Pacific Division Preview

With parity in the NHL, I think predicting standings is more or less a crapshoot anymore. So many factors and so many bubble teams. Instead, I'll preview the good, the bad, and the ugly for each team and guess the whereabouts of where the team will be standings wise... nothing specific. So, here we go with the Pacific Division:

Los Angeles Kings

Good: Well, LA has the luxury of returning to the ice with exactly the same team that just won the Stanley Cup. Thus, they have the knowledge that this team has what it takes. They will also benefit from full years from Darryl Sutter, Jeff Carter, and Slava Voynov.

Bad: LA did win it all last year, but this year they need to be more consistent offensively in order to be true contenders. A full year from the three aforementioned people should help in this area, but the likes of Mike Richards and Dustin Penner will also have to step up their game during the regular season.

Ugly: Well, they face the same question every Stanley Cup champion does: Will they be able to overcome the infamous Stanley Cup hangover? It's almost a given that the likes of Carter, Doughty, Richards, and others have been celebrating in style this year. Also, there's those rumored trade requests from Jonathan Bernier and Tomas Hickey. The latter is really irrelevant, and the former will be more likely to be dealt in the season after getting some more starts to increase his value.

Bottom Line: Overall, this team should be battling for the Pacific Division crown and should be one of the top teams in the conference.


San Jose Sharks

Good: Trading for and then signing Brad Stuart was expected, but hasn't gotten the publicity it should have in my opinion. As a Wings fan, I know that Stuart is among the very best shutdown defenders in the game and rarely makes a mistake. He's also a very physical guy who can make some really big hits. His acquisition will improve the Sharks tremendously. In fact, on paper (as usual), this team looks like a real contender.

Bad: The likes of Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle, Patrick Marleau, Brad Stuart, and Martin Havlat are all on the wrong side of thirty. Once again, as a Wings fan, I've seen this brought up many times as being a negative. We'll see whether San Jose's veteran core can channel Detroit in playing extremely well past their primes. Also, this is a core that hasn't been able to get it done in the playoffs together.

Ugly: Last year's results simply weren't acceptable for San Jose. They finished seventh in the conference and were easily dealt with in the first round by St. Louis. I haven't taken too close of a look to see if advanced stats indicate the team simply had bad luck, but the bottom line is that they have to prove this year that they aren't a team in decline.

Bottom Line: I wouldn't be overly shocked if this team is a bubble team again, but I see them fighting with Los Angeles for first in the division and being one of the better teams in the regular season.


Phoenix Coyotes

Good: This team's depth at defense is ridiculous. After acquiring Michalek, they now boast: OEL, Yandle, Michalek, Morris, Klesla, Schlemko, Stone, Gormley, Summers. Wow. They also made a smart free agent signing by bringing in David Moss and were able to keep Sean Burke around to continue working with Mike Smith. A full season from Antoine Vermette will also be nice.

Bad: Replacing Ray Whitney's season last year with Steve Sullivan hurts in a big way for a team that struggled to score last year as it was. This team just does not look like a playoff team offensively. Boedker is in his fourth year (common breakout year for forwards) but hasn't shown me that he will ever be a consistent offensive player. Vermette for a full season will help, but he isn't anything more than a complementary scorer. This team will simply struggle to score.

Ugly: Shane Doan could leave. It doesn't get much uglier than that. The ownership remains an absolute mystery. Honestly, the team should have moved a long time ago as much as I like the team's look. No team really has anything uglier going on.

Bottom Line: Dave Tippett has shown any team he coaches is at least a bubble team. This team will be so good defensively that I see them being in the hunt for the playoffs all year long. Still, the team will have to work hard every night and earn every inch, which can be challenging for a team that just had a long playoff run.


Dallas Stars

Good: Adding Derek Roy, Jaromir Jagr, and Ray Whitney helps this team's offense in a big way. The likes of Benn and Eriksson will be in for big seasons. Jagr's signing also brings a big name and personality to Dallas, which they haven't had since Modano and Turco.

Bad: Looking at this team's defense, I just can't see them in the playoffs. After Goligoski... absolutely nobody jumps out at me as being players who belong in a contending team's top four.

Ugly: This team's attendance recently was as ugly as it gets. I couldn't believe how empty the arena looked. Hopefully signing Jagr and now possessing a good looking offense will bring people back into the seats. Injuries are a real concern as Benn, Jagr, Roy (already out), and Lehtonen have all been susceptible in the past. And, please, can they change their hideous uniforms to something reminiscent of their former glory? Easily the worst jerseys in the league.

Bottom Line: This team will be a bubble team again, but I just don't see this team making the playoffs.


Anaheim Ducks

Good: Ryan Getzlaf can't be any worse than he was last year, so he'll bounce back. Teemu Selanne has returned. Jonas Hiller is healthy and by the end of the season last year looked like himself after a scary bought with vertigo. The team also features a surprisingly decent group of defensemen.

Bad: This team has little and less depth at forward. They need Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, and Selanne to produce because they don't have much else.

Ugly: Justin Schultz wanted out and got out for nothing. Bobby Ryan looks like he wants out. Lubomir Visnovsky got traded, but claims he had a no no-trade clause. Perry and Getzlaf are both in contract years. Saku Koivu is penciled in as the second line center. Scary stuff.

Bottom Line: As long as the team avoids another slow start, they should be a bubble team. If they do start slow again, they don't have a shot.