy Matthew Barnaby is third in the league in penalty minutes with 140. Special teams have been just rotten this year. The Blackhawks have scored the fewest goals in the league with 145. Part of their scoring woes has been the injury of Eric Daze who has played only one game all year. The Blackhawks are terrible but at least they play hard. Young defensemen Duncan Keith has been a bright spot, but this team has problems.
Prediction: Hopefully they can hold of the Blues. Wow, it is sad to even say that. I had hoped this season would be different for Chicago but along with a lot of loyal fans, have been let down tremendously. Call it a rebuilding year, but they are going to need a rebuilding decade to turn this thing around. They need to finnish second to last in the division and therefore second to last in the West. I hope next year will be different for them, but saying that is becoming a redundancy.
ST. LOUIS BLUES: After 56 games: 16 wins, and a whole lot of losses (31), 9 ties and 41 points. That's bad. They traded everyone away and gave up all hope of making the season respectable. Dough Weight is gone (Carolina), Mike Sillinger is gone (Nashville), and this team is garbage. Keith Tkachuk is all they have left, and this season, that's not saying much. Veteran Scott Young can still shoot the puck. This lineup is full of young players that are enjoying their chance to be NHL players. They play hard, and they have that to their credit, but it went wrong from the start. Goalie Patrick Lalime was counted on to be huge, and he wasn't. In fact, he was so bad he got sent down to the minors. There are not many positives for these guys. Hopefully a new ownership will turn this team around with the infusion of money and a few good draft picks. Call-up Lee Stempniak has shown flashes of brilliance in recent weeks and perhaps this young lineup will put together some wins to close out a dreadful season.
Prediction: Last in the Central, last in the West. This will be the first time in almost 30 years the team hasn't made the post season. Like Chicago, this team needs to rebuild for awhile before they can be competitive again. Captain Dallas Drake is still high on my most-respected-players list. He's had a rough go of it. |
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