Who Will Win Each Division?

Starting now through September, I will be taking a look at where I feel each team will finish in their respective divisions and conferences, based off their lineups coming into the year. It will end eventually with an article based around three teams I think can make it all the way to the Cup. At this point of the year, it is all a guessing game as nobody knows what will come of the regular season.....if there is a regular season. Anything from injuries to under/over-performing to trades can change the dynamic not only of a team, but a division and conference as they fight for a playoff spot. This article will base around who I think will be the top team in each division. 

Western Conference

Northwest Division: The Northwest Division won't be a pushover this year as many of the teams in the division made changes for the better. The Vancouver Canucks return with a strong lineup like they had last year and a new full-time starting goalie in Cory Schneider. The biggest offseason news came out of Minnesota where Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were lured home in an attempt to make the Wild a contender again. Calgary, again, refuses to rebuild and will instead go in with the same core surrounded by another set of outside players, hoping to do the job this season. The Edmonton Oilers are looking upward as they now have three first overall draft picks on offense joining Jordan Eberle and bolstered the defense with unsigned free agent Justin Schultz. Finally, the Colorado Avalanche come into the season still young and maturing but hoping to make a push as they did two seasons ago into the playoffs.

Who will win the division? Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are just to strong once again. They have a potent offense led by the Sedin twins, while also trying to lure Shane Doan. The defense led by Alex Edler and Kevin Bieksa will have a few changes as Sammi Salo among others have left. Roberto Luongo, although still on the roster, will probably be traded by opening day and Cory Schneider will lead the Canucks into the season.

Central Division: The Central Division has been the strongest in the West for quite a few years now. The West is getting to be a tougher conference, therefore, it will be interesting to see if four Central Division teams can make the playoffs again. Detroit will sport a defense for the first time in 20 years without Nicklas Lidstrom, who they have yet to replaced. Their offense is getting older with time as well. For the first time in a long time, Detroit looks vulnerable. Chicago will return with goaltending questions, although a strong team around Corey Crawford. They hope to make a push for the division. Nashville, after losing Ryan Suter, locked up Shea Weber, for now at least. They have Vezina Finalist Pekka Rinne in net and it will be interesting to see how Mike Fisher leads the offense. St. Louis was a surpise last year, winning the division. They won't be a surprise this year, however, they will be just as good. With dual-goaltenders and a young team, Ken Hitchcock will lead another charge. Columbus, now Rick Nash-less, will struggle again. Although they pieces they have added will help a rebuild in Ohio.

Who will win the division? St. Louis Blues. The Blues are the most complete team in the Central right now. Goalies Halak and Elliot will return to form after a rough second round playoff exit. The offense returns young and ready with David Backes leading TJ Oshie, David Perron, among others. The defense led by star in the making Alex Pietrangelo will also be ready. I expect the Blues to make a bigger splash this year after a great run last year.

Pacific Division: The Pacific Division is always a close one as last year four teams fought for three playoff spots, including a top three conference spot, on the last day of the season. The Dallas Stars return as a darkhorse with gritty captain Brendan Morrow leading. Goalie Kari Lethonen had a great year last year and looks to continue that. The Phoenix Coyotes will have a new look as Ray Whitney packed up his bags for Dallas and Steve Sullivan came in. Their success could lie on whether captain and star Shane Doan returns for the rest of his career in pursuit of a Stanley Cup. The San Jose Sharks aren't getting any younger and will again rely on Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to carry to team. Stanley Cup winning Los Angeles Kings come into the season with relatively the same team and a whole bunch more confidence. Meanwhile, Anaheim will look to rebound after a poor year last year that saw slips in production from stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Their defense has been revamped and they will look come back strong.

Who will win the division? Los Angeles Kings. The Kings are coming into the season with high expectations after raising the Cup in June. Last year, they started poor but were red hot down the stretch and in the playoffs. They will have a target on their backs this year but with confidence running high, the Kings, with relatively the same team as last season, will take the Pacific Division. Jonathon Quick will look to continue his trophy quest in hopes of a Vezina Trophy.

Look for the Eastern Conference Division picks coming within the next few days!

C B A

A Hockey Fans Least Favorite Word

At the end of the 2003-2004 NHL season, nobody thought the Collective Bargaining Agreement would get in the way of the following season. The NHL was on the rise, more money was being spent by the fans within the sport, ESPN and ABC were airing hockey games, and the Tampa Bay Lightning had just won the Stanley Cup over the Calgary Flames. Things were looking up. Instead, the NHLPA and NHL Owners/Administration couldn't agree on a CBA deal, fighting all the way into 2005. On February 16, 2005, the NHL season was officially canceled, marking the first time a North American professional sports league canceled a season due to labor disputes.  It dragged on all the way until the summer until finally on July 22, 2005, both sides ratified a new CBA that would end in September of 2012.

It is now summer of 2012 and the September 15 deadline for a new CBA is just over a month away. Yesterday, Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the owners/administration side has no interest in playing a NHL hockey game without a new CBA, therefore, causing an immediate lockout when September 15 hits. The first proposition sent over by the owners was to say the least, "war" starting as they sent a message they would not back down. This coming week, the NHLPA will send a proposal to the owners, probably one of which will send the message right back. When this happens, the only hope for NHL fans is that both sides realize what insanity another lockout would cause and work in cooperation to make sure a deal gets done. 

Since that lockout, the NHL has been doing very well. The fans who left due to the lockout have come back as well as tons of new fans interested in the game of hockey. The new rules put in place have allowed the superstars of the NHL to show their stuff, wowing everyone a game at a time. The old days of the grab and go has been scrapped and a new, faster NHL game has taken over. Goals per game are up since the lockout and new, exciting game is being brought to the fans every night. Not to mention this years playoffs is probably the best I've ever seen in terms of excitement and it has only gotten better since 2005-2006 season. Revenue has increased as tickets are being purchased and merchandise is being sported by all the fans. 

If the NHL was to go into another lockout, especially a full-season lockout, all these positive things would vanish and the NHL will once again be more than a step behind all the other major sports in North America. The die-hards will never go away. I know this because I am one of them and crave hockey every day it's not on and can't wait for it every day that it is on. However, those taking an interest in the sport, the new fans needed to move up on the totem pole, would once again disappear. It is in the best interest of the NHL and NHLPA to come up with an agreement, and quickly, to benefit both sides and keep a good streak going since the last labor dispute. 

Gary Bettman CANNOT be blamed for this. Everyone looks at the bad when it comes to Bettman and not the good. The long time commissioner has done very well for the NHL since his start in the early 1990's. In terms of expansion, Bettman got the league from 26 to 30, spreading out the NHL all across the United States in order to bring hockey to everyone. He also relocated four struggling teams during the 1990's, allowing them new ownership and a new chance in a new location. Since then he has also taken control of numerous teams, either keeping them stable and finding new ownership or moving them somewhere they can succeed. In terms of television, Bettman has put the NHL in a good position. His recent snub of ESPN was a brilliant move among the fans as they are fed up with the lack of NHL coverage on that network to begin with. Instead, he got hockey on two sister networks run by NBC on a 10 year, two billion dollar contract. XM Satellite radio has it's own NHL channel and NHL Network is a huge hit with all hockey fans.

At the end of the day, we know what has to be done. A Collective Bargaining Agreement needs to be signed within the next few months in order to have hockey before the 2012 year runs out. If not, the NHL will be in trouble once again. The NHL and NHLPA have to get to serious talking instead of continually taking jabs at one another. When this happens, a deal will get worked out and we will see NHL hockey once again this season. The NHL is on the rise and it will only get better, however, that success is currently swaying on the edge as the labor "war" continues. 

Focus of the CBA:

-Hockey related revenues-Players are receiving 57% of hockey related revenue and the owners want that lowered. The owners first proposal was 46%, each percent equals 30 million dollars. Expect that to rest around 50-53%.

-Unrestricted Free Agent Status-Players currently become an UFA after seven seasons. Owners first proposal was 10 seasons. Expect that to rest between 7-10 seasons.

-Contract Limits-Currently there is no contract length maximum. The owners first proposal was set at five years. Expect that to rest between five and eight year contracts.

-Salary Arbitration-Currently allows a RFA to go to arbitration if a contract can't be agreed on. Owners want to get rid of arbitration. Expect arbitration to be abolished.

-Entry-Level Contracts-Currently set at three years for all rookies signing their first NHL deal. Owners want to raise it to five year contract length. Expect that to rest between three and five year deals.