HOOOOCKKKEYYYYYY!!!!!! (Popcornknife's 2013-2014 NHL Preview)

Well, it’s finally back! Hockey has arrived once again, and I know the season has already started but it is just a few games in. Things are going to be a bit different this year with re-alignment. Some teams it’ll be a favorable thing, others, not so much. Here is my NHL preview for 2013-2014, broken down by the new four divisions. The playoff system has changed as well, the top three in each division will make the playoffs, making up the 12 first teams, then their will be two “wild cards” from each division. So I’ll predict the winner, as well as the other two playoff teams to come from that division. Let’s kick things off with the Eastern conference.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Looking at the new division, this is probably the toughest division of them all, just like the Central in the West use to be. 5 out of the 8 teams made the playoffs last year and the other three aren’t far removed from being there. It’s going to be a lot of fun watching this division and in the end, it’ll probably come down to a game or two to see who wins the first Atlantic division title. While I’d like to pick my Montreal Canadiens to win this one, it’s just going to be too tough. I think the Detroit Red Wings, already having the practice of being in the toughest division last year, the Central in the West, will be a front runner in this division. Boston, Montreal, and even Toronto will probably challenge them for the top spot. In the end though, as much as I absolutely hate the Red Wings, they are a good team and they’ll probably find a way to win this division.
Winner: Detroit Red Wings
Other 2 Playoff Teams: Montreal, Toronto

Metropolitan

First off, not a real big fan of the name of this division, but that is another topic. This division could also be pretty tough. It is basically the old Atlantic division (Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Philly, and the two New York teams) which easily was the toughest division in the East. It doesn’t get any easier for my Penguins with the addition of conference rivals Washington, a young growing team in Columbus, and the unpredictable Carolina Hurricanes. Obviously, I think my Penguins are the front runners in this division. After a very disappointing postseason last year, I think they will come out hungry and ready to win the first Metropolitan division. Washington, Rangers, Flyers, and Capitals are all going to be on the Penguin’s tail, but at the end of the day, I think the Penguins come out on top on this one.
Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins
Other 2 Playoff Teams: Rangers, Capitals

Western Conference

Central

First off, the fact that the Detroit Red Wings got moved from this division to the Eastern conference both makes me very happy, and very sad. The Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry is probably one of the better rivalries in sports today, and after an epic playoff series last year, it is sad to think about the only time that will happen again is if they meet in the Stanley Cup Finals, which, in some ways, would make the rivalry even better, so it’s a double edge sword. Anyways, back to this division. This division, in my eyes, is the weakest of the four. Only 3 of the 8 made the playoffs last year (St. Louis, Chicago, and Minnesota). I really could see the Blackhawks winning this division year and year again. Sure, teams get better over time, and I could be completely wrong, but as long as Kane and that core stay in tact, it’ll be hard to imagine anyone expect the Blackhawks winning this division. Look for St. Louis, Nashville, and Minnesota to give the Blackhawks some, but little trouble in this division.
Winner: Chicago Blackhawks
Other 2 Playoff Teams: St. Louis, Minnesota

Pacific

This division has a lot of potential to be a lot of fun. All three California teams in one division, along with the three western Canada teams, I can easily see this division having the most rivalries and probably be one of the closer divisions. The Ducks, Sharks, and Kings are all decent teams, and the Battle for California will be real. Don’t overlook the Coyotes in this division though, they always seem to sneak up somehow in the rankings and might just threaten the powerhouses, Vancouver, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim in this division. I also think Calgary is due for a good year. This division may be the hardest one to pick next to the Atlantic in the Western Conference, but in the end I’m going to go with the Los Angeles Kings, they looked pretty good last year and I’m sure they will only get better.
Winner: Los Angeles Kings
Other 2 Playoff Teams: Vancouver, Anaheim

So, there you have, my divisional preview of the NHL season. The other four playoff spots are determined by the next best two records in the conference, here is who I think will get the wild cards from each conference.

Western Conference Wild Cards: Philadelphia, Boston

Eastern Conference Wild Cards: San Jose, Nashville