Western Conference Predictions

Here's how I predict that it will end up in the Western Conference at the end of the regular season:

Western Conference:
1. Detroit Red Wings*
2. Dallas Stars*
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. Calgary Flames*
5. San Jose Sharks
6. Edmonton Oilers
7. Minnesota Wild
8. Chicago Blackhawks
9. Nashville Predators
10. Phoenix Coyotes
11. Vancouver Canucks
12. Colorado Avalanche
13. Columbus Blue Jackets
14. St. Louis Blues
15. Los Angeles Kings
*division winner

Number of Teams in the Playoffs in each Division:
Central: 2 (Detroit, Chicago)
Northwest: 3 (Calgary, Edmonton, Minnesota)
Pacific: 3 (Dallas, Anaheim, San Jose)

How can you bet against the defending Stanley Cup Champions when that team is the Detroit Red Wings. It will essentially be the same team, with one minor addition, Marian Hossa, and like everyone said when the Wings signed Hossa, "the rich get richer". The Detroit Red Wings will end up atop the Central Division and the Western Conference. Chicago will replace Nashville in the playoffs with their youth and the potential for Martin Havlat (Chicago's version of Marian Gaborik without the groins) to play a full season in a while.
The top five of the conference will be the same clubs with the exception of Minnesota. In the ultra-competitive Northwest division, Minnesota has taken a step down in the offensive department with the departure of Brian Rolston, Pavol Demitra, and Mark Parrish, but look for them to still fight for a playoff spot with their improved blueline and consistent goaltending. Edmonton will make a run at the NW title with their youth, but Calgary will be crowned Northwest Division Champions at the end of the regular season.
With veteran leadership in Mike Modano and Brendan Morrow, and young guys in Matt Niskanen, Nicklas Grossman and Fabian Brunnstrom, Dallas looks to be moving up in rankings in the Pacific Division. Of course Anaheim will be in the playoffs with guys like Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Ryan Getzlaf, and newly signed Teemu Selanne, the Ducks will be competitve with Dallas. Along with Dallas and Anaheim, the San Jose Sharks will make it out of the regular season and into the playoffs, but you start wondering how many more times can Joe Thornton go into the playoffs and flop like the Cubs.

~FOTW