{coyotes} Sizing up the NHL's Western Conference

Tuesday, 7 October 2014

{coyotes} Sizing up the NHL's Western Conference

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The 2014-15 NHL season kicks off Wednesday. Sizing up the Western Conference:

Pacific Division

Team to beat: The Los Angeles Kings have mostly kept together last season's Stanley Cup winner. The Kings have won 41 playoff games and two Cups over the last three seasons.

Story lines: The Anaheim Ducks acquired rugged center Ryan Kesler with the idea of being a grittier, tougher team. The San Jose Sharks didn't add significant players but remain very strong. The Vancouver Canucks brought in a new general manager (Jim Benning), coach (Willie Desjardins) and goaltender (Ryan Miller).

Ranking the goalies: 1. Jonathan Quick (Kings). 2. Miller (Canucks). 3. Mike Smith (Arizona Coyotes). 4. Frederik Andersen or John Gibson (Ducks). 5. Jonas Hiller (Calgary Flames). 6. Antti Niemi or Alex Stalock (Sharks). 7. Ben Scrivens or Viktor Fasth (Edmonton Oilers).

Sleeper: Oilers. Don't be shocked if they are 20 points better this season. They upgraded their defense, and their goaltending looks more stable than it was a year ago. But even a 20-point gain doesn't push the Oilers into the playoffs.

New coach: Desjardins (Canucks).

Injury of note: Ducks LW Dany Heatley (groin) is starting the season on the injured list.

What to expect: 1. The Kings could capture their first division title since 1991. 2. The Coyotes will be the Western Conference's lowest-scoring team. 3. Los Angeles' Marian Gaborik could score 35 or more goals. 4. The Canucks will be a treadmill team, driving hard but not getting anywhere. 5. The Kings' Anze Kopitar will win the Selke Trophy.

Most intriguing rookie: Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has a Patrick Kane-Paul Kariya vibe.

Prediction: The Kings should finally have an impressive regular season, but the Ducks will be right on their tail. The Sharks will take a small step back but still will be the third-best team in the division. The Oilers will be improved, and the Flames, Canucks and Coyotes will be the same or take a step back.

Central Division

Team to beat: The Chicago Blackhawks were an overtime goal away from being in the Stanley Cup Final last season and are just as formidable this season.

Story lines: The St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche made major moves to make themselves improved playoff teams. The Blues signed center Paul Stastny, and the Avalanche signed rugged winger Jarome Iginla and traded for savvy defenseman Brad Stuart. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks theoretically grew stronger by signing Brad Richards to be the team's No. 2 center. The Nashville Predators traded for winger James Neal, signed three centers and hired a coach (Peter Laviolette) to boost their offense.

Ranking the goalies: 1. Semyon Varlamov (Avalanche). 2. Pekka Rinne (Predators). 3. Corey Crawford (Blackhawks). 4. Brian Elliott (Blues). 5. Kari Lehtonen (Dallas Stars). 6. Niklas Backstrom or Darcy Kuemper (Minnesota Wild). 7. Ondrej Pavelec (Winnipeg Jets).

Sleeper: Stars. They upgraded their offense with the additions of Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky. Plus, Valeri Nichushkin could be on the verge of stardom. If their defense measures up, they are a much more dangerous team.

New coach: Laviolette (Predators).

Injuries of note: Minnesota G Josh Harding is out indefinitely, likely for months, with a broken foot. Nashville C Mike Fisher is out until November or later because of a ruptured Achilles tendon.

What to expect: 1. The Central will be talked about as the league's most competitive division. 2. Richards will be more valuable to the Blackhawks than he was to the New York Rangers. 3. Rinne will be back on the list of Vezina Trophy candidates. 4. Thomas Vanek's arrival will help the Wild increase their goal-scoring total by 10%. 5. The Stars' power play will be in the top 10 this season after finishing 23rd last season.

Most intriguing rookie: Forward Filip Forsberg (Predators) might get the opportunity to show what he can do in Laviolette's offensive scheme. Skilled Chicago forward Teuvo Teravainen is starting the season in the American Hockey League. If he is called up, he moves to the front of the division's rookie class.

Prediction: Chicago will climb back on top in the division, with St. Louis second. Dallas or Minnesota or even Winnipeg could challenge Colorado for third. Rinne will keep the Predators competitive, but Nashville won't improve enough to make the playoffs.